See the Pools of Bethesda, the place where an amazing miracle of a lame man was healed. Nearby is the Church of St. Anne, which is the believed place where Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born. Sheep Gate, Antonia Fortress, Temple Mount, Church of St. Anne, Old City Jerusalem. Pools of Bethesda & St. Anne Church Photo Gallery Places of Interest Pools of Bethesda & St. Anne Church Introduction Welcome to the Pools of Bethesda and St. Anne Church. 1. It was a place where many came to be healed during the time of Jesus. 2. It's where Jesus healed a sick man who had been going to this pool for 38 long years in the hope of being cured. 3. The church here marks the location believed to be where Mary’s parents, Anne and Joachim, lived, and where Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born. 4. Around 700 BC, during the reign of King Hezekiah, a large water storage pool was built here to capture water from the area for the purification and animal preparations of the temple. 5. Later, around 150 BC, the Hasmoneans built another pool beside the first one. The first pool became known as the Southern Pool, and the second as the Northern Pool. 6. Both these pools had water flowing in and out. This means they had what is known as "Living Water" in them. 7. These pools, also used as mikvahs, were near the Temple Mount, and a gate known as the sheep gate led up to it. 8. During the Greek reign around 200 BC, before the birth of Christ, healing baths were built here dedicated to the Greek false god Asclepius. 9. These are the highlights of the points of interest we'll see here. The Pools of Bethesda The ruins of the different churches and shrines that were built here. The Church of St. Anne 10. Let's explore and experience this site. Location 1. The Pools of Bethesda are located on the property of the Church of St. Anne. 2. The Church of St. Anne is located just inside the Lions’ Gate at the eastern entrance of the Old City. 3. The Church of St. Anne is known for its extraordinary acoustics, and visitors singing hymns of praise to God can often be heard there. 4. The ruins of the Jewish, Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader eras are still well preserved at the Pool of Bethesda. Historical Background 1. The Pool of Bethesda marks the place where a sick man was healed. 2. Bethesda means “House of Grace” and has been associated with a place of healing for many years. According to the Gospel of John, Bethesda was a bathing pool with five porticoes or porches. The ruins of some of these porticoes can still be seen today. 3. It should be noted that the pool that can be seen today is the corner of the southern pool. You will also note that it is significantly below the city level today. That is because Jerusalem is really a large tel. A tel is something that develops and grows in height as one civilization builds upon another. Therefore, since the time of Christ, the city has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. That is why the pool is below the surface of the city today. 4. Around 700 BC, during the reign of King Hezekiah, a large water storage pool was built here to capture water from the area for the purification and animal preparations of the temple. 5. Later, around 150 BC, the Hasmoneans built another pool beside the first one. The first pool became known as the Southern Pool, and the second as the Northern Pool. Both pools were approximately 43 feet, or 13 meters, deep. 6. Both these pools had water flowing in and out. This means they had what is known as "Living Water" in them. 7. These pools, also used as mikvahs, were near the Temple Mount, and a gate known as the sheep gate led up to it. 8. Small healing baths, part of an Asclepeion (a temple to the Greek god of healing, Asclepius), were constructed to the east of the main pools by the Romans as early as around 50 BC. 9. This complex was later expanded into a large temple to Asclepius and Serapis by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the early 2nd century AD. 10. When the Roman Emperor Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina in 135 AD, he built a large temple to Asclepius and Serapis, the Greek false gods of healing and believed deities. 11. After Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire, the temple Hadrian had erected was torn down, and a large Byzantine basilica was built over its ruins around 450 AD. 12. Close to the Byzantine Basilica was a grotto dedicated to the believed place where Mary’s parents, Anne and Joachim, lived, and where Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born. 13. In 614 AD, the Byzantine Basilica was destroyed by the Persians. Later, in 1138 AD, the Basilica of St. Anne was erected over the grotto site, which the Crusaders believed to be the birthplace of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church is dedicated to Anna and Joachim, who, according to tradition, lived here, and the site where their daughter, Mary, was born in a cave located under the basilica. It is one of the most preserved Crusader churches in Israel. 14. The New Testament says nothing about Mary's birthplace. However, an ancient tradition recorded in the apocryphal Gospel of James, which dates back to around AD 150, places the house of Anne and Joachim near the temple area. 15. Three episodes from the life of Mary are depicted at the front of the high altar in the Church of St Anne: (1) the Annunciation on the right, (2) the Descent of Jesus from the Cross in the center, and (3) the Nativity of Jesus on the left. On the left-hand side of the altar is an illustration of Mary's education by St Anne. On the right-hand side is a portrayal of the Presentation of Mary at the temple. A flight of stone steps descends from the south aisle to the crypt. This cave is believed to be the supposed site of the house of Anne and Joachim, as well as the birthplace of Mary. Here, in a tiny chapel with a domed ceiling, an altar is dedicated to the birth of Mary. 16. In 1192 AD, after the fall of the Crusader Kingdom, Saladin turned the church into a theological school for the study of the Quran, which is commemorated in an inscription above the church's entrance. 17. In the 19th century, the compound was given to the French Catholic Order of the White Fathers. France undertook extensive restoration work on the church, returning it as closely as possible to its original basilica form. A second restoration was necessary after the church was damaged during the Six-Day War in 1967. Places of Interest 1. Pools of Bethesda (also used as water storage and as mikvahs) As we walk through this archaeological site, let’s also take a moment to explore its history. In the first century, there were actually two very large rectangular reservoirs here. The first of these pools was built around 700 BC. It was the northern pool, built to provide water, primarily for use at the nearby Temple. Then, around 150 BC, the southern pool was constructed by the Hasmoneans, and a dam was built between the reservoirs. Both pools had a depth of about 43 feet or 13 meters. There was a roofed porch surrounding both pools, with a central porch running down the middle over the dam that separated them. These five porches are mentioned in John 5:2. Today, the northern pool is completely covered, while the southern pool has only been slightly exposed, as can be seen today. They contained "Living Water" Southern Pool ~ The southern part of the Southern Pool is what's visible today. Northern Pool Ruins of the Roman Temple of Asclepius (god of healing) Pagan Medicinal Baths Ruins of a Byzantine Basilica Ruins of a Crusader chapel 2. Church of St. Anne The altar at the front of the church depicts three events: (1) the Annunciation on the right, (2) the descent of Jesus from the Cross in the center, and (3) the birth of Jesus on the left. On the left-hand side of the altar is an illustration of the education of Mary by St Anne. On the right-hand side is a portrayal of the Presentation of Mary at the temple. Crypt dedicated to Mary’s birth It features excellent acoustics, making it ideal for those who enjoy singing. 3. Sheep Gate (located where the Lions’ Gate is today) 4. Antonia Fortress 5. Temple Mount Pool of Bethesda in the Bible 1. It was a place where many came to be healed during the time of Jesus. John 5:1–4: After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. 2. A sick man had been going to this pool for healing for 38 long years. John 5:5: A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 3. Jesus healed the sick man. John 5:6–9: When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well , and picked up his pallet and began to walk. 4. Christ revealed to the man why he had been sick for so long. John 5:9–14: Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” 11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 5. Jesus makes Himself equal to God. John 5:15–18: The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this reason, therefore, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Faith Lesson from the Pool of Bethesda 1. The sick man had faith in God, as he was in a place where miracles happened. Do we have faith that God can help us with our problems? 2. The sick man was patient and went to the Pool of Bethesda regularly for 38 long years. Are we patient and remain faithful even if we don’t understand sickness or problems we might have? 3. The sick man was alone as no one would help him get into the pool to be healed. Do we need others to help us with our problems because we are alone? 4. It appears some sinful activity caused his disability because Jesus told him to stop sinning, or something worse might happen. Could our sicknesses be caused by disobedience and sin in our lives?

