Day 6 – Qatzrin, Mt. Bental, Caesarea Philippi, and Dan

It can be difficult to picture what life would have been life in a small fishing village in Galilee, but in Qatzrin, we got the full first century experience. This restored village contains ancient homes and a synagogue. We packed inside the home like Christians would have in the early church. As we sat in the dark stone home, we read the story of four men who so desperately wanted to bring their friend to Jesus that they tore through the roof and lowered him down on a mat. What great faith! When Jesus saw the faith of this man’s friends, he forgave his sins and healed him.

At Mt. Bental, we learned some of the history of Israel and all this young nation went through in its infancy. Between the war of independence in 1948 and the subsequent wars of 1967 and 1973, the Israeli people have had to defend their country and fight for their survival in each new generation.

“We really enjoyed our time at Caesarea Philippi. It is a beautiful and refreshing place in the northern part of Israel. This was where Jesus ask Peter who do you say I am? This key question is a challenge for ever believer and how we answer will determine the course of our lives. Plus, Jesus’ promise that the gates of Hades will not prevail over the church was true at pagan Caesarea Philippi and through the centuries.”

- Brad & Jeanette Johnson

The last stop of the day was the city of Dan in the northernmost portion of Israel.

“Dan is one of my favorite sights on the trip for two reasons. First, in the reign of Jeroboam, the Israelites began worshipping at two temples in the northern kingdom, one at Bethel and the other at Dan. In each city, Jeroboam set up an imitation temple and golden calves for the people to worship. Although this was a terrible departure from what God had commanded, it’s the best look at the first temple we’ll ever have. Since they build a one-to-one model in Dan and the temples in Jerusalem and Bethel have been destroyed, the remains we see in Dan give us the best picture of the dimensions and layout of the temple in Solomon’s day.

Second, to the east of the temple, there are ancient mud gates that have been preserved. These gates from the middle Canaanite period would have been the very gates Abraham saw when he pursued his enemies as far as the gates of Dan (Gen. 14:14). It’s astonishing to see something Abraham would have seen and a reminder that given enough time, the archaeology always ends up bringing God’s word to life.”

- Cole and Laura Feix