November 15, 2006

• Day 2 of Israel - Beginnings...

   Ah...what a day this has been.  We started out in the city of Nazareth and visited a mock village that was set up as it would be in Jesus' time.  This was new to both Curt & I as we didn't go here on our last tour.  It was wild to think that this is how Jesus would of lived when he was growing up!!  Did you know that Nazareth was so small that it's not even mentioned in several historical writings??  They believe there was only about 10-20 families who lived there during Jesus' day.  Therefore there was no center of learning...and one reason why people often thought that nothing good would ever come from Nazareth!  Scripture readings Luke 4:16-27.

    

  The farmer's watch tower (round stone with roof) to watch over field & flocks

   

   The flocks!

  

  The donkey moving the olive press

  

  Hannah the weaver.  She's a believer & so excited to see us!!

  

  A carpenter/builder in Jesus' day - they worked with both wood & stone!!

  

  Pastor Brian preaching in the little synagogue in Nazareth Village

  

  Chris leading us in Praise and worship on the bus!

  After seeing and learning how Jesus lived back in the day, we had a long bus ride to Tabgha, the actual spot of the multiplication of Loaves & Fish.  There is a beautiful church there with amazing mosaics on the floor.  (This is also where I dropped & broke our camera!! Yeah me!) 

  

  Flowers in Bloom in Tabgha!!

  

  FAMOUS mosaic at sight where Jesus multiplied the loaves & fish

  We then stopped and had St. Peter's fish for lunch!  Yummy...although, I didn't eat the eyeballs as Philip, Curt & Eric did - Yulck!

  

  After lunch we stopped in Capernaum.  This is where Jesus began his ministry (Mark 4:13-17)  We saw Peter's house and the first church...and also the synagogue where Jesus first read from the Torah.  The neat thing about the synagogue was that the current building (from the 5th century) is build right on top of the original foundation from Jesus' day (see the black stones on the bottom).  This was the actual area that Jesus walked!!  This is the very spot that was the epicenter of Jesus' ministry!

  

  The Synagogue where Jesus taught in Capernaum

  

  See the black stone under the white...that was there in Jesus' day!!

  

  A garden at Capernaum

  

  A pretty shot from the Synagogue in Capernaum

  The last spot is one of my favorites in all of Galilee...St. Peter's Primacy.  This is where after a long night of fishing, Jesus recreated the scene of Peter's denial (hot coal fire) and appeared to Peter after the resurrection.  Jesus asked Peter 3 times, "Do you love me, Peter?"  This is where Peter renewed his call to follow Jesus.  Pastor Brian surprised us by playing the guitar and singing "Every Grain of Sand"...which I believe is a Bob Dylan song.  (BTW - PBZ plays and sings the guitar WAY better than he lets on!!) 

  

  The Church at St. Peter's Primacy

  

  Service inside church at St. Peter's Primacy

   

  Pastor singing "Every Grain of Sand"

  

  Cool plaque at St. Peter's Primacy...reminds me of my Exodus!

  We wrapped up the day at St. Peter's Primacy and then went back to the hotel for dinner.  The pace was a bit slower today than last year...which was refreshing. Tomorrow however, I believe will be a VERY full day.

   

  P.S.  I give a very special shout out of thanks to The Colonel.  If it weren't for him I would be picture-less after the Loaves & Fishes!!  He so kindly has lent us his 2nd camera (his wife had one too) to finish up the trip.  What a HUGE blessing!!  If you didn't know it already...he's a REALLY great guy!!  He'd probably give ya the shirt off his back too!!

  • 7:03 pm
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