Day 5: From The Galilee to Jerusalem via the Jericho Road

Leaving the Galilee

We spent today traveling the roads that Jesus would have travelled between the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem.  This was a path frequently travelled by Jews in that day on pilgrimage to the Holy City and one that was traversed by Jesus, his family, and his disciples.  Due to current political boundaries, taking the exact route the 1st century Jews would have traveled isn't possible.  Our guide, Gila was able to point out the route to us and we were able to stop at a few of the places Jesus may have been.

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

Seeing this ribbon of birds (extending off the edge of the picture on both sides)

skimmed the sunrise on the water was breathtaking.

This picture is awesome.

Bet She'an & Scythopolis

On top of this hill is the ancient town of Bet She'an.  This area was fought over many times as it is at the intersection of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley.  When Israel's first king, King Saul, died trying to capture this crossroads from the Philistines (1 Samuel 30:8-11), the enemy hung his body from the walls of the city.  The rock outcroppings high on the top right of the hill are these city walls.  

The greeks built this city of Scytholpolis at the base of the ruins of Bet She'an.  The double line of columns represents the main road through town.  Although Jesus wouldn't have necessarily gone to this gentile city, it was the closest Hellenistic city to the Galilee so he would have known about it.  It was dedicated to Dionysus who was the greek god in charge of wine.  Our guide, Gila, told us of one scholarly interpretation of the Cana water to wine miracle that suggested the miracle was done to prove how much cooler Jesus was than Dionysus.

Ancient Greek Acoustical Engineering

 All these columns fell over in an earthquake except one.  And that one was still completely buried before they dug it up.  A whole new hillside was created with the extra dirt.

This is what they did with the extra stuff they dug up.

We saw a shepherd!  And the sheep were grazing right on the ruins.  Dead city or no dead city, the sheep would like to be fed.

The Jordan River

Yesterday's baptism site is one just at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee.  However, John the Baptist was probably baptizing in a area much further south.  Geographical clues in the bible actually narrow the area along the Jordan River to about 5 miles.  The claim to this particular spot is backed up by traditions that also put the Old Testament Prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:6-12) and Joshua, leader of the Israelites after Moses, (Joshua 3:7-17) at the same Jordan River crossing.

We got in.

The current realities of a holy site on the West Bank.

The Greek Orthodox baptism site on the Jordan River was only open 2 days a year until very recently due to security concerns.  Apparently, it just opened up on a more regular basis but this is such a new development, it wasn't even on our itinerary.

Jericho

The city of Jericho is the oldest city in human history with archaeological evidence dating it back to 8,000 B.C.  There was an oasis in the desert here with many springs coming up right in this area.  Although the Jordan River is close by, it has picked up quite a bit of mineral salt on it's way down from the springs of Caesarea Phillipi, through the Sea of Galilee and on to its final destination of the super salty Dead Sea not too far to the south of here.  So you'd be better off drinking the spring water.

This tower is the 8,000 year old archaeological evidence.  Experts think its a watch tower.  No one has ever found the famous walls of Jericho that Joshua and the Israelites tumbled with some walking and some horn blowing (Joshua 6).

The Monastery of the Temptation above Jericho

Although Jericho is green, the countryside around it is NOT.  Since tradition has Jesus' baptism close by, tradition then concludes that the wilderness of Jesus' temptation is also close by (Matthew 4:1-11).  It's not so easy to see, but the Greek Orthodox have a bright white monastery built right into the rock face of this barren mountain about Jericho.  If you can't find it, it's just left of center and about 1/3 down from the top.  They picked it because there are caves nearby that contain stones about the right size to resemble the bread-sized stones mentioned in scripture.

Bethany

The home town of some of Jesus' best friends, Bethany is mentioned often in the New Testament.  Siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus figure in quite a few stories and Lazarus' resurrection at the hands of Jesus foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection later in the gospel narrative.  Lazarus' tomb is venerated here with a Greek Orthodox church next to it and a Mosque right beside it.

Lazarus Tomb

Jerusalem

Our final pilgrimage destination

We first saw the Holy City from the top of the Mount of Olives as the sun was setting behind it.

One of three possible locations for "Mount Zion" is in the center here on the horizon.  Although the Greek Orthodox Dormition (Ascension) Church is here, this may be the least likely site for the "real" Mount Zion.  This site was picked by pilgrims in the middle ages because it was the highest point in the current Jerusalem of their time.  The Muslim's Dome of the Rock on the site of the Jewish Temple (you can see the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount bottom right) has been considered Mount Zion in it's day.  The original Mount Zion referenced in the Bible talks of a citadel built by King David in the Kidron Valley which is bottom left in this picture.

Rob & Leona & the Dome of the Rock

I'm sure we'll have lots more to say about Jerusalem tomorrow.

-Rob & Leona