Israel: Day 13

Walking on Water… or at least very near the water

After a late night doing laundry, checking emails and… playing ping pong, a 7 am departure was a little difficult. However, the ride north gave ample time for a quick power nap and felt raring to go once we arrived at Caesarea on the Mediterranean.

What an amazing place that seemed to be built to flaunt itself against nature and see the fury that nature has inflicted to reclaim much of the landscape. To see Herod’s (Agrippa) palace, or the remaining foundation, jutting out into the sea was an invitation to scurry out as far as the rocks would let me. A few of the guys ran a short race on the game field a mere yards from the lapping waves of the sea. There were baths and places of worship from many differing time periods to be explored. A quick bus ride up the beach found the remains of an ancient aqueduct that perfectly framed views of the Mediterranean.

I found myself wondering if Paul had stood in similar places overlooking the same sea. Could he have walked down this same path?

This will be on the list for a return trip for sure.

Our second stop was atop Mt. Carmel of the infamous showdown between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal.

We took in the breathtaking view of Jezreal Valley below and the Israeli Air force above. We listened to a classmate discuss the Carmelites who came to this place to listen for the still, calm voice in a life of contemplation. On our way from Mt Carmel to Megiddo we stopped by a well preserved tomb complete with its roll-away stone

(He wasn’t there either… Risen!). When we arrived at Megiddo, it became obvious the importance of this place overlooking, monitoring the 3 important passes (Jezreal, Megiddo & Dothan). It also contained a cistern walk, a fast favorite place to avoid the sun for a few minutes before leaving a antiquity site.

With little time left in the day, our Professor Rasmussen convinced our bus driver to take our monstrous bus (that didn’t have the air conditioning working well) up a narrow, winding road so that we could take in the Sea of Galilee from a beautiful overlook over Tiberius. This was a nearly perfect way to finish a long, hot day. From there, we wound our way back down and around the sea to our 3rd home-away-from-home, bungalows seaside looking across to Tiberius. After getting our room assignments, I discovered that I was rooming with the infamous Lawson G. Stone, PhD. Lord, help us all!

With each passing day, I miss my family more and more and hope to bring them, especially Amy, to this place so that we may share in this experience that words nor pictures can capture. As I ponder walking across the Sea of Galilee, I wonder… is this were Jesus walked? Praises to Him, blessings to you all!