Itinerary for The Trip

Israel/Jordan Holy Land Tour 2014

Pastor Pat and Pam Jones, Tour Hosts

Sunday, February 9:  We depart the US for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

 

Monday, February 10:  Welcome to Israel.  We will go through customs and board our bus to head south toward the Dead Sea.  Our first night will be in the warmth of the desert.

Tuesday, February 11:  After an early morning dip in the Dead Sea, we travel back north to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  We will then visit Masada, Herod’s palace in the desert and where over 900 zealots died following the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  Following lunch, we will drive south to Eilat, a resort city on the Red Sea. 

Wednesday, February 12:  We will visit a replica of the Tabernacle set up in the desert and a park where Solomon may have had his copper mines.  Opportunity will also be give to take a camel ride in the desert or dive in the Red Sea.

Thursday, February 13:  We cross into Jordan and travel to the ancient Nabatean city of Petra.  One of the seven wonders of the world, this city is carved into a shear rock face and thought to be impenetrable.  But God said otherwise.  We will visit the city and overnight here.

Friday, February 14:  We will travel north toward Amman, stopping at Mt. Nebo.  Moses saw into the Promised Land from here but was not able to enter into the land.  We will visit Jerash and some other sites around Amman and overnight there.

Saturday, February 15: We will then cross the Allenby Bridge back into Israel and visit Bet Shan.  Following their defeat by the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa, the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung on the wall of this city.  We will then travel north along the Jordan River valley to Tiberias and our first night in the Galilee.

                        Sunday, February 16: After breakfast we’ll depart Tiberias and take a morning Boat Tour of the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. We’ll visit Migdal, the home of Mary Magdalene and see the “Jesus Boat” at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar. We’ll then drive the plain of Ginosar to Tabgha where Jesus “multiplied the loaves and fish.” Next on our stop is the Mount of Beatitudes for Sunday Worship. We’ll proceed to the basalt synagogue at Chorazin to see where Jesus taught and see the “Seat of Moses.” We’ll also view the Natural Amphitheater where Jesus also taught, we’ll visit Capernaum, home of the synagogue of Jesus’ ministry and miracles. Next we’ll cross the Jordan River and visit Bethsaida, home of Peter, Andrea, James and John. We’ll also see the Decapolis and Kursi where Jesus cast the demons out of a man into a heard of swine.   We will close the day with a baptismal service in the Jordan River for those who desire to be baptized.  We will overnight in Tiberias.

Monday, February 17: After breakfast we’ll have a full day to tour the lovely North of Israel. First we’ll visit the burial site for Honi the Circlemaker who is the subject of Mark Batterson’s book by the same name.  We will pass by the archeological site of Hazor, mentioned in the Old Testament as one of Solomon’s three main cities where he maintained his famous horse stables. Next will visit the archeological site of Tel Dan before moving onto the famous city of Caesarea Philippi located about 25 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus could be alone with His disciples and pass along His teachings. Next we’ll take a drive through the Golan Heights. Afterwards we’ll return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, February 18:  We leave the Galilee behind as we cross the Jezreel Valley and visit Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus.  We will then visit the northern chariot city of Megiddo.  It is in this area where the final battle of Armageddon will take place. We then proceed to Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal.  We will cross the Carmel range following the Via Maris, the way of the Sea until we reach Caesarea.  Herod’s summer palace and sea port were here.  Paul was imprisoned here.  We will visit the Crusader Fortress and Amphitheater, walking along side the Mediterranean Sea.  A quick stop at Joppa where Jonah ran from God and Peter later had a vision.  Then it is up to the Holy City, our first night in Jerusalem!!

Wednesday, February 19: We will start our day on the Mount of Olives where our guide will share the geography and history of Jerusalem. This vivid lecture overlooks where it happened, the Kidron Valley, the Temple Area, and The Holy City. Descending the Mount of Olives by the path of Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into the Kidron Valley, we worship in the lovely Garden of Gethsemane discussing Jesus’ suffering and his “Passion Week.” Before us is the Golden Gate of the Temple Area, as when Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. We’ll then visit the House of Caiphas, the place of Jesus’ early trials when Peter denied him and Jesus was “caned.” We’ll then view the Valley of the Cheesemaker, the Valley of Hinnon, the Field of Blood, where Judas took his life, Gehennah, and the Ophel, King David’s capital city. We will walk from the Pool of Siloam up to the Southern Wall area of the Old City. 

Thursday, February 20: Today we’ll discover more of the Old City of Jerusalem. First we’ll explore the Rabbinical Tunnels behind the Western Wall. We’ll then see the Temple Mount and (if politically possible), the El Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Dome of the Spirits.

Visit the Lions’ Gate and the Pools of Bethesda We’ll then visit the Tower of Antonia, the Praetorium, and Pilate’s Judgement Hall. Here our Lord was tried by Pilate, beaten by the Roman Cohort, and took up His Cross for Calvary. The Ecce Homo begins the traditional Via Dolorosa leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic site of Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection). Here we’ll have time to shop in the Old City. We’ll then reconvene to visit the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo,, the Herodian Quarter, and Nehemiah’s Wall. Afterwards we’ll explore the Southern Wall Excavations and depart the old city by the Dung Gate.

Friday, February 21: This morning we’ll be exploring the New City of Jerusalem. First we’ll see Yad Vashem the Shoa Museum. Visit the Israel Museum; See the Shrine of the Book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls We’ll also see the Model of First Century Jerusalem. After Lunch drive to Shepherds Fields and cross over to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity. We will also have lunch in Bethlehem; visit the First Baptist Church pastored by Rev. Naim Khoury (Steven’s father) and do some shopping.

Saturday, February 22:  Shabbat Shalom.  We will have the morning for shopping or resting before checking out of our hotel.  We will head to the Garden Tomb and get a sense of what Jesus’ burial place was like.  We will end our visit there by having Communion.  We will exit Jerusalem and head for the Elah Valley, site of the encounter between David and Goliath.  We will enjoy a farewell meal (not included) on our way to the airport.  We will go through security and begin our journey home.

Sunday, February 23:  We arrive early morning back in the US, go through customs and catch our various flights home.