The Life & World of Jesus

A Shoresh Study Tours Itinerary

We will trace the life of Jesus from his home in Galilee to Jerusalem, giving particular attention to the influence of Jewish thought and culture of the period on the origins of Christianity. Our goal is a better understanding of Jesus' ministry, his place among the Jewish people, and the application of His teachings for us today.

Day 1: THE LAND OF PROMISE

OPTION 1: MORNING ARRIVAL

On our first day, we focus on the miraculous restoration of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. We begin our day at Beit Immanuel, the CMJ ministry center in Tel Aviv. Here we will learn of CMJ’s ministry to the Jewish people over the past 160 years.  Our next stop will be in Tel Aviv, at the Israel Museum of Independence where we will learn of the growth and struggles of this tiny country immediately prior to and since her independence. Time permitting, we may also visit the ancient port of Jaffa, the location of Simon the Tanner’s house and the point from which Jonah tried to escape his calling to warn the people of Nineveh.

Overnight: Mediterranean Coast

OPTION 2: AFTERNOON/EVENING ARRIVAL

From the airport we will travel to our hotel on the coast. Time permitting we can stroll on the beach or swim before dinner.  

Overnight: Mediterranean Coast

Day 2: LIGHT TO THE NATIONS

We begin our day at the fabulous remains of the Herodian city of Caesarea Maritima, the location from which Paul left the shores of Israel and set sail with the Good News to the Gentile world. We then travel up the coast to Mount Carmel for a spectacular view over the North of Israel. Here we will study Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal.  Next we follow the route of the ancient Via Maris, passing through the Jezreel Valley, a candidate for the location of the battle of Armageddon. We will devote the journey to discussing Jewish apocalyptic literature and the book of Revelation. We will visit either Megiddo, or the spectacular ruins of Sepphoris, where we will examine Jesus’ relationship to Elijah and His first miracle. We conclude our day at ancient Nazareth where we contemplate closely Jesus’ home life, town and early ministry.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee

Day 3: AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE - THE LIFE OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES

Our day will be spent visiting various sites around Lake Galilee as we try to picture the Galilee ministry of Jesus and the lives of His disciples. We will start the day with a view from the traditional site of the Mount of Beatitudes where we will study together about the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ teachings. Our next two stops will be the “cursed” cities of Chorazin and Capernaum whereby we will discuss Jesus’ relationship to the Pharisees. Along the way we will seek to understand the New Testament fishing industry of these places and their relationship to the miracles of Jesus. After lunch and a contemplative time by the shores of the Lake we will visit Kibbutz Ginossar to see a fishing boat from the time of Jesus. From there we will set sail on the Lake. to enjoy the views and perhaps some worship, prayer or devotional time.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee

Day 4: EXPLORING THE GOLAN  - THE KINGDOM OF GOD & BIBLICAL IMAGERY

We begin today by climbing up to the magnificent Golan Heights nearby to Israel’s highest mountain. Here we will discuss the Transfiguration and its relationship to the Hebrew Scriptures.  Next we shall visit Banias, in the region of Caesarea Philippi where Peter made his famous confession that Jesus is the Messiah.  Our next stop is the nature reserve of Dan, where we will enjoy a pleasant walk by a stream that is the main source of the Jordan River, and discuss the meaning of “living water” in the Scriptures.  At Dan we will also see the incredible archeological site including the place of pagan worship and city gate from the time of Abraham.  (An option instead of Dan & Banias is to visit the nature reserve of Gamla, we can study some wildlife, including one of the world’s biggest birds; we will discuss how this bird is depicted in the biblical text.) In the afternoon we will visit a reconstructed biblical village at Katzrin where we will examine life in New Testament times and everyday imagery in Scripture.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee

