Description
Israel Tour with Dr. Jimmy Long & Grace Fellowship - July 2025
We are excited to invite you to visit the Holy Land in May of 2023! It is an unforgettable journey that will educate and inspire you. The words you have read in the Bible will be filled with new meaning as your feet walk the streets of Jerusalem or as you stand in the waters of the Jordan River. Though many centuries have passed since the events themselves, the gap of years seem to narrow as if it were only yesterday.
Just picture yourself looking out on the hills of Bethlehem where shepherds still tend their flocks today or sitting in the ancient Roman theater in Caesarea by the Sea where Paul may have defended the Gospel before Festus and King Agrippa, or sailing in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, or standing on the steps of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. These are but a few of the opportunities you will have as you travel with friends and/or make new friends on this journey.
On my first trip to the Holy Land, I was in awe. To walk where Jesus walked was a life‐altering experience. I had the privileged to take communion at the Garden Tomb, to experience a storm come up on the Sea of Galilee (I can’t guarantee that every trip!), to see sheep grazing on the hillside of Bethlehem, to visit the Upper Room, to walk along the Via Dolorosa, and to step into a tomb believed to be the place of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. If you are interested in having these experiences plus many more, consider being a part of this life‐changing Holy Land tour in 2023.
We will have meaningful worship experiences in some of the locations we visit, plus a worship service Sunday morning on the Sea of Galilee. A 30‐day preparation guide will be provided for each person attending in order to get the most out of the experience. Maranatha Tours will provide an exceptionally knowledgeable guide who will make each sight come alive. In short, this is is a great opportunity you will not want to miss!
Come join us in the Holy Land!
Dr. Jimmy Long
What's Included
Our tours are all-inclusive. Always.
Videos
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Itinerary
Day by Day
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Wednesday
Tel Aviv, NetanyaUpon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Board our bus and travel through Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel. We proceed to the city of Netanya, on the Mediterranean to our hotel where we will check in for overnight.
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Thursday
Netanya, Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, TiberiasThis morning we proceed to Caesarea, capital of the Roman procurators of Judea. Visit the Roman port, Crusader's Moat, Roman theater and aqueduct. Continue to Muhraka on Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged Baal’s priests.
This afternoon, after a Middle Eastern lunch at a Druse restaurant (optional), we proceed to Megiddo to visit the excavations that unearthed 20 different civilizations. This is Michener’s “The Source”. Continue down the road to Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus where we will go to the look out and view the entire valley. Then, it’s on to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight at our hotel. On the way, if there is time we will stop at Harod,
the spring of Gideon. - 4
Friday
Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Magdala"The Head of all those Kingdoms" (Joshua 11:10). This morning our drive takes us to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan. Here we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). Then a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan the Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith, recognition of Christ Jesus (Matthew 16). Driving along the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. On our return we stop at Magdala, one of the oldest synagogues dating back to the first century AD. This was the home of Mary Magdalena and was the fishing center where Peter would have brought his catch to be sold or processed. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Saturday
Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Bet Shean, Shiloh, Jericho, Dead SeaThis morning we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, returning to Nof Ginosar to see the New Testament boat found below the sea. Our next stop today will be at the River Jordan where we will have the opportunity to be baptized. We travel via the Crusader fortress of Belvoir along the Rift Valley to Bet Shean, where King Saul and his sons were pinned to the walls. It became the Decapolis Capital and was traveled by Jesus and known as Scythopolis. See the ancient theater, Circus Maximus and Cardo Maximo. Heading south we visit Shiloh, the religious and military capital during the time of the Judges and where the resting place of the tabernacle for over three centuries. Proceed to Jericho, the world’s oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan
Valley, Elisha’s spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. Continue south along the Dead Sea to our hotel for dinner and overnight. - 6
Sunday
Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi, Dead SeaThis morning we drive to Masada where we ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress. It was here where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Continuing on we stop at Ein Gedi where we will walk to the water falls that David would have used while he was fleeing from Saul.
This afternoon we return to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Return to our hotel where the remainder of the afternoon is free to experience first-hand the benefits of bathing in the wonder-lake or to enjoy the hotel's spa facilities. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
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Monday
Dead Sea, Beersheba, Bethlehem, JerusalemThis morning we leave the Dead Sea and go via Arad to Beersheba, ancient city of Judah, the southernmost area of our tour. Beersheba, a watering hole and trading post for thousands of years, is the center of desert traffic, being located on the edge of the vast Negev Desert. Here we catch a glimpse of Bedouin life.
This afternoon we drive north to one of the possible sites for Shepherds' Fields. We continue into Bethlehem itself, walking through the restored old town to the Church of the Nativity and visiting the manger and see the cave of St. Jerome. We drive to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
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Tuesday
Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Western Wall Tunnel"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace." (Luke 19:42) Our drive this morning takes us past the Chapel of Ascension and Paternoster to the Mt. of Olives for an orientation view of Jerusalem and the opportunity of a group photograph overlooking Jerusalem. We then walk the traditional Passion walk. We descend to the church known as Dominus Flevit ("Our Lord weeps"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk downhill to Gethsemane, where we take time to meditate on the Gospel text and view the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City and make our way to the Western Wall Tunnel where we see a model that will demonstrate where we are in location to the Temple in the time of Christ. Continue along the tunnel as we proceed to the Gateway of the Priests entry to the Holy of Holies. Next we proceed to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park where we see the Steps that entered the temple and the Southern Wall. It was here that Jesus would have taught the disciples. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Wednesday
Old City, Via Dolorosa, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Garden Tomb“He has risen!” (Mark 16:6) After breakfast we transfer to the Dung Gate, where we ascend to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the ancient Temple Mount. Here the first and second Temples once stood. Just to the north we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church. The church is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. Continuing on we see Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man). We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) through the bazaars as far as the Holy Sepulcher. From there we walk from the Christian Quarter along the Arab Souks through the Cardo Maximo and then to the City of David where we walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel, making our way to the Pool of Siloam (bring your water shoes and a flightlight or walk through the dry Caananite Tunnel). We board our bus to the Garden Tomb where we will end our day with a special visit and the possibility of having a private communion on the grounds outside the city walls. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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