Israel Diaries # 6: Galilee

Shalom from the Land Between!

Well, we have fallen hopelessly behind in our blogging, which would have been impossible to keep up at the pace of this course. The class has come to an end (seemed to go SO fast!), but we are able to stick around for a few days and take a few deep breaths before flying home and starting a whole new phase of our lives(more info on that upcoming). There are many conversations, experiences (been to and studied 50+ ancient/modern sites around the country) and cultural insights to share, but for now here are some snapshots from our trip to Galilee…the central location of Jesus’ life and teaching.

View from the front porch of our Kibbutz on the east shore of Galilee overlooking Tiberias (capital of Herod Atipas during Jesus adult life). A kibbutz is basically a communal farm. Many now have opened lodging areas for tourist/locals to vacation as a way to stimulate income. It was BY FAR our favorite place we stayed in Israel.

In Caesarea Maritima(“by the sea”) where Herod Agrippa died and where Paul was imprisoned. It is actually a beautiful resort area where we got to have Janny’s favorite Lemonana drink!

We drove to the very north part of Israel and were able to look into Lebanon and Syria. Israel is still technically “at war” with both. The green is Israel, the brown in distance is Lebanon.

Standing in front of the pagan altars in Caesarea Philippi. This was one of the theological highlights for me as I have studied the cultural/physical location a lot in the past. This is where Peter affirms Jesus as Messiah(Matt 16). Much affirmed what I had studied. The gods Pan and Nemesis were worshiped through the offering of sacrifices at this site. Nemesis is the god of the underworld and this site in the 1st century context would have been known as the gates of Hades (see Jesus’ reference in Matt. 16).

On the Mount of the Beatitudes in north Galilee where Jesus gave Sermon on the Mount. It was especially powerful as I was able to give the class devotional, while standing this hill overlooking the lake.

Janny taking a rest on the streets of Capernaum. Seeing Peter’s home, which would have served as one of the first home churches and picturing Jesus walking the streets(it is thought that he lived his adult life here) was incredible.

We got to take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee!

There is MUCH more to share, but that will have to wait for Israel Diaries # 7!