Trinity Lutheran Seminary - Holy Land Study Tour, 2024

                                        
                       Trinity Lutheran Seminary - Holy Land Study Tour

                                          April 29 – May 12, 2024

Day 1, APRIL 29 - Departure from the US

Day 2, TUE, APRIL 30: Tel Aviv arrival – visit Jaffa – transfer to the Hotel in Netanya
Arrive in Tel Aviv and board a new, climate-controlled motor coach where our guide will greet us and give us an orientation of the land as we travel towards Jaffa (time permitting). There we will consider the vision of Peter (Acts 10) and start following the sequence of events that lead to the opening of the gates of the early church to Gentiles. As we look at the very place where Jonah ran from the Lord, we will also reflect on our own walk with God. Check into our hotel on the coastal plains of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Netanya. 

Day 3, WED, MAY 01: Caesarea Maritima – Mount Carmel – Megiddo – Nazareth – Sea of Galilee
After a buffet breakfast, we depart the hotel en route to Caesarea Maritima, where we will visit the magnificent city with Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins. Here we will elaborate on the story of the baptism of Cornelius, the first gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 10), and on the travels of Paul — those events that led Caesarea Maritima to become the springboard of Christianity to the West. We will then continue to Mount Carmel and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. We then travel to Megiddo and explore the Tel that goes back in history to 4000 BC, looking at ruins from the times of King Solomon and King Ahab. Overlooking the Armageddon Valley, we will also discuss the reasons why we believe this will be the setting for the final battle between good and evil mentioned in Revelation 16:16. After a lunch break, we travel to Nazareth where we will visit the Church of the Annunciation built over the house of Mary where the Angel appeared to Mary announcing to her that she is going to be with a child, calling him Immanuel. Proceed to the Sea of Galilee passing Cana of Galilee. We check into our hotel on the Sea of Galilee for the next three nights and enjoy another dinner together.

Day 4, THU, MAY 02:  Capernaum – Mount of Beatitudes – Tabgha – Magdala –  Sea of Galilee
After a buffet breakfast, we will start our day with a stunning viewpoint over the Sea of Galilee from Peace Vista at the Golan Heights.  visit Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus as described by the Gospel, and also Jesus’ Galilean ministry base. There we will see the house of Peter’s mother-in-law and the ancient synagogue where many of Jesus’ teachings took place. At the foot of Mount of Beatitudes, we will contemplate the parable of the Sower. We gather at the Mount of Beatitudes where we enjoy its enchanting gardens and reflect on Jesus’ teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. In Tabgha, visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves which commemorates how Jesus miraculously multiplied five loaves and two fishes to feed five thousand people. Proceed to Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene to include the 1st-century Synagogue, the oldest Synagogue discovered on the shores of Galilee with a stone carved model of the Temple, including a Menorah carving. On to Mount Arbel lookout overlooking the ancient road from Nazareth to Galilee with a possible hike on a part of Jesus Trail. Return to our hotel at the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. 

Day 5, FRI, MAY 03: Boat Ride – Tel Dan – Caesarea Philippi – Sea of Galilee
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee on a replica of a boat from Jesus’ time reaching Kibbutz Ginosar where we see the ancient Jesus boat We drive to Tel Dan national park the northern extremity of Biblical Israel and the main source of the river Jordan. We will visit the location of the altar where the golden calf was placed by King Jeroboam and see the impressive gates dating from the 10 - 8th century BC ending our visit to see the Gates of Laish known as the “Abraham Gates” dating to 1800 BC. We proceed to Caesarea Philippi, known also as Banias, which springs from a source of the Jordan River, where Peter confessed that Jesus is the Son of God. We visit the high place seeing the gates of Hades, Augustus Temple, and the High Place where the God Pan was worshipped, then enjoy a stroll seeing where Herod’s Palace stood reaching the intact Roman bridge dated to 28 BC. On our way back, we will drive along the Golan Heights with a view over the road to Damascus. Dinner and overnight at the hotel at the Sea of Galilee. 

Day 6, SAT, MAY 04: Bet She’an –  Bet Arabah Baptismal Site – Herod’s Winter Palace – Bethlehem
After breakfast and check-out, we leave the area of Galilee, following the Jordan Valley Road to Bet She’an, the capital of the Decapolis. There we will see the ruins of the Roman and Byzantine cities. We will also discuss the demise of King Saul and his sons, whose bodies were hanged on the walls of Beth She’an. We will then continue traveling south to Jericho, where we will visit Tel Jericho with its ancient ruins, pointing out what possibly could be the foundations of the ramparts that Joshua and the Israelites brought down. From the Tel, we will have a view over Mt of Temptations and the location Of the New Testament Jericho. Then, visit Bet Arabah (“Qasr el Yahud”), Baptismal Site on the Jordan River, known also as Gilgal, where the Israelites crossed into the promised land, from where Elijah was taken to heaven and where Our Lord was baptized. To conclude our day, we enjoy a hike from Jericho along Wadi Qilt reaching St. George Monastery (external view). It’s this ancient Roman road that Jesus took on his way from Jericho to Jerusalem. We will then travel to Bethlehem to check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Day 7, SUN, MAY 05: Sunday Worship at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem- Bethlehem – Shepherds’ Field – Herodian 
We go to the Lutheran church after breakfast to join the congregation for Sunday worship. Then we drive to Herodian, Herod’s monument palace which functioned later as a Mausoleum the burial location for Herod. Nearby we stop to see a threshing floor which would give an insight into the story of Ruth and Boaz that has taken place in the nearby fields. Next, we visit the Shepherds’ Fields at Migdal Eder where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Our Lord. We will then travel to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem visiting the birthplace place of Jesus. Time will then be given to shop for olive wood and other items. We return to our hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and a meeting with Bishop Azar (ELCJHL). Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. 

