Day 6 - THE DESERT AS A REFUGE
Today's program focuses on how the Judean Wilderness was the site of religious and political refuge. After an early start and climb we will enjoy the sunrise from the site of the fortress of Masada, used by Herod the Great and later a Zealot stronghold. Next we stop at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. At the site of this ancient Essene community we explore the relationship of their teachings to those of John the Baptist and Jesus. In the area of Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul, we take time to swim in the Dead Sea, and later explore hidden waterfalls. Late in the day we will make our way up the Jordan Valley to the Galilee, and our new home at a peaceful prayer center overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
Overnight: Beit Bracha Guesthouse, Sea of Galilee
Day 7 - 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’ll 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 a fish 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 before heading back to our guesthouse.
Overnight: Beit Bracha Guesthouse, Sea of Galilee
Day 10 - SERVICE IN THE GALILEE I
For the next three days we will be working with local believers on service projects in the Galilee. We will have an opportunity to talk with an Arab believer and learn about Christianity amongst the Arab population in Israel.
Overnight: Beit Bracha Guesthouse, Sea of Galilee
Day 11 - SERVICE IN THE GALILEE II
Overnight: Beit Bracha Guesthouse, Sea of Galilee
Day 12 - SERVICE IN THE GALILEE III
Overnight: Beit Bracha Guesthouse, Sea of Galilee
Day 13 - LIGHT TO THE NATIONS
We begin our day at ancient Nazareth where we contemplate closely Jesus' home life, town and early ministry. From there we travel the route of the ancient Via Maris, passing through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo (Armageddon of the New Testament) where we will examine the different strains of Apocalyptic thinking which flourished at that time. Next we visit to Mount Carmel for a spectacular view over the North of Israel. Here we will study Elijah’s defeat over the prophets of Baal. Our last visit is to 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. In the evening we will make the ascent to Jerusalem, the City of The Great King.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 14 - RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN
In the morning we will visit Bethlehem and the possible location of where shepherds first heard of the advent of Messiah. Our trip will include a visit to Lifegate, a successful ministry that provides vocational training for children with disabilities. After lunch, we’ll 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. There we will also visit the Children’s memorial and discuss the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish Christian relations today.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 15 - THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING
After breakfast we will visit Christ Church in the Old City, the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East, and have a tour of the Heritage Center here to learn about CMJ’s 160 years of gospel outreach and helping to restore the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. Next, we will ascend the “Tower of David” or Citadel and get a good basic orientation to the geography and history of Jerusalem. After lunch we will head to where it all began – the City of David. Here we will examine the ongoing excavations and also go through Hezekiah’s Tunnel to the Pool of Siloam. Time permitting, in the late afternoon there will be an optional stroll in the colorful Mahane Yehuda open-air market, where Jerusalemites will be shopping to prepare for the Shabbat.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 16 - SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM
This morning we will attend a local Messianic congregation. The afternoon is free for rest and reflection, or a stroll around the ramparts of the Old City.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 17 - SERVICE IN JERUSALEM I
For the next two days we will be working with local believers on service projects in Jerusalem.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 18 - SERVICE IN JERUSALEM II
This will be our second day of working with local believers on service projects in Jerusalem.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 19 - 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 Yeshua’s activities there. We then make our way through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to palatial mansions which were the home of the Sadducees. Here we study Jesus’ attitude toward the priesthood and Sadducee beliefs. After a visit to the Western Wall, Judaism’s most holy site, we complete our day at the excavations at the southern wall of the Temple Mount where we discuss Pentecost. After dinner we will take a night 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.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem
Day 20 - CRUCIFIXION, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION
In the morning, we visit a tomb from the time of Jesus on Mt. Scopus. Then we will 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 Yeshua of Nazareth. From here we will continue to Holy Sepulcher and the Garden Tomb. Time permitting we shall visit the Sisters of Zion Convent, the possible location of the Antonia Fortress. In the evening we will complete our understanding of the role of the Lamb of God by celebrating a Jewish Passover meal together at Christ Church. We will take time after the Passover meal to share our experiences and thank the Lord.
Overnight: Christ Church Guest House, Jerusalem