Biblical Israel
First time in Israel? You want to start here. This trip is designed to introduce you to the major places, people, and events of the Bible—on location. You’ll visit locations with familiar names, such as the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, and Samaria. You will connect the dots between people and places, experiencing the Bible in the Land of the Bible as one grand story.
You will walk in the footsteps of Jesus—and many kings, prophets and judges of the Bible. Stepping into their story will give you increased insight into their journey, and yours.
We will spend much time in Jerusalem, walking through its ancient streets from the city of David to the Temple Mount. We will follow Jesus’ last trip, down Mount of Olives to Golgotha and the empty tomb. We will explore Bethlehem (where Jesus was born) and Nazareth (where he grew up), walk the shores of Galilee where he ministered, and sail the sea where he calmed the storm.
It is a land of hills and valleys… a land which the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it. (Deut 11:11-12)
Here are a few highlights of the trips
THE TEMPLE MOUNT Here on Mount Moriah, Abraham offered Isaac. Centuries later, Solomon built the temple to the Lord. Some time before the coming of Jesus, Herod the Great expanded the Temple and its courts where Jesus preached and where Paul was later arrested.
THE SEA OF GALILEE
On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called his disciples, preached the Sermon on the Mount, and fed the five thousand. It was the fishing spot of Peter, James, and John. We will also sail on these waters that Jesus walked on.
THE DEAD SEA AND THE WILDERNESS
The lowest spot on earth: the Dead Sea. Its water is so salty and dense you cannot sink. Nothing lives in the water and life in the surrounding Judean wilderness is harsh. In this wilderness, God provided for the Israelites in their wanderings, John proclaimed the coming of the kingdom, and Jesus endured the temptations.
CESEREA MARITIMA
Ceserea Maritima was a great port city and the seat of the Roman government in the first century. It was the home of a Roman centurion named Cornelius whose household found salvation after Peter’s vision. Later, Paul testified before Agrippa, Felix, and Festus, before appealing to Caesar and departing to Rome—his final journey.
THE JEZREEL VALLEY
From Nazareth, Jesus could look across the Jezreel valley—the valley of Armageddon—and see Mount Carmel, where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal; Mount Gilboa, where Saul and Jonathan lost their lives; and Mount Moreh, where Elisha (and later Jesus himself) raised a widow’s son. A busy international highway goes across the valley, the scene of many battles, both past and future.
THE SOUTHERN STEPS
The Southern Steps are stairs to the Temple and were the entrance for the common people. This is most likely where Mary and Joseph would have entered with baby Jesus to be dedicated. Money changers would set up their booths on these steps. It is where the Apostles preached on Pentecost.