Shabat Shalom! It is Shabat (Sabbath) in Israel right now. At 5:20 PM (sundown) a siren goes off in the city to announce the beginning of Sabbath. In keeping the Sabbath the Jewish people do not do any work. Stores close. Food is prepared on the day before to eat on the Sabbath. At the hotel there is one elevator that is a Sabbath elevator. It stops at every floor so that the person observing Sabbath can ride the elevator without doing work - pushing an elevator button.
We began our day in Caesarea Philippi, the farthest area north that Jesus took his disciples. This was a place of pagan worship of the god Pan. We saw the ruins of this temple. At this place Peter makes the great confession that Jesus is the Messiah. Had Peter made this confession in Jerusalem, the disciples may have tried to make Jesus king on the spot. At this remote, pagan place Jesus explains that he must suffer, die, and be raised from the dead. It was amazing to be in this area where Jesus identifies the profound nature of his coming, which Peter and the disciples did not understand until after his death and resurrection.
We then went to Dan. The northern area of Dan has springs that become the Jordan River (Jor - meaning flows from, Dan). There is also the archeological site of Tel Dan (tel – meaning city). At Tel Dan we saw an ancient city gate from the time of Abraham. Abraham went to Dan to rescue Lot. We also saw a site here
where Jeroboam led the northern nation of Israel to worship a calf instead of traveling to Jerusalem to worship at the temple (notice metal square altar area in picture). Tel Dan also includes a city gate from this time period, where the king would rule and administer justice. (In the picture a guy is sitting on the “throne area” at the city gate.)
We have enjoyed the scenery and the food in the Galilee area. Lori even ate some “St. Peter’s Fish” for lunch. This is a beautiful, quiet place where Jesus ministered and preached. Tomorrow we head to Jerusalem. Chuck Swindoll will be on our bus as we ascend to the city of David.
Our next post might be on Sunday, depending on our internet access at our next hotel.
