Israel Study Tour with Orchard Hill Reformed Church
July 14-25, 2019
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Come Follow Me
We started another beautiful day by the Sea of Galilee with devotions and another new word for God - Rabbi, Teacher. Hearing our God calling us to “Come Follow Me”.
It was a BIG DAY and we stopped at several areas in the Galilee region where Jesus did most of His ministry.
We first visited Capernaum, The “Town of Jesus” where Jesus declared in the synagogue with authority that He was fulfilling the scriptures of the prophet Isaiah that He was the anointed one.
Capernaum
Jesus made Capernaum his home during the years of his ministry: “Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum” (Matt 4:13).
Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen living in the village. Matthew the tax collector also dwelt here.
Capernaum is one of the three cities cursed by Jesus for its lack of faith.
Then we traveled to the Mt. of Beatitudes. Here, several people stepped forward and shared from memory the teachings of Jesus straight from Matthew 5-7 known as the Sermon on the Mount.
Mount of Beatitudes
The so-called “Sermon on the Mount” is recorded in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6. The alleged discrepancy between Matthew’s version being on a hill and Luke’s being on a level place is easily reconciled with observation of many level places on the Galilean hillsides. Scripture gives no indication of the exact location of this event, but the Byzantines built a church to commemorate it at the bottom of the hill. Some of Napoleon’s men placed it on the nearby Arbel mountain.
Next was Tabgha. This was an important fishing area where Pastor Bob preached to us God’s word reminding us of Jesus’s words to Come Follow Me. We are to be sold out for the Rabbi knowing that we are gifted and empowered to be used by Him. This was probably the site close to where Jesus called his first disciples.
We then enjoyed a delicious meal of Falafel.
At Mt. Abel we hiked the mountain where Jesus often retreated for prayer and reflection. Half the group chose to take the 60 minute strenuous hike, while the other half took the bus to the 20 minute short cut. We also had the opportunity to reflect and have alone time to dwell in Gods presence.
Mount Arbel
Mount Arbel (Hebrew: הר ארבל, Har Arbel) is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel, with high cliffs, views of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, trails to a cave-fortress, and ruins of an ancient synagogue. Mt. Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai; their cliffs were created as a result of the Jordan Rift Valley and the geological faults that produced the valleys.
Next on the agenda was an Ancient Boat Ride (Ginosar). The group bonded on the Sea of Galilee with a joyous time of song, praise, and dance.
We finished our day with a refreshing swim and sunset in the Sea of Galilee before another amazing dinner. What a glorious fifth day in the Land.
Shabbat Shalom
Written by Marie Jasper and Terri Blanch
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