Grace and Righteousness

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:   (Sunday 11 Aug 2023)

Our journey begins as we depart on overnight flight.  We travel with our overnight bags as our suitcases will be forwarded to Israel.

Day 2: (Monday 12 Aug 2023)

Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Mt Carmel, Jezreel – Megiddo Valley, Haifa, Akko, Mount Precipice

We depart to Tel Aviv. 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. Armageddon is mentioned in the Bible only once, in the Revelation to John, or the Apocalypse of St. John (16:16). The Old City of Akko is situated on the shores of Haifa and known as one a natural port in the Galilee. In Judges 1:31, it is referred to as one of the places the Israelites failed to hold. In the New Testament, Acco was known as Ptolemais and was one of the stops on Paul’s final return to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7). Mount Precipice is 397 above Sea level, and its southern edge is over a steep lookout of Jezreel valley. After the baptism, Yeshua returns to Nazareth and read a chapter from the scroll in the synagogue which led the Nazarenes attempt to throw  him over the cliff, but “he passed through the midst of them and walked away” (Luke 4:29-30). Our journey ends in Nazareth where Yeshua spent his boyhood years before beginning his ministry at the age of 30.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.                                                 Overnight: Nazareth

Day 3:   (Tuesday 13 Aug June 2023)

Nazareth , Cana, Mt. Tabor, Yeshua Boat, Sail on Galilee, Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum

We start this morning with Cana of Galilee where Yeshua performed His first miracle at the wedding.  We weave our way to the top of Mt. Tabor for a spectacular view, the place of transfiguration and ascension of Yeshua. Next is a visit to Nof Ginnosar Kibbutz. We enjoy relaxing Cruise on the Sea of Galilee with devotional on board. This brings to life the experiences of Yeshua and the fishermen disciples. With special time at the Mount of the Beatitudes we read the Sermon on the Mount with a beautiful view of the entire Galilee.  We visit Tabgha the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. Yeshua’s third appearance to his disciples after his resurrection, when he restored and commissioned Simon Peter to rise and serve as the leader of the newborn community of Faith. We visit to Capernaum the ruins of an ancient 1st century synagogue, a location that Yeshua taught and a view of Peter’s home.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.                                                 Overnight: Nazareth

Day 4: (Wednesday 14 Aug 2023

Mt Arbel, Judean Desert, Bethabara, Qumran, Jericho, Dead Sea

This is a very early morning departure through the Judean Desert. We enjoy an amazing outlook over the Sea of Galilee from Mt Arbel. We stop over at Tmar Bfar where we will learn more about the fruit date trees in Israel. Our first will be at the Biblical Baptism site Bethabara, that played an important role in the life of Yeshua. 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 visit Qumran where the Deadsea Scrolls were found We continue to Jericho, the place where God had an awesome plan for the battle of Jericho. The scriptures describes the Israelites being led by Joshua and crossing the Jordan into Canaan where they laid siege to the city of Jericho. There, God spoke to Joshua telling him to go 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 went 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. Our day ends with a relaxing float in the Dead Sea.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.                                                 Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 5: (Thursday 15 Aug 2023)

Mt Zion, Last Supper Room, Tomb of King David, Cardo, Jewish Quarters, Western and Southern Wall, Golden Gate, Mount of Olives, Palm Sunday road , Church of All Nations, Garden of Gethsemane Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem Night Light Show

This morning we fulfil Isaiah 62:6-7 by praying on the Walls of Jerusalem. This morning is a very early start and long walk we visit the Upper Room (Luke 22). We visit 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 take our journey out the Dung Gate to view the Southern Wall Excavations and the Temple Stairs. We walk pass the Mercy Gate and make our way up 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  visit 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.We end the evening with entrance at The Jaffa Gate. Nehemiah 3 concerns itself with the specifics of rebuilding the walls and especially the 10 gates that separated each section of Jerusalem.  The significance of the Jaffa Gate known as the Gate of the Friend, the Gate of David’s Prayer. It marks the end of the road that led to Jerusalem from the ancient port of Jaffa and the beginning of one of two major axes that divide the Old City into four quarters. Our evening ends with an extraordinary night light show and having coffee near the City of David

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.                                                             Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 6: (Friday 16 Aug 2023)

House of Caiaphas, Pools of Bethsaida, Stations of the Cross, Golgotha, Garden Tomb

We visit St. Peter Galicantu also known as the House of Caiaphas. The way of the cross starts at the Lions gate, continuing to the Pools of Bethsaida that 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 Ecco homo (“behold [the] man” John 19 where the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe. We continue to the Stations of the Cross and end at Golgotha and end our day at the empty Garden Tomb, where we will reflect on the Resurrection with a time of prayer (Luke 23).

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.                                                             Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 7: (Saturday 17 Au 2023)

Bethlehem, Shepherd Field, Caiaphas Tomb of Samuel, Ein Kerem, Abu Gosh,

We start at the Shepherds field in Bethlehem. Yeshua was born in Bethlehem, which was a fulfillment of prophecy (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7) and burial for Rachel. Bethlehem actually means “house of bread.”, known as the birthplace of David (2 Sam 23:24; 1 Chr 11:26). The roads descending to the east of Bethlehem lead through the village of Beit Sahour which is identified since ancient times where the shepherds seen the Star. (Luke 2:8-10). We visit the Tomb of Samuel with an extraordinary view. Samuel’s grave is situated atop a steep hill to the north of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramo. Samuel’s legacy as a prophet began when he was 13 years old, and God had anointed him for this position. By the time Samuel had become a grown man he had become an important public figure and people had known him for being a prophet of God. Samuel was an honest and fair judge, dispensing God’s law impartially. Our journey continue to Ein Kerem a pilgrimage site where John the Baptist was born. Next we will have a visit to the village of Abu Gosh, it was known in Biblical Times as Kiryat Ye’arim, where the Ark of the Covenant was placed from here King David brought the Holy Shrine back to Jerusalem.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: (Sunday 18 Aug 2023)

Home

We say goodbye to our new friends, having wonderful memories and treasure them in our hearts.  We on our way home with mind and hearts filled with a new and revived passion of Faith. Israel remains on our lips.