Day of Rest

Today was a much needed day of rest. We have many stories to tell when we get home!
Gary and I will b leaving the group tomorrow. We will b driven back to Tel Aviv and then on to NY while the rest of our group goes on to Jordan and the Petra Rocks.
Everyone is well but tired so it was good to have a 'free' day today.
This was the trip of a lifetime!! I praise God that we were able to see the land that The Lord lived, preached and died. It was amazing!!

Mount of Olives

This morning we went to the Mount of Olives. It is as it has been for hundreds of years. Some of these olive trees r more than 2,000 years old. This is where Jesus went to get away from the crowds. He walked thru this area teaching His disciples. He told them about the end times (Matthew 24) but before that Zachariah predicts that the on the day that the Messiah comes He will "stand on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will b split in to from east to west, forming a great valley w half the mountain moving north and the other half moving south" The ascension of The Lord occurred btw Jerusalem and Bethany.

The garden tomb

This is not the " traditional" site of Jesus' death and burial but historically it's quit obvious that this place seems much more logical. (The entire group agreed) It is on a rock that looks like a skull called Golgotha (as described n John 17:19) The tomb is located n a family-owned cemetery (19:38) near a wealthy man's home. (There is a wine press there)

The birth of Jesus

This is where Constantine proclaimed that Christ was born. We waited over an hr to get in.

The last few stations of the cross

Dan stands beside a bomb defuser as we wait to go into the church to see the last few stations of the cross

Jerusalem and the stations of the cross

We walked the streets of the old city and followed the path that Jesus may have taken to Calvary. Many different races and cultures own different stations of the cross. It was really quite sad to see that even the different factions of Christians STILL fighting.
Look Jessy- I found a manhole cover for you!

The Pool of Bethesda

John 5:1-15 tells the story of Jesus healing the invalid who had been unsuccessful in dragging himself into the miraculous waters. Jesus tells him to pick up his mat- that he is healed! But because this miracle occurred on the Sabbath the Jews were angry and condemned the man for picking up his mat and walking. The Jews asked the healed man who had made him well and the man did not know but later found Jesus. Jesus told the man that he should sin no longer and the man went bk to the Jews and reported this. This is why the Jews wanted Jesus killed!

Masada

We went to Masada this morning. King Herod was responsible for building the palace but it was abandoned and later inhabited by the Essenes- a zealot group of Jews. They were being chased by the Roman army when they discovered the abandoned palace n 66 AD. The Essenes held fast n the fortress for 2 yrs at which time the Roman army built a ramp up the eastern side of the palace and penetrated the palace. The Essenes refused to become slaves for the Romans so instead of being captured they all committed suicide- men women and children.

We also went to eat some fantastic traditional middle eastern food afterwards. They dressed some of us up and placed us n a tent!

More pics

Qumran and the Dead Sea

Next we went to Qumran where we saw the cave that the Dead Sea scrolls were found. We traveled along the road next to the Dead Sea and planned a the swim for tonight.

Jericho

Next we went to 2,000 year old, Jericho where we read about the temptations of Christ. Historians believe that this is where Jesus fasted for 40 days and was then tempted by Satan. (Ironically there is a restaurant built into the mountain!) some of us then took camel rides. Afterwards we passed by a sycamore tree- the oldest tree n Jericho. It is believed that Zachius (a wee little man) climbed a tree like this to see Jesus as He entered into the city.

Jordan River, Beit Shean

This morning we went to the Jordan River not far from where Jesus was baptized. We all waded into the river. Numerous people were being baptized. I bought a bottle to bring some water home so that it could be used for the dedication of my grandchildren.
Next we went to Beit Shean which is the where the head of Saul (1st King of the Jews) was placed at the gate after the Cannonites killed him. Buck demonstrated the toilets...we thought of Ed!!

Fun stuff

Eating lunch at a Kabbish and the boat ride