From Sea to Sea
This morning we woke up and left our lovely home by the Dead Sea to travel up north! Another full day of travel with some stops along the way!
Our first stop was at the Nazareth Village which was an outside museum. There were people who acted the parts of Joseph and Abraham for example as we learned the lifestyles of people back in Jesus' day. While it was kind of cheesy to a certain extent, it gave a great visual. We got to see a wine "press" area outside and also an olive press which were both popular agricultural opportunities during that time and which are referred to by Jesus in many of the Scriptures since these are familiar traditions he grew up with. We got to see how the women spun wool, which was similar to what we saw a couple days ago with the Bedouin women. We ended the tour in a synagogue that was constructed like many of the ones back in the day and heard about Jesus' experiences in the synagogue. Specifically we focused on the time where Jesus read the prophecy from Isaiah and reminded the people of not only the Jews He was coming to save, but also the Gentiles. Once we were done with the tour we had lunch here with many of the traditional dishes and it was delicious as always!
From there we got on the bus once more for a bit of a longer drive until we got to Capernaum. At Capernaum we got out and went to the shore where we heard from both Ben and Jared about the importance of this site as it was a place that Jesus spent most of his time. While it can't be determined as Jesus' home it is fairly certain that because he was here so often He could have lived here for a while.
From Capernaum we went to the Mt. of Beatitudes where they recognize this general area as the place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. Elyse read out loud from the Bible passage and we walked around in silence afterwards, soaking it all in. On this site was a beautiful church and the scenery was gorgeous as we looked out and were able to see the Sea of Galilee in the distance. Definitely a different feel than the desert which we had experienced a couple days earlier.
Then we made our way down to the Sea of Galilee. We went on a boat ride around the lake and got to appreciate the beauty and the many stories that took place on this body of water. Matt read a few of these stories out loud as we looked out and enjoyed the scenery. On the day we went it was calm and peaceful but we were told that it can change and become stormy and nasty. Reading the story of Jesus calming the storm took on a whole new meaning. (The next day we got to see a little bit of this when the went picked up, it wasn't a storm but there was definitely a difference from the day before)
We made our way to our new hotel which was right on the Sea of Galilee and were able to go in for a quick swim before dinner! Ended the day chatting on the porches of our rooms and enjoying the company with only a few days left!
Our first stop was at the Nazareth Village which was an outside museum. There were people who acted the parts of Joseph and Abraham for example as we learned the lifestyles of people back in Jesus' day. While it was kind of cheesy to a certain extent, it gave a great visual. We got to see a wine "press" area outside and also an olive press which were both popular agricultural opportunities during that time and which are referred to by Jesus in many of the Scriptures since these are familiar traditions he grew up with. We got to see how the women spun wool, which was similar to what we saw a couple days ago with the Bedouin women. We ended the tour in a synagogue that was constructed like many of the ones back in the day and heard about Jesus' experiences in the synagogue. Specifically we focused on the time where Jesus read the prophecy from Isaiah and reminded the people of not only the Jews He was coming to save, but also the Gentiles. Once we were done with the tour we had lunch here with many of the traditional dishes and it was delicious as always!
Wine press, where the tour guide is standing is where they would stomp the grapes into juice and the juice would drain to the pit right in front of her.
Olive press, still used today. They have a donkey on the end of the pole that walks around in a circle, moving the stone that crushes the olives.
At Capernaum looking out at the Sea of Galilee
This is a view of a millstone and the Sea of Galilee in the distance. Mark 9: 42 "If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea." What powerful imagery as we see a millstone and the sea in the distance, possibly a spot where Jesus could have stood and said this!
From Capernaum we went to the Mt. of Beatitudes where they recognize this general area as the place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. Elyse read out loud from the Bible passage and we walked around in silence afterwards, soaking it all in. On this site was a beautiful church and the scenery was gorgeous as we looked out and were able to see the Sea of Galilee in the distance. Definitely a different feel than the desert which we had experienced a couple days earlier.
The Church of Beatitudes
Looking out from the church, absolutely gorgeous!
Then we made our way down to the Sea of Galilee. We went on a boat ride around the lake and got to appreciate the beauty and the many stories that took place on this body of water. Matt read a few of these stories out loud as we looked out and enjoyed the scenery. On the day we went it was calm and peaceful but we were told that it can change and become stormy and nasty. Reading the story of Jesus calming the storm took on a whole new meaning. (The next day we got to see a little bit of this when the went picked up, it wasn't a storm but there was definitely a difference from the day before)
Boat ride!
Matt reading Bible stories to us
We made our way to our new hotel which was right on the Sea of Galilee and were able to go in for a quick swim before dinner! Ended the day chatting on the porches of our rooms and enjoying the company with only a few days left!
The gorgeous beginning to the sunset that night!
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