In March of 2019, we were privileged to make a pilgrimage visit to Israel and Jordan. It was the experience of a lifetime. To be where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the Patriarchs, the Prophets, Priests and Kings of Israel and Judah, and Our Lord Jesus of Nazareth lived and walked was an awesome blessing, and we are thankful He gave us the opportunity.
We have included here photos of many of the highlights of our visit, with Scripture verses pertinent to each site.
Caesarea Maritima, Mediterranean Coast. Paul was in Caesarea many times. Its port provided a suitable launching point for Paul to set out on his missionary journeys. He also spent two years there as a prisoner (Acts 25:22–27).
Tabgha, Galilee North Shore. "And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He gave them to the disciples again and again to set before them; and He divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied; and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces of bread, and of the fish. There were five thousand men who ate the loaves." Mark 6:41-44.
Mensa Christi, Galilee North Shore. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead." John 21:12-14
Mount of Beatitudes, Galilee. "Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..." Matthew 5:1-3
Golan Heights, Israel. "To the sons of Gershom were given, from the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands." 1 Chronicles 6:71
1st Century Fishing Boat, Kibbutz Ginosar, Galilee. "Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to His own city." Matthew 9:1
Caesarea Philippi, Israel. "Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Matthew 16:13-16
Sea of Galilee. "Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened.' John 6:19
Capernaum Synagogue. "This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum." John 6:58-59
Nazareth, Galilee. "For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:37-38
Kidron Valley, Jerusalem. "By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem." Psalm 51:18
Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives. "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36
The Old City of Jerusalem. "And the Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them." Jeremiah 11:6
Golgotha, Jerusalem. "...through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Colossians 1:20
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher. "He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." John 19:30
The Western Wall, Temple Mount, Jerusalem.
"...toward the place of which You have said that You would put Your Name there,
to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place."
2 Chronicles 6:20
EnGedi, Judah, Israel. "Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats." 1 Samuel 24:1-2
The Coney (Rock Badger or Hyrax). "The coney are not mighty folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks..." Proverbs 30:26
Masada Fortress-Palace, Dead Sea, Israel. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2
Dead Sea Scrolls Caves, Qumran, Israel. "I will give you the treasures of darkness
and hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name." Isaiah 45:3
Shepherd's Field, Bethlehem, Judea. "When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15
Nativity Grotto, Bethlehem, Judea. "And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7
King David Hotel, Jerusalem. "Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah." 2 Samuel 2:4
The Dead Sea, Jordan. "And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its termination shall be at the Salt (Dead) Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders on all sides.’” Numbers 34:12
Petra, Edom, Jordan. "He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela (Petra) in battle, calling it Joktheel..." 2 Kings 14:7
Camel, (genus Camelus) "Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he raised his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming." Genesis 24:63
Edom, Jordan. "So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel." Numbers 22:3
RABBATH-AMMON, Jordan, afterwards called Philadelphia, the capital of the Ammonites, was situated near the southern source of the Jabbok, some twenty-two miles beyond Jordan. It was famous even in the time Moses, Deuteronomy 3:11 Joshua 13:25.
Amman, Jordan. "...Milcom the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites." 1 Kings 11:5
Gadara, Decapolis, Jordan. "Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him. He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain." Mark 5:2-3
Roman Amphitheater, Amman, Jordan.
"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him!" ~ Me quoting Shakespeare to test the acoustics. The crowd got a kick out of it!
The Madaba Map, also known as the Madaba Mosaic Map, is part of a floor mosaic in the early Byzantine church of Saint George in Madaba, Jordan. The Madaba Map is of the Middle East, and part of it contains the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and especially, Jerusalem. It dates to the sixth century AD.
Mount Nebo, Jordan. “Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho... Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not go over there.””
Deuteronomy 34:1,4
"But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year."
Deuteronomy 11:11-12