Zedekiah’s Cave is a 5-acre (2 hectares) underground limestone quarry that stretches under five city blocks of the Muslim Quarter of Old City Jerusalem. The entrance is just beneath the Old City wall, between the Damascus and Herod Gates. Zedekiah's Cave ~ Solomon's Quarry Photo Gallery Places of Interest Zedekiah's Cave ~ Solomon's Quarry Location 1. The entrance to Zedekiah's Cave is just beneath the Old City wall, between the Damascus and Herod Gates. 2. It's on the north side of Old City Jerusalem, just outside its walls. 3. Only the cave's mouth is natural. The interior was carved over several thousand years. 4. Zedekiah’s Cave is a 5-acre (2 hectares) underground limestone quarry that stretches under five city blocks of the Muslim Quarter of Old City Jerusalem. 5. It was carved over a period of several thousand years and is a remnant of the largest quarry in Jerusalem. Historical Background 1. Solomon very likely used this quarry to construct the temple and temple mount platform he built. I Kings 5:15–17: Now Solomon had 70,000 transporters, and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains, 16 besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17 Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones , costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. These verses have intrigued scholars who have suggested that the proximity of the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah), to the site of “Zedekiah’s Cave” is what prompted King Solomon to utilize the quarry to produce the stones necessary for his building projects. 2. Herod the Great likely used the main quarry at Zedekiah's Cave for building blocks in renovating the temple and its retaining walls, today known as the Western or Wailing Wall. 3. Stones from the quarry may also have been used for Herod Agrippa I's building projects. 4. The cave was also said to be the hiding place of King Zedekiah when the Babylonians came to siege Jerusalem. The Biblical commentator Rashi wrote that Zedekiah hid here to escape the soldiers of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar during the siege of Jerusalem. According to Rashi, "There was a cave from the palace of Zedekiah to the plain of Jericho, and he fled through the cave." Thus, the legend and name of "Zedekiah's Cave" were born. 4. Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566), the Ottoman sultan who built the present walls around the Old City, also apparently mined the quarry. Because of security concerns, he ultimately sealed it up around 1540. 5. In 1854, the American missionary James Turner Barclay followed rumors of a cavern near the Damascus Gate and, apparently with the help of his dog, discovered the entrance. Barclay and his two sons returned secretly at night and explored the cave. 6. In the mid-1880s, the cave was occupied by a German religious sect that the German Consul eventually evacuated in Jerusalem after many of the group fell ill from living in damp, unsanitary conditions. 7. In 1873, French archeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau uncovered a crude carving of a winged creature in a small niche in the cave. The carving had two long, narrow wings that opened like a pair of scissors, a curled tail, and a bearded human head under a conical headdress. A plaque now marks the site. 8. Around 1900, the Jews of Jerusalem changed the name from Solomon's Quarry to Zedekiah's Cave. They believed that when Zedekiah, the last Judean king from Jerusalem, fled from the Babylonians as they besieged the city, he passed through this cave on his way to the plains of Jericho, where he was captured. 9. Some minor quarrying occurred in 1907 when the stone was obtained for use in the Ottoman clock tower over the Jaffa Gate. Otherwise, the site was not frequented again until the 1920s, when it became a tourist attraction. 10. In the late 20th century, the East Jerusalem Development Corporation restored the cave. In the mid-1980s, the Jerusalem Foundation built paths and installed lights throughout the cavern, facilitating tourist access. 11. In 1968, an East Jerusalem resident contacted the Israeli Ministry of Finance with a claim that his grandfather had buried three cases of gold in Zedekiah's Cave during the Ottoman period. He claimed he could show officials where the treasure was buried in return for 25% of the gold. The Ministry agreed, but according to The Jerusalem Post, no gold was found after digging a deep hole. 12. The cave reopened to the public in 2023 after three years of renovation and the installation of an audiovisual show. Places of Interest 1. Damascus Gate 2. Herod Gate 3. Zedekiah's Cave 4. Old City Jerusalem Walls 5. Temple Mount 6. Muslim Quarter 7. Christian Quarter 8. Jewish Quarter 9. Armenian Quarter 10. New Gate 11. Jaffa Gate 12. Western Wall 13. Temple Mount - Dome of the Rock 14. Church of the Holy Sepulchre 15. Old City Walls Zedekiah's Cave ~ Solomon's Quarry in the Bible 1. Solomon very likely used this quarry to construct the temple and temple mount platform he built - 950 BC. I Kings 5:15–17: Now Solomon had 70,000 transporters, and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains, 16 besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17 Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones , costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 2. The destruction of Jerusalem and the tragic end of King Zedekiah's reign - 586 BC. King Zedekiah reigned briefly over Judah from 597 to 586 BC. His reign ended in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of most of the Jews to Babylon. 2 Kings 24:17-20: Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 19 He also did evil in the sight of the Lord , according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence . Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 2 Kings 25:1-7: Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. 2 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 4 Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled at night by way of the gate between two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were still encamped all around against the city. And the king went by way of the plain. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook him in the plains of Jericho . All his army was scattered from him. 6 So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they pronounced judgment on him. 7 Then they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with bronze fetters, and took him to Babylon. Faith Lesson 1. God sent Israel and Judah prophet after prophet over a period of around 400 years to warn them against rejecting Him. God was more than patient with them. What about us? Do we take God's word and His warnings seriously? 2. Judah, the southern part of Israel, should have seen God's seriousness when it saw the northern part of Israel deported to Assyria in 722 BC. What about us? Do we heed what God does to others and realize He could do the same to us if we continue rebelling against Him? 3. God led all of Israel into captivity because they rejected Him. 2 Kings 24:20: For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence . What about us? Do we genuinely believe there will be consequences to our rejection of God and living life as we want instead of following God's will for our lives?

Jacob's Well in Shechem (Sychar) is the place where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. Shechem is also where Abraham lived, Jacob lived, Joshua rallied the nation of Israel together and gave the curses and blessings on Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. The nation of Israel was divided at Shechem. Filmed on location at the very place Jesus met with the Samaritan woman in Sychar (Shechem). See this story and the place where it happened like never before. Church of St. Photina: Jacob's Well Photo Gallery Places of Interest Church of St. Photina: Jacob's Well Introduction 1. In John chapter 4, we learn that on His way back to Galilee from Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples stopped here at Jacob's Well to refresh themselves. 2. It was here that He and a woman both came to this well at the same time, and the two of them struck up a conversation. 3. This woman was from a race of people that the Jews despised - the Samaritans. 4. We learn from the Bible that she had five former husbands, and that she was currently living with a man to whom she was not married. 5. We don’t know her real name. However, history has given her a name: Photini, meaning "the enlightened one." Why? Because, according to the Gospel of John, she was the first person in the world to whom Jesus revealed that He was the Messiah. 6. This church here, called "Church of St. Photina," was named after the Samaritan woman and marks the place of Jacob's Well, the place where she and Jesus met and talked. 7. Jacob's Well was built by Jacob around 1906 BC, when Jacob settled here in Shechem after returning from Pan Haram with his family. 8. The well was never destroyed over its 4,000-year history because everyone needs water, and this was an excellent source of fresh, cool water. 9. We're going to explore this site and drink out of the same well Jesus did. We will literally be in the footsteps of Jesus at this site. Location 1. Shechem had a significant role in the Bible and is mentioned 58 times. 2. Jacob's Well is located in the Church of St. Photina, in Biblical Shechem. It is also known as Sychar in the New Testament, and as Tel Balata and Nablus today. 3. Shechem is located about 30 miles (48 km) north of Jerusalem and about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Tel Aviv. 4. It was in the Samaria region of Israel in the territory of Ephraim during Bible times. 5. It was on a main north-south travel route that linked the northern and southern parts of Israel. 6. It was also on a main east-west route that linked the coastal plain of Israel with the Jordan Valley. 7. Shechem lies between the two famous mountains of Gerizim and Ebal. Historical Background 1. God first appeared to Abraham in Shechem and gave him the promise that he would inherit the land. 2. Abraham and Jacob lived here. 3. Jacob settled here after returning from Pan Haram with his family and built the well here around 1906 BC. This means this well is almost 4,000 years old. 4. Joseph’s bones are buried here. 5. Later, after the Assyrian conquest of this area in 720 BC, it was also called the Samaria region. 6. The Samaritans were a mixture of Assyrian and Israelite blood and were considered impure by the pureblooded Jews. As a result, the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. History of the Church of St. Photina 1. Shortly after the time of Christ, early Christians venerated this site. 2. 384 AD: A Byzantine church was built over Jacob's Well. Jerome mentioned this church in his writings. 3. The church was most likely destroyed during the Samaritan revolts of 484 or 529 AD. 4. 550 AD: The Roman Emperor, Justinian I, rebuilt the church. 5. 1099 AD: The church was in ruins by the time the Crusaders occupied Nablus (also known as Shechem). Shortly afterward, the Crusaders rebuilt the church. 6. 1187 AD: The church was destroyed by Saladin, the first sultan of Egypt and Syria, but the well survived. 