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Day 1: Departure
Our life-changing journey begins this evening as we board our
overnight flight to Munich, Germany.
Day 2: Arrival Munich
This day is free to check in to your hotel for the evening,
sightsee on your own, relax and prepare for the excitement ahead.
Day 3: Munich - Oberammergau
Our sightseeing begins with a morning driving tour of Munich
including outside views of the Pinakotheken art museums, the world
famous Hofbräuhaus, the National Theater with the Royal Palace, Free
time for lunch and shopping will be allowed at the Marienplatz and
the Viktualien market with its colorful outdoor stalls. This
afternoon, we enjoy a wonderful ride through the Bavarian
countryside to Our lodging for the next two evenings.
Day 4: Oberammergau Performance
Your morning is free to enjoy the delightful village of
Oberammergau with outstanding opportunities for photos and shopping.
Lunch is provided by the Oberammergau Committee. This afternoon and
evening we enjoy the Passion Play production. The play depicts the
story of Christ's Passion, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem
and ending with the resurrection and transfiguration, a moving and
spectacular experience. Each performance starts at 2:30 pm and ends
approximately 10:30 pm, with a three-hour dinner break/intermission
from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.
Day 5: Arrive
Israel
This morning we transfer to Munich for our flight to Israel. We
arrive at Ben Gurion Airport where we will be met by our Israeli
guide who will accompany us during our entire stay in
Israel. We travel
northward to our hotel for one night in the coastal area near Tel
Aviv. The remainder of the day is free to walk along the
Mediterranean, relax, and have dinner. The time is right for a
personal devotional with the sunset over the “Great Sea.” Enjoy a
time of prayer of thanks for safety and the special blessings ahead,
a prayer for the people of this land, and a good night’s rest.
Day 6: Around Jerusalem, Bible
Times, Holocaust Museum
Passing by the Protestant Cemetery, we visit the "Upper
Room" just outside the
Zion Gate
where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and
where later Thomas cried, "my Lord & my God We move on to the
Judgment Hall
of Pilate, hear of those who conspired against Him and
are reminded of His brutal beating and humiliation. From here we
will also be able to see the
Pool of
Bethesda,
Stephen's
Gate and St. Ann’s Church. Those who wish may stay in the
city marketplace for shopping, while others may choose to spend the
remainder of the day surrounding the birth of Christ, with a visit
to
Bethlehem.
This evening we enjoy a special lecture by a local believer prior to
dinner, giving us a perspective of Messianic life in Israel.
Day 7: Jesus' Steps, the Last
Days - Messianic Lecture
Today we walk where Jesus walked; beginning the day with a panoramic
view of the city,
Mount Moriah
and the Dome of the Rock from atop the
Mount of
Olives and then the
Garden of
Gethsemane. How many have wished to be whisked back in
time to get a glimpse of our Lord or hear His voice if only for a
moment? To walk between the ancient olive trees, read the scriptures
of Jesus' prayer and take time for personal reflection is important
here. Next we visit the
House of
Caiaphas where Jesus was beaten and spit upon. See a pit
where he may have been held for the evening and the ancient hillside
steps he walked as he was taken to be condemned. While walking
along the Via Dolorosa, we are reminded of His way of suffering
along with a visit to the
Church of the
Holy Sepulcher. Our guide will explain the differing
opinions on the route that Christ was led and the actual place of
crucifixion and burial is a very interesting study. The climax of
the day is the
Garden Tomb,
where we celebrate the resurrection with communion and a time of
praise. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Dead Sea Scrolls, Ein
Gedi, Masada, Abraham’s Tent
Our day begins with a visit to the
Qumran Caves
where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Afterwards we proceed
to
Ein Gedi,
"Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea.
Because of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the site
developed a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palm
groves. This is where King David hid from Saul, and where God
defeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship led by
King Jehoshaphat. Our last visit of the day is a cable car ride to
the mountain top fortress of Masada. Here our guide will treat us to
the history of the famous zealot stand. We spend time at a Dead Sea
beach to enjoy a relaxing float before returning to Jerusalem.
Day 9: Pentecost, Yad Vashem,
Israel Museum
This afternoon we visit the
Southern Wall
Excavations. This southern side of The Temple was the
main entrance for the common folk, whereas the Priests and Levites
had their own entrance from the higher eastern side. Parts of the
giant stairs, which led to the Temple Mount from the courtyard have
been unearthed along with the purification pools. From here Jesus
entered the
Temple Mount
and drove out the vendors and money exchangers who were exploiting
the people. It is also likely that this is the place that Peter
stood and preached and where thousands were saved and baptized on
the
Day of
Pentecost. We will enjoy a challenge from God’s word and
a song. On our way into the city we will visit the Wailing Wall and
then the fascinating
Rabbinical
Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era. The
tunnel and exhibit give a clear understanding of the amazing
construction of the Temple Mount, giant stones, water supply and
Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. Before exiting the
tunnel we see the immense cornerstone rejected by the builders. An
interesting and educational time awaits us at the
Israeli
Museum. Walk through collections of centuries old Israeli
artifacts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, and a then a guided walk
through an accurately detailed model of Biblical Jerusalem will help
to prepare you for what you will experience in the following days.
