View of Agora in Athens, Greece, Temple of Hephaestus, and landscape Surrounding Athens

This week we move away from Israel to Athens, Greece and New Testament times.  This photo is from the Acropolis looking down into the Athens Agora or “meeting place.”  When on the Acropolis, one is reminded of Paul’s words in Acts 17:16 – “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.”  From the temples of gods to altars and statues left behind even today, this city certainly had its share of deities to earn it this description.

This photo is also a good perspective on Athens’s setting in the hills of the Grecian mainland, with the hills in the background and the modern city surrounding the ancient sites.  The temple of Hephaestus is prominent in the Agora greenery.

Man with Donkey at Samaria

In lands with such ancient roots like Israel, one can see ancient traditions maintained even today, including the use of donkeys as pack animals.  Just as in the days of the patriarchs, donkeys are still loaded with goods and household necessities, such as groceries and wood.  The only difference is that the drivers seldom wear the heat-repelling robes of antiquity in favor of soccer jerseys and skinny jeans.

Aphek Egyptian Palace

During the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1550 BC), Egypt maintained a presence in the land of Israel, with governors posted along important trade routes, such as Bethshean and Aphek, which guarded the bottleneck from the Via Maris to the Jezreel Valley.  This palace excavated among the Crusader ruins at Aphek (later Antipatris) reveal a luxurious multi-level structure where the Egyptian governor would have lived and overseen the taxation and trade in the region.

Mt. Hermon

In the northern regions of Galilee, the land becomes mountainous until one emerges abruptly on the Syrian border, where Mt. Hermon rises majestically over the plains of Bashan at 9,200 feet above sea level—earning it the modern name of Jebel esh-Sheikh (the Chief Mountain).  Some traditions say that it was to this “high mountain” that Christ took his disciples to pray and be transfigured before their eyes (Matthew 17:1).

Capernaum

On the northwestern coast of the Sea of Galilee lays the village of Capernaum.  This port city would have seen much trade during the first century, and many ancient stone anchors can still be found along the shoreline.  Archaeological finds here (behind the trees here) include a monumental limestone synagogue built atop its first century predecessor and the remains of a 5th-century octagonal church built over the traditional site of Peter’s house.

Carmel Overlook

The Carmel Mountain Range extends from the Jezreel Valley to the coast at Haifa, where it forms what the ancients knew as the Antelope’s Nose or Ba’al’s Mountain—a protrusion into the Mediterranean that creates a natural port to the north.  From this point one can see the elegant sweep of the Bay of Acre as it curves in and turns to the north.

2015 New Year Resolution

Jonah was given an opportunity to do something for God. He was tasked with preaching to the people of Ninevah. He refused, ran the opposite way and boarded a ship to Tarshish.

Paul was also given an opportunity to do something for God. He was tasked with preaching to different cities in Asia Minor and points east. Paul accepted this responsibility and boarded a ship in Caesarea to fulfill his mission.

The attached picture is of a sunset over the Mediterranean Sea. No doubt, both Jonah and Paul saw a similar scene as they set out on their journeys. Jonah's journey ended in personal embarrassment and God's disappointment. Paul's journey ended in God's message being spread across the entire region.

As you begin 2015, resolve to accept God's requests of you without question. You can not predict the opportunities that God will present to you this year. Just accept them. Good will come from them.

You can also read 2013's and 2014's New Year's Resolutions.

Walking The Land

There is almost no down side to visiting Israel. For those of us who are students of Bible, it gives us the opportunity to actually see the locations that we have read about so many times. However, even being over there, it is easy to get a false impression. That is because we travel in nice, air-conditioned motor coaches and only on rare occasions leaving it for more than an hour.

Obviously, that is not how the characters of the Bible experienced the land. They walked on it. Every hill and valley takes on a totally different perspective if you are crossing it on your own two feet.

Earlier today, I read a great article by Matthew Karsten. He recently walked part of the Israel National Trail (INT). (The pictures in this story are fantastic!) The INT winds its way over 600 miles from Eliat to Dan. It crosses deserts, wadis, mountains, valleys, plain and even walks along the coast. As you can tell from the article, the land of Israel varies greatly within such a small area.

In my dreams, I would love to hike the entire trail. However, reality sets in and I know that taking that much time to hike the trail will probably not be possible. But, I do have a goal of hiking the Jesus Trail. That trail is about 60 miles and goes from Nazareth to Capernaum. This is definitely on my "bucket list" and one that I will do at some time. (Let me know if you would like to join me!)

I have previously posted about different people hiking these trails. I encourage you to read "Walk the Land", written by Judith Pex. Her and her husband live in Eliat and hiked the entire Israel National Trail. Also, you should read Larry Haverstock's blog. He is a friend of mine that hiked the Jesus Trail a few years ago.