7. No church existed for centuries, but Christians continued to venerate the place. 8. 1860 AD: The Greek Orthodox Church purchased the site, and a new church named after the Samaritan woman (St. Photini) was built in 1893. Places of Interest In Shechem 1. Tel Balata 2. Mount Gerizim 3. Mount Ebal 4. Jacob’s Well (135 feet, 41 m. deep) 5. Joseph’s Tomb 6. Modern Shechem (Nablus) 7. Sychar Places of Interest at the Church Outside the Church 1. Ruins of previous churches. 2. Mosaic ruins of the early Byzantine Church on each side, to the front. There is a drawing of this church from an early pilgrim depicting it as being in the shape of a cross. The well is directly under the intersection of the cross lines. 3. Half Dome on the roof that is directly over Jacob's Well. 4. Columns and pillars from the Byzantine and Crusader Churches. 5. Mosaic entering the church depicting Joseph's Well. 5. Image of St. Photina above the entry to the church. Inside the Church 1. Clay Jar On a platform at the top of one of these pillars is a glass case containing a jar. This jar is either presumed to be the one that Photini used to gather her water, or it simply represents the jar that she carried at that time. 2. The Skullcap of Photini Near the front of the church, inside a glass case, is a fragment of a skullcap, which is believed to be part of the remains of Saint Photini herself. 3. Icon in the Church – The Killing of Father Philoumenos On November 29, 1979, Father Philoumenos was killed by a disturbed man named Asher Raby. Raby threw a grenade inside the church, and while Father Philoumenos tried to escape, Raby attacked him with an ax and killed him. An icon in the central part of the church shows this tragic event. Raby ran away and was not caught until three years later, when another priest, Father Justinos, became guardian of the church. Raby came back and tried to kill Father Justinos, too, but this time the priest managed to break Raby’s leg, and he was arrested. Today, the sarcophagus of Saint Philoumenos is at the front of the church. After his death, Father Justinos worked to restore the church, and the restoration was completed in the early 2000s. 4. Images of persecution and martyrs. 5. Remains of columns of the Crusader Church. 6. Stairs in the front of the church leading down to the crypt where Jacob's Well is located. 7. Crypt with Jacob's Well The well is around 135 feet deep (41 m). The well has a narrow opening, just wide enough to allow a man's body to pass through with arms uplifted. This narrow neck, approximately 4 ft. (1.22 m) long, opens into the well itself, which is cylindrically shaped and measures about 7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m) in diameter. If you were to look at the well from a side angle, it would be in the shape of a wine bottle. It's narrow at the neck, and then opens up wider the rest of the way. The entrances to Old Testament wells were narrow, allowing a rock to be placed over them for protection. Example: Moses in Midian. Genesis 29:3: When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. It fits the Bible's description as being very deep. Jacob's Well and the Samaritan Woman In the Bible Shechem, called Sychar, is the place where Jesus met a woman at Jacob’s well and conversed with her. John 4:1–26: Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph . 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep [120 feet, 40 m.]. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain [Gerizim] , but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:39–42: Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” Faith Lesson from Jacob's Well 1. Of all the events that happened at Shechem, Jesus summed up God’s desire for us when He told the woman at the well, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth ” (John 2:23–24). 2. Do we worship God in spirit? 3. Do we walk in the Spirit and stay in close fellowship with God (Gal. 5:16–26)? 4. Do we worship God in truth? 5. Do we know God’s Word well and the truth it contains (2 Tim. 2:15)? 6. We will only know God to the degree we know His Word. How well do you know God?

Videos About Mount Tabor In Israel and the Transfiguration of Christ. Mount Tabor is the best candidate for the transfiguration of Christ. It has a lot of evidence dating back to the Old Testament, along with believers after the time of Christ, who set this site aside as the true place of the transfiguration. Sites of interest include the Franciscan Basilica of the Transfiguration, St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church, Descentibus Chapel, Melchizedek Chapel. Mt. Tabor: Transfiguration of Christ Photo Gallery Places of Interest Mount Tabor Transfiguration of Christ Location 1. Mount Tabor, rising like a dome-like mountain from the Plain of Jezreel, is the place where Christian tradition places the transfiguration of Jesus. 2. It’s about 11 miles (15 km.) southwest of the Sea of Galilee and about 5 miles (8 km.) east of Nazareth. 3. Mount Tabor stands some 1,500 ft. (457 m.) above the Jezreel Valley plain in Lower Galilee. 4. It held a strategic position at the junction of several trade routes. For this reason, many battles have been fought around it. 5. It's mentioned as one of the key mountains in Scripture: The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name (Psalm 89:12). Historical Background 1. In the Old Testament, Mount Tabor is described as a sacred mountain and a place for worship. However, it's not mentioned by name in the New Testament. 2. Throughout its history, it has been a place where mankind has sought contact with the divine. 3. It also served as an important fortress during the Old Testament, Greek, Roman, and Crusader times. 4. It is best known as the believed place where the transfiguration of Christ took place, an event in the Gospels in which Jesus is transfigured upon an unnamed mountain and speaks with Moses and Elijah as described in Matthew 17:1–9; Mark 9:2–8; and Luke 9:28–36. 5. Christian tradition in the early centuries named Mount Tabor as the place of the transfiguration of Christ. This location is cited in early apocryphal writings and was accepted by the Syriac and Byzantine churches. 6. The earliest identification of the Mount of Transfiguration as Tabor is by Origen in the 3rd century. 7. During the Byzantine period, due to the importance of Mount Tabor in Christian tradition, it became a pilgrimage site from the 4th century and onward. According to descriptions of the pilgrims visiting this site during the 6th century, there were three churches that resided on the top of Mount Tabor. 8. Some biblical scholars today now question this tradition. These scholars see the much higher Mount Hermon as a more likely location as it was closer to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter’s confession of Christ took place. However, this is very unlikely for the following reason. After the transfiguration of Christ, He descended the mountain and was met by a crowd of people: Matthew 17:14: "And when they came to the crowd , a man came up to him and, kneeling before him." Mount Hermon was in a district that the Jews did not go to because it was filled with pagan worship and gentiles. Therefore, it would be extremely unlikely that a large crowd of Jews would be in this area. Also, according to Mark 9:30, right after this event, "They left that place and passed through Galilea." Mount Hermon and Caesarea Philippi were not in the Galilean region, so again, it's very unlikely Mount Hermon was the site where the Transfiguration of Christ took place. 9. Mount Tabor is a much better candidate, and there is great value in considering the 2,000-year-old tradition of history at this site. 10. Scripture says that the transfiguration of Christ took place 6 days after Peter’s confession of Christ in Caesarea Philippi. Mount Tabor is only about 40 miles (65 km.) south of Caesarea Philippi, which could easily have been reached in 6 days. 11. It’s really not important where this event happened but that it did happen. 12. Today, there are two main churches and monasteries on top of Mount Tabor, marking the event of the transfiguration of Christ. They include the Franciscan Basilica of the Transfiguration and St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church. Places of Interest 1. Franciscan Basilica of the Transfiguration – The main church that is visited and sits at the highest part of Mount Tabor. This church, which is part of a Franciscan monastery complex, was completed in 1924. It was built on the ruins of an ancient (4th–6th-century) Byzantine church and a 12th-century church of the Crusader Kingdom period. 2. St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church – Located on the northern side of Mount Tabor. It’s named after the Prophet Elijah. 3. Tower & Walls 4. Other ancient structures, chapels, cisterns, and quarries. 5. Descentibus Chapel 6. Melchizedek Chapel 7. Jezreel Valley Mount Tabor in the Bible 1. Mount Tabor is mentioned 12 times in Scripture. 2. It's first mentioned in Joshua 19:22 as a border between the three tribes of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali. The mountain's prominence is due to its strategic location at the junction of Galilee's north-south route, along with the east-west highway of the Jezreel Valley. 3. According to Judges chapter 4, Hazor was the seat of Jabin, the king of Canaan. His military commander, Sisera, led a Canaanite army against the Israelites. Deborah, the Jewish prophetess, summoned Barak of the tribe of Naphtali and gave him the following command from God. Judges 4:14–16: And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?” So, Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. 15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16 And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left. 4. Transfiguration of Christ. Matthew 17:1–13: And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John, his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also, the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. 5. After descending Mount Tabor, Christ healed a man and used Mount Tabor as an example of faith. Matthew 17:14–20: And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain , ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Faith Lesson from Mount Tabor 1. The transfiguration of Christ is another proof that He was truly the Son of God and divine. 2. It cemented in the hearts of Peter, James, and John, who would become key leaders in the early church, that Christ was definitely the Messiah and God the Father in the flesh. 3. The Apostle Peter looked back to this landmark event of the transfiguration to speak about how sure and solid our faith in Christ and His Word is. 2 Peter 1:16–21: For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain [mount of transfiguration]. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation [source or wisdom]. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 4. Are we anchored in our faith and unmovable? 5. Do we believe Christ was God in the flesh, and are we willing to follow Him and be His disciples? 6. Do we have faith that we can move spiritual mountains if we have faith in Christ?

