Day 9, Tuesday, March 20:
This morning we drive south from Jerusalem to Herodion, a cone-shaped hill near Bethlehem where Herod the Great built a fortress and palace, and where he was buried. From there we go to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus. We go to the Church of the Nativity, built over the traditional site of the birth of Christ. Before we leave Bethlehem , we drive by the traditional Field of Shepherds, where the angel announce the birth of Jesus. And of course, on this day we will go shopping. Not much traveling this day but a lot to take in.
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Day 8, Monday March 19. We are going to two place we have never been- Bethany , where John the Baptist lived and did most of his ministry. next we cross the Allenby Bridge and go to Jericho, the oldest continually inhabited city. That is where Jesus restored the sight of Bartimaeus and went to the house of Zacchaeus.
We will view the Mount of Temptation and the drive south to the majestic fortress of Masada. Masada is a fortress that Herod the Great built. It is spectacular. Next we go to Qumran to view the caves where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Also in that area is where David hid from King Saul. And then a dip in the Dead Sea, where you float. Hope it is not cold. Last time the wind was bad and the waves were high. Day 7, Sunday, March 18: Today we visit the marvelous "rose-red" city of Petra. we tried to visit this one three years ago and got snowed out. Prayerfully and hopefully that will not happen today. The entire city of rose-colored temples and amphitheaters is carved out of the multi-hued rock of the cliffs which surround the hidden valley. We drive past a Crusader castle built in the 12th century. We continue through the area of Moab. Again we head back to our hotel on the Dead Sea.
Day 6, Saturday, March 17. This morning we are crossing the Sheik Hussein Bridge into Jordan. We will go to Jerash, a city of the decapolis that was one of the most important and best preserved cities in the Near East. We will view the Jabbok River, where Jacob wrestled with "a man" who wrenched Jacob's hip socket. Then we drive to Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land, the green Jordan Valley- the " Land of Milk and Honey." From there we venture down to the Dead Sea to lodge that night.
Day 5, Friday, March 16. This morning we go first to Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. We visit the Nazareth Village, that is a replica of a first-century town and ancient farm. Then we go to Beit She'an, perhaps best known as the site where King Saul and his sons were hung from the city walls by the triumphant Philistines. We will conclude our day at the baptismal site on the River Jordan. Where if anyone so desires, I will baptize them in the Jordan River. It doesn't sound like we will do much on this day but the three locations will take up a great deal of time. We will then head back to Tiberias to our hotel and a wonderful buffet dinner on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is amazing how small the Sea is, in comparison to some of the lakes we have been on.
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What we Learned on Sunday? Insights, ideas and InspirationWritten by Pastor Chris Hudson Archives
April 2024
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