Israel - Jordan Pastor Bill Nelson Zion Baptist - September 2024

Tour members are welcomed at O'Hare International Airport for our departing flight to Istanbul via wide-body aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.

This afternoon we will arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our flight to Israel. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Continue past Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel, to the famous Sea of Galilee in Tiberias where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

"The Head of all those Kingdoms" (Joshua 11:10). The Sources of the Jordan. This morning we begin our day with a stop at Hazor before continuing on to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan. Here we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). Then a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan the Greek god of pastures, flocks, and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith, recognizing Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) (Matthew 16). After driving along the foot of Mount Hermon, we make our way south to ancient Katzrin, an open-air themed museum focusing on Jewish daily life in the time of the Talmud. On our return we will stop at Chorazin and then back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, landing at Nof Ginosar where we will see the New Testament boat found below the sea. Continue our morning tour with a visit to Capernaum, Tabgha, and the Mount of Beatitudes. Continue on to the top of Mt. Arbel for a magnificent view overlooking the Galilee area.

In the afternoon, time permitting, we will visit Gideon’s Spring at Ein Harod, then on to Bet Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where King Saul was slain. Here we see the evidences of Egyptian, Roman, and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient tel, Roman Theater and church mosaics. Our last stop today will be at the River Jordan where we may have the opportunity for a baptism service before returnimg to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

“We are going up to Jerusalem” (Matt. 20:18). We drive west passing Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2). We proceed to Nazareth and ascend the Mount of the Precipice at the brow of Nazareth overlooking the Valley of Jezreel. We then drive through the valley to the mound of Megiddo, Har Megiddo in Hebrew, which gave its name to Armageddon. We then ascend Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal.

From there we drive towards the Mediterranean coast traveling south along the coastal highway to Caesarea by the Sea. We enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the east, which became the Christian springboard to the west. After the visit to this ancient harbor, we board our bus and head up the historic Beth Horon road (Joshua 10:10) to the Benjamin Plateau, passing ancient Gibeon and continuing on to Jerusalem. Finally, atop Mt. Scopus, we behold majestic Jerusalem. We check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Today we drive to Masada and ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns, and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Continuing alongside the Dead Sea, 1,300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we proceed to Ein Gedi where, time permitting, we will walk the path to see the waterfall in the desert.

This afternoon we continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will have a stop for lunch and time for those that want to swim in the Dead Sea. We travel to Jericho, the world’s oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha’s spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We will head up to Jerusalem and return to the hotel for dinner.

"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace" (Luke 19:42). Our drive this morning takes us past the Chapel of Ascension and Paternoster to the Mt. of Olives for an orientation view of Jerusalem and the opportunity for a group photograph overlooking Jerusalem. We then walk the traditional Passion walk. We descend to the church known as Dominus Flevit ("The Lord wept"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk downhill to Gethsemane, where we have a private visit of the Garden with time to meditate on the Gospel text before visiting the Church of All Nations. We enter the Old City and make our way to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, before we proceed to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park where we see the Steps that entered the temple and the Southern Wall. It was here that Jesus would have taught the disciples.

This afternoon we continue on the Bethlehem, walking through the restored old town to the Church of the Nativity where we visit the manger and see the cave of St. Jerome. We end our day with a stop at the Haas Promenade overlooking the city of David before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will board our bus for our exciting tour to the famous Western Wall Tunnel. We begin at the Western Wall Plaza where we have time to visit the wall before going down to the foundation of the Second Temple. We will see a model that will demonstrate where we are in location to the Temple in the time of Christ. Continue along the tunnel as we proceed to the Gateway of the Priests’, which allowed access to the Holy of Holies. We will continue to the Wohl Archaeological Museum, considered to be one of the most fascinating Jerusalem museums. Here we see the remains of six houses from the Herodian period, excavated in 1967. In Temple times, this part of the city was home to wealthy priestly families.

This afternoon we will head to the Israel Museum where we visit the Shrine of the Book and the model city showing Jerusalem as it was at the time of the Second Temple. We will have time to explore the museum on our own before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

“He has risen!” (Mark 16:6). After breakfast we transfer to the Dung Gate, where we ascend to the Temple Mount, where the ancient Jewish temples stood. There we will view the important Muslim shrines: the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Just to the north we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church. The church is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period, with remarkable acoustics. Continuing on we see Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man). We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa, lit. “way of sorrow”) through the bazaars as far as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. From there we walk from the Christian Quarter along the Arab Souks through the Cardo Maximus and past the Armenian Quarter. We board our bus to the Garden Tomb where we will end our day with a special visit and the possibility of having a private communion on the grounds outside the city walls. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

The entire day is free to explore this famous city, take any private sightseeing excursions desired, shop or just relax.

Here are some ideas for your Free Day:

• Damascus Gate:
• Closest gate for entry to the Old City of Jerusaelm.
• Solomon’s Quarries & Zedekiah’s Cave:
• Rockefeller Museum of Archaeology:
• Housing artifacts from archaeological sites.
• Holy Sepulcher Church:
• Built over the Hill of Calvary and the Empty Tomb.
• Jewish Quarter:
• Cardo, Jewish Shops, Galleries, Herodian Mansion, Temple Institute, Burnt House.
• Temple Mount:
• The Golden Dome of the Rock
• Ramparts Walk:
• City Walls Walk of Old Jerusalem
• Citadel Museum & Tower of David:
• Bible Lands Museum:
• Biblical Zoo:
• Jerusalem Botanical Gardens:
• King David Hotel:
• SHOPPING: Mamilla Mall, Ben Yehuda Street, Old City

We transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.

This morning we will go to the famous Allenby Bridge. We will cross over to Jordan. Meet our guide and head north to the traditional site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Continue to Mt. Nebo, from where God showed Moses the Promised Land. Drive to Madaba to St George’s Church with its 6th century mosaic floor showing a map of the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims knew it in that period.

This afternoon we continue to the Amman. Upon arrival we are taken to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will drive to Petra. Today we will spend time in one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Start the tour of Petra; you are in the heart of the rose red Seir mountains as mentioned in the Biblical Book of Genesis. This mountain range houses the Aaron Peak, which is the highest locality in Petra and the burial place of Aaron brother of Moses. A walk down through the narrow ‘Siq’ passage, being the main entrance to Petra, along 1250 meters brings you to the first monument Treasure "the same as the one seen in the Indiana Jones' movie". A walk further down through the outer ‘Siq’ encompassed by tombs and burial chambers brings you to one of the largest theaters in Jordan. This theater is carved into the sand stone mountains of Petra at the bottom of the High place of Sacrifice Mountain. Apparently some sacrificial rituals used to take place here. Now, it is time to walk up hill to the Royal Tombs. You will have a great view of the lower part of Petra with all its Roman remains. These tombs are: The Urn- Corinthian- Silk- and Palace tombs. We will board our motor coach and have a panoramic ride of the outer environs of Petra before heading back to Amman for dinner and overnight

This morning we start our day with a journey to Jerash where we walk through the spectacular splendors of some two thousand years ago. Jerash, Gerasa of Roman Times, was one of the cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Graeco-Roman cities dating from the 1st century BC situated in Jordan, Syria, and Israel. Known as the Pompeii of the East for its extraordinary state of preservation, the ruins indicate human occupations at this location for more than 2,500 years. Then on to Ajloun and its 12th century castle, the base for the mighty Saladin during his campaign against Crusader armies. Then on to Umm Qais (Gadara in biblical times) and the site of Christ casting out of devils. Continue on to Amman for dinner and overnight.

This morning we transfer to the airport where we board our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.