Day 06 - Galilee to Jerusalem: Beth She’an, Megiddo, Caesarea Maritima

Today we started in Galilee and ended the day in Jerusalem. In between, our souls were fed by the sights, sounds, and stories of the Bible and experiencing the land in which it was written. 

Saying goodbye to the Ein Gev Kibbutz, we started the morning in Beth She’an and were introduced to what would have been a thriving 1st century Roman city. We sat in some of the 6,000 seats in Beth She’an Roman Theater which  is the best preserved in Israel. We found out just how effective the acoustics were when Matt graced us with singing the Lords prayer from the stage of the amphitheater. Our choir members then joined him for two more beautiful hymns. 

Our Bible reading was the story of King Saul’s last battle, and death, which happened  just a few miles away from where we sat. We are reminded that Saul got it wrong because of his disobedience and lack of faith in the Lord. It’s the same with us - when we try to go it alone without the Lord, we get it wrong.

Before leaving the area, we walked along the "cardo" (Main Street), viewing the bathhouse, the temple, and proof that the city was wiped out in 749 A.D. by a massive earthquake. THE earthquake that reshaped half of the Middle East. 

Next stop we went from a 22 layer archeological cake at Beth She’an to a 26 layer one in  Megiddo. Megiddo was an important Canaanite city in the Bronze Age and during the Iron Age, a royal city in Israel. Megiddo is synonymous with Armageddon. Pastor Tim pointed out that just over the ridge we could see Jesus’s home, Nazareth. Our King Jesus grew up at the very crossroads of the most powerful warring kings in antiquity, and this is the site believed to be the final battle - culminating with the return of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

After another satisfying lunch from Eli, we head to Caesarea Maritima. The city and harbor were built under King Herod during 22–10 or 9 BC. This time we see a Roman theater where Paul may have pleaded his case before Herod. 

Pastor Matt’s reflection challenged us to get out of our comfort zones and cross over the thresholds that were blocking us from doing God’ will. Do as Peter did when he crossed over the threshold of the Centurion, Cornelius.

Tonight we will lay our heads down in Jerusalem and get rested up for a big day tomorrow! 

Linda M.