Day 8, MON, MAY 06: Mount of Olives – Lutheran World Federation – Western Wall – Southern Wall excavations
After a buffet breakfast, we drive to Jerusalem. We begin our day with an orientation over the holy city from the Mount of Olives, pointing out important locations within the Old City, and connecting them with Biblical stories and prophecies about the return of Jesus. Meeting at the Lutheran World Federation. We enjoy a talk with the Federation’s representatives in the Ascension Church in order to know its mission, especially the work of the Augusta Victoria Hospital. Visit to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and Judaism’s holiest site. We will then visit the Southern Wall excavations where ruins of the retaining walls of the Temple Mount are still visible. We will then gather at the teaching steps, the main entrance to the Temple where Rabbis met and taught their disciples. We visit the City of David, the location of Jerusalem’s earliest settlement that was formerly the royal city of King David. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. 

Day 9: TUE, MAY 07: Shiloh – Mt. Gerizim Samaritan Temple and Museum – “the ancient Samaria” – Bethlehem
After a buffet breakfast, we head towards the historical region, Samaria, where the ancient kingdom of Israel was located. We visit Shiloh, an ancient city that was the major Israelite worship center before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem. Jews performed pilgrimages and brought offerings until the death of Eli, the High Priest, when the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the Philistines and, probably, Shiloh was then destroyed (I Samuel, chapter 4). Our next stop is at Mount Gerizim. Overlooking the Shechem, known as the city of Nablus, at the top of the mountain we have the Samaritan worship center, as they believe it is where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac. We will have the opportunity to see the Samaritan Temple and Museum. Then, we visit Sebastia known as “ancient Samaria”. It served as the capital of Israel during the period of the First Temple, and Sebastia, an outstanding Roman bastion, was built upon its ruins in 30 B.C.E. at Herod's orders. We proceed to ancient Shechem, located nowadays in the city of Nablus. Time permitting, we will also visit Mount Ebal, designated by the Lord to proclaim the curses that Israel would incur for disobeying His law. There we will see the Joshua altar. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. 

Day 10: WED, MAY 08: Masada – Ein Gedi – Qumran – Dead Sea swim – Bethlehem
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day visiting Masada, the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD with the standoff against the Romans. We visit the fortress and see the ruins that are considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We then continue to Ein Gedi the oasis in the desert where the meeting between David and King Saul took place (I Samuel 24) and where many of the Psalms were written by David. We enjoy a hike there, admiring beautiful, varied landscapes. Then, we visit Qumran (included), the location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin boy back in 1947. There we will see the caves and other buildings where the Essenes, the group of Jews who wrote the scrolls lived. We stop at one of the Dead Sea beaches to float in its salty waters. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. 

Day 11: THU, MAY 09: Temple Mount – Meeting with an Israeli Jew –  meeting with a Muslim imam
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will ascend the Temple Mount, discussing its connection to both the Old and New Testaments. We will also discuss why it is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Afterward, we will have a meeting with an Israeli Jew. We head to the Israel Museum where we will visit the Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem, a 1:50 scaled model of the city from the year 66 AD. We will also visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on exhibit, in addition to the archeological section where many artifacts are displayed, we will pay special attention to those items that relate to Bible history. After a self-hosted lunch, we will have a meeting with a Muslim imam. For the remainder of the day, we will have some free time to explore Jerusalem on our own. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. 

Day 12: FRI, MAY 10: – St. Anne’s Church and Pool of Bethesda -Jewish Quarter - Yad Vashem
After breakfast, we will visit the Church of St. Anne’s, a perfectly intact Crusader church. It is a wonderful place to gather and sing a song (sometimes with fellow Christians from all over the world). There, we will also visit the Pools of Bethesda where the healing at the pool took place (John 5). In the old city, tour one of the four quarters of the Old City where we can see Roman Cardo, King Hezekiah's broad wall, Hurva Synagogue, and Golden Menorah. Enjoy your free afternoon. Back to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. 

Day 13: SAT, MAY 11:–  Upper Room – Caiaphas Palace -Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulcher – Ancient Tomb – Garden Tomb.
In the morning, we head towards Mount Zion to visit the Cenacle, which commemorates the Upper Room in which Jesus shared the Last Supper with the disciples. Visit the House of Caiaphas, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu where we can see parts of the streets that Our Lord was dragged on by his capturers. We will have a chance to visit and pray at the dungeon where He was kept overnight. We will walk the Via Dolorosa following Christ's passion for the church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, known by the locals as the Church of Resurrection. The two sections built over the hill are the focal points on where the Crucifixion took place, called Golgotha or Calvary, and the other, the tomb where Jesus was laid. These sites encompass the continuation of the Via Dolorosa and the final Stations of the Cross. Not far from the King David Hotel in Jerusalem lies the site where King Herod the Great chose to bury members of his family. In the afternoon, we visit Garden Tomb (included) a peaceful spot where we can remember Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. We see the Calvary and the empty Tomb. Celebrate communion service at the Garden, reaching the climax of Pilgrimage at the empty Tomb. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bethlehem. 

Day 14: SUN, MAY 12: Departure
After breakfast and check-out, drive to the airport for your homebound flight.