Day 6 Going to tell Dan?

Day 6 Monday 28 May – Going to tell Dan?

The 5:30 wake up calls are starting to take their toll.  We got on the bus at the unholy hour of 7:30 and Dr. Anderson announced that “We are going to tell Dan.”  I freely admit that I am not the sharpest crayon in the box at this hour of the day.  I had questions.  What are we going to tell Dan?  Why are we taking time out of our sightseeing day to deliver messages?  Couldn’t we call Dan and tell him these things?  Who is Dan?  I have a cousin, Dan Bayless, but I am confident he is not in Israel.  What is going on?

My face was oh so red when I discovered that we were “going to Tel Dan” not “going to tell Dan.”  “ A tel (derived from Arabic: تَل‎, tall, 'hill' or 'mound'),^[1][2] is an artificial mound formed from the accumulated refuse of people living on the same site for hundreds or thousands of years. A classic tel looks like a low, truncated cone with a flat top and sloping sides^[3] and can be up to 30 meters high.^{[4] (from Wikipedia)}

This was much better.  Rather than delivering messages to some chap named Dan we were heading to look at this chap Dan’s garbage dump.  Onward and upward we go.

Tel Dan is a modern nature reserve that was very nice place to walk through the woods and a very nice path.

There was this one place where I thought about Hansel and Gretel and their trip into the dark forest.

Tel Dan is the location of the head waters of the Jordan River.  Much of the walk was beside and crossing this lovely mountain stream.

This northern part of Israel is borders the southern part of Lebanon and Syria.  This is where Tel Dan is located. In modern history this area has been at the center of many battles. 

This was the look out and trenches from WWI and the mountains are the border between Israel and Lebanon.

This is the remains of a WWI tank.

This is a Trench from the same war.

The 6-Day War in 1969 had a considerable amount to do with this area which was part of Syria at that time.  As I said the head waters of the Jordan River come from this area.  Mt Hermon is in Syria and the snow melt feeds the waters of the Jordan.  Syria was in the process of diverting the waters away from Israel which would have devastated the life of the country.  In the 6-Day-War Israel annexed the area and preserved the water.  If you look on Google Earth and search for Tel Dan Nature Reserve you will see surrounding it to the north the boarders of Lebanon and Syria but also several “UN Cease Fire lines” and such that mark the still contested boundaries.

Biblically it was this area that Jonah called home.  Mosul, Iraq, also not very far to the northwest from Dan, is right across the Tigris river from the ancient city of Nineveh.  Nineveh was, I am sure you recall, the city Jonah was instructed to go to and preach repentance.  Jonah of course like many of us decided to go in the opposite direction and fled to the port that would become Caesarea Maritime and caught a boat leaving town.

In the time of the divided Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  Jeroboam decided he did not want his people going to Jerusalem in the south to worship at the temple built by Solomon.  He feared they might abandon him and his rule so, he like so many others created gods for people to worship that were not the true God.  It was at this high place he placed one of the golden calves to have the people worship. 

1 Kings 12:28-31 New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” ²⁹ One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. ³⁰ And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.^[a]

³¹ Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites.

Another of the places Jeroboam established for idol worship.

As pleasant as this nature reserve was we had to move on to the Gates of Hell!

On the road out of Dan we were told these little triangle markers, which look like maybe a cable was buried here perhaps, actually indicate that beyond this fence there had been land mines and perhaps there still were.  Best stay on this side of the fence.

Banias Spring was our next destination.  At one time the spring gushed from this cave on the left.

Next to this cave was a series of worship sites for pagan gods.

This was the Temple of Zeus. 

This was the temple of Pan.  The Arabic language does not have a P sound so the name for this place became Banias.

This was the tomb for the sacred goats that Pan, half man half goat, would play his flute and make the goats dance.

This was a wicked place and they believed that cave entrance lead to the underworld and thus hell.  This was just on the outskirts of Caesarea Philippi. 

Matthew 16:13-20 New International Version (NIV)

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[d] loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

He very well may have been here when he asked his disciples “who do you say I am?”  If not, it is likely that he had this place in mind when he said “the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it.”

Leaving the Gates of Hell we made our way toward Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee.

On the bus ride to the Capernaum area Dr. A was very concerned that we get to see a coney.  No, not a hot dog with chili but an unusual rock dwelling RUS.  (That is for the Princess Bride fans.)  The coney or hyrax syriacus is a rabbit sized mammal.  Their closest living relatives are elephants and manatees.  This fact got a profound “hurrumph” with a corresponding cynical look from Dr. A.  He is a believer in the New Earth theory: that the earth is only a few thousand years old.  Do with that as you will.