Who has the right to the Holy Land? The Palestineans of the Jews? What does history say about this debate and hotly contested land? Learn all about it here! Who Has the Rights to the Holy Land? Holy Land Site Video Coming Soon Who Has the Right s to the Holy Land? The Jews or Arabs? Introduction Who has the right s to the Holy Land? The Jews or the Arabs? Who was there first? What does history show us about this issue? What does the future look like in this troubled part of the world? Currently, there is a war going on between Hamas and Israel, and many other countries are getting involved. Things look chaotic and uncertain. Everything that is happening is because of the dispute over who has the rights to the Holy Land. I f you want to know about who has the rights to this land and understand the root cause of the conflict, read on to find out. Let's explore this issue and see what the truth is. Let’s Define Some Names and Terms 1. Secular Arabs – These are the descendants of Ishmael, one of Abraham’s sons. 2. Muslim Arabs – These are the believers in the Islamic faith, who are generally Arabs, which was founded by Muhammad in around 610 AD. 3. Secular Jews – These are Jews who are not religious and do not follow the Jewish faith. 4. Religio us Jews – These believe and practice Judaism. 5. Pales tine & Palestinian – Roman Emperor Hadrian first used these terms in around 132 AD. He used them after a major conquest and destruction of Israel to eradicate the Jews due to their uprisings. He changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina and the country of Israel to Palestine. He used the word Palestine to refer to the Philistines, one of Israel’s enemies from around 1400 to 1000 BC. His intent was to erase the names of Israel and the Jews and disassociate them from the Holy Land. However, during the time of Hadrian, there were no Philistines that lived. Nonetheless, he did this to eliminate the name Israel and replace it. The term fell out of use during the Byzantine era in around 324 AD and wasn’t used again until 1948. It is used in these latter times by some to promote the idea that the Jews today have no right to their God-given homeland. However, many use it as it has become the common name for the Holy Land. I don’t like to use the word much because there are no original Philistines from the time of the Canaanites living in the Holy Land today, and the original intent of the word was antisemitic. However, I will use it on occasion for understanding and clarity purposes. The Conflict Is Mainly Between Muslim Arabs and Jews Now, this discussion is not about all Arabs and is not intended to be anti-Arab. I have a number of Arab friends and have met many Arab people while in the Holy Land who are wonderful folks. God loves all people and wants them to come to the saving knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, who proved to be divine and fulfilled countless prophecies proving this. Both the Jews and Arabs need Jesus Christ, along with all of us. He is the only hope for peace and salvation. Every person is equal and created in the image of God. I also want to say that I feel deep compassion for the innocent people caught up in war. Wars are ugly, destructive, and sad. What Is the Conflict About? The basic conflict is over who has the right to exist in the Holy Land. The Muslim Arabs claim they are the rightful owners of all the Holy Land and want no state of Israel at all, and Israel says they have a right to exist in their homeland. What Is the Root Cause of the Conflict? To really understand this conflict, we must go back in time to around 4,000 years ago to the time of Abraham and his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. From the descendants of these two brothers comes the conflict that has gone on for the last 4,000 years. Who Has the Right to the Holy Land? God should have the last word on this issue, as He is the Creator and owner of everything. Let’s see what God says. To do this, let’s look at the Abrahamic Covenant God made with Abraham regarding the land of Israel as found in the Bible. The Abrahamic Covenant consists of three promises God established with Abraham. 1. A Land 2. A Nation or People 3. A Lineage – Through the lineage of Isaac would come Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The Abrahamic Covenant The Abrahamic Covenant is given numerous times in Genesis chapters 12-17 and continually reaffirmed throughout both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. You will notice that the Bible uses the name Abram before it is later changed to Abraham, which means father of many nations. God promises a land and a people: Genesis 13:14-17 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever . 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk throug h the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” God promises Abraham a son: Genesis 15:18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. After waiting a long time without Abraham and Sarah having a child, Sarah tries to fulfill this promise through her handmaid, Hagar. The birth of Ishmael: Genesis16:11-12 After Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, there arose bitterness between Sarah and Hagar. Then God describes the kind of person Ishmael would be. “Behold, you [Hagar] are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” What do we see here? 1. The bitterness between Sarah and Hagar begins the conflict we see today. Later, this bitterness would include Ishmael and Isaac. 2. Ishmael will be a wild donkey of a man and will be against everyone and everyone against him. We certainly see this throughout history. The fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant would come through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, not through Ishmael. Genesis 17:15-22: And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” 22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. What do we see here? 1. The Abrahamic Covenant, an everlasting covenant, would be through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. God’s covenant would not be through Ishmael. 2. Ishmael would be the father of a great multitude, which are the Arab people. 3. Through the Abrahamic Covenant, fulfilled in Isaac, would come Jesus Christ, the prophesied Savior. Galatians 3:13-14, 16: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles , so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed . He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. What do we see here? 1. The genealogies of the Bible, which oftentimes we think are boring, are so important. They prove that Jesus Christ fulfills the lineage aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant that dates back to around 4,000 years. 2. P rophecy is what sets the Bible apart from any other writing. It contains very specific, detailed prophecies. So, in summary, the Abrahamic Covenant, which is the major storyline of the Bible, includes three major aspects: 1. A Land through Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his offspring, which today is known as the Holy Land. 2. A Nation or people through Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his offspring, which today are called the Jews or Israelis. 3. A Lineage – Through the lineage of Isaac would come Christ, the Savior of the world. The Role of Islam in the Conflict The religion of Islam, which came into being in around 610 AD, completely denies the Bible’s storyline and radically changes it. Muslims believe that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mohamad and gave him a number of revelations from around 610-632 AD. The Quran and Muslim theology believe the following: 1. The Abrahamic Covenant was intended for Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 2. The Holy Land is for Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 3. The promise of a nation or people is through Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 4. Jesus Christ is not the Savior but just a prophet, and Mohamad is greater than Jesus and is the last prophet. 5. I t denies the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 6. It believes the Bible is corrupted and that the Quran is the true revelation from God. Note: This Muslim belief cannot be true because the Dead Sea Scrolls, written around 100 BC, 700 years before Mohamad, verify that the Old Testament we have today is the same as what was written in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, Islam does more than just claim the Bible has been corrupted. It denies about 95% of the Bible is even true. For example, the New Testament's main theme is that salvation is through Jesus Christ and how to live and serve Him as a result. Islam denies all this. So, saying the Bible has been corrupted is not an accurate statement. The truth is that Islam rejects virtually all of the Bible and what it teaches. 6. Mohamad is the main example of how we should live. This even includes marrying children, as Mohamad married a 6-year-old girl when he was 51 and then consummated the marriage (had sex with her) when she was 10 years old. Marrying children is extremely common among Muslims. The Bible’s Claim About Islam According to the Bible, Islam is completely opposite to what the Bible teaches and is an antichrist religion. This explains why they hate Christians and Jews so much. The Jews believe in the Old Testament, and Christians believe in both the Old and New Testaments. Will the coming Antichrist be a Muslim? Many believe that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. This makes sense as Islam theology believes in a coming world leader called Mahdi. He will make a peace treaty for seven years, rule from the temple in Jerusalem, intend to kill all Jews and Christians and force all people to worship Allah. This Mahdi is exactly what the Bible describes as the Antichrist. Also, there is no other religion that is so against Christians and Jews like Islam. Additionally, Muslims believe Jesus will return to earth from heaven. But in their version of Jesus, he returns as a Muslim and will tell all the Christians that what the Bible says about him is wrong. He will destroy Christianity and demand that everyone convert to Islam and set up Islam as the one world faith. As you can see, Islam is anti-Bible and totally changes what the Bible teaches about the Abrahamic Covenant, which includes a land, a people, and a lineage. And most importantly, it teaches that Jesus was not who the Bible claims He is. Jesus warned about this when He was on earth. In Matthew 24:3-5, when Jesus was talking about the end times it says: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. What Islam teaches is the very thing Jesus warned believers to be on the lookout for and not to be deceived by it. So, at the root of the conflict we see playing out on the world stage right now is a spiritual conflict that began thousands of years ago and continues to this day. This conflict was experienced and prophesied in Psalm 83: Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah Islamic World Conquest Through Jihad Explains the Conflicts in Israel The theology of Musli ms is to conquer the world for Allah and institute Muslim rule over the entire world. This rule is also known as Sharia Law. After this is done, they say, then peace will finally come to the world. This is why, since the inception of Islam, Muslims have been engaged in conquering land for Allah. This can be clearly seen in its nearly 1500-year-old history. Therefore, Islam is a violent faith that conquers lands and peoples for Allah by whatever means necessary, as taught in the Quran. We can see this in the following quotes and teachings of Islam. 