A Pilgrimage to IsraelA Pilgrimage to Israel

A Sacred Story JourneyA Sacred Story Journey

Connie Paul, January, 2010Connie Paul, January, 2010

Israel Now and ThenIsrael Now and Then

Our guide and driver were Our guide and driver were PalestiniansPalestinians

The Life of Jesus

Why does our story begin in Why does our story begin in Bethlehem?Bethlehem?

Shepherd’s Field Remembers Shepherd’s Field Remembers Two Events: First Ruth and BoazTwo Events: First Ruth and Boaz

The The monument monument

at the at the entrance to entrance to Shepherd’s Shepherd’s

FieldField

This church commemorates This church commemorates the site of the angels & shepherdsthe site of the angels & shepherds

Just down the road is Just down the road is Manger SquareManger Square

The Church of the The Church of the Nativity is one of Nativity is one of the oldest in Israel.the oldest in Israel.

The Persians didn’t The Persians didn’t destroy it in the destroy it in the 500’s as they did 500’s as they did most others most others because of the icon because of the icon of the Wise Men in of the Wise Men in Persian dressPersian dress

This section is Greek OrthodoxThis section is Greek Orthodox

Mosaic Mosaic from the from the

floor of the floor of the church of church of the 500sthe 500s

The ancient walls of the churchThe ancient walls of the church

By Tradition the Place of By Tradition the Place of Jesus’s BirthJesus’s Birth

To the right of the birthplace is the To the right of the birthplace is the place of the mangerplace of the manger

The manger may have looked like this one at Megiddo

Bethlehem todayBethlehem today

Our story continues in NazarethOur story continues in Nazareth

It was Jesus’ It was Jesus’ hometownhometown Jesus grew up Jesus grew up

in Nazareth in Nazareth which was which was insignificant at insignificant at the timethe time

It is now the It is now the “Arab capital of “Arab capital of Israel”Israel”

A village from Jesus’s time A village from Jesus’s time has been recreatedhas been recreated

Nazareth today from the villageNazareth today from the village

Jesus’s first Jesus’s first miracle was miracle was

at Cana.at Cana.This church This church

remembers it.remembers it.

Some of the group re-enacted Some of the group re-enacted their marriage vows their marriage vows

To the Sea of GalileeTo the Sea of Galilee

We hear the We hear the story of the story of the calling of calling of Peter and Peter and Andrew at Andrew at

the seasidethe seaside

A boat from Jesus’ time—found A boat from Jesus’ time—found in the mudin the mud

The Sea is clear and lovely

The Site of the The Site of the Sermon on the MountSermon on the Mount

The Church of the BeatitudesThe Church of the Beatitudes

We heard the whole sermon We heard the whole sermon herehere

The Church of MultiplicationThe Church of Multiplication(Feeding the 5000)(Feeding the 5000)

Nearby is the church Nearby is the church remembering Peterremembering Peter

““And thou art Peter and on this And thou art Peter and on this rock…”rock…”

Capernaum Capernaum

Jesus really did walk hereJesus really did walk here

The synagogue where The synagogue where Jesus taughtJesus taught

Hearing the story in the Hearing the story in the synagoguesynagogue

The church is built over the ruinsThe church is built over the ruins

The floor of the church looks down The floor of the church looks down on the ruins of Peter’s on the ruins of Peter’s mother-in-laws housemother-in-laws house

An ancient olive pressAn ancient olive press

The The ancientancientmosaicmosaic

floorfloor

Hearing Capernaum’s historyHearing Capernaum’s history

By tradition Zaccheus

climbed into this tree

Sailing on the Sea of GalileeSailing on the Sea of GalileeWe saw the shore from a boat on the SeaWe saw the shore from a boat on the Sea

The Jordan, where Jesus The Jordan, where Jesus was baptised, and one of our group was baptised, and one of our group

was, too.was, too.

The tomb of Lazarus in Bethany

The bottom of Lazarus’ tomb

The church of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus

Jerusalem the Golden

Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

The pool of Bethesda in JerusalemThe pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem

On the path to Jerusalem

on Palm Sunday

The Garden of Gethsemene, an olive grove

Caiphus’s house where Peter denied Jesus at the

crowing of the cock

The Via Dolorosa, a place of pilgrimage

Station VII

The site of Golgotha in the Church of the Holy Sepulchure

Stone of Preparation*Stone of Preparation*

*from Internet

Behind the window of the church is the

location of the crucifixion

The Garden Tomb

Other wonderful places we visited

The Western Wall, the holiest site for Jews

The wall of the temple closest to

the Holy of Holies

The model of the temple at the Israel

Museum showing the courtyard of the Gentiles

The Dome of the RockThe Dome of the Rock

The tunnel led to the water The tunnel led to the water source—now it’s one way source—now it’s one way

to get into get in

Coming out of the tunnelComing out of the tunnel

Climbing to the tel

The tel of Megiddo

The excavation is to King Ahab’s time

Horse

Megiddo looks down on the plains of Armegeddon

Where the Dead Sea

scrolls were found

The museum has recreated

how the scrolls looked

when they were found.

The Springs of En Gedi

Going to swim in the Dead Sea

People liked swimmingPeople liked swimming

You can pay for the mud in the You can pay for the mud in the shop or get it yourselfshop or get it yourself

Masada

The model of Herod’s Masada

The baths retain some of their color

Touring the top of the mountain

The room where the lots were cast

The pilgrims at Beit She’anThe pilgrims at Beit She’an