Description
Israel Tour with Dr. Bryan Widbin Goodwill & Newbridge Church - March 2025
What's Included
Our tours are all-inclusive. Always.
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Itinerary
Day by Day
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Friday
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, NetanyaIf you’re doing “land only” on this tour, you’ll want to book your flight to TLV to depart on Thursday, March 13, to arrive no later than noon at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, on March 14. Transfer to Netanya hotel. Overnight Leonardo Plaza, Netanya.
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Saturday
JESUS IN ANTICIPATION: GREEKS, ROMANS, AND SECOND TEMPLE JUDAISM, Mount Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth Precipice Overlook, NainOur morning opens early with a short drive to the capital of Roman Palestine, Caesarea by the Sea. This expansive city built by Herod the Great in honor of Emperor Augustus furnishes an experience in the worlds of Greek culture and Roman imperialism. Later, Caesarea became one of the most prominent Christian cities in the east, and so sets the stage for our understandings of early Christianity, with both Jewish and Gentile influences. Then, it’s on to Mount Carmel, which bisects the land cutting off the largely Gentile north from the core of the country in the Central Mountain Range. We stop on the highest peak of this mountain range with a consideration of the encounter between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah (I Kings 18). Understanding the collision between alternative kingdoms envisioned by the kings, on one hand, and the prophets, on the other, is exceedingly important for grasping Jesus’ teachings. We then travel along the ridge above the Jezreel Valley to the Old Testament city of Megiddo (I Kings 9:15) and a look at the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16). Lots of insights and experiences are gained here, laying a foundation for the days to come. Then, before settling in for the night, we stop briefly at the village of Nain in lower Galilee, where Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead (Luke 7), and then traverse the hills that Jesus knew so well to where we’ll stay for several nights in the city of Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Overnight Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, Tiberias.
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Sunday
Sepphoris, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth Precipice, ArbelThis day in the region of lower Galilee begins at the newly built city of Sepphoris, capital of the regime of Antipas, son and heir of Herod the Great. Its majestic theater, water system, Jewish quarter, and palaces capture our imagination. Here Salome danced before Antipas on Purim in 28CE and requested the execution of John the Baptist (Mark 6:23). Sepphoris was labelled by Josephus “the ornament of the Galilee,” and so it was. We then move on to Nazareth for a look inside the Herodian remains of the town where Jesus grew up and visit the largest church in the middle east, The Basilica of the Annunciation, which sits atop the Herodian village. After lunch we move to the brow of the hill, Mount Precipice, where the elders of the town thought to cast Jesus down (Luke 4:1-16) after his offense in interpreting the oracle of Isaiah. And then finally, a spectacular sight awaits us of the Plain of Ginosar, where Jesus performed many of his miraculous healings, from a perch on top of Mount Arbel. Arbel is arguably the “high mountain” where Jesus commissioned the eleven disciples after his resurrection (Matthew 28:16-20). Overnight Nof Ginosar, Tiberias.
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Monday
Gergesa, Chaorazin, Sermon on the Mount, Capernaum, Tamar Lunch, Boat RideOur day begins at the site of Jesus’ “own town” at Capernaum. So many events narrated in the gospels occur in this toll center on the northern shore of the Sea. Then, we then move on to the site of the so-called “swine miracle” on the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee at Gergesa. Here Jesus encountered the demoniac from the Decapolis. Afterwards, we motor back to the inlet of the Jordan River from its northern sources for a discussion of baptism as viewed by John and Paul. We’ll have time here for a historic pilgrim water rite celebrated in the late 4th century for pilgrims by the first bishop of Jerusalem, St. Kirill. Just above our baptismal experience, at the northwest corner of the Sea, we find the ruins of the medium-sized Jewish town of Chorazin. Much to be gained here about Jewish life in first century Galilee. Then it’s on to a spectacular view of the lake, stopping at the area of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), for a walk down the sloping hill here Jesus taught the multitudes who gathered around him. While we walk, we’ll stop frequently to discuss the major points of Jesus’ point-of-view on the Kingdom of God and its relationship to the historic covenant faith of Israel and later Judaism. Finally, after lunch, we’ll board a boat fashioned from the ferries of Jesus’ day, relaxing with modern day fishermen on the waters of the Sea. On the way back to our stopping place, we view the remains of Tiberias, built by Antipas in 14AD, in honor of his patron, Tiberius Caesar. The city of Tiberias, a harbor town, was constructed by Antipas as a miniature version of his father’s Caesarea on the coast. Overnight Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, Tiberias.
