Israel/Jordan
Holy Land Tour 2014
Pastor Pat
and Pam Jones, Tour Hosts
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.
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.
