Israel and Palestine - Jerusalem
May 30th, 2009Our time in Galilee went by very quickly. There was so much to see. At the Mount of the Beatitudes, we remembered Jesus’ teaching the crowds; at the Church of Loaves and Fishes, we recalled Jesus feeding the 5,000; and at the Church of Primacy of St. Peter, we heard Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah.
We were told in Capernaum that in Peter’s house was the first house church in this important city at the crossroads of the world at that time.
Samer, our guide, said that Jesus chose fishermen for his disciples since they were humble and had excellent relations with every sector of society. Everyone came to them regularly to buy fresh fish.
Driving along the Jordan River, we were reminded that most of the river flows in the country of Jordan.
At Jericho we remembered Jesus’ temptations, the story of Joshua, and Zaccheaus who climbed the Sycamore tree.
It was a beautiful day to swim (float) in the Dead Sea. John Ruth said he would not have wanted to miss it, but should have done it 20 years ago. Heinz was so relaxed that Henry said, “Dad, don’t fall asleep.”
Driving up to Jerusalem, we climbed more than 3,000 feet. The music on the bus played “Jerusalem” as we looked down over the city from the Hebrew University. Ruth Hepler said, “What a view! Am I really here?”
~ Wilmer Martin
