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Israel, Jordan Study Tour with Cornerstone Theological Seminary
January 2-12, 2020
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Jesus had to calm the storm
Today was the first day we experienced rain as we were reminded all day that rain in this area is such a blessing. The Jordan River is the highest it’s been in quite some time, as is the Sea of Galilee. So, we all gathered up our rain gear and headed out!
We started at a small museum where we learned about how a boat from the time of Jesus was found under mud. Though we don’t know if it was Jesus’ boat or of the disciples, it has been proven that the boat was from that very time and would have been used as a fisherman’s boat during that time. We learned about the importance of the flexible woods used during this time and how about 12 people could fit in, plus many pounds of fish. Imagining this boat in the Sea of Galilee with many people and fish, there would have been about only one foot of boat sitting above water. Imagining the time when Jesus had to calm the storm, they must have truly been experiencing something life-threatening, because the fisherman of that time were used to rain and storms in this area.. Yet, Jesus with just one word, calmed the sea, and saved his disciples.
From there we went to the small town of Magdala where we saw another small synagogue of their time, where Jesus taught. A modern chapel has been built in this small town, dedicated to Mary Magdalene, and the women of Jesus’ ministry. There were pillars that held up beautiful artwork, with an important female name of Jesus’ time carved into each pillar to show the significance of women’s ministry. There was one pillar left with no name carved into it, specifically for all of the other women who contributed to his ministry and there on. It was a breathtaking chapel where many women felt the impact of being female in ministry and the importance of work done by women throughout time in the areas of servitude, and even leadership of their own time. Translating this into our time, we felt the powerful impact that no matter what our ministry, our work matters very much. Jennifer gave us a beautiful teaching in the lower parts of the chapel, with a beautiful painting of the bleeding woman touching the garment of Jesus. We were reminded of Jesus’ healing power in our lives still today and that we get to look to Him, the Healer of all; the King of all, no matter what.
Magdala
Magdala, the birthplace of Mary Magdalene, was a prosperous fishing village at the time Jesus was active in this region. The ruins of this Roman village is now enclosed within a wall. The archaeologists uncovered the remains of the village dating from the time of Jesus, and a Byzantine monastery. A mosaic floor featuring a fisherman's boat was found at the place.
From there, we went to Megiddo, a city that brazed the edge of the Jezreel Valley. We learned about how the position of this city was used for much strategy in the Old Testament. It sat in an area where many people traveled through for trade, and being that there was so much wealth within this area, many benefited from it. Seated over the valley, anyone who wanted to overtake this city had to be incredibly strategic. We learned about how multiple kings lived in this city, such as Solomon, Ahab, and Josiah. Jezebel would have also lived in this area. This city is a tel, which means that many cities have been built on top of it since. Many archeological artifacts have been found to verify many stories from the Old Testament, being things such as bones and jars, but also gold and silver boxes, which verifies the wealth that would have been in this area.
Megiddo
From the earliest times (EB) to the earliest historical records of the area (Thutmose III) to the future (Revelation 16), Megiddo assumes a prominent role. This is largely owing to its strategic location astride the Megiddo Pass (Wadi Ara) and inside the busy Jezreel Valley.
We ended our touring in Caesarea Maritima where we learned about the importance of this location. This was a city built again by Herod the Great as he had a dream to build a harbor for his ships to come into. He built this harbor to hold up to 300 ships, and of course he added on his own temple so the people would worship him, along with an amphitheater, a market, etc. Coming in the winter, we saw the Mediterranean Sea with angry waves coming in to crash the shoreline. This place is so significant because this would have been where Paul would have shipwrecked. We saw the location where it is believed that he was put on trial. As recorded in the book of Acts Paul had many people against him, and it was in this region that the spreading of the Gospel was threatened. Again, this place gave each of us fresh imagery for our Bible reading, especially for the book of Acts and the stories of the early disciples.
We are now headed to Jerusalem where we will be until we return home. Stay tuned!
Caesarea Maritima
The city and harbor were built under Herod the Great during c. 22–10 BC near the site of a former Phoenician naval station known as Stratonos pyrgos (Στράτωνος πύργος).[2] It later became the provincial capital of Roman Judea, Roman Syria Palaestina and Byzantine Palaestina Prima provinces. The city was populated throughout the 1st to 6th centuries CE and became an important early center of Christianity during the Byzantine period, but was mostly abandoned following the Muslim conquest of 640. It was re-fortified by the Crusaders, and finally slighted by the Mamluks in 1265.
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