Caesarea National Park

This was excavated at Caesarea and was able to see it while we visited the Unesco Site of Caesarea National Park. The Inscription mentions Emperor Tiberius on the first line and Pontius Pilate on the second. It is the only archeological evidence for the governorship of Pontius Pilate in Palestine that dates back to the First Century. This site is where Herod built an incredible Palace, Temple to Augustus, Hippodrome, Theater etc. all on the Mediterrianian Sea. The site is one of my favorites in Israel.

Marc Chagall Exhibition

 

"I did not see the Bible, I dreamed it. Ever since early childhood, I have been captivated by the Bible. It has always seemed to me and still seems today the greatest source of poetry of all time." Chagall. Went to an exhibition of Marc Chagall in Haifa and was impressed by his ability to capture biblical themes in creative ways. His paintings and drawings express biblical themes, contemporary Judaism, and the Holocaust in such a way as to captivate your imagination. His childhood was filled with the Hasidic Jewish Religion and Culture of his small Lithuanian Village. This quote expresses his sentiments.

AKKO

We visited Acre (Akko) , An Unesco site on the Northern part of the Mediterranean Sea that is very close to the border of Lebanon. The history here is so varied and rich. The Apostle Paul came through this port on route to Ceasarea when the city was named Ptolemais. This huge hall is from the Crusader Era, when the city served as an important port and fortification for crusaders to conquer the Holy Land. Good place to film an episode of the Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights.

 

Hiking Galilee

 

We spent the last six days hiking from Nazareth to Capernaum. With side trips to see towns mentioned in the Gospels, we averaged about ten miles a day. It was so nice to be able to get a feel for the topography and difficulty that Jesus and his disciples experienced when traveling around Galilee. These photos are typical of region. This area reminds me so much of Chelan, Washington. Galilee is a region that is made up of a large body of water, steep hills, a few mountains and productive agricultural land.

Caesarea Philippi

We visited the modern day area of Banias. This Nature Reserve area is referred to in the Bible as Caesarea Philippi and is the place where Jesus took his disciples for a "retreat" and discussed with them who the general public thought Jesus was. This is where Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. The area is so lush and beautiful. We saw a wild boar in the bushes while hiking. This is one of the headwaters of the Jordan River.

The Qumran Community

This is the cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found. There is a small Musuem here along with the excavation of the community dwellings. This community was a sect of Judaism that was at odds with the Temple Priests in Jerusalem. Scholars are still speculating on exactly who they were and their relationship to the other "denominations" of Judaism when Jesus preached, taught, healed, was crucified and resurrected. Scholars do agree that the scrolls were the greatest archeological discovery of the twentieth century. Judaism was and is a diverse community of faith.

Bethlehem, Jesus' Place of Birth

This picture was taken in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity. We waited in line for about an 1.75 hours. While in line we were pushed and shoved towards the back of the church. We went down a flight of stairs and in this ornate cave was this star. Christian pilgrims from all over the world were lighting candles, prostrating themselves and kissing this religious object. I was happy to be a Lutheran Christian so I took a picture. This is the traditional location of the birth of Jesus.