Latest Israel trip days 4-6

We are still in the Sea of Galilee area on days 4-6. Today we went to a place that was new to Kent and I. It was still under excavation and closed to the public when we were there in 2013. The site is the location of the synagogue from Magdala. Mary Magdalene was from there.

After learning about the synagogue we went inside the chapel there. We stood in a large atrium, called the Women's Atrium and the women sang "As Sisters in Zion".  

Next stop was in the chapel itself. The altar is a huge boat. Unusual except in this kind of setting. You can see that the roof is also curved like the bottom of a boat.

I went downstairs with the group and Kent went on his own. He saw these beautiful little chapels:

Down in the basement where the group went was a large mural depicting the woman with the issue of blood reaching out to touch Jesus's clothes. I liked it a lot and tried to focus just on her touching him. Actually, the mural itself is only of people's feet with the center point being the woman's hand. I enjoyed this place very much.

Our next stop was lunch, close enough that we could walk down the street from the site. It was called the Magdalena Restaurant. The only picture I took in there was the sign at the end of the hall next to the restrooms. It was so funny and clever!

😂😂😂

One of my favorite places in this area is the Mt. of Beatitudes. Kent gave our group a great lesson about the beatitudes and then we wandered the grounds and the church on our own.

There is a very sweet spirit at this place and even though we don't honor spiritual events by building churches on "the spot", it is easy to see how meaningful it is to other pilgrims who come here to remember their Savior and his teachings.

Day 5 began on Saturday, which is the Sabbath in Israel. We were not in a position to go to church but we did have a devotional at the end of the day. We also went to some really beautiful places on our tour. Our first stop was Tel Dan. This is the place where the Jordan river gushes out of the mountain. Much of it is walking through shady boardwalks along the river. It is also the place where Jeroboam set up an altar as part of the revolt against the house of Judah. He built false images to worship so that his people would not go to Jerusalem to worship at the temple there. 

 Behind Kent is a replica of the altar that was once here. Next to Kent is our guide, Faris [like Ferris Bueller - those are his words, not mine!!]

We had lunch in a Lebanese restaurant. Pretty good food and a lovely setting with a nice breeze blowing off of the river.

We then walked through a gate and into Caesarea Philipi. This is the spot where Peter testified when asked by Christ, "But whom say ye that I am?" "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is another place also, where the water comes up out of the earth.

Our last stop of the day was an overlook called Har Bental. From there you can see over into Syria and can see Mt. Hermon.

Since this is also border territory you can see the barbed wire and the top of this hill is covered with bunkers.

My favorite part, honestly, are these works of art created out of scrap metal. They line the pathway up to the top of the hill:

After the heat of these sites it was nice to return and relax at our hotel for the evening. Plus, we enjoyed a short devotional given by the 3 scholars. Nice Sabbath day.

Day 6 - This was a very leisurely morning for many of us. Some of the group had signed up for various activities such as a balloon ride, ATVs, a hike, etc. The whole group met for lunch at the Ein Gev Fish Restaurant. We take the students here each semester while living on the Sea of Galilee. Usually eating here includes a "who can eat the most fish eyes" contest. No one challenged Kent.(shocking, I know!)

Now we were ready to go out on the sea where the fish were caught. The boat launch is right next to the restaurant. We sailed half way across then stopped and listened to the account of Jesus walking on the water and teaching by the Sea etc. Then we finished our sail across to go on to Capernaum.

From left to right: Diane and Larry (Cruise Lady), Kent and I, Debbie and Dan Peterson.

Jack Welch, teaching us about the Sea of Galilee:

When we arrived at Capernaum, our great guide found our group a nice spot under a large tree where Kent taught us. Then we toured the site.

Capernaum was Peter and Andrew's home town:

A synagogue much later than Christ's time

These are believed to be the remains of Peter's home and where, shortly after that, it became the church where members met.

As is normal here, this church was built over the ruins above. The floor of the church is clear so that you can look down on the ruins.

Our last stop of the day was to St Peter's Primacy where Christ asked Peter "Do you love me? Feed my sheep." Right next door is another church called Tabgha or the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. We didn't get to go there unfortunately.

Really covering all the bases here:

To be continued.