When we checked out of the Scots Hotel in Tiberias, we traveled to Tabgha to the Mount of the Beatitudes, the site purported to be the place where JESUS delivered His sermon on the mount. From there, we went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee where JESUS could have met with His disciples after His resurrection.
Then we went to the Tourist Tree Planting Center near Golani Junction, Lavie Forest, the lower Galilee. The Keren Kayemeth - Jewish National Fund oversees this tree planting by tourists. You can learn more about this organization by going www.jnf.org. Each member of our team planted a small pine tree. This organization uses Leviticus 19:23: "When ye shall come into the land and plant all manner of trees..."
From there, we traveled to Kfar Kedem, which is a recreated ancient village in Galilee that enables visitors to actually relive the past through interactive experiences. We dressed up as shepherds from the ancient times, and heard about what life was like for shepherds in ancient times. We also got to see our host make goat cheese by taking hot goat milk, cut fig leave stems, place them in the milk, and watch it congeal into goal cheese. We also rode briefly on donkeys.
We then drove to Nazareth to Mount Precipice. It is believed by many that this was the site of the rejection of JESUS in Luke 4: 29-30, where the people of Nazareth, not accepting JESUS as Messiah, attempted to push him from the mountain, but "He passed through the midst of them and went away." The site offers a panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley and Mount Tabor. Connected with this site is the valley of Megiddo, along with TelMeggiddo, which is strategically located at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge overlooking the Jezreel Valley from the west.
At lunch, we ate at a Druze restaurant. Then we proceeded to Mount Carmel, which gave us a panoramic view of the area. Elijah and the prophets of baal had their confrontation on this mount!
We then drove to Caesarea, located on the Mediterranean Sea between Haifa and Tel Aviv. We first saw the aqueduct, constructed under the reign of King Herod in 22 B.C. Archaeological excavations in the 1950's-1960's unearthed this ancient city, including an amphitheater where the apostle Paul appeared to King Agrippa, as recorded in the book of Acts.
Our tour was now officially over. But the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, so gracious as hosts, made reservations for us at the 5-star Dan Panorama Tel Aviv for 2 hours to allow us "freshen up" before we went to the Tel Aviv airport. Our flight left at 1:00 a.m., and arrived 12 hours later at the JFK Airport in New York City. From their, Kathy and I flew to Salt Lake City (they actually booked us first class - wow!!! - I can "handle" all of the leg room!). Fortunately, we had no problems getting out of Salt Lake back to Colorado Springs.
Kathy and I are so grateful to GOD for His wonderful provision to allow us to go Israel at no cost. Because I want others to experience what we did, I am planning on taking a group from our church to the Holy Land in late 2014 or early 2015.
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