1. World conquest and Jihad is taught in the Quran and Islamic theology. Quran 8:60: And prepare against them all the power you can muster, and all the cavalry you can mobilize , to thereby Allah’s enemies and your enemies. By using terrorism, governments and people yield to Muslims because of fear. They see the horrifying acts of terrorism and don’t want to make the devoted Muslims angry so they won’t be terrorized. Quran 8:39: Fight them until there is no more persecution, and religion becomes exclusively for Allah. But if they desist—Allah is Seeing of what they do. Quran 47:4: When you encounter those who disbelieve, strike at their necks. Then, when you have routed them, bind them firmly. Then, either release them by grace, or by ransom, until war lays down its burdens. Had Allah willed, He could have defeated them Himself, but He thus tests some of you by means of others. As for those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will not let their deeds go to waste. Quran 9:14: Fight them. Allah will punish them at your hands, and humiliate them, and help you against them , and heal the hearts of a believing people. Quran 9:29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah. The theology of Islam promotes the raping and sexual slavery of women if it’s done in connection with Jihad. That’s why the men are generally killed, and the women taken into slavery. 2. Jihad groups, like Hamas, use as part of their warfare, placing their rockets and military operations behind women, children, schools, hospitals, mosques, and so forth. This way, when these places are targeted and destroyed, they can cry out that horrific abuses have been done to their innocent places and people. 3. According to the current leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Mahmoud Abbas, no Jews would be allowed to live in the land of Israel unless they converted to Muslim if a State of Palestine was created. This is completely opposite to what the state of Israel allows. Israel has many Arab citizens, has Arabs in their government leadership, and allows for complete freedom of religion. 4. According to a Muslim statement, Muslims should not submit to any form of government that is not Muslim, and no non-Muslim government has the right to rule Muslims. And if they do, Muslims have the duty to dislodge non-Muslim governments from power by any means possible. 5. Under Muslim-run countries, there is no separation of church and state. The government rules as a theocracy for Allah. This is also known as Sharia Law. 6. When Muslims conquer countries, they persecute and pressure non-Muslims to convert, or life will become unbearable for them, even to the point of execution. 7. They also destroy all religious sites like churches, synagogues, and so forth. They do this to show dominance and conquest. This is why they built the Dome of the Rock exactly over where the temple once stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 8. In Islamic Jihad, it is okay to lie to defeat non-Muslims. This is partly what happened with the recent Hamas invasion of Israel at the time of this filming in 2023, where they killed around 1,400 people and kidnapped around 220 people. They told Israel they wanted peace. Therefore, Israel let their guard down and were deceived. 9. It is also commonly promoted that Islam is a peaceful religion. This is done to deceive the ignorant. History and Muslim theology clearly state that Islam’s purpose is to conquer the world for Allah through Jihad, which is war by all means necessary. 10. There are also terrorism and death sentences in Islam for those who leave Islam or convert to another religion. This includes honor killings, imprisonment, and persecution within Muslim-run countries. I have personal Arabic friends living in Israel who have left Islam and are under threat from family members and other Muslims who want to kill them. 11. Many Arabs and Arab Muslims just want to live in peace and live their lives. However, the devoted Islamic Jihadists are the ones causing most of the trouble. That’s why when peace agreements are made between Israel and Arabs, the Jihadists increase their terrorism. This was clearly evidenced by the OSLO agreement that President Bill Clinton oversaw. The peaceful Muslims don’t do or say anything contrary to the Jihadists out of fear for their lives. So, it’s the devoted Jihadists who control most of the Arab countries. Again, the goal of the devoted Jihadists is to conquer the world for Allah. 12. The devoted Jihadists reject peace because, in their view, peace is losing ground and yielding power. According to them, it stops the progress of conquering the world for Allah. 13. The Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as Hamas, is a Palestinian Islamist militant group founded in 1987. The group’s primary objective is to establish an independent Islamic state in all the Holy Land. To accomplish their purpose, they want to eliminate Israel from the Holy Land. Hamas is known for its armed resistance against Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by many countries. 14. The group’s charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in what they call “historic Palestine.” Hamas has been governing more than two million Arabs in the Gaza Strip since 2007. 15. In summary, the Quran, Muslim theology, Mohamad’s life, and Muslim history all call for Jihad to punish and fight for Allah in the conquest of the world. Quran 9:14: Fight them. Allah will punish them at your hands, and humiliate them, and help you against them , and heal the hearts of a believing people. This is what the Bible says about Islamic Jihad. John 16:2-3: They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God . 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father nor Me. Is Israel Occupying the Holy Land Unjustly? Let’s look at a brief history of the Holy Land. 1. The Holy Land was promised to Abraham and his descendants by God and first inhabited by Abraham in around 2000 BC. This promise would come through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. 2. Later, God commanded the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites from the Holy Land because of their extreme wickedness. This happened in around 1406 BC when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. 3. The nation of Israel became the world’s dominant power under the kingships of King David and King Solomon in around 1000 BC. It was a vast empire. 4. Because Israel disobeyed God in many ways, He allowed foreign countries to conquer and subdue them. Many Jews were exiled. The first conquest happened in 722 BC by the Assyrians and 586 BC by the Babylonians. However, there always remained a Jewish presence in the Holy Land, and Jews returned from exile back to Israel. 5. Over the next 2,500 years, until 1948, the land of Israel would be ruled and occupied by the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Mameluke Muslims, Crusaders, Ottoman Muslims, and the British. However, there always remained a Jewish presence in the Holy Land during all this time. 6. After Israel’s rejection of Christ, their Messiah, God would judge them severely, as prophesied by Jesus. This resulted in the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem in 70 and 132 AD. 7. However, God had a plan and purpose for Israel and prophesied He would regather them into a nation again in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948. 8. In 1917, the Ottoman Empire fell because of World War I and the League of Nations entrusted the British with overseeing the Holy Land. This included all of the country of Jordan today, as well as all of Israel. 9. At this time, the Ottomans, by formal cession, gave the Holy Land to the League of Nations, who, by international law, gave it to Great Britain, known as the British Mandate, to facilitate a homeland and nation for Israel. 10. After much fighting and tension between Britain, the Jews, and the Arabs, Britain handed the Holy Land over to the UN (United Nations) to facilitate the conflict. 11. In November of 1947, the UN voted to recognize Israel as a state, and the British Mandate would end on May 15, 1948. 12. On May 15, 1948, after Israel was recognized as a state by the UN and the British Mandate ended, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria invaded Israel. Israel was victorious and won the war. 13. Egypt ruled the Gaza Strip, and Jordan ruled the West Bank from 1948-1967. 14. After the Six-Day War in 1967, when Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan were planning an attack on Israel in their attempt to take full possession of Israel, Israel launched a preemptive strike and won the battle. They took possession of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. 15. In 2005, Israel gave the Gaza Strip away to Arab leadership in exchange for peace. They also gave the Sinai Peninsula away to the Egyptians in exchange for peace as well. Therefore, Israel has not occupied the Gaza Strip for many years now. It has been under Arab control since 2005 and under Islamic Hamas leadership since 2007. Hamas receives billions of dollars in aid each year to better the country. Unfortunately, they spend most of it on terrorism and their own personal wealth instead of on building a better country for the people living there. 16. In addition to Israel giving full control to Arab leadership in the Gaza Strip, there are many areas of the Holy Land where Arabs have full control. 17. Most Arabs living in Israeli-controlled areas are very happy as the standard of living is much higher. The Arab-controlled areas, and especially the Gaza Strip, are where the standard of living is very low. 18. Today, there are around 9 million Jews and 2.1 million Arabs living in Israel. Many of the Arabs vote, serve in the military, hold office, are parliament and supreme court members, university professors, and doctors. They are very happy, peaceful, and supportive of the state of Israel. 19. Israel has accepted every two-state solution in the Holy Land, but Arab leadership has rejected every proposal. The Arab leadership wants Israel removed entirely from the Holy Land. This is their stated goal. Therefore, Arab leadership does not want peace but the elimination of the state of Israel. 20. It would be good to mention that there have been wars since the beginning of time. Kingdoms have risen and fallen. If Israel is wrongly occupying the land, then should the Muslims give back all the land they conquered over 1500 years and possess today? For that matter, should every country over the entire history of the world return conquered land? And if so, how far back do we go? War is just a reality of this fallen world, and it’s unrealistic to return all land to its original occupiers. And if we use history as the measure of the right to occupy land, then Israel has more rights to the land because they conquered it in 1406 BC. The Muslim Arabs didn’t conquer it until around 631 AD, then lost it later. 