Day 05 - Galilee: Katzrin, Mt. Bental, Caesarea Philippi, Tel Dan

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts” Psalm 145:4. Unique and unexpected experiences filled our day, in good ways! We looked again at the importance and power of community. God didn’t intend for us to live our faith in isolation. We’re experiencing this truth as we deepen our growing friendships, look out for each other and help each other in practical ways throughout the day. Whether it’s applying sunscreen, sharing snacks, giving up a seat in the shade, helping each other up and down tricky steps or slowing down to match someone’s pace, we’ve seen our group serve each other as the body of Christ over and over.

We started our morning again with devotions on the beach with Pastor Ben. We don’t know that anything can beat the Sea of Galilee as the backdrop for a morning reflection! Pastor Ben read Psalm 145 and prayed over us as we began our last full day at the Sea of Galilee.

We loaded the bus and headed to Katzrin, an excavated 1st-century Jewish town. Our host at Katzrin led us through community life in the 1st century. But first, we had to don the proper attire! We then walked through a wheat field to the wine press, where we pressed grapes. With our feet. And then we tasted the juice. Was it the juice we pressed with our feet? Opinions vary on what happened…

We then gathered in the outer room of a 1st-century home. This room is similar to where Jesus taught when four friends lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof. As we sat shoulder-to-shoulder in a dark, stuffy room, it was easy to imagine the friends being unable to get to Jesus. We read the passage from Mark 2, and Pastor Brad commented on how Jesus said the friends’ faith made the man well. He challenged us to consider where we are with our faith—whether needing to express our faith in Jesus and invite Him in, “take up our mat” and get moving while remembering what He’s has done for us, or be the ones someone else can lean into for strength and faith. How can we be like those four friends?

Our final activity as a 1st-century community was to make fresh flatbread together. We each rolled out a piece of dough, cooked it over the fire and then enjoyed the tasty treat slathered in soft, white cheese, date honey, olive oil and olives. It was just the fuel we needed to carry us through to lunch.

Our second stop was minutes away from Katzrin at the Olea Essence visitor center. This olive farming business has discovered innovations that allow the harnessing of the powerful antioxidants in olives to make high quality, all natural products while not wasting any part of the olive or putting harmful things back into the environment. We had fun exploring the store and learning about their farming process.

Our third tour stop was Mt. Bental. Our tour guide, Dan, has been so helpful in explaining Jewish history to us whether it’s from ancient biblical times, between the testaments, or recent and current modern history. Understanding the rest of Israel’s history also helps us better understand Scripture and what we see in Israel today. From the top of Mt. Bental, he explained the painful history of the 1973 War of Yom Kippur. From here we could see remnants of the war while taking in breathtaking views of the valley below and the obvious border between Israel and Syria. It was a somber moment to explore the mountain knowing how many were lost in battle.

From here we journeyed to Caesarea Philippi. In 320 BC, Alexander The Great gave this land to generals who later retired here, bringing their Greek gods with them. For centuries the area was known for its many gods, particularly the fertility god Pan. Warm water from area springs bubbled up in a large cave which became known as the “Gates of Hades.” People built a temple for Pan next to the Gates of Hades and their terrible practices filled the area. This is not a place Jesus’s disciples would have frequented. Yet Jesus brings his disciples to this city. It’s here Jesus asks them who people say he is. After answering that people think he’s one of the great prophets, Jesus asks who they think he is. Peter, surrounded by temples to false gods, responds that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15). Jesus tells Peter he’s knows this because the Father has revealed it to him. Then Jesus says, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

Our eyes widened as we realized what surrounded us, and Jesus, as he said these words. He was contradicting all the false gods and showing once again that He holds all power over darkness. Pastor Brad challenged us to consider who we believe Jesus is, because once we know He is the Son of the living God, we can’t pick and choose which of his words we want to follow. It also means he’s overcome all the heartache, grief, sin and evil we will ever face. And that together, WE are the church through whom He advances his Gospel message to the world. What a message! What a privilege!

Our final stop of the day was the mind-blowing site of Tel Dan. After days of desert, oasis and wide-open hills, we entered what felt like the jungle. Water rushed past, reminding us of the rapid rivers we see in the Midwest. Trees towered over us, and we felt closed in for the first time on the trip. Our hike up the trails took us to the springs that begin the Jordan River.

Hiking further up the mountain revealed the city of Dan, a former Canaanite city (Laish) conquered by the Danites (Judges 18). This becomes a prominent city during the divided kingdom. Kings set up a temple here, where sacrifices looked like those in the temple in Jerusalem, except they were made to a golden calf (Sound familiar?!). Even further up the trail, we saw the throne and city gates of King Ahab. But two of the most amazing, and one of the most important discoveries to date were also found at this location. It’s here, in front of Ahab’s throne that archaeologists discovered Tel Dan Stele. King Hazael, an Armanean King who defeated the city, inscribes the stele recounting his victory over the city. In his boast he proclaims he defeated the House of David. This is the first and only archeological extra-biblical evidence of King David. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, down the trail a bit further we saw the ancient gate of Laish. When Abraham pursued Lot’s captors as far as Dan (Genesis 14:14), this would have been the gate Abraham entered the city through. Our minds were blown!

We ended today’s tour back at our hotel on the Sea of Galilee, attempting to soak in (literally) as much of this area as possible on our final night. A good portion of the group went for a sunset swim, while others sat on the beach. What a blessing it has been to spend a few days on the shores and sea where Jesus spent so much time. We will never be the same.

Tomorrow, we begin early to make our way to Jerusalem for the final leg of our journey. Thank you for continuing to pray for our travels, good health, unity among our group and for God to transform us as we spend time “in the text.”