Day 09 - Upper Galilee: Gamla, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Susita

Day 7
Today started overlooking Bethsaida with Jesus beginning to open the eyes of His disciples to look outside their Bet’ Av (father’s house), outside their tribe, to show His heart for the world. 

GAMLA
We hiked 18 “flights” down to Gamla a 1st c Zealot village not mentioned in the Bible.  These Zealots loved God and Torah enough to die there.  They did just that. 
In 66 AD Rome’s Vespasian destroyed the 10,000 Zealots and then marched on to Masada. 

The feeding of the 5000 was not far from here. Could this “desolate place” have been a gathering of Zealots?  They wanted to bring about God’s kingdom by force but Jesus taught His Kingdom looked totally different.  Jesus is a revolutionary: food distribution, healing, bringing in the marginalized. 

TEL DAN
Here in the far north, what a sensory overload from the deserts we first visited. Rushing/gushing water coming down from Mt Herman.  Heavily forested, beautiful and refreshing. Families filled the park celebrating Sabbath. We toured with Dr. Jonathan Greer, archeologist from MI. Massive digs of the city and temple (where the golden calf was placed) probably built during Jeroboam’s time. (I Kings). 

CAESAREA PHILIPPI 
Why would Jesus come all the way up here to this perverted city, the capitol of Pan worship? This debauchery took place in front of the “Gates of Hell” grotto. Here Peter first responded that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus declared, He would build His church and the Gates of Hell would not overcome it. 

DECAPOLIS
Looking down on Sea of Galilee, it was not far from here where Jesus healed the Gentile demoniac. Jewish history calls him by the name Kardus.  Though he wanted to go with Jesus, he was sent back to tell his story to his people. Jesus is teaching His followers what it looks like to bring His Kingdom to all. 

by Virginia Nurmi