21. In all of the history of the Holy Land, there has never been a Palestinian State. In fact, as mentioned earlier, the term Palestinian fell out of use after the Byzantine conquest of Israel in around 324 AD and wasn’t used again until around 1948. 22. The main reason Israel is now against a two-state solution is that if they give the West Bank to Arab leadership, they will have the same issue they face today with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From the West Bank, rockets could then reach every part of Israel, and their existence would be threatened. And with the stated intent of Muslim Arab leadership to totally eliminate the Jews, this would be a dangerous reality. Israel Becoming a Nation Fulfills Bibl e Prophecy In Ezekiel chapter 37 is a vision Ezekiel received about a valley of dry bones. These bones represent the nation of Israel and how God would regather them into their homeland in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel was recognized by the UN and the International Community as being its own country. Ezekiel 37:11-14: Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land . Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” This amazing prophecy has been fulfilled and lets us know that the Bible is God’s word and true, as only God knows the future. We must realize that the creation of Israel as a state is God’s doing. It fulfills His master plan for the nation of Israel. God is the Lord and owner of everything, so we must realize it is His will for the nation of Israel to exist. Nothing will change His plans. Therefore, the fact that Israel is a state is ultimately by God’s sovereign work and plan, not people’s. Faith Lesson 1. God is the Creator and owner of everything. This includes all the earth and the nations on it. He raises up nations, and He removes nations according to His good purposes. God gave the Holy Land to Israel through the Abrahamic Covenant, so they have a right to exist in their homeland. 2. Other people lived in the Holy Land besides the Jews as well. Some of these were people from other nations whom the Assyrians and Babylonians brought in, some joined in the Jewish faith like Ruth, and some lived there because the Jews failed to conquer them in the conquest of the Promised Land in 1406 BC. According to the Jews, other nationalities are welcome to live in the Holy Land as long as they are peaceful. However, terrorists are a huge problem. 3. The Jews have agreed to virtually every peace treaty presented to them. They even gave up the Gaza Strip to the Arabs for peace and the Sinai Penisula to Egypt for peace. However, in the case of Gaza, they have only received terrorism and war. That's why Israel is not in favor of a two-date solution. All they would likely get is another Gaza in the middle of their country, where rockets could easily reach every part of Israel. 4. According to the devoted Muslims who follow the Quran, they are not interested in peace because that would be failure to conquer the world for Allah. Therefore, peace is not an option, and they will continue to fight against the Jews and all non-Muslim countries moving forward. 5. God has a plan for Israel, and He will be the one who defends them supernaturally. God will fulfill this major prophecy as He has fulfilled every other one. You can count on that. 6. God loves both the Jews and Muslims, and for that matter, all people and desires that everyone comes to salvation through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish , but that all should reach repentance.

The crossing of the Jordon was a much bigger miracle than we think. The river was at flood stage, and its waters backed up for about 20 miles while the 3 million or more Israelites crossed the river. A wall of water would have accumulated that would have been about 100 ft. (30 m.) high, as this is. Adam: The place where the waters of the Jordan backed up to when the Israelites crossed the river (20 miles, 32 km., above the crossing site), Shittim, Camp Gilgal, Jericho. Jordan River Crossing into the Promised Land Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jordan River: Crossing into the Promised Land Introduction Welcome to this site on the Jordan, where the Israelites crossed the river into the Promised Land. 1. It was a far bigger miracle than most think. 2. It was also here that John the Baptist baptized many people. 3. There are many churches and monuments marking these biblical events. Location 1. The crossing place where the Israelites entered the Promised Land is just opposite Jericho. 2. It’s amazing that it’s in the same area where John the Baptist baptized many and where John baptized Jesus. 3. Today, it’s known as Qasr el Yahud (Kasser Al Yahud, Qaser, the Baptismal Site of Jesus. 4. It’s about 2 miles (3.3 km.) east of Hwy. 90, opposite Jericho. Historical Background 1. The nation of Israel spent 430 years in Egypt. Four hundred of these years they were slaves (Gen. 15:13), and thirty years they enjoyed peace during the time Joseph was alive. 2. God supernaturally delivered the Israelites out of the hands of the Egyptians through Moses. 3. After the Exodus, they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. 4. They spent a year at Mount Sinai receiving the Law and then headed to Kadesh Barnea to enter the Promised Land. 5. After the 12 spies returned from scouting out the land, 10 spies convinced the people that the inhabitants of the land were too strong for them to conquer and they should return to Egypt (Num. 13:25–33). 6. Because of their unbelief and disobedience, they were banned from entering the Promised Land and ordered to wander in the desert 40 years until every person 20 years old, and older died (Num. 14:20–25). 7. During the 40 years of wandering in the desert, entering the Promised Land became a deep yearning within the souls of the new generation. Day after day they dreamt about a new life in the Promised Land, which would bring an end to their seemingly vain wandering in the desert eating Manna day after day. 8. After 40 long years, they were poised to enter the Promised Land, and their hearts were overflowing with enthusiasm and expectation as the time had finally arrived. 9. The word “Hebrew” means to cross over. Abraham crossed over from false gods to the one and only true God. He crossed over physically by leaving his homeland and coming to the Promised Land. The Israelites were delivered by God from the Egyptians as they crossed through the Red Sea, and then crossed through the Jordan River into the Promised Land. All these acts are pictures of deliverance and salvation. We also cross over from death to life through Christ. Places of Interest 1. Crossing site of the Israelites into the Promised Land. 2. Baptismal Site of Jesus: The believed place where Jesus was baptized and where many are baptized today. 3. Adam: The place where the waters of the Jordan backed up to when the Israelites crossed the river (20 miles, 32 km., above the crossing site). 4. Shittim 5. Camp Gilgal 6. Jericho 7. Church of John the Baptist 8. Elijah's Hill 9. Cave of John the Baptist 10. Bethany Beyond the Jordan Crossing the Jordan River in the Bible 1. Before entering the Promised Land, the Israelites camped on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. Joshua 3:1: Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and they set out from Shittim . And they came to the Jordan , he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2. The Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground as God miraculously parted the waters. Joshua 3:14–17: So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan , and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest ), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam [20 miles, 32 km. north], the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea [Dead Sea], were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan , and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan . Using the geographical layout of the land from Adam to the crossing of the Jordan site, the body of water that would have accumulated would have been 20 miles (32 km.) long, 2 miles (3.2 km.) wide, and around 120 ft. (37 m.) high. 3. God ordered that 12 stones be taken out of the Jordan River for a monument. Joshua 4:1–7: When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan , the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight [Gilgal].’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan , and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” It appears that the 12-Stone Monument was later moved to the permanent Gilgal located about 7 miles north of Camp Gilgal. For more, please see Gilgal. 4. Joshua also erected a monument in the middle of the Jordan River. Joshua 4:9–10: And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan , in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. 5. After crossing the river, the water flowed again, and the Israelites arrived at Camp Gilgal. Joshua 4:15–19: And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan , and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks , as before. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 6. Joshua set up 12 stones as a monument of remembrance. Joshua 4:20–24: And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan , Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea , which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Faith Lesson from Crossing the Jordan River 1. Entering the Promised Land was a long-awaited dream for the new generation of Israelites after wandering in the desert for 40 years. It was also the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant of promise, one of the foundational covenants in the Bible. Is there some hope and dream you have that seems like it will never happen? Do you also really believe that God will fulfill His promise of heaven and that one day you’ll actually be there? And are you living in such a way that shows this? 2. Crossing into the Promised Land is also a picture of living in victory. Unfortunately, many Christians today choose to live in the wilderness in defeat and disobedience. Are you living in obedience and victory or living in the wilderness? 3. The crossing of the Jordan was a much bigger miracle than we think as the river was at flood stage, overflowing its banks. As mentioned, the body of water that would have accumulated would have been 20 miles (32 km.) long, 2 miles (3.2 km.) wide, and around 120 ft. (37 m.) high. This was a massive body and wall of water the 3 million or more Israelites would have witnessed as they walked alongside it for about 2 miles (3.2 km.). 4. The miracle was similar to the crossing of the Red Sea after the Israelite’s Exodus from Egypt. God repeated this miracle to reveal His glory and faithfulness. 5. The waters of the Jordan stopped flowing the moment the priests’ stepped into the water. God required the priests to take a step of faith, and then He acted. In the same way, God often asks us to take a step of faith before He moves. What step of faith do we need to take in our lives today? 6. God ordered Joshua to set up a memorial after crossing the Jordan. Do we have memorials in our minds as reminders of the miracles God has done for us, and do we pass these memorials on to our offspring?

