itinerary
Thursday,
4 March:
Depart USA
Friday, 5 March:
Arrive
Israel
After our flight arrives in Israel we will have about
a 30 minute bus ride to our hotel located on the Mediterranean Sea.
After check-in and the evening meal we will have a group meeting.
Saturday, 6 March:
Kingdoms and Cultures in Conflict
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.
Sunday, 7 March:
“ 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 Tel Dan. In
view of the Lebanese and Syrian borders, the dynamics of the modern
political situation are briefly addressed.
Monday, 8 March:
By The Sea of Galilee
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.
Tuesday, 9 March:
Setting our Faces Toward Jerusalem
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 .
We continue our journey with a stop at the ancient Israelite city
of Jezreel , the winter home of King Ahab and Jezebeel. Finally,
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 .
Wednesday, 10 March:
City
of the Great King
Our focus today is the physical setting of Jerusalem from the time
of King David to Jesus. We begin our study with a visit to a model
of first century Jerusalem . Then we visit the upper city at Hezekiah's
Broad Wall, the Herodian Villas and the Burnt House, destroyed in
the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In the afternoon we
explore the Temple Mount and the excavations along the western and
southern walls, finishing in the City of David excavations.
Thursday, 11 March:
Behold the Man
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 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.
Friday, 12 March:
Children of the Wilderness
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.
Sunday, 13 March:
FREE DAY
Sunday, 14 March:
DEPARTURE DAY
An early AM departure flight from Tel Aviv will return us to the
USA on the same day ( 3/14/04 ).
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