DAY 6 - "Feed My Lambs, Tend My Sheep"

Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, Walking on Water, Baptismal Site and so much more!

The Mount of Beatitudes, the setting for Jesus’ most famous discourse, the Sermon on the Mount, is one of the most beautifully serene places in the Holy Land.

The gardens were beautiful with so many flowers.

Overlooking the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, it offers an enchanting vista of the northern part of the lake and across to the cliffs of the Golan Heights on the other side.

 The exact site of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:28) is unknown. Pilgrims commemorate the event at the eight-sided Church of the Beatitudes, built on the slope of the mount.  

The eight sides represent the eight beatitudes

The discourse was intended for the nation of Israel, the crowds who had been flocking to Jesus. But it was delivered immediately to the disciples. 
 
The sermon begins with the beatitudes.  Each saying is proverb-like and full of meaning.  Each one includes a topic that forms a major biblical theme.

Church of the Beatitudes (1938)

The fantastic, phenomenal FOURSOME!

 The centrally placed altar is surmounted by a slender arch of alabaster and onyx. Around it, the seven virtues (justice, charity, prudence, faith, fortitude, hope and temperance) are depicted by symbols in the mosaic floor.

The Beatitudes are so beautiful - some of my most favorite scripture from the Saviour!  If we will only heed them all, we can truly live a life that our Heavenly Father has promised us - blessings beyond measure!

 The current church sits near the ruins of a small Byzantine era church dating to the late 4th century, which contains a rock-cut cistern beneath it and the remains of a small monastery to its southeast.

 It was so serene, standing in this sacred place, looking at the beautiful grounds and large trees.  Can I stay here for a L-O-N-G time?

All the blessings are listed along the pathway, but this is one of my favorites.

On to the next site - Tabgha, which means "Spring of Seven" in Hebrew.

  It is traditionally accepted as the place of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. (Mark 6:30-46)

Tal, our guide, explains about this Gethsemane Oil Press

The first pressed olive oil goes to the church in Jerusalem and the rest went to the public.

The earliest building at Tabgha was a small chapel built around 350 AD by the Jewish convert to Christianity, Joseph of Tiberias.

This is the best photo I could get of the beautiful mosaic under the altar.

...but here is one I found on the internet!

The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, just south of the Church of the Multiplication, was built on rocks at the shore of the Sea of Galilee, traditionally considered to be the place where Jesus appeared the fourth time after his resurrection (John 21: 1-24), during which, according to Catholic teaching, Jesus again conferred "primacy on Simon Peter." (reinstatement as Chief among the Apostles).

Walking down the path to the Church

 First mentioned in the year 808 are the "Twelve Thrones", a series of heart shaped stones, which were placed along the shore to commemorate the Twelve Apostles. The church survived longer than any other in the area, finally being destroyed in 1263.

These white stones are said to have come from Capernaum

The steps are said to have led down to the Sea, but the water level has dropped substantially today.

I'm walking on water, like Jesus did in days of yore.

 The modern structure was built in 1933 and incorporates parts of an earlier 4th century church. At the base of its walls, opposite the main altar, foundations of this ancient church are still visible.

Everyone thought I was a bit crazy to go wading in the Sea of Galilee - why would I NOT?!!

 According to Luke's Gospel, when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been killed, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place near Bethsaida. The crowds followed Jesus on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

We know the rest of the story - Feeding the 5,000 or more1

"Feed My Sheep" (John 21:17) - Jesus talking to Peter

 The church contains a projection of limestone rock in front of the present altar which is venerated as a "Mensa Christi", Latin for table of Christ. According to tradition this is the spot where Jesus is said to have laid out a breakfast of bread and fish for the Apostles, and told Peter to "Feed my sheep" after the miraculous catch.  It is disputed whether this table, or the one enshrined at the Church of the Multiplication, is the one mentioned by the pilgrim Egeria in her narrative of the Holy Land around 380 AD.

Thousands of people came to be with Jesus to hear him speak

 In 614 every church in this area was destroyed by the Persians...all Christian activity ceased.

"The Persian conquest of Palestine is described in historical sources as a most violent military raid that dramatically affected the political and administrative stability of Byzantine Palestine, involving large scale damage to churches and a mass killing of the local Christian population. Common view has it that the conquest marked a turning point in the history of the Near East and was one of the causes for the rapid Early Islamic conquests, twenty years later. Although the Persian domination - lasting only 14 years (614-628), was a very brief episode in the long historical sequence of Palestine, it was believed that the devastating effects of the conquest changed the urban and rural landscape of the country for many years to come. " (Gideon Avni)

Our guide pointed out the Jordan River -whhooahh!  It looks more like an irrigation ditch in Idaho!   Evidently, it used to be larger, but not like we all imagine.  Crazy!

Our 1st siting of the River Jordan

Another grove of Olive trees along our route

"Herodium"

 Herodium is a truncated cone-shaped hill, located south  of Jerusalem and southeast of Bethlehem in the Judean Desert. Herod the Great built a palace fortress and a small town at Herodium, between 23 and 15 and it's believed to have been buried there. Herodium is 2500 feet above sea level, the highest peak in the desert. 