Yardenit is just a couple hundred yards (meters) west of Hwy. 90, at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. It’s a popular spot, and the water is clean and abundant. For those desiring to get baptized here in the Jordan River, the Yardenit gift shop provides white robes and towels for a small fee. Yardenit Baptismal Site Photo Gallery Places of Interest Yardenit Baptismal Site Location There are two main baptismal sites on the Jordan River. Yardenit Baptismal Site 1. Yardenit is just a couple hundred yards (meters) west of Hwy. 90, at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. 2. It’s a popular spot, and the water is clean and abundant. 3. For those desiring to get baptized here in the Jordan River, the Yardenit gift shop provides white robes and towels for a small fee. 4. Yardenit has a large gift shop for the purchase of souvenirs and other miscellaneous items as well. 5. Yardenit is also a great place to view the Jordan River. 6. Entrance to the site is free. Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qasr al-Yahud) 1. This Baptismal site is located about 2 miles (3.2 km.) east of Hwy 90, across from Jericho. 2. It’s also known as Qaser al-Yahud, Kasser al-Yahud, and the Baptismal Site of Jesus. 3. It’s the place where it’s believed Jesus was baptized, and where John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus baptized many people as well. 4. The water is not as clean as Yardenit, but thousands of pilgrims are baptized there each year because of its spiritual significance. 5. It’s also the believed location where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. (For more, please see Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus) Places of Interest 1. Yardenit Baptismal Site 2. Jordan River 3. Parking area 4. Hwy. 90 5. Sea of Galilee Historical Background 1. The concept of baptism is rooted in the Old Testament. As far back as Genesis, eight people were saved from the great flood of God’s judgment. The Apostle Peter indicated that the water of the flood “symbolizes baptism that now saves you” (1 Pet. 3:21). 2. Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and King David likewise used water as an external symbol for internal cleansing (Isa. 1:16: Ezek. 36:25; Ps. 51:2). Isaiah 1:16: Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil. 3. The word baptize, baptized, baptizing, or baptismal is mentioned around 83 times in the New Testament and, therefore, shows the value God places on it. (For the full Bible teaching on baptism, please see the Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus – Qsar al-Yahud Baptismal Site.)

After feeding the 5,000, Jesus arrived at Gennesaret, which is also called, Ginasor. An amazing discovery was made in 1986 after a long drought in Israel. Two brothers from the local Kibbutz were exploring the shores of the Sea of Galilee. To their surprise and excitement, they stumbled upon what has become one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history—a fully intact First Century Galilean fishing boat. Gennesaret, Ginosar: Jesus Boat Photo Gallery Places of Interest Gennesaret, Ginosar: Jesus Boat at Yigal Allon Museum Introduction Welcome to Gennesaret (Ginosar). Many significant events from the Bible took place here. Here are the highlights. 1. After Jesus fed the 5,000, walked on water, and calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, they landed at the beach here at Gennesaret. 2. Jesus healed many sick here. 3. It has an ancient boat discovered in 1986 called the "Jesus Boat," dating back to the time of Jesus. 4. The Jesus Boat is located inside the Yigal Allon Museum here. We'll see the boat and watch a movie about its discovery and preservation. 5. From the boat dock here, we'll take a most memorable boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Location 1. Gennesaret, also called Ginosar, lies on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee north of Magdala in the Ginosar Valley. 2. The beautiful countryside and rich farmlands have caused the area to be called the Paradise of the Galilee. 3. During Jesus' lifetime, Ginosar was a prosperous town known as Gennesaret, and the name Ginosar appears in the New Testament. 4. Ginosar was an ancient city that has been excavated. Today, Ginosar is home to Kibbutz Ginosar. The main attractions in Ginosar are the Yigal Allon Museum, which houses what has become known as the Jesus Boat, and the location from which boats depart and arrive for those taking boat rides on the Sea of Galilee. Historical Background of Gennesaret or Ginasor 1. The name Ginosar is the Hebrew pronunciation of the name of the ancient town Gennesaret. Josephus Flavius, the famous historian of the Holy Land, described it as a place of fertile soil (in its Hebrew version, the name Ginosar means "rich garden"). The town is mentioned several times in the New Testament. 2. The name may originate from the Hebrew word kinnor ("harp" or "lyre") - which the lake's shape resembles. It has also been called the Lake of Gennesaret or the Sea of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1), after the name of a small, fertile plain that lies on its western side. 3. In the Bible, Ginosar is called Kinneret, Chinnereth, or Chinneroth. It is also called Dalmanutha in the Gospel of Mark. Three thousand years ago, the town was so prominent it gave its name to the adjacent lake- Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). Kinneret is mentioned in the Books of Joshua, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The name changed over the years to Gennesaret, and finally, at some point in the 1st century AD, it was romanized to be called Ginosar. In the Talmud, the sages praise the fertile lands and abundant produce in Ginosar. Gennesaret was also described by the Roman historian Josephus Flavius as a land of fertile soil. Archaeological findings show that the ancient town was home to Jews and believers of a polytheistic religion living side by side. The Jesus Boat at the Yigal Allon Museum In 1986, two brothers from the Kibbutz discovered the remains of an ancient boat on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. The boat measured 27 feet long by 7.5 feet wide and was constructed of ten different kinds of wood. It was designed for fishing close to the shore. The extraction and preservation process of the boat was long and complex. The boat was retrieved and preserved; carbon dating determined that the boat dates back to between 100 BC and 70 AD. This means that it is one of the same boats used by fishermen during Jesus' lifetime. Indeed, it fits the many descriptions of boats from the Bible, as the one mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. A sign that the boat relates to sacred times was given at the time of its discovery: the two brothers who discovered the boat reported seeing a double rainbow in the sky on the same day. Places of Interest (Please See Maps Above) 1. Feeding of the 5,000 location 2. Mountain upon which Jesus prayed 3. Departure beach 4. Bethsaida 5. Capernaum 6. Place where Jesus walked on water 7. Gennesaret 8. Sea of Galilee Gennesaret in the Bible 1. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand on the Eastern Side of the Sea of Galilee Matthew 14:13-21: Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 2. Jesus Walks on the Water Matthew 14:22-33: Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat wor shiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 3. Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret, on the Western Side of the Sea of Galilee Matthew 14:34–36: And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret . 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Faith Lesson 1. Jesus embedded in the lives of His disciples that He was God. Do we believe in the deity of Christ and that He was God in the flesh? 2. Like Peter and the disciples, are we of little faith sometimes? 3. Like the disciples, we are often surrounded by serious problems. Do we realize Jesus cares for us during our storms? 4. Like the disciples, we can often feel tired and alone in our trials and problems. Do we understand that we are not alone and that God is caring for us? 5. Peter walked on the water for a moment and then took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. Therefore, he sank into the water. Do we understand that to navigate the storms in our lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus despite the raging problems around us? 6. It appears Jesus sent the storm to teach His disciples who He was and their need for faith in Him. Do we understand that Jesus also sends us storms to teach us the same truths? 7. Jesus and the disciples often had long days of exhausting ministry. Are we willing to do the same?

