Going to Jerusalem, Nazareth

Of course we are warned to not be surprised by what we find in these areas but after leaving the peace, openness and genuine holiness of the Galilee, moving into the Jerusalem area is still a bit overwhelming. We started Day 7 leaving the Galilee and heading south to Nazareth. We just passed through this large overgrown city. Where Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived has a huge Catholic Church built on top of it. We stopped at Mt. Precipice, climbing the hill to get an amazing vantage point - a 360 degree view of the surrounding areas. This is the same mountain, where the people of Nazareth attempted to throw Jesus off the hill. In addition to being a holy site, Mount Precipice provides a spectacular observation point overlooking the Jezreel Valley and the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Tabor where Deborah oversaw battles against the Canaanites during the period of the Judges. We overlooked the Jezreel Valley and once again saw the importance of the East/West Roads for commerce and trade routes. So many wars and battles have taken place here in this region - more than any place else in the world. It\'s not just about war, it\'s about trade/business, about freedoms and rights. It\'s about land, ownership and pride. As we stood on Mt. Precipice, Israeli Fighter Jets would fly overhead. Our guide commented, "Ah, the sound of freedom."

Next we traveled to the Hill of Megiddo (Armageddon). Yep, Armageddon.
A place that potentially has more future significance than historical impact. John says it ends here. This is where we will see armies camped all around, massed and ready to fight, Jesus comes in on a white horse - His army dressed in white linen. There are 26 layers of civilization under Megiddo ( in other words it has been destroyed 25 times). Intense place. As for Armageddon, well you can read the end of the book.

On our continuing journey to Jerusalem, we then traveled to Mt Carmel. In Israel, mountain tops are reserved for worship. Mt. Carmel means Gods Vineyard and overlooks the Mediterranean’s shore, making it a strategic site for defense of the fertile lands below it. This mount is known as the place of the contest between Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal. Sitting at the top, we had a great teaching on Elijah reminding us of what it looks like to have total confidence in and obedience to God. Also that as soon as we have repentance, grace and mercy follow.

We traveled to Caesaria, right on the Mediterranean, the largest harbor in world at the time. Another of King Harod\'s palaces, this one was built in the sea, no not by the sea - in the sea! With concrete made from ash, sand, water - marble and granite were also imported from Rome. Amazing. Although they had excavated the theatre and various other structures some time ago, in the last 5 years, they unearthed (or in this case found in the sea) Harod\'s palace. Next to it on land was the prison where for two years Paul was in a prisoner. Act 24,25,26. We got to hear Chris Brown read Paul\'s defense/testimony right from the spot that Paul originally made his plea. It was a wow,a big wow.

We had the opportunity to walk the beach, put our tired, swollen feet in the Mediterranean as well as gather rocks, seashells and YES even bits of 1st century pottery, marble and tile that had washed up on the beach.