According to Christian tradition, the Baptism of Jesus (Matthew, 3: 13-17) took place in Qasr el Yahud (arabic), north of the Dead Sea and east of Jericho. For centuries, it was the most important baptism site for pilgrims, and monasteries and guest houses were established near it.

After the Six-Day War, Qasr el Yahud fell under occupation. Due to military activity and excavations, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism established Yardenit in 1981 as an alternative pilgrimage site.

Yardenit became the first regulated baptism site on the Israeli side of the river. Qasr el Yahud reopened in 2011.  I will be posting our visit from there on both Day 14 - Good Friday and Day 16 - Easter from Jordan on my blog soon!

The Yardenit Baptismal Site currently averages 400,000 visitors a year and attracts members of all faiths.

 I walked to the right after we got into the site, while others walked to the left (the more touristy part).  I enjoyed a very serene and quiet part of the river where I video of me singing a Primary Song from the LDS church.  I will post that in the next blog.

Many trees had been planted in commemoration of someone.

This one caught my attention immediately - the good deeds of Schindler from WW II

 I walked on alone, thinking about all that my Saviour has done for me.  It was such a beautiful day and I am so lucky to here and to have been born at this time here on Earth.  How can I thank HIM enough for all my many blessings?!

 You can buy a little glass jar and fill it up with the holy water from the same river that our Lord and Saviour was baptized.  So I did it!

 Sometime during this day, we had lunch, but after the first two days of spending $15-$20 for lunch, (it is not included in the tour), I decided to just save a piece of fruit from breakfast and a piece of bread or hard-boiled egg to eat for MY lunch.  It saved time, $$, and calories!

So many things to see here in Israel.  Our next stop is Beit She'an which has played historically an important role due to its geographical location, at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley. 

The ancient city ruins are now protected within a national park, known as Bet She'an National Park.

I pulled this photo off the internet

 It is located on a prime location - in the center of major ancient crossroads  (North-South connected Asia Minor to Egypt, and West-East connected the sea to Jordan and Arabia)

Excavation results suggest that settlement began in the Late Neolithic period 5th-6th c. BC. Occupation continued intermittently up to 3200–3000, according to pottery finds.

Canaanite graves dating from 2000 to 1600 BC were discovered here in 1926.

I LOVE ancient ruins and the history here!

I asked our guide if I could run up to the top of the mountain while he was talking to everyone in the comfort of the large shade trees.  I could tell they were going to be a while and I saw some inviting steps to the top.  He said, "Sure, but to be quick and don't miss the bus!"

 Bet She'an Tel - a steep flight of stairs leads to the top of the Biblical tel. In the tel, the remains of buildings from the period of Egyptian rule were found, and a Crusader fortress. From the top of the mound  is a spectacular view of the surrounding area.

Another couple decided to go and tried to keep up with me - HA!  When I got to the top, I did my operatic call and many below me heard it.  What a view!  But it took 20 minutes to climb (straight up), so we would have to hurry or possibly miss our ride.

It's said there were four Temples up here at one time.

WHEW!  It is VERY hot today - supposedly 35 C. which is about 95 degrees F.

We ran quickly down and the group had only gotten to the 2nd site.  We are amazing, aren't we?

a western Bath house

This explains baths in those days and the steam of how it is released, but I didn't get to hear the explanation as I was on top of the mountain!

The Roman Temple

 The mighty Canaanite city was not conquered by the Israelites (Judges 1: 27: "Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns"). Later, in the 11th century BC, King Saul's body was displayed on its walls after his defeat by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31 10: "...and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan").  King Saul took his own life at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where the city was.

Can you imagine the work involved in doing these carvings?

Original mosaic floors

Fallen columns from a large earthquake.

 Our guide said that Jesus most likely visited this place often during his ministry.



The Philistines came and cut off many heads and put them on display here in this ancient city.

 We realized that we had missed seeing the amphitheater, so while the rest of the group was going to the buses, I ran down and sang part of an aria, which my friends recorded on their camera. 

Let me count how much I LOVE singing in these theatres!!!!

 What else can we fit in one day?  I know...Jerusalem - Let's go to JERUSALEM, the Holy City!!

Scenes along the way.  

Eventually I will capture a good photo of a Bedouin community.  I'll explain more about them later.

I'm so excited to see my 1st camels in the Holy Land.!!

One of the gals in our group hops on.

To the tune of about $10

Ah!  Here is a Bedouin establishment - they are traditionally pastoral nomadic Arab tribes living in the Negev region in Israel.

To our right are the outskirts of Jerusalem

Fun to see the herds of sheep and goats along the way!

 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem!  Lift up your gates and sing.  Hosanna in the highest!  Hosanna to your KING!"

The gold dome of the famous Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

 Mount of Olives on my right

Pinch me again PLEASE!  Am I REALLY here?

My 1st glimpse of the BYU Jerusalem Center

I never got a chance to actually go in and see the wonderful view from these windows, but I watched the video on their website....such a great story and mission they have here in Jerusalem.!!

 https://jerusalemcenter.ce.byu.edu/index

A ruins along the road

Lloyd says I am like a loose cannon...some kind of term from the navy, I guess.  I think it means that I don't always abide by the rules.  I like to venture out and discover new territory and don't always comply.  Is that a bad thing?