A Journey to the

Holy Land

May 26-June 9, 2014

Ready to leave from Shelter Cove in Modesto

Our GPS on the plane

Our beautiful hotel in Netanya, Israel

View of the Mediterranean Sea from our hotel

Such an assortment of fresh foods!

Bountiful buffet

Catchy title for a coffee shop

McDonalds is here also!

Wall of separation between the Gaza strip and Israel

Another part of the wall of separation

Bunkers left from the 1967 war

Building on to an existing house

Map of Israel : Caesaria Maritima

Caesaria Maritima Built by Herod in 20 BC 40 acre harbor A model Roman city, complete with aquaducts,

sewers, a forum, mosaic walkways covered with marble colonnade

A hippodrome (racetrack) Phillip, Peter, and Paul visited here after the

crucifixion Paul was held at the Praetorium for several

months in 60-61 AD (prison recently found) Herod Agrippa I died here (Acts 12:19)

Remains of the Harbor

Drawing of the Courtyard

Columns and a courtyard

Roman columns

Mosaic tiles

Lion head carving

sarcophagus

sarcophagus

Hippodrome for chariot races

Seating for the chariot races

Niches for the Roman gods

Contenders would come out of this doorway

I found a friend!

Roman Aquaduct near Caesaria Maritima

Trying to hold it up!

Cool water of the Med Sea

An optical illusion: Dr. Seifert can hold his grandson in one hand!

Nazareth

Panorama of Nazareth

View of countryside east of Nazareth

Mount of the Precipice where Jesus was driven out of Nazareth

A brave climber

Far above the farmland

Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal by

calling down the fire of God.

Valley of Armageddon

Valley of Jezreel, called Valley of Armageddon, (Greek spelling of Har Megiddo, mountain of Megiddo) Napoleon said perfect battlefield.

Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee

Statue of Apostle Peter

Modern church built above the remains of Peters House

The House of the apostle Peter

Octagonal church once stood around Peters house in Capernaum. 131 inscriptions found; Lord Jesus help thy servant 1st c.

Houses in Capernaum,

Between Peters house and Synagogue

Biblical events in Capernaum:*Jesus left Nazareth and lived in Capernaum. Matthew 4:12*Jesus called His first disciples by the Sea of Galilee in Capernaum.*Jesus cured Peters mother-in-law in Capernaum.*Jesus cured the centurions servant in Capernaum.*Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons in Capernaum.*Jesus raised up the dead daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.*Jesus healed the paralyzed man who was let down through the roof.

Limestone synagogue stands above the original basalt synagogue.

Jesus taught at the

Synagogue at Capernaum

Synagogue was built by the Roman centurion because of the healing of his servant.

Roman dice games on synagogue floor shows the decline in reverence for the synagogue.

Jewish Symbols on Synagogue Lintel

Stones and column heads from the original synagogue, which is beneath the limestone synagogoue.

Jesus began to denounce the cities where most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.(Chorazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum)

To Capernaum, He said, But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.

Matthew 11: 20-24 These towns now exist only in ruins.

Ancient Korazim, very close to Capernaum

Arched basalt walls and columns near the bath house

Synagogue in Korazim

A street in Korazim

Chiseled basalt stones

Basalt stones for roofs

Basalt long stones make a roof on a mikvah or ritual bath

Opening into the mikvahA Mikvah was used to ritually purify oneself.

This is a real manger! Jesus was most likely laid in one like this.

Fascinated by the tiny windows

A house

Place of the Sermon on the Mount

by the Sea Of Galilee

The Church of the BeatitudesBelieved to be in the area where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.

Pastor Seiferts message

by the Sea of Galilee

By the shore of the Sea of Galilee

Jesus Boat etching by the shores

of the Sea of Galilee

Galilee Boat Ride

A fish common to the Sea of Galilee, now called St. Peters Fish.

Delicious Pitas

Map of the Sea of Galilee

on the shore

MOUNT HERMON

ISRAELS HIGHEST MOUNTAIN

Area of Caesaria Philippi and Mount Hermon

Jesus took the disciples to

Caesaria Philippi.

Pagan cult of Pan began in 3rd c. BCThis place was called the Gates of Hades.

Ritual sacrifices were cast into a natural

abyss into underground waters.

If victims disappeared, Pan had accepted the sacrifice. If blood appeared in a nearby spring, the sacrifice was rejected.

Statue of Pan was placed in a niche and another of the nymph, Echo, his consort. What followed was a pagan fertility ritual.

Bones of goats used in rituals were buried in niches in the Tomb Temple of

the sacred goats.

Herod the Great built a temple to Caesar Augustus here in 19 BC. Roman Emperors were worshiped as gods.

Remains of Emperors Temple

Remains of Caesar Augustus templeAfter the revolt at Masada, many Jews and Christians were sacrificed at Panias (Banias) by the Romans.

Hillside of Panias (Banias)

Why would Jesus bring the disciples 25 miles on foot to see the place of worship of false gods?

Think on this

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesaria Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do the people say the Son of Man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them,

But who do you say that I am?

Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Matthew 16: 13-16

And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father, who is in heaven.

And I tell you, you are Peter (petros, the pebble), and on this rock (petra, immovable foundation) I will build my church, and the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16: 17-18

MOUNT HERMONAnd after 6 days, Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a a high mountain by themselves. Matthew 17:1

And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. Matthew 17:2-3

All of us must answer the question of Jesus:

Who do you say that I am?

Peter professed his faith before he had seen the glory of Christ.

What proofs are we looking for?

What Proofs Can We Find?

*Written documents: Josephus, Pliny,

Jewish accounts from the time of Christ

*Eyewitness accounts: Gospel accounts

and Pauls letters

*Historical and Archaeological evidence:

Places found, inscriptions, graffiti of

pilgrims

*The testimony of a changed life :

Saul to Paul

*Biblical Prophecy fulfilled: 60 of them!

*The testimony of our own changed life!

And the strongest evidence:Who would die for a lie?1. Peter crucified upside down2. Andrew crucified on X-shaped cross3. Matthew the sword4. John natural5. James, son of Alphaeus crucified6. Philip crucified7. Simon crucified8. Thaddeus killed by arrows9. James, brother of Jesus stoned10. Thomas spear thrust, thrown into oven11. Bartholomew crucified12. James, son of Zebedee the sword13. Jude, brother of James crucified

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father in heaven.

But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33

As followers of Jesus Christ,

Be courageous! Be bold!

Be loving! Tell others!

Know Him and Make Him Known!