Headed South
"At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.’" Mark 1: 9-11
It was a bright, sunny morning as we left Ramot on the Galilee. Roger led us in prayer at the baptismal site just south of the Sea of Galilee, where there were many people from many nations, baptizing and worshipping in their own tongue. Fish jumped in the cool water, the birds chirped, and seven people from our group were baptized in the Jordan River. It was a joyous occasion, and we sang many songs and hymns on the bus afterward.
We have said goodbye to the Judean hills in the North we are headed for the South. We made a stop at the Qumran caves https://www.bibleplaces.com/qumrancaves/ for a tour and lunch. We learned a bit about the contents of the more than 900 scrolls and 1000 fragments that were found in 11 caves in the mountain. It is believed that John the Baptist spent a couple years with the Essenes- a devout Jewish community. Members of our group who had been to Qumran previously told me they were amazed at the excavations that had been uncovered since their previous trip. The Dead Sea Scrolls, found at Qumran, serve as the oldest surviving bible scrolls in existence, and predate other known scrolls by at least 1000 years. Although there were no Christian texts found in the caves, what the scrolls do provide is confirmation to the accuracy of our biblical texts today. Later this week, we will get to see some of the scrolls in Jerusalem.
Following lunch, we boarded the bus for Masada https://www.bibleplaces.com/masada/. We zipped up the cable car ride and were able to get a spectacular view of the Dead Sea, the Roman siege sites, and the summer palace of Herod the Great. I am always amazed at the intricate mosaic tiling. It was hot with little shade here in this region. The Dead Sea float or swim in the pools at the resort was a very welcome relief.
Now, the Dead Sea https://www.bibleplaces.com/deadsea/ is about as dead as it gets. Imagine the world's largest, saltiest puddle. It's so sandy, the sand at the bottom isn't sand, it's salt. There is no seaweed. No fish. No tide. No recreational boating. No life except for microscopic red algae, discovered many years ago, and the visitors on holiday.
As I look at the deadness of this sea, I marvel at the miracle that will come, foretold by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 47. The Dead Sea will be made so fresh and alive by the Lord that it will be filled with fish and creatures of all sorts, so plentiful that men will fish, and it will be as the Mediterranean Sea. Scripture describes it as healing water, a water that is capable of healing this absolutely dead body of water. Not only that, but this water will flow from the eastern threshold of the Temple in Jerusalem, through the Mount of Olives that will have been cracked in half, and down to the Dead Sea. I especially marvel at God's thoughtfulness, that His plan includes leaving the marshes salty to supply salts and minerals to His kingdom.
God is so good! Especially in His provision in the kingdom to come! What a glorious day it was today, especially for our newly baptized brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Amen
Yes, falafel was an option for lunch, among many other things. I think some of the folks will be happy to have a bacon cheeseburger when they return home! I am simply hoping for shakshuka in Jerusalem.
I did promise that I would get some thoughts from our first-timers. I don't have much to report. The response I get when I ask what they think so far: "It's great!" They are a consistent bunch! If I remember my first time in Israel, I spent it in awe. I think our group is really soaking it in.
Tomorrow - Up To Jerusalem! Then our group will really be in awe! Our tour guide, Miriam, is fantastic. We are so lucky and thankful to have her.
Shaalu Shalom Yerushalayim!
Our Team
Blog author: Amy Westphal
Ministry Initiative Specialist
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
Photos: Melissa DiLiberto
Ministry Services Supervisor
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
Jordan River
Jordan River
Jordan River
Jordan River
Jordan River
Jordan River
Qumran Caves
Qumran Caves
Masada
Masada
Masada
Masada
Masada
Masada
Masada
Masada
Dead Sea
Dead Sea
Comments 1
Enjoyed following your day in the Dead Sea area. I’ve been there many times since 1998, never doing any formal long tour, except one year we did do a few day tours for security reasons up into sites in Samaria area and another day to Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb on the way there. We have spent time driving our rental car from Eilat to Matula (sp?) over one of our trips that lasted 5 weeks, great for us as our son speaks and reads Hebrew fluently. He was our own private Biblical tour guide, fantastic for us as we could spend as much time as we wanted to at different archeological sites. We always try to stay a night or two/ three at Christ Church Guesthouse in the Old City each time we come to Israel. We are always blessed by our trips to Israel over the years, going there at different times of the year and enjoying the Biblical Feast of that time.
So glad you have tours going to Israel for ones who might not be able to go on their own as we do.
So, another thing I wanted to share is how BLESSED I have been by Friends of Israel throughout many years, since the 1980s, as my first contact with the ministry was when I bought a print ( about 14×20 ins.) of Abraham, obeying God as he prepares to offer up his son. I think the print was called something like “God provided the ram”. This was bought at a Tyndall tent sale in Wheaton, Illinois, and was wrapped completely with clear shrink plastic. The thing that led this Christian mother of five into an understanding and love of Israel and her people and most importantly God’s love for them, HIS faithfulness to them through the years and HIS Eternal provision through our Messiah. So, your see, I am most blessed because it was Friends of Israel that put a collect of pamphlets ( about 10 of them) inside the plastic wrapping of my beautiful print of Abraham. The pamphlet that taught me so much, opening my heart to Israel and my understanding more of God’s plan was called “Abraham, Man of Faith” .! I loved that pamphlet and wish I still had it and the rest of them but somehow they got lost or ruined in the years of raising five children.
Another thing is because of finding those wonderful Friends of Israel pamphlets, I made contact with the ministry and found out that there was a bible study going on just 25 minutes away from me, and that started a absolutely wonderful time of studying God’s word and coming to love and appreciate Steve Herzig and his wife, Alice before they even had their children. It was first being held in their apartment, and over the years we met in different homes. All the best to Steve and his family, blessing me over and over again and my son, Doane, who attended the Bible study sometimes.
That’s all folks, and if you see this, thanks for reading my book, lol
Thank you, “Friends of Israel”, for your ministry and sound teaching, and for providing those pamphlets and Steve for me.