Other than the main holy sites we have on our website about southern Israel and the Negev, this page lists many other sites of interest: Dead Sea, Ein Bokek Public Beach, Zohar Public Beach, Kalia Beach, Biankini Beach, Neve Midbar, Ein Gedi Hot Springs, Ziklag Other Sites of Interest In Southern Israel Photo Gallery Places of Interest Other Sites of Interest In Southern Israel Dead Sea What would a trip to Israel be without taking a dip in the famous Dead Sea? Following is some helpful info for helping you decide which beach is best for you. Northern Beaches The northern beaches are privately owned and charge a fee to enter, even if your stay is for a quick dip in the sea. They have more of the mud for skincare, the water is a little cooler, they have higher waves and a little less salt content. However, there is still plenty of salt, so you can float quite easily. For health reasons, a strong warning is given regarding swallowing the saltwater in the Dead Sea. It has 7 times more salt than any other body of water in the world, and it’s easy to get salt poisoning if even a small amount of water is ingested. All the beaches have changing rooms, restrooms, showers, and bathrooms. All have great places to eat at and shop. The northern beaches have gift shops, while the southern beaches have access to gift shops, but they’re not always right at the resorts. 1. Kalia Beach – Less waves, cheaper entrance fee. 2. Biankini Beach 3. Neve Midbar 4. Ein Gedi Hot Springs – More expensive entrance fees, natural hot mineral springs. Southern Beaches The southern beaches have a higher concentration of salt, are more turquoise in color, have more transparent water, are more gradual with fewer waves, are smoother, and are free as they are public beaches. 1. Ein Bokek Public Beach 2. Zohar Public Beach 3. Segregated Public Beach – This beach separates the men from the women for Jewish reasons. Ziklag While the exact location of biblical Ziklag is debated, most archaeologists now place it at Tel Ser'a (Tel esh-Shariah), which is in the southernmost area of Judea about 14 miles (23 km.) northwest of Tel Beer Sheba and about 15 miles (24 km.) east of Gaza. Ziklag is first mentioned in the Bible as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:31). It was allotted to the tribe of Simeon (within the tribe of Judah), but the Israelites apparently failed to conquer it because Ziklag was still under Philistine control when Saul reigned as king (Josh. 19:5). Because for many years King Saul sought to harm David, David fled to Ziklag seeking refuge after the death of Samuel. As a result, he lived in Ziklag with six hundred men and their households in Philistine territory. While living in Ziklag, David petitioned Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, to give him the city of Ziklag (1 Sam. 27:5–6). Achish consented and gave Ziklag to David. During David’s rule over Ziklag, which lasted 16 months, he made it his military home base. From Ziklag, David raided many of the cities of the Amalekites. Because many soldiers from Israel were disappointed with Saul’s leadership, they joined forces with David’s private army during this time (1 Chron. 12:1–22). When war broke out between the Philistines and Israel during the reign of King Saul, David and his small army attempted to join the Philistine army to fight against Saul. However, the Philistine leaders rejected David and sent him away from the battle. While David and the Philistines were away, the Amalekites attacked Ziklag. They burned the city and took captive all the women, children, and the elderly. When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found it had been destroyed by fire, and their families had been taken captive (1 Sam. 30:1–3). In response, David and his army pursued the Amalekites and recovered their families and possessions. (1 Sam. 30:16–31). While David was living in Ziklag, he received the news of the defeat of Israel by the Philistines and Saul and Jonathan's deaths (2 Samuel 4:10). Ziklag remained in control of Israel from this point on and is last mentioned in the Bible as one of the cities the Jews inhabited after returning from exile in Babylon (Neh. 11:28).

See the place where Peter denied Christ three times, where Christ was condemned, where He spent the night in a cold dungeon, along with everything else that took place there. The House of Caiaphas, also known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (cock's crow in Latin), is located on the eastern slope of Mount Zion, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Upper Room, Mount Zion, Kidron Valley, Garden of Gethsemane House of Caiaphas ~ St. Peter In Gallicantu Photo Gallery Places of Interest House of Caiaphas ~ St. Peter In Gallicantu Church Introduction This church, known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (cock's crow in Latin), marks the place of the House of Caiaphas. 1. It's here that Jesus would be tried before Caiaphas, the High Priest. 2. It's here that Jesus would spend the night before His crucifixion in a cold, dark dungeon. 3. It's also here that Peter would deny Christ three times. 4. The church here has four layers of archaeology that affirm it as the authentic site 5. The church consists of four levels: (1) the upper church, (2) the middle church, (3) the guardroom, and (4) the dungeon. 6. Here are the highlights of the things we'll see here: All the levels of the church. Prison cell where Jesus was likely beaten. The dungeon where Jesus spent the night before being crucified. Ancient ruins. The area where Peter denied Jesus. The path Jesus would have walked, going to Gethsemane from the Upper Room and returning under arrest from Gethsemane to here. A model of Jerusalem from around 600 AD. 7. Let's explore and experience this site. Location 1. The House of Caiaphas, also known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (cock's crow in Latin), is located on the eastern slope of Mount Zion, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. 2. It can be accessed by Malki Tsedek Street 3. It is administered by the Roman Catholic Church. Historical Background 1. The church consists of four levels: (1) the upper church, (2) the middle church, (3) the guardroom, and (4) the dungeon. 2. According to tradition, the church is believed to be the site of the House of Caiaphas. 3. A Byzantine church was built on this site in 457 AD. 4. It was later destroyed by Muslims in 1009 AD. 5. It was rebuilt by the Crusaders in 1102 AD and given its present name. 6. It was destroyed in 1219 AD by the Turks. 7. Later, a chapel was built in 1300 AD. 8. The church fell into ruins again by 1320 AD. 9. The church that exists today was rebuilt in 1931. Places of Interest 1. Upper viewing area. Akeldama Monastery ~ The site known as the Field of Blood. The religious leaders purchased this property with the money Judas threw at their feet just before he went and hanged himself. Hinnom Valley ~ Place of idol worship in the Old Testament and Gehenna in the New Testament. 2. On the roof of the church is a rooster on a black cross, a symbol of Peter’s denial of Christ before the cock crowed. 3. The main sanctuary, located on the first floor, contains large multi-colored mosaics portraying figures from the New Testament. 4. On the second floor is a chapel that utilizes stone from ancient grottos as its walls. It also features mosaics from a 5th-century AD Byzantine church that once stood at this site. 5. Above the dungeon is the Guard Room. It overlooks the dungeon. It has rings in the walls where prisoners would be tied up and beaten. This is likely where Jesus was beaten before being thrown in the dungeon below it. 6. On the lower floor is a dungeon where it’s believed Christ was placed the night after He was tried and condemned by Caiaphas. Some believe that the dungeon was a cistern. However, it lacks plaster on the walls, which was typically used to line cisterns and prevent water from leaking through the stone walls. 7. Ruins and excavations outside the church at ground level. 8. A stairway beside the church that was used for ascending and descending from Mount Zion to the Kidron Valley. Jesus and His disciples most likely used them as they traveled from the Upper Room, where they had celebrated the Passover meal, to the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, Christ would use these same steps as He was brought from Gethsemane, which led through the Kidron Valley, to the House of Caiaphas. 9. In the Courtyard of the church is a statue that recalls the events of Peter’s denial of Jesus. It shows Peter, the rooster that crowed, a maid, a servant, and a Roman soldier. 10. Model of Jerusalem ~ 600 AD. Church of the Holy Sepulchre Cardo Maxmimus Cardo Minor Nea Church ~ The New Church of the Theotokos, or New Church of the Mother of God, was a Byzantine church erected in Jerusalem by Emperor Justinian I in 565 AD. Temple Mount 11. Upper Room 12. Mount Zion 13. Kidron Valley 14. Gethsemane House of Caiaphas in the Bible 1. Christ foretells that Peter will deny Him three times. Mark 14:27–31: And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." 29 Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." 30 And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times ." 31 But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same. 2. Jesus appeared before Caiaphas, the High Priest, just after being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:57–68: Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'" 62 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?" Luke 22:63–65: Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. 3. Peter denies Christ. Matthew 26:69–75: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." 70 But he denied it before them all , saying, "I do not know what you mean." 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 And again he denied it with an oath : "I do not know the man." 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man ." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times ." And he went out and wept bitterly. 4. It’s believed Jesus spent the night in a dungeon at the House of Caiaphas before being taken to Pilate the next morning. Matthew 27:1–2: When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. Faith Lesson from the House of Caiaphas 1. Peter had walked with Christ for 3 ½ years. He had heard numerous times that Christ would die and rise again. 2. Just hours before Peter denied Christ, he said he would suffer and die with Christ if need be. But when reality set in, he abandoned Christ and denied Him three times. 3. He later wept bitterly and thought his relationship with Christ and ministry was finished. However, Christ restored Peter to fellowship and ministry at the Sea of Galilee. 4. How can we deny Christ in our own lives? Do we deny His word, the truths in His word, or the clarity of the gospel in any way? Do we deny we know Him by remaining silent when Christ or the Bible are attacked, slandered, or diminished? Do we deny Him by not sharing the gospel with others? Do we deny Christ by not spending time with Him in prayer, daily devotions, and Bible reading? Do we deny Christ when it costs us to be identified with Him or persecuted for our faith in Him?