Your host
Join Pastor Wood and fellow believers from First Baptist Church of Midland on a 10-day expedition in Israel.
The day has arrived, and we depart First Baptist Midland by private motorcoach. We arrive at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) where we board our flight and begin our journey to the Holy Land.
Having arrived in Israel (TLV), we travel north to the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Upon arrival, we meet our Christian Expedition Tour Director, who will remain with us for the duration of our trip. The rest of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean Sea, relax, have dinner and spend time with the Lord. The Apostle Paul traveled the Mediterranean Sea during his missionary journeys.
Overnight at the Grand Beach Hotel Tel Aviv (or similar)
We have breakfast and board a private coach, which brings us along the Sea to Caesarea. Acts 10 tells us that the Gentile Cornelius received a vision at Caesarea, which prompted him to send for the Apostle Peter, who then came to Caesarea and preached the Gospel to Cornelius and those assembled at his house. All those who heard the message received the Holy Spirit! In Caesarea, we visit the Roman Amphitheatre, hippodrome, and an ancient aqueduct. We then head to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah confronted Baal and his prophets, and God sent fire from heaven in response to Elijah’s prayer. (1 Kings 18) Then we head to the Jezreel Valley, to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield of Revelation 16. We drive through the area of Cana and Nazareth the hometown of Jesus. In Nazareth, we visit Nazareth Village, which is a recreation of Nazareth during biblical times. We will have dinner and spend the next two nights in the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee.
Overnight at the Leonardo Club Tiberias (or similar)
We start our day by visiting Dan. Judges 18 speaks of the families of the tribe of Dan relocating to this ancient city and becoming idol-worshipers there. We move on to nearby Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made his famous confession, recorded in Matthew 16, that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Afterward, we will drive up the Golan Heights from where we look into Syria and the road to Damascus. Then, we will see the suggested site for the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in Bethsaida. We then head back to Tiberias, where we enjoy a “St. Peter’s Fish Lunch,” of fish from the Sea of Galilee (non-fish options are also available). After lunch, we will see the Ancient Galilee boat, a boat that was discovered in 1986, and was used for fishing on the Sea of Galilee in the First Century AD. We enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee, which includes a Scripture reading and devotional by your trip chaplain. We will finish our day with the Jordan River Baptismal site. Here there is an opportunity to be baptized in the same river in which John the Baptist baptized many, including Jesus himself.
Overnight at the Leonardo Club Tiberias (or similar)
After breakfast, we visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, which also boasts the remains of a First Century synagogue. We go on to Capernaum, where we see the remains of the village, including the home of Peter. We gather at Mount of Beatitudes where we enjoy its enchanting gardens and reflect over Jesus teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. We move on to Beth Shean, or Scythopolis as it was called by the Romans. 1 Samuel 31 tells us that King Saul was defeated by the Philistines and died on nearby Mt. Gilboa. When the Philistines found Saul’s body, they fastened it to the wall of Beth Shean. Later, during Jesus’ time, Scythopolis was a member of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government, mentioned in Matthew 4:25, Mark 5:20, and Mark 7:31. We follow the Jordan Valley to the south and get a sense of Israel’s agricultural fertility, which caused it to be called the “Land of Milk and Honey” (Deuteronomy 31:20). We pass Jericho, which God famously gave into the hands of Joshua and the Israelites in Joshua 6, and which is regarded as the oldest city in the world. East of Jericho is Bethany beyond the Jordan, the area in which Jesus was baptized, Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan, and Joshua and the Israelites entered the land that God had promised them. We proceed to the Dead Sea.
Overnight at the Daniel Dead Sea Hotel (or similar)
After breakfast, we drive to Masada, the mountain-top fortress that served at the site of a famous zealot last stand. We head, then, to Ein Gedi, or the “Spring of the Goat,” a natural oasis famous for its flora and fauna on the western shore of the Dead Sea. 1 Samuel 24 tells us that it was at Ein Gedi that David hid from Saul in a cave, and spared Saul’s life. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at the Daniel Dead Sea Hotel (or similar)
In the morning we head to Genesis Land in the desert, where we get to experience a recreation of life in the time of the patriarchs (including an optional camel ride and authentic food). We will then proceed the Southern Wall excavations where ruins of the retaining walls of the Temple Mount are still visible. Then we will see the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and Judaism’s holiest site. Afterwards, we will visit Hezekiah’s Tunnel in the City of David. On to Bethlehem. Visit Shepherd’s Field where the Shepherd saw the star of the nativity. Lastly, we will visit the Church of the Nativity built over the birthplace of Jesus. Drive to Jerusalem to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at the Grand Court Hotel Jerusalem (or similar)
After breakfast, we will ascend the Temple Mount, discussing its connection to both the Old and New Testaments. On to visit St Anne’s church and a visit to nearby Pools of Bethesda where the healing at the pool took place. Then we will go to Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of Jerusalem and a panoramic photo. Our guide will point out the most important sites in Jerusalem, then we will walk the Palm Sunday Road. Continue to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room, the traditional site of the Last Supper and the fire of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and visit King David’s Tomb. Afterward, we will travel to the Israel Museum, where we will visit the Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem, a 1:50 scaled model of the city from the 1st century AD, followed by a visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on exhibit. Then we will continue on to the Western Wall Tunnels. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Overnight at the Grand Court Hotel Jerusalem (or similar)
On our last day in Jerusalem, after breakfast, we will start our day by visiting the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus had his agony and was betrayed. There we will pause for a prayer time in the garden, later on, we will walk and visit the House of Caiaphas, where Peter denied Christ three times. We then walk the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We conclude our pilgrimage with the visit to the Garden Tomb, a peaceful spot where we can remember Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. We will have rest of the day at leisure and enjoy our farewell dinner.
Overnight at the Grand Court Hotel Jerusalem (or similar)
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport (TLV), where we begin our journey home. Upon arrival in Dallas (DFW), a private motorcoach will bring us back to First Baptist Midland.