Holy Land 2019 ~ The Trails of Jesus (DAY 9 ~ ISRAEL)

DAY 9 - The Trails of Christ

We left our hotel at daybreak to welcomed Day 9 with a visit to Mount Precipice (located South of Nazareth).

 

According to the Gospels (Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 13:54-58, Luke 4:16-30), Jesus is rejected in Nazareth his own hometown. The people where disappointed when Jesus said he is the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy (declaring the coming of The Messiah “Immanuel”), thinking Jesus is just an ordinary man and the son of Joseph (a simple carpenter) will save them. 

Not accepting Jesus as Messiah, people tried to push him off this  mountain, but "he passed through the midst of them and went away."

(Mount Precipice offers a spectacular view of its surrounding landscape ~ 

Jezreel Valley and Mount Tabor)

From Mount Precipice, we travelled to the childhood home of Jesus, Nazareth.  This is where Joseph and Mary resettled when they returned to Israel from Egypt. 

The Basilica of Annunciation commemorates the place where it is believed, the archangel Gabriel told Mary she would become the mother of the Son of God.  

This Church is almost 60 meters high. On the church walls as well as in the courtyard are colorful mosaics made by Christian communities from all over the world depicting the Holy Family. 

We held mass in one of the Basilica's chambers to celebrate the Renewal of Religious Vows for our Sisters and give Blessings to our Single Mother's with us in our Pilgrimage Group. 

One of my favorite sites in our journey is the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (contrary to its name, it is actually a lake).  Jesus walked on its shores and recruited His first four disciples here (who were fishermen from Capernaum ~ Peter, Andrew, James and John). 

The charm of the lake draws you in and its serene water calms and puts you at ease.  

I was for a moment in pensive state, imagining Jesus walking on the water, calming the storm and feeding the multitude ~

I was lost in thoughts, while the rest of my troop were, well dancing the Horah.

Our Tour Guide, Alex was a very good dance teacher :P

With our endearing Pilgrim Priest, Father Raleigh. 

Lunch followed at a local restaurant just a bit of walk from the docks. 

We were treated to delicious deep fried St Peter's Fish "Tilapia".

Each fish I think is the size of both my hands open ~

After lunch we headed to Capernaum,  which used to be a fish-market and frontier post beside the Sea of Galilee.  It became Jesus’ home town and the scene of many of his miracles.  It is here in this area that Jesus began his public ministry.

At the entrance, you would find a statue of a man sleeping on the bench...

Can you guess who He is (look at His feet closely for clues)?

Jesus attended and taught in this Synagogue.

Beside the Synagogue is the site of the House of St Peter.

A church (supported by eight study pillars) now rest on top of the site of St. Peter's House.

About 3km from Capernaum is Tabgha (located at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes). In Tabgha, Jesus fed a crowd of 5000 with five loaves and two fish. 

They say that this was a favorite spot for fishermen from Capernaum, and its beach was familiar to Jesus and his disciples. One can easily imagine Jesus speaking from a boat in one of the little bays, with crowds sitting around on the shore.

Located in Tabgha is the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. Decorated on the floor near the altar (in mosaic) is a basket of loaves with two fishes which refers to the miracle. 

Underneath the altar is the rock on which it is believed Jesus placed the loaves and fish when he blessed them.

I was not able to get a good shot of the mosaic underneath the altar... 

So I got the next best thing, a souvenir :P

We ended Day 9, with another familiar discourse of Christ ~ the  Sermon on the Mount delivered on the Mount of Beatitudes (also known at Mount Eremos). 

The Beatitude Monastery...

The Mount of Beatitudes is also believed to be the place where Jesus met his apostles after his Resurrection and tasked to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:16-20).

We get to sit, on huge rocks (like how Christ and his followers did) 

as we reflect and shared our thoughts and experiences 

of our Holy Land adventure !

Follow our Holy Land Adventure:

• For Holy Land helpful Tips >>> Holy Land Tips
• DAY 1 - welcome to Cairo Egypt >>>> Day 1
• DAY 2 - touring the land of ancient monuments, pharaohs and great pyramids  >>>> Day 2
• DAY 3 - road to Mt Sinai >>>> Day 3
• DAY 4 - from St Catherine Monastery to Israel  >>>> Day 4
• DAY 5 - floating on the Dead Sea >>>> Day 5
• DAY 6 - around Jerusalem >>>> Day 6 
• DAY 7 - around the OLD City of Jerusalem >>>> Day 7
• DAY 8 - Jaffa, Caesarea and remarrying my EX >>>> Day 8

Please check also my separate post on all the hotels we've stayed at during our tour of the Holy Land.  

For questions and inquiries on our Tour Package with CITTI please visit their facebook page at CORPORATE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURS INC.