Genesis 12:1-3
Now Adonai said to Abram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Day 1: Departure from Johannesburg (Saturday 22 April 2023)
Johannesburg – Tel Aviv
Our journey begins as we depart on overnight flight.
Day 2: (Sunday 23 April 2023)
Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Mt Carmel, Jezreel – Megiddo Valley
The Bible stories come alive as we start our journey reading the Scriptures. We take a drive to Joppa the oldest port of Israel. We visit the charismatic and beautiful city of Jaffa the oldest port city in the world that dates back thousands of years and is where St. Peter had his vision on the rooftop of the House of Simon the Tanner and raised Tabitha from the dead. Jonah set sail to Tarshish from Jaffa and King Solomon built his port on the Mediterranean there. After enjoying the few over the Mediterranean sea we will drive to Mt. Carmel where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. We drive through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization.
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner. Accommodation
Day 3: (Monday 24 April 2023
Haifa, Akko , Gan Hapsalim Mt Precipe, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Tabor – Transfiguration
We experience Haifa for a panoramic view. We drive to Akko to cover ancient history of Akko. The city was first mentioned in the Bible as part of the tribe of Asher’s inheritance, and then reappeared as Ptolemais in the book of Acts. Caesar Augustus brought his army to Akko while pursuing Mark Antony, and feasted here with Herod the Great. King Richard the Lion heart made Akko the capital of his Crusader Kingdom after the fall of Jerusalem in the 12th century. Napoleon tried to capture the city from the Ottomans, but failed to penetrate the massive sea walls. We visit Gan Hapasalim. This morning we visit Mount Precipice, where Yeshua escaped the attempt of throwing him off the cliff. We visit Nazareth Village Nazareth where Yeshua spent his boyhood years before beginning his ministry at the age of 30. We travel to Cana of Galilee where Yeshua performed His first miracle at the wedding. We are ascending Mt. Tabor for a spectacular view, the place of transfiguration and ascension of Yeshua.
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner. Accommodation
Day 4: (Tuesday 25 April 2023)
Mount of the Beatitudes, Ancient Boat, Sail on Galilee Boat, Tabgha, Capernaum,
We enjoy special time at the Mount of the Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount and for a beautiful view of the entire Galilee. We continue our journey with a spectacular finding of the ancient Boat located at the Nof Ginosar Kibbutz. We enjoy relaxing Cruise on the Sea of Galilee and devotional on board brings to life the experiences of Yeshua and the fishermen disciples. We visit the ancient Yeshua Boat located at the Nof Ginosar Kibbutz before we end the day with a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee and devotional on board brings to life the experiences of Yeshua and the fishermen disciples. We visit Tabgha the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. We descend for a visit to Capernaum which form what has been called the “evangelical triangle” because most of Yeshua’s miracles in Galilee were performed in these cities. Capernaum (The Town of Yeshua) we will visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue, where we’ll view the ruins of a 1st century synagogue and likely a location that Yeshua taught and a view of Peter’s home.
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner. Accommodation
Day 5: (Wednesday 26 April 2023)
Bethabara – Baptism, Qumran, Dead Sea, Jericho, Wadi Qilt
We take a journey through the Judean desert to the Baptism Site, the Biblical place Bethabara that played an important role in the life of Yeshua, as he returned there many times after his baptism. He went there after his rejection in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, “He went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.” (John 10.40). We start heading towards Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Afterwards we proceed the Dead Sea where you will end the day with a relaxing float in the Dead Sea. We continue to Jericho, where God had an awesome plan for the battle of Jericho. The scriptures describes the Israelites being led by Joshua crossing the Jordan where they laid siege to the city of Jericho. God spoke to Joshua telling him to August around the city once every day for six days with the seven priests carrying ram’s horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day they were to August around the city seven times and the priests were to blow their ram’s horns. We visit the Mount of Temptation where Yeshua was tempted by Satan after fasting 40 days & 40 Nights. We visit a Sycamore Tree where Zacchaeus climbed up into a to see Yeshua passing by. Next is Wadi Qilt where we will spend some time in prayer. David’s flight from Absalom (2 Sam 15-16), Zedekiah’s flight from the Babylonians (2 Kgs 25:4), the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), and Yeshua travelled from Jericho to Jerusalem (Luke 19:28).
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner. Accommodation
Day 6: (Thursday 27 April 2023)
Bethlehem, Shepherd Field, Mt Zion, Last Supper Room, Tomb of King David,Walls of Jerusalem, Cardo, Jewish Quarters, Western Wall, Southern Wall, Golden Gate, Mount of Olives, Dominus Flevit, Palm Sunday road , Church of All Nations, Garden of Gethsemane
We start at our day at the Shepherds field. Yeshua was born in Bethlehem, which was a fulfillment of prophecy (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7) and also the place of death and burial for Rachel. The name Bethlehem actually means “house of bread.” Bethlehem was also the birthplace of David (2 Sam 23:24; 1 Chr 11:26). The roads descending to the east of Bethlehem lead through the Christian village of Beit Sahour (or Bait Sahur), which includes the Shepherds’ Fields identified since ancient times where the shepherds seen the Star. (Luke 2:8-10). We drive to Zion Gate and visit the Upper Room (Luke 22) the traditional site where Yeshua instituted the “Last Supper” – Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-23; John 13:1—17:26. Visit the Tomb of King David and walk through the historic Jewish Quarter, down the Cardo. On our way down the stairs we see the Golden Lamp Stand and enjoy prayer time at the Western Wall. We exit the Dung Gate to view the Southern Wall Excavations and the Temple Stairs. We walk pass the Mercy Gate to the Golden Gate. We head to the top of the Mount of Olives to stand where Yeshua had a breathtaking view of the city across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate where the Prince of Peace will enter (Ezekiel 44) also the place where He ascended into heaven (Acts 1). We walk pass by Pater Noster Church and Dominus Flevit where “the Yeshua wept” as he beheld the Holy City and walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane and see 2,000 year old olive trees that date back to the time of Yeshua. We visit the Church of All Nations. We spend time praying in the Garden.
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner. Accommodation
Day 7: (Friday 28 April 2023)
Caiaphas House, Panoramic view, Pools of Bethsaida, St. Anne, Stations of the Cross, Golgotha, Garden Tomb
We visit the house of Caiaphas where Yeshua was kept during the night. Our day continue with the way of the cross starting at the Lions gate as we continue to the Pools of Bethsaida John 5:2-9 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades, also known to have supplied water to the First and Second Temples until Herod the Great’s time. These very baths are where the healing miracle of Yeshua took place. We visit the place where the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe (“behold [the] man” John 19. We continue to the Stations of the Cross starting where Yeshua was condemned to death(Mark 15: 1-15, Matthew 27:23-31), Yeshua takes up the Cross (John 19:13-17, John 19: 5), Yeshua falls for the first time (Isaiah 53: 4-7, Matthew 11:28-30). Yeshua meets his Mother (John 19: 25-27), Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his Cross, (Mark 15: 21), Yeshua consoles the women of Jerusalem, (Luke 22: 28-32), Yeshua stripped of his garments (John 19: 23-24), Yeshua nailed to the Cross , (Luke 23: 33-43), Yeshua dies on the Cross (John 19: 28-37, Matthew 27: 50), Yeshua taken down from the Cross, (John 19: 38-40), Yeshua is laid in the Tomb (Mark 15: 46-47) . We end at Golgotha (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:17) and the Garden Tomb.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: (Saturday 29 April)
Home
We on our way home with mind and hearts filled with a new and revived passion of Faith. We say goodbye to our new friends and Jerusalem remains on our lips.
