Israel 2004 Daily Journal
Sunrise at Nof Ginosar
Beatitudes, Capernum, & Baptism
The first day was something. We visited the Mt of
Beatitude, Capernum, the home of Jesus and Peter, and
got baptized the Jordan River.
Dan & Ceasarea Philipi
We hiked a lot the 2nd day. FIrst along the river Dan
in northern Israel, then at Ceasarea Philipi.
Arbel Cliffs and Boat
On the third day, we had the morning off. We saw a
1st century fishing boat in the museum on the kabutz.
The we had a picnic and went up on the Arbel cliffs.
That night we sailed on the Sea of Galilee and we
imagined Jesus' travels and miracles on that very
sea.
Nazareth
The 4th day, we left Galilee and stopped in Nazareth
on the way up to Jerusalem.
Ceasarea
After Nazareth, we stopped in the Roman deep water
port of Ceasarea. Pilate lived here.
Mt. of Olives & Gethsemane
Day 5: We started in Jerusalem as Jesus did, walking
down from the Mt. of Olives. We had a hour to pray in
the Garden of Gethsemane.
Stations of the Cross
Day 5: During the afternoon, we walked the stations
of the cross: the very same path Jesus took. We saw
the Rock of Calvary (where he was crucified), the
Stone of Annointment where he was laid, and his tomb,
about the holiest site in christianity.
Angeti by the Dead Sea
Day 6: After Jerusalem, we went down to the Dead Sea.
Angeti is a box canyon where King David stayed. We
hiked the canyon before in the morning and saw some
pretty waterfalls. Dr. Creasy told the story of David
and Saul.
Masada
Day 6, afternoon: In Masada, around AD70, the Jews
fought the Romans for freedom. We visited this
mountain fortress.
The Negev Desert
On the 7th day, we went into the desert, the
wilderness of Zin, where the Israelites wandered for
40 years.
The Western Wall
The eighth day was our last day. We went back to
Jerusalem, to the western wall or wailing wall. The
western wall of the temple is a holy place. It is as
close as jews can get to the temple mount.
The Garden Tomb
Our last stop on the 8th day was the Garden Tomb. The
Garden Tomb is alternate site of the crucifiction and
burial of Christ. It is a much better representation
of an ancient tomb, since it has not had churches
build all over it for the last 2000 years. Many
archeologists believe it was first temple period
tomb, not a second temple period tomb, however, so it
is likely to be much older than Jesus.