Thursday, 3 November: Departure
Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight.tomorrow you will be walking where Jesus walked!
Friday, 4 November: When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport to be met by our Israeli guide, who will accompany us during our entire stay in Israel. We travel to Old Jaffa, once the gateway to the land of Israel and the port from which Jonah the Prophet tried to escape the Lord's command. After a panoramic bus tour of the city, proceed to our hotel in Tel Aviv. The remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean Sea, relax, and have dinner. The time is right for a personal devotional with the sunset over the "Great Sea" -- a time of prayer of thanks for safety and the special blessings ahead, a prayer for the people of this land, and a good night's rest.
Dinner and overnight: Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
Saturday, 5 November: Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth
After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea Maritima, where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We will see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Next we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. We arrive in Nazareth, the boy hood home of Jesus, where we visit the Church of the Annunciation and the Biblical Village. We drive through the town of Cana, site of the miracle of the wine. Our dinner and overnight lodging for the next two nights is in Tiberias.
Dinner and overnight: Leonardo Club, Tiberias
Sunday, 6 November: Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights
Following breakfast, we take a moving Sea of Galilee cruise on a fisherman's boat. A brief scripture reading and worship service on board bringsto life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen disciples. Our morning travels then take us to important sites of Jesus' Ministry in the Galilee. In Capernaum we will visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter's home. Then we travel on to Tabgha, the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes and then to Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea. We proceed to the Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi, one of the main sources ofthe Jordan River and where Jesus was recognized as the Messiah by His disciples. We then visit Korazim, a city condemned by Jesus for rejecting Him.
Dinner and overnight: Leonardo Club, Tiberias
Monday, 7 November: Mt. Tabor, Nain, Gilboa, Ein Harod, Beit Shean,
Ascent to Jerusalem We begin our day with a visit to the Jordan River Baptismal Site, including time for prayer, study, and meditation. Next we travel southward for a view of Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus, and to look out toward Nain, where Jesus resurrected a young man, and Mount Gilboa, the site of numerous biblical events. Proceed to the lovely nature reserve at Harod's Spring, where Gideon chose his soldiers to fight the Midianites. We continue to BeitShean, the most extensive archeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. After defeating Sauland his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beit Shean. Following the fertile Jordan Valley southward, your guidewill point out the agricultural restoration of the "Land of Milk and Honey," the kibbutz system, and Israel's intricate irrigation development. We continue south and then west for the ascent to Jerusalem. As we enter the Holy City, we pause to pray, learn and meditate: Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem (Ps. 122:2). Our lodging for the next four nights will be in Jerusalem.
Dinner and overnight: Grand Court Hotel, Jerusalem
Tuesday, 8 November: Mount of Olives, Mt. Zion, Old City of Jerusalem
Today we walk where Jesus walked, beginning the day with a breathtaking view of the Old City, including Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock, from atop the Mount of Olives. How many have wished to be whisked back in time to get a glimpse of our Lord or hear His voice if only for amoment? We walk to the beautiful Dominus Flevit Church, where Jesus wept upon realizing that Jerusalem would be destroyed; gaze out its window for a special view of the Temple Mount. At the Garden of Gethsemane, we walk between the ancient olive trees, read the scriptures of Jesus' prayer, and take time for personal reflection. Passing by the Christian Cemetery, we visit David's Tomb and the "Upper Room," the site of the Last Supper. We enter the city walls and move on to the Judgment Hall of Pilate, to hear of those who conspired against Him and be reminded of His brutal beating and humiliation. We then head to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist, and to the Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the'Magnificat'.
Dinner and overnight: Grand Court Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday, 9 November: Modern Jerusalem, Bethlehem
After time for morning worship, we begin today with a panoramic bus tour of modern Jerusalem, including views of the Knesset (Parliament), SupremeCourt, and President's House. An interesting and educational time then awaits us at the Israel Museum, where we will visit the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit and then view an accurately detailed model of biblical Jerusalem, which helps summarize what we are seeing in Jerusalem and to prepare us for what we will see tomorrow. We then visit Rachel's Tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem. We spend the remainder of the day surrounding the birth of Christ with a visit to Bethlehem, including Shepherd's Field, where the angels announced the birth of Jesus, and the Church of the Nativity, that stands upon the site where Jesus was born.
Dinner and overnight: Grand Court Hotel, Jerusalem
Thursday, 10 November: Masada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea, Qumran Caves
Our day begins as we depart for the Dead Sea Region, the lowest place on earth. We ascend by cable car to the mountaintop fortress of Masada. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand. Afterwards we proceed to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Because of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the site developed a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palm groves. This is where King David hid from Saul, and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites with praise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat. Now it is time to enjoy a dip in the Dead Sea for a relaxing float. Finally, we visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
Dinner and overnight: Grand Court Hotel, Jerusalem
Friday, 11 November: Around Jerusalem, Ein Karem,
We check-out of our hotel this morning and return to the Old City to ascend the Temple Mount. From here we walk across to the Lion's gate, where we proceed to visit the Pool of Bethesda, Stephen's Gate, and St. Ann's Church. We then walk along the Via Dolorosa, His Way of Suffering. Our guide will explain the differing opinions concerning the route along which Christ was led. We then enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for a brief visit. We stop at the Western Wall, where thousands of Jews pray daily. Our tour takes us to the Southern Wall Excavations, where Jesus drove out the vendors and money changers who were exploiting the people. It is also likely that this is the place that Peter stood and preached, and where thousands were saved and baptized on the Day of Pentecost. We proceed to the area of Golgotha (place of the skull) and the Garden Tomb, where we celebrate the resurrection with Communion and a time of praise. We continue to Abu Gosh for a delicious Middle Eastern farewell dinner and then to the airport for our flight home.
Important Note: Although the itinerary above obviously emphasizes the spiritual aspect of this marvelous country, our guides are also experts in, and passionate about, the miracle of the return of the Jews and the restoration of the state of Israel. This fact, along with many modern day topics (military, politics, education, and other cultural aspects), will bewoven into the commentary in order to give you well-rounded information.
Itinerary Subject to Change
Itinerary
