Day 02. Arrive in Israel and transfer to your hotel in Herzilya on the Mediterranean Sea. Day 03. Visit Caesarea Maritime built by Herod the Great in 20 B.C. This was one of the most striking port cities of the period. See the amphitheater and ruins of this splendid city. The apostle Peter preached to Cornelius who became the first gentile convert (Acts 21:8). Later Paul was imprisoned here (Acts 26). Continue north to Haifa, lsrael's main port and the nation's largest heavy industries. It is situated in the most beautiful bay of the Mediterranean coast and on the slopes of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel is forever renowned as being the scene of the contest between the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal (Kings 18). Drive inland to Nazareth. This place was chosen by God for the Annunciation of the birth of Hi Son (Luke 1:26-35) and where Jesus spent His childhood. Continue 4 miles to Cana, the infamous town where Jesus performed His first miracle changing water into wine at the wedding feast (John 2:1 -11). End this day at hour hotel on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Day 04. Today visit the sites around the Sea of Galilee. The Mount of Beatitudes is the traditional site where Jesus uttered the immortal words of the beatitudes and the principles of a blessed life (Matthew 5). Capernaum became the second native city for Jesus. This grew to be the center of His activities for almost two years. It was also the home of St. Peter and where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39). Visit Mensa Christi, the traditional site where the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples, prepared breakfast for them and gave Peter the pastoral commission of 'Feed my sheep' (John 21:9). Tabgha is traditionally known to be the site where Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:36-44). Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where you will have time to reflect, share testimonies or praise and worship Him. End the day at the traditional baptismal site on the Jordan River. Return to your hotel. Day 05. After breakfast depart the Galilee and visit the historic city of Bet Shean (Joshua 17:11). Excavations have uncovered eighteen levels of habitations here. Travel south through the Jordan Valley to Jericho. Jericho is considered the oldest city in the world to have been discovered so far. Remember the famous event of the walls tumbling down when the Lord had given Jericho into the hands of Joshua (Joshua 6). Also, Jesus met and went to the house of Zaccheus in Jericho (Luke 19). Continue onto Masada, the fortress built by Herod the Great. Masada is a symbol of courage and heroism for the Jewish people. From 70-73 A.D., a small band of Jewish Zealots held out against the Roman legions and slavery. Drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth's surface. It is called the Dead Sea because of the absence of any animal life in its waters. It is most salt saturated water in the world. Ascend to Jerusalem. Check into your hotel for overnight. Day 06. Begin the day in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus (Luke 2:1 1). Visit the Church of the Nativity, the Fields of Boaz (Ruth 1:19-22) and the Shepherd's Field (Luke 2:8-14). See Rachael's Tomb, her traditional burial site (Genesis 35:-16-20). Return to the new city of Jerusalem and visit the Israel Museum, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. See the Knesset, lsrael's Parliament Building and end the day at the Model of Ancient Jerusalem in the second Temple Period. Return to your hotel for overnight. Day 07. This morning, see the magnificent view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. Walk to Dominus Flevit 'The lord Wept.' Here Jesus, seeing the city, halted and wept over it (Luke 19:37-42). Continue down Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, the place made holy by the prayer and Agony of Christ (Luke 22:42)- Visit the Upper Room, the traditional site of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-25). Just below the Upper Room is one of the most sacred Jewish sites in Israel, the Tomb of King David. St. Peter in Gallicantu is the church built over the traditional site of the house of the high priest, Caiaphas. Jesus was to have spent the entire night here during His first trial (Matthew 26:57-63). just north of the Damascus Gate is the Garden Tomb. It gives a clear picture of what the place of the Crucifixion and burial of Christ must have looked like at the time of Jesus. Return to your hotel. Day 08. Today is the walking tour of the old City of Jerusalem beginning with the Armenian and Jewish Quarters. Touch the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) which is the holiest shrine of the Jewish World. It is revered as the last relic of the last Temple. Walk on the Temple Mount on which lies the traditional rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, lsaac (Genesis 22:2). Visit the Pool of Bethesda where Christ healed the man who had been crippled for 38 years (John 5). Proceed along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, which is the traditional pathway Jesus carried the cross (John 19:17) which ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is in this church that it is believed to be the site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of Jesus (John 19:17-20). Return to your hotel for overnight. Day 09. Free day. Day 10. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the United States. |