Who do you say I am?

Today’s journey began in Gamla in the Golan Heights (aka Bashan). Gamla means “camel” and when you see the pictures of the mountain you’ll understand why. We learned that Gamla is the Masada of the North. Gamla was occupied by zealots who were famous for the sicarii knife and palm branches. They believed in: Love God & No idols. Any violation should be disciplined. They also believed in “purify by the knife” and disciplined/killed 1000s that way. One of Jesus’ disciples was a zealot. Remember Simon the Zealot? Pastor Brian said we need a few who are zealous in our faith. What about your zeal? Are you zealous to share the gospel? To love others? To welcome someone to your table?

In visiting Katzrin, we got a solid idea of what home life would have been like in ancient times. 90% of the rain in Israel comes between Dec-Feb. another 5% comes in both Nov & Mar. All the wheat a family would need for a year would be grown during the rainy season. Then grapes would be planted on the land. Grapes were harvested in August and the young girls would stomp the grapes into enough wine for the year.

As a young man prepared take a bride, he & his father would add a room onto the father’s house starting with a cornerstone.

We also saw an olive press. It takes approx. 100 lbs. of olives to make 1 gallon of olive oil. BTW - the Israelites were the 1st to grow olive trees. The trees were taken by the Romans to Italy.

At the top of Mt Bentel, Ronen gave us a modern history lesson explaining how 1 man’s strategy saved Israel when both Syrian & Egyptian forces invaded Israel on Yom Kippur. We came in from the blustery cold and enjoyed coffee and/or hot chocolate before heading back to the bus.

Caesarea Philippi was our next stop. It was a very different city from Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum where Jesus did 70% of His ministry. Caesarea Philippi was the worst in a pagan culture. They believed in many gods and built temples to them all. The cave pictured was considered the entrance to the underworld. Caesarea Philippi is where Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 16:13-28 Who do you say I am? He goes on to tell them that on this rock He will build the church and the gates of hell will not prevail.

We headed to our last stop, Olea Essence, a company that has its own olive press and processes olives into cosmetics and foods. Many of us will be bringing a taste of Israel home with us.

We have a few saints who are fighting colds or bronchitis and a few with knee soreness. Please pray for us that those who are ill or injured will be made well. We are 44.