Day 5: THE JORDAN VALLEY - FIRE AND WATER

Today we examine the separation of the Church from the Jewish people. Traveling south down the spectacular Syrian African rift we learn how that very conflict was instrumental in renewing various kinds of Jewish settlement in the Holy Land throughout the last 200 years. Our first stop is  Kibbutz Gesher, where we'll see what is known as one of the hydraulic wonders of the world.  There we'll learn how a Jewish engineer  worked to harness the great rivers of the Jordan and Yarmuch to provide electricity for both Jew and Arab during British Mandate Palestine. At the Jordan River, we will discuss the ministry of John the Baptist and his relationship to the ministry of Jesus. From here we travel to Kibbutz Alfa to examine a beautiful mosaic of a very early synagogue floor, where will study the reasons of the separation of the early Jewish church from its Gentile siblings.  Time permitting, we will have dip in the beautiful spring fed pools at Sachne, and then make our way south to the arid Judean Wilderness. We will finish our day by enjoying a float in the therapeutic mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea.

Overnight: Dead Sea

Day 6: THE DESERT AS A REFUGE

We begin our day at Masada, one of Herod the Great’s magnificent fortresses and the last Jewish stronghold to fall captive to the Romans. Here we will discuss the nature of the Herodian dynasty and Zealot ideology. On our way back north we will see the beautiful subtropical oasis of En Gedi before making our way to the site of Qumran, home to probably the most exciting archaeological discovery ever made in Israel – the Dead Sea Scrolls. Here we will discuss the relevance of the scrolls and their impact on Christianity. After stopping for an overlook of Jericho – the oldest and lowest city on earth, we make the final ascent to Jerusalem – the City of the Great King. After dinner we will be treated to a short stroll for a rooftop panorama of the Old City with Shoresh Director Yoel Seton.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 7: DISCOVERING JERUSALEM IN THE TIME OF JESUS

Our day will be devoted to learning about Jerusalem in the Second Temple era. An early start will take us up to the Temple Mount, where we’ll consider some of Jesus’ activities there. After a visit to the Western Wall, Judaism’s most holy site, we will take a trip to the tunnels under the Western Wall plaza, affording us an exciting opportunity to walk in Jerusalem at what was street level in the time of Jesus. We then make our way through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to palatial mansions that were the home of the Sadducees. Here we study Jesus’ attitude toward the priesthood and Sadducee beliefs. We complete our day at the excavations at the southern wall of the Temple Mount where we discuss Pentecost.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 8: FREE DAY IN JERUSALEM

Today is free for rest, reflection, shopping, or for the energetic, perhaps a walk on the walls of the Old City.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Depending on tour dates, during the group's time in Jerusalem it may be possible to join the Sunday morning worship service at Christ Church, or perhaps to visit another local congregation.

Day 9: RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN

After breakfast, we will be treated to a tour of Christ Church Heritage Centre.  Then we will leave the Old City and travel to a viewpoint that overlooks the hills of Ephrata. From here we shall see Bethlehem and the possible location of where shepherds first heard of the advent of Messiah. We will continue to Yad VaShem, the Israel Memorial Museum to the Holocaust. Here we examine the spiritual and theological roots of the most notorious genocide in history and the connection between the Church, Jesus and the Jewish people prior to and during this period of time. There we will also visit the Children’s memorial and discuss the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish Christian relations today. Time permitting, we shall conclude our day with a walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel to the Pool of Siloam.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 10: IN THE STEPS OF JESUS - CRUCIFIXION, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION

We begin today with a visit to a tomb from the time of Jesus.  We will then walk down the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane where we will learn about crucifixion, burial and resurrection according to Jewish sources outside of the Bible. This will shed new light on the narrative of the heart of the New Testament, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Time permitting we shall visit the Sisters of Zion Convent, the possible location of the Antonia Fortress. We then continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and conclude our day with a time of reflection at the Garden Tomb. In the evening we will complete our understanding of the role of the Lamb of God by celebrating a Jewish Passover meal together.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 11: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

OPTION 1: EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE

We will drive through the Judean mountains from Jerusalem to the airport in plenty of time to catch the flight home.

OPTION 2: AFTERNOON DEPARTURE

We shall spend our last morning at the Biblical gardens of Yad HaShmona, a Messianic Jewish moshav in the Judean hills west of Jerusalem. Here we shall study Biblical agriculture and some of the imagery that Jesus uses in His parables.

Please note:  Itinerary and accommodation subject to change if conditions necessitate.