Bethsaida, Hazor, Tel Dan and Caesarea Philippi

We traveled north today through the Upper Galilee, stopping first at Bethsaida.  The "house of the fisherman" is reported to be the home of five of Jesus' disciples, Simon Peter, Andrew, Philip, James and John.

These excavations are ongoing, and Jerusalem Center groups traveling in late May and June can excavate here for three days.  At the outset of the excavations, the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies was a member of the consortium excavating here.

From Bethsaida, we moved further north to Hazor, a city razed by Joshua and refortified by King Solomon.  Then it was on to Tel Dan where we saw the magnificent Middle Bronze Age gate.

Our last stop was Caesarea Philippi, which today is a nature reserve called Banias.  Greeks and Romans worshipped Pan here, the god of shepherds, flocks and nature.  Herod Philip erected a temple to Roma and Caesar.

The rain stopped long enough for us to remember Jesus' visit here with his disciples.  In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asks them "who do men say that I am?"  He follows with the more personal "who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter answered for all with "you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Such faith is heralded as what will allow his Church to withstand the Gates of Hades which stand here.  Our faith was greatly strengthened here.  Jesus intentionally placed himself against the gods of the day and demanded a decision for true God.

The Gates of Hades