| En-Gedi – Shoresh – Alexander
College INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Steven Notley and Dr. Wink Thompson Friday, July 9 Group departure day. Group flight arrangements are pending.
Saturday, July 10 Arrival day in Israel . After airport customs, we will transfer to our hotel located on the Mediterranean Sea . After the evening meal, we will have a meeting to get acquainted and to take care of administrative needs.
Sunday, July 11 The day will be spent with introductory Lectures related to the Land and to Jesus. While we do have 4-5 hours of dedicated classroom time, we have allowed ample free time to relax, catch up on sleep, and adjust to the time change. Topic 1 : “The Land as the 5th Gospel” (Deuteronomy 8-11) [WT] Topic 2 : “Ancient Israel in the Fertile Crescent ” [WT] Topic 3 : “In the Fullness of Time: Historical Developments between the Testaments” [SN] Topic 4 : “Faith and Piety in First Century Judaism” [SN]
Monday, July 12 FIELD TRIP : “ Kingdoms and Cultures in Conflict” Morning Lecture : “The Land Between – God's Testing Ground of Faith” [WT] Today we address the social, religious and political tensions which lie behind the relationship between the Jewish people and the foreigners in the land. On Mount Carmel we consider Elijah's confrontation with the Phoenician prophets of Baal. At Sepphoris we visit the impressive excavations of this capital of the Galilee at the birth of Jesus where Jews and Gentiles lived together. Finally, we travel to Nazareth , the childhood home of Jesus.
Tuesday, July 13 FIELD
TRIP : “Who
do people say that I am?” Today we examine the various messianic expectations in the first century and how they penetrate into the language of Jesus and the Early Church . We begin the day traveling to the northern regions of Israel on the ancient Road to Damascus . On the lower slopes of Mount Hermon we consider the event of the Transfiguration from which Jesus set face for Jerusalem . We take time to enjoy the spectacular beauty in the region at Banyas (Caesarea Philippi) and Dan. In view of the Lebanese and Syrian borders, the dynamics of the modern political situation are briefly addressed.
Wednesday, July 14 FIELD TRIP : “By the Sea of Galilee ” Morning Lecture : “The Days of John: Redemptive Hope in the Days of Jesus” [SN] A full morning study includes sites and themes central to the ministry of Jesus. At Chorazin, the Mount of Beatitudes and Bethsaida we consider the second stage of Jesus' ministry with attention given to his teachings within their contemporary context. In the afternoon we take time at Capernaum , the center of Jesus' Galilean ministry, to consider his teaching and miracles in this lakeside town. We continue to Kibbutz Ginnosar where an ancient Sea of Galilee boat (dating to the 1st century AD) is preserved. We conclude our day with a relaxing boat cruise of the Sea of Galilee .
Thursday, July 15 FIELD TRIP : “ Setting Our Faces Toward Jerusalem ” Morning Lecture : “The Geography of the Jezreel Valley ” [WT] We travel to Jerusalem via the Jezreel Valley and Costal Plain. On our way we visit the Biblical city of Beth Shean , a Philistine stronghold during the days of Saul and David. There we examine the recent excavations of its Roman-Byzantine remains when it was known as Scythopolis, one of the Hellenistic cities of the Decapolis . At Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea , we give thought to the conversion of Cornelius, the Roman centurion, and the challenges this posed for the Early Church .
Friday, July 16 JERUSALEM : “The Old City of Jerusalem ” Morning Lecture : “The Geography of Jerusalem ” [WT] Today begins with a classroom overview of the cultural aspects of the Old City and a study of the physical geography of Jerusalem 's hills and valleys. This will provide you with some geographical, cultural, and religious orientation for the remainder of our Jerusalem study. We will have an introductory walking tour of the Old City to help you become familiar with its Quarter and points of interest. The remainder of the day will be free for you to explore on your own.
Saturday, July 17 JERUSALEM : “Behold the Man” Morning Lecture : “Jesus in Jerusalem ” [SN] Particular attention is given to the historical background regarding the opposition to Jesus and the events which led to his crucifixion. In connection with these themes we begin our touring on the crest of the Mount of Olives with an overlook to the Golden Gate . We descend the mount to the church of Dominus Flavit and to the Garden of Gethsemane . On the Via Dolorosa we stop at St. Anne's church, the site of the ancient pools of Bethesda . We conclude at the Church of the Resurrection, possible site of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Sunday, July 18 Free Day.
Monday, July 19 JERUSALEM : “Herodian Jerusalem ” Morning Lecture : “Herodian Jerusalem and the Roman Destruction (70 AD)” [SN] Our focus today is to examine the historical rule of Herod the Great (ending in 4BC), his successors and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. We journey into the Old City visiting several key archaeological sites: (1) Herodian Villas (2) Burnt House (3) Gennath Gate and (4) the Southern Excavations. We conclude our study of Jerusalem with a visit to a model of first century AD Jerusalem .
Tuesday, July 20 FIELD TRIP: “Children of the Wilderness” No lecture this morning . Today we follow in the steps of individuals and communities who lived in the Judean wilderness. At Masada we consider the fate of the Zealot movement which ended on this rocky promontory. At the oasis of Ein Gedi we walk in to observe a “river in the desert” in the region where David hid from Saul. Khirbet Qumran provides the setting for our consideration of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their relationship to John the Baptist and early Christianity.
Wednesday, July 21 JERUSALEM : “The Road to Emmaus” No lecture this morning . In the morning we travel for a brief excursion to walk along a portion of the ancient Road to Emmaus where Jesus encountered the two as they traveled this road (Luke 24). We return to Jerusalem for lunch and the remainder of the day is free. After the evening meal we will have a brief group meeting .
Thursday, July 22 DEPARTURE DAY: “ Shalom” Group flight arrangements are pending. Flier • Calendar • Itinerary • Notes • Hotels • Flights • Application
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