Dead Sea and Jerash

We awoke to soft daylight and the sound of birds singing this morning. From our balconies we were greeted by a spring like day beginning in view of the Dead Sea. Many of our group woke up early to participate in the experience we call “swimming” in the Dead Sea, when the sensation is actually floating! And how could you visit the Dead Sea without trying some mineral mud? (See photos)

After cleaning up and having breakfast, we all boarded the buses to go to Jerash. This ancient Greco-Roman city was part of the Decapolis (ten cities) and achieved great prosperity in the first century because of its location on the trade route. It has been titled “the Pompeii of the Middle East” because of the size, excavation extent and level of preservation. The Oval Forum and the Cardo Maximus (see photos) reminded us of the similarities to other cities under Roman control. Archaeologists believe that 80% of the original city is still buried!

Inside the Hadrian Gate, which was built to honor the Emperor upon his visit in 129-130 AD, we had a teaching time with our group. Jennifer read Psalm 103, which talks about God’s character, his loving kindness and grace. Listen to the verbiage of the Psalmist as he describes Yahweh:
forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies, compassionate (4x), gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, knows that we are dust, removes our transgressions from us

She challenged us with the question, what kind of King are you expecting? And what kind of king are you exemplifying? If we are following God, we must exemplify the same characteristics to others that He did.

After lunch, 16 members of our group parted ways to head to the airport hotel. They will be departing in the morning for Istanbul and then the U.S., while the remaining large group continues on in Israel.