Both of these trails allow you to experience the land of Israel in the very same way that many of the Biblical characters experienced the land.

Rolling Stone Tomb

A few years ago, the Israel Highway Department was digging in a hillside to widen Highway 6953 near Megiddo. In doing so, they hit an extremely large boulder. With more digging, they realized that they an unearthed an ancient rolling stone tomb. This tomb has four inner chambers. (The two that you can see were cut into by the excavation equipment before the realized what they had discovered.) This picture was taken in 2010. Since that time, the highway department has installed a guard rail in front of the tomb. While the guard rail does a great job of protecting the tomb, it makes taking photographs of it difficult.

This will be our last "Photo of the Day" for a week or so while we take some time off during the holidays. We hope that these pictures have been beneficial in helping you understand the Biblical text.

First Century Steps

Maps are good things. But because maps are two-dimensional, they do a terrible job of helping the user understand the changes in terrain. The city of Jerusalem is actually very hilly, even more so in the First Century. Today's picture is of some First Century steps that led from the lower city to the upper city. It is very possible that Jesus went up and down these steps on the last couple of days before he was crucified.

The Senir River

Some of the snow that falls on Mount Hermon eventually melts and emerges through a spring in Banias (ancient Caesarea Philippi). The water from that spring forms the stream Nahal Senir (pictured) and travels several miles before joining the Jordan River. The water from the Jordan River will then flow about 50 miles before entering the Sea of Galilee.

Nazareth in Galilee

Jesus grew up in a very small town in the hills of Galilee named Nazareth. From Nazareth, you could have looked south across the beautiful Jezreel Valley and watch groups of people travel along the Via Maris. Today, the city of Nazareth is much larger but still has a wonderful view and is great place to live.

Synagogue in Nazareth

As Jesus began His ministry, He went to his hometown of Nazareth and taught in the synagogue. His message was not received as He had hoped and went and taught at other places. In the modern city of Nazareth, a group of people have constructed a small village that has the "look and feel" of the First Century. This picture was made of the reconstructed synagogue. The synagogues that the early disciples met in were probably very similar to this.

Sheba's Last Stand

About an hour's drive north of the Sea of Galilee, you come to this large tel just south of the border with Lebanon. This tel is Abel Beth Maacah. Joab, commander of David's army, pursued a man by the name of Sheba to this city. When faced with seeing her city destroyed, a wise woman made a deal with Joab. She convinced the inhabitants of the city to give up Joab and toss Sheba's head over the city wall and in return, the city was spared. When you visit Israel, you can drive around most of this tel and understand what a beautiful location it was for a city.

Jeroboam's High Place at Dan

Soon after the fall of the United Kingdom, the nation divided into the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. As king of Israel, Jeroboam did not want the people to travel back to Jerusalem during the year to attend the feasts. Therefore, he established two places for them to worship, one at Bethel and the other at Dan. The High Place that Jeroboam built at Dan has been found and you can visit it today. These steps lead up to the platform where the golden calf would have been placed.

Caesarea Maritima Inner Harbor

Among King Herod's building projects was a huge harbor in the city of Caesarea Maritima. It actually consisted of two harbors, an inner harbor and outer harbor. It was common for boat passengers to board a smaller boat in the inner harbor which would transport them to the larger boat in the outer harbor. The apostle Paul used this harbor a number of times during his missionary journeys. (Over the centuries, silt has filled in the inner harbor. Now, as a way of protecting the harbor, the Israel National Park Service has allowed grass to grow in this area. When visiting this site, it is very common to see families eating a picnic lunch on this grassy area.)

Herod's Swimming Pool

In Caesarea Maritima, Herod built a fairly large palace that extended out into the Mediterranean Sea. The westernmost section of the palace contained a fresh water swimming pool, which is still visible today.

Caesarea Maritima Hippodrome

For the rest of this week, we will feature a few pictures from the First Century Roman administrative city of Caesarea Maritima. During Roman times, it was common for many cities to have a hippodrome. The name is derived from the Greek words hippos (ἵππος; "horse") and dromos (δρόμος; "course"). It was commonly used for horse and chariot racing. These seats are on the southern end of the hippodrome in Caesarea Maritima and would have been adjacent to the beautiful palace built by King Herod. While Paul was imprisoned in the palace for two years, he would have been able to hear the crowd in the hippodrome cheering on the competitors.

On The Sea

When you visit the Sea of Galilee, you are immediately struck at what a beautiful place it is. It is not surprising why the early disciples chose this location as a place to live. This picture was taken on a boat looking south to the area where the lake empties into the Jordan River.

Wheat Fields

Throughout the Old Testament, we read accounts of people growing and harvesting wheat. Even thousands of years later, this practice still takes place today. This picture was taken in the Harod Valley just southeast of the Hill of Moreh.