Nevertheless, we spotted a coney as we walked into the area of Chorazin near Capernaum both of which are on the shore of the sea of Galilee.

It was in this area, around the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, that much of Jesus’ early ministry was carried out.  Right after he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he went to live in Capernaum.

Matthew 4:12-17 New International Version (NIV)

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.”^[a]

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

We also know that he taught in the local synagogue which was in the neighboring town of Chorazin.

Mark 1:21-22 New International Version (NIV)

²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

The synagogue in Chorazin served the area including Capernaum.

This was the pediment from the front of the synagogue that faced south toward Jerusalem.  The decorations are the fruit of the land, pineapples, grapes etc.

This was the main court of the synagogue where the men would have gathered to be taught and to worship.  The seat of the teacher is on the left of the picture where Jordan and Kendra are standing.  That stone seat is a replica of the original we saw in the museum in Jerusalem.  Jesus sat and taught in that spot.

On the right side behind Dr. A is this structure. 

This was part of the Arc of the Law.  The location where the scrolls of Scripture were stored.

To be here was pretty amazing and awe-inspiring.  If I had known as a child that this place existed I never would have dreamed I would get to see it.

It was just a short trip from here to the shore of the sea of Galilee. 

The Sinn siblings Erika and Jordan standing on the rocks.

It may not have been at this exact spot but it could have been.

Matthew 4:18-22 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Tradition has it that this was the location where Jesus met his disciples after his resurrection and brought Peter back into relationship with himself.

John 21 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.^[a] It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus^[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

²² Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” ²³ Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

You may know that the language and words Jesus used in asking Peter if he loved him are important.  The first two times Jesus asked “do you love me?” Jesus uses the word agapao (to love unconditionally and completely) Peter answers with the word phileo (to befriend or love like a brother).  The third time Jesus says effectively “Do you even love me like a brother? Phileo.

His command in all three cases was “feed my sheep” and then concluded with “follow me.”  I pray God’s grace to find strength of will to follow Jesus.

The ruins of one of the grandest synagogues ever is located here in Capernaum. It was not built until the 4^th century AD.  But under the modern fancy building is what is believed to be the ruins of the home of St. Peter.

It was time for lunch so we ate at St. Peter’s Restaurant.  I do not believe that he still has any controlling ownership interest in the establishment.  It was full of tourist.  The food was pretty good.

The salad bar had lots of beautiful vegetables on it.

Alas, the veggies were almost all pickled and everything tasted like vinegar.  The Pita and hummus were very good.

For the main course I opted for the St Peter’s fish rather than the filet.  It was a bit tedious to eat but very good.

We stopped by Zappori which was the administrative center of Galilee and thus a major center of business.  During the Jewish rebellion of 66 AD Zappori did NOT join the rebels but welcomed the Romans and thus was not destroyed like Jerusalem.  In the second century it became the seat of the Sanhedrin.  The governor’s palace was pretty fancy with lots of mosaic floors and an indoor toilet. 

This floor mosaic is referred to as the Mona Lisa of Galilee.  You can judge for yourself.

On the way back to the hotel in Nazareth we pasted by this sign on a construction fence and I was reminded that all conflicts have two sides to the story.  How far back in history do you want to go to determine who is the invader?  America certainly was not the original inhabitant of North America.  But I am not willing to give up my small home and lot to set right something that happened in the 18^th century.

While walking around Nazareth we went by Jesus’ old carpenter shop?

We also saw this guy bring home dinner in the back seat of his sedan: two freshly slaughtered sheep.

This was as close as we got to the Church of the Annunciation, built over the assumed location of Mary’s Home and the place where Gabriel announced to Mary she would be the mother of God.

We were able to see St Joseph’s Church.  Built over the location where Joseph’s original carpenter’s shop was located.

The doors of the Church tell the biblical story in pictures. A common practice for churches before literacy was common.

Many countries around the world contributed to the building of this church and each got to include a piece of artwork depicting Mary and Jesus.

This was all walled off so It was evidently important. Perhaps this is where Joseph kept his chisels?

One last picture

This is said to be the ruins of the house of Joachim and Anne the parents of Mary and thus they would have been the grandparents of Jesus.  Do you think Jesus was allowed to jump on the bed when he spent the night here?

Long but wonderful day = long but _______ blog.  You may fill in the blank.