Holy Land 2016 Day 3

It was our first full day of touring and we began in Sepphoris (Zippori), a great Roman city near Nazareth. Its close proximity to Nazareth made it probable that both Joseph and Jesus would have found ample work here, especially compared to the work available in the small village of Nazareth. The city still amazes me with its tiled floors and polished white streets.

Moving from Nazareth into the Jezreel Valley and the plain of Armegeddon, we visited Megiddo and discovered the dozens of layers of civilizations, conflicts, wars, and the continued expectation of a future final battle. It was a grim reminder of humanity's past, but also of its present and potential future. Rarely are we satisfied, with a deep desire to rule and totally defeat of our enemies. Megiddo stands as a monument to the futility of those endeavors. Even a great city cannot survive.

We broke for lunch of fresh falafel and fries and enjoyed the quiet and shade (and shopping).

After lunch we traveled back towards Nazareth and visited the YMCA Nazareth Village, a recreation of first Century life in Nazareth. Through a tecton's workshop, a family insula (multi-family dwelling), a farm (complete with a threshing floor, a vineyard and wine press, an olive grove and an olive press) and finishing up in a re-creation of a local synagogue. It was in one like this that Jesus visited, read from the prophet Isaiah, and proclaimed that it had been fulfilled in its hearing. Our guide, Majd, gave us new insights throughout the afternoon, even helping us see that the Isaiah Prophecy (61) that Jesus fulfilled is still as provocative today. 

Moving through the busy city we got off the bus and walked up to the Church of the Annunciation, built over the house of Mary (or Mary's Parents), where she received the visit from the Angel proclaiming the birth of God's chosen son. We read the story of the annunciation, both to Mary (Luke 1) and to Joseph (Matthew 1) before spending some quiet time in the chapel, some praying, others visiting the amazing art and discovering the corners of this large Catholic Church.

Just a few steps from the Annunciation Church is the Synagogue Church, the reclaimed foundation of the (believed) first Century Jewish Synagogue of Nazareth. This small "chapel" used now by a small Christian congregation, gave us pause to consider Jesus returning to Nazareth and why he wasn't accepted there, and why the people were ready to throw him off the cliff, known today as the Mount of Precipice, the tallest point in Nazareth that over looks the Jezreel Valley. After a time of pictures, we began the trek back to our hotel for dinner.

Some of us decided to walk into Tiberias after dinner and what was supposed to be a 20 minute walk turned into a 45 minute journey where we walked the promenade and sat with a refreshing drink (or gelato) as we reflected on the day and watch the people pass by. It was good to see our old friend Mohammed at Big Ben Restaurant, who welcomed us with a friendly smile and handshake, as always.

I think we all fell into bed after a tiring day. (Because we walked back to the hotel too!)

It was a great day in the Land of the Bible!