Day 06 - Galilee: Katzrin (cultural experience), Mount Bental, Caesarea Philippi, Tel Dan

From Ancient Villages to Living Confessions

We began the morning with a thoughtful devotion from Erik Van Asch, continuing his reflection on the woman who touched the tassels of Jesus’ robe. He reminded us that faith is not about proximity but about reaching out with trust. It was a fitting way to start a day that would move from everyday life in the first century to one of the most important questions Jesus ever asked.

A short drive took us up into the Golan to Katzrin Ancient Village, a reconstructed first century village that continued even after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. We stepped back in time, dressing in period clothing and learning about olive oil production, wheat cultivation, milling, and bread preparation. We ended inside a reconstructed home, gaining a better sense of how families lived, worked, and worshiped. Seeing daily life up close gave new texture to the parables and stories we read in the Gospels.

From there we climbed to Mount Bental. Looking out over the landscape, we shifted from ancient history to modern events, learning about the wars of 1948, 1967, and 1973 and their significance for Israel. The view made it clear how strategic and contested this region has been.

Next we traveled to Caesarea Philippi, a Greco-Roman city once filled with temples dedicated to Caesar, Pan, and Zeus. In that setting, surrounded by visible expressions of pagan worship, Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16, “Who do people say that I am?” Standing there, the question carried new weight. It was not asked in a quiet synagogue, but in the shadow of competing claims to power and divinity. The context made Peter’s confession feel bold and costly.

Our final major stop was Tel Dan, ancient Dan or Laish. We walked through the lush Jordan spring, passed through a Canaanite gate dating back to the time of Abraham, and discussed Jeroboam’s alternative temple and Ahab’s gate. We also reflected on the important inscription discovered there, which references the “House of David,” offering archaeological support for the biblical narrative.

The day could have ended there and still felt full. But just before sunset, we gathered at the Sea of Galilee and had the privilege of baptizing four women from our group. After days of walking through the places where Jesus taught and ministered, witnessing these baptisms felt like a continuation of the story rather than a conclusion. Scripture, history, and present faith met in one moment.

A Closing Reflection

Today was layered with questions of identity and allegiance. We stood in a first century village and saw how ordinary people lived. We stood on a modern battlefield and considered how nations define themselves. We stood at Caesarea Philippi and heard Jesus ask, “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15.

That question still presses on us. Not in theory, but personally.

In a world filled with competing voices and claims to authority, the confession that Jesus is the Christ still requires clarity and courage. It was bold for Peter to say it in a place devoted to Caesar and false gods. It is still bold today.

And then, at the water’s edge, we watched four women publicly declare their answer through baptism. No temple backdrop. No fortress walls. Just faith expressed simply and clearly.