We conclude the day with a visit to
Yad Vashem,
the Holocaust Museum, for a needed reminder of what the Jews have
suffered as a people. This evening we will take part in the Genesis
Land/Dinner in Abraham's Tent, where we enjoy a trip back in time: a
reliving of life in the time of the Patriarchs, complete with
costume, dramatic presentation, and authentic food.
Day 10: Beth Shean, Nazareth Village, Baptism
We begin today by traveling along and viewing the oldest city in the
world -
Jericho,
before coming to
Beit-Shean/Scythopolis, the most magnificent
archeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of
the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. Like Jericho, it has been almost
continuously occupied throughout history. After defeating Saul and
his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the
walls of Beit-Shean. (1 Sam 31:10-12) During the intertestamental
period, the city was renamed the "Scythopolis". Archaeologists have
uncovered a huge number of ruins of the Roman/Byzantine Scythopolis.
During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chief cities of
the Decapolis--a league of ten cities sharing Greek culture and
government. We travel into the Galilee region where continuing on
through the area of
Cana
and
Nazareth,
the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit the Nazareth Village - a
wonderful recreation of Biblical times with costumed guides. We
return back to the Galilee region where we have a memorable service
at the Yardenit Baptism site.
Day 11: Capernaum, Dan, Caesarea Philippi & Mount
of Beatitudes
Following breakfast, our morning travels take us to two valuable
northern sites emphasizing the loss of God's blessing on Israel.
Dan
is where the children of Israel fell to the depths of pagan worship
and
Caesarea
Philippi which is also the site of Peter’s Confession.
In order to save valuable time, a box lunch will be provided. In
Capernaum
we will visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter’s home.
Then we travel on to the site of the multiplication of loaves and
fishes and the
Mount of the
Beatitudes overlooking the Sea. After viewing the ancient
Fisherman Boat at an operating Kibbutz, we enjoy a relaxing cruise
on the Sea of Galilee. A brief scripture reading and devotional on
board brings to life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen
disciples concludes a wonderful day.
Day 12: Caesarea, Megiddo
We begin our day by private motor coach through the Jezreal Valley
to
Megiddo,
where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. Then
we’ll journey on to
Mt. Carmel,
where Elijah hid from King Ahab, before arriving along the coast of
the Mediterranean Sea at
Caesarea,
where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were
baptized. See the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. We travel into
Tel Aviv for the remainder of the day.
Day 13: Jerash, Amman
An early departure from our hotel takes us to Sheikh Hussein Border.
After completing passport formalities we enter the Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan. We travel to
Jerash, one of the best
preserved and most complete provincial Roman cities. Jerash, Gerasa
of Roman Times, was one of the cities of the Decapolis, a
confederation of 10 Graeco-Roman cities dating from the 1st century
BC situated in Jordan, Syria and Israel. Known as the Pompeii of the
East for its extraordinary state of preservation, the ruins indicate
human occupations at this location for more than 2,500 years. The
most well known monuments include the colonnaded street, the Temple
of Zeus, the Forum, and Hadrian’s Arch. We overnight in
Amman.
Day 14: Petra
Onto the King’s Highway we drive through the land of the
Moab where to the east we
view the hilltop palace/fortress of
Machaerus, the place where
John the Baptist was beheaded to the amazing city of
Petra. Walk through the “Siq,”
an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, to the city of Petra. 2000
years ago the Nabateans carved a city out of the rose red rock and
the Treasury, El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of
antiquity. Beyond El Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides by
hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures. We overnight in
Petra known to be inhabited by the
Edomites - the descendents
of Esau.
Day 15: Mt Nebo, Madaba, Jerusalem
Mt. Nebo, believed to be
the site of the tomb of Moses, commands a spectacular view across
the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. The drive continues to the town
of
Madaba, the biblical
Medeba, 30 kilometers south of Amman. Madaba is best known for its
Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and at the Greek Orthodox Church of
St. George we may view the earliest surveying original map of the
Holyland. As we travel west toward the Allenby Bridge, we view to
the north the
Plains of Moab, the area
where the tribes of Israel camped before crossing the Jordan and
picture
Bethany Beyond the Jordan,
the place where Jesus was baptized. Crossing back into Israel, we
drive to Jerusalem for free time and one last night.
Day 16: Homeward
Early today we depart Tel Aviv Airport for our flight home.
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