A Busy Day!

Shalom friends and family who are following our journey. Today we started the morning with a visit to the ancient city of Katzrin, which has been reconstructed to show what a Galilean village would have looked like in the time of Jesus. Rich talked about the story in Mark 2 where a group of men took their paralyzed friend to the house that Jesus was in and lowered him through the roof. While the story didn’t actually happen in this town we were able to experience village life (we actual learned how to make our own bread) and were able to imagine the story as the roof was removed from the house. We learned what it looks like to literally and figuratively do whatever it takes to bring our friends to the feet of Jesus.

Next we went to Mount Bental, which is an old Israeli bunker on the border of Israel and Syria. Ronen our Israeli guide took some time to help us understand some of the modern history of Israel as well as the issues and situations that are being worked through today.

From Mount Bental we drove toward the border with Lebanon and visited Caesarea Philippi, which was like the “Vegas” of ancient Israel. A lot of Pagan worship happened at this site and the ruins of the monuments to Pan and other gods are still visible today. At this site, Rich shared about how we need to remember God in everything we do. Jesus once visited the region of Philippi and it was there that he asked the disciples who they think he is. Peter’s answer of “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” makes us think about who we say Jesus is. If we are to say Jesus is God, we have to live like he is Lord too.

From Caesarea Philippi we visited the artisan town of Zphat and then headed to the Jordan River where Dathan reminded us of the conquest of the Promise Land and how the Israelites had to trust God and cross the river. It was only when they got their feet wet and obeyed God’s direction that the water was stopped and they walked across on dry land. Melissa, one of the girls on our trip, asked to be baptized and we as a group were able to participate in this special time with her as well as go for a little swim in the river afterwards.

All in all, today was one of the busier days we have had, but it has been amazing to walk in the very places Jesus did, while learning more and more about him. We look forward to the rest of our time here in Galilee and we can’t wait to see the rest of what is in store with us. Until next time, layla tov! (Goodnight!)