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Tuesday
JESUS IN FINALIZING: Beth Shean, New Testament Jericho Approach, Qumran, Jericho, Camel RideOur day begins with a move south to the impressive remains of the Decapolis city of Beth Shean/Scythopolis. Here we experience a day in the life of a citizen of this world famous Roman-Byzantine city, curiously never mentioned in the documents of the New Testament. Then, just before lunch, we drive farther south to the important site of Jericho in the days of the New Testament. We’ll stand at the entrance to the royal estate where Jesus encountered the blind man Bartemaeus (Luke 18) and walk through the city where He found tax farmer Zacchaeus in a sycamore tree (Luke 19). After lunch, we move to near the shore of the Dead Sea (now, more than 400 meters below sea level!) for a visit to Qumran. Here, Essene sectarians produced the famous Dead Sea scrolls, which tell us much about the state of the Hebrew Scriptures at the time of Jesus and more! We’ll also view some of the caves where the scrolls were found. Then, after a short camel ride (optional) in Jericho, we motor west along the Jericho Road through Bethany to the Holy City of Jerusalem, scenes before us Jesus would have known so well. Overnight Ambassador Hotel, Jerusalem.
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Wednesday
Dead Sea Adventures, Ein Gedi, Masada, Dead Sea SwimThis morning we set out very early to the area of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the surface of the earth, to the canyon where David hid from Saul at Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 24). We get a full experience of desert life here and a deep sense of what water in the desert meant to the psalmists and what it still means to the people who live here. Then, it’s on to the infamous fortress of Masada where in 73 AD, Zealot rebels and their families held to the last against Flavius Silva and the Roman army’s 10th legion. The impressive remains here leave a lasting impression of what this site means to the modern state of Israel and how we might find application to us, as well. This day ends at the northern shore of the Dead Sea for a leisurely “float” in the Dead Sea, this absolutely extraordinary body of water (35% salt!). Finally, it’s back to Jerusalem for a good night’s rest. Overnight Ambassador Hotel, Jerusalem.
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Thursday
Israel Museum, Citadel, Tower of David, Western Wall, BethlehemWe begin this day at the Israel Museum in the modern west city for a look at the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day, via a 1:50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem. This mind-capturing model is necessary for appreciating the events of Passion Week tomorrow. Before leaving the museum, we view some of the actual Dead Sea Scrolls housed in the Shrine of the Book at the museum. Then, we return to the Old City of Jerusalem to the remains of Herod’s Praetorium and Palace, where King Herod entertained the Magi on their way to Bethlehem and where Pilate tried and sentenced Jesus for sedition. Then, we’re off to Bethlehem for lunch and some shopping, before an unforgettable visit to the site of Herod the Great’s mausoleum at Herodium, just a few miles away. We compare here this notorious, world-famous figure, “the king by might,” with Jesus the Galilean, “the king by right,” born close by. Our day ends with a visit to the birthplace of our Lord, at one of the three oldest churches in the world, the Basilica of the Nativity, dedicated in 339AD. Here, we enter the cave below the church where records from as early as the 2nd century mark the birthplace of our Lord. Overnight Ambassador Hotel, Jerusalem.
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Friday
Free DayA day at leisure for relaxation and reflection. We’ll get you started with a walk to the New Gate, the 8th and final gate of the Old City, built in 1889, by the Ottomon Turkish Sultan Abu Hamid. Afterwards, we’ll give you plenty of options to get the most out of this day on your own. As Sabbath breaks in, we highly recommend a stop at the Western Wall. This is the historic retaining wall of Herod’s temple esplanade, known throughout the world as an important center of contemporary Judaism. Overnight Ambassador Hotel, Jerusalem.
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Saturday
JESUS AND THE PASSION., The Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Upper Room Site, St. Peter in Gallicantu, The Church of the Holy SepulcherThis final, very meaningful day in Jerusalem begins with a panoramic view of the city from just west of Bethany, on the Mount of Olives. Here we will lay out the steps of Jesus between March 27, and April 4, in 33AD, the days of his passion. Then, we walk along the pilgrim route to Gethsemane, where we’ll enter the cave of the olive press, the “place” where Jesus gathered in secret with his disciples on the night he was betrayed. We also find a quiet spot in the olive garden to contemplate the agonizing temptation of our Lord. Just before lunch then, we visit the site of the Upper Room where Jesus ate the Passover feast with his disciples and then, immediately go to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus. The denial of our Lord occurred just below where Jesus was interrogated before Caiaphas and the Sadducean authorities of the Sanhedrin. After lunch, we start at the site of the Roman trials before Pontius Pilate, where Jesus was scourged and condemned to death and walk the 1st century “Via Dolorosa” to the site of his crucifixion and resurrection. This very emotional day ends with our hands on the bedrock near the tomb, the rock that shook when the earthquake released our risen Lord. A lavish farewell meal and celebration at the hotel concludes our extraordinary experience together, a foundation for the rest of our lives. After dinner and meaningful time of testimonies and communion, we head to the airport for after midnight departure home.
Newbridge Church Rev. Tim Daniels