Caesarea, Megiddo and Mar Elias

No rest for our hearty group! We were up early and drove south on the coastal highway to view the remnants of Herod's aqueduct system and then to Caesarea, where Herod's palace, theatre and hippodrome have been uncovered. Although much of it has been washed into the sea, the parts of the aqueduct are still incredibly impressive—plus many of the group members got the chance to dip their toes into the Mediterranean Sea.

Group photo at the entrance to Herod's theatre in Caesarea.
(Photo courtesy of Dirk Van Stralen '69, taken by our guide, Khalil.)

 

Pastor Bill lectured on Herod as we sat in the theatre, on the edge of the shore. We lamented the many ills the line of King Herods perpetrated on their subjects. On the other hand, we rejoiced as we read and remembered the ministry of Philip in Caesarea, and the significant and church-altering interaction between Cornelius and Peter. The remains of Herod's palace jut into the sea and the remnants of his fresh water swimming pool (with water from the aqueduct) can still be seen.

The remains include the meeting hall, and it was moving to stand approximately in the place where Paul defended himself before Agrippa. Pastor Bill led us in an emotional reflection on "running the race" with a "cloud of witnesses" encouraging us on as we sat in the viewing section of the hippodrome. Who has cheered us on in our lives? Who are we cheering on and how?

Don Klompeen and Ron Redder standing at the site of Paul's defense
before Agrippa at Herod's palace in Caesarea.

In Megiddo we marveled at the extent of the archeological site, particularly the complex water system, and were able to climb down nearly 200 steps to the bottom, hewn through sheer rock. We also decried the sad history of child sacrifice at the uncovered pagan altar. There is a stunning view at the site overlooking the far-as-the-eye-can-see Jezreel Valley—the Armageddon site of the Book of Revelation. We testified that for followers of Jesus Christ, the final battle has already been won and sang together in praise and dedication.

Pastor Bill leading a study overlooking the Jezreel Valley at Megiddo—Armageddon.

We spent lunch and a good share of the afternoon at Ibillin, the home of Father Elias Chacour, a Palestinian Christian and the writer of Blood Brothers, at the school he founded, Mar Elias Institute. What an inspirational place—and we were welcomed by smiling school children. Volunteers Ted and Joan Settle welcomed us and we were challenged to think about and pray for the immensely difficult struggles between Palestinians and Israelis by Elias, the director of the schools (and named for his godfather, Father Chacour).

One of the delightful children of Mar Elias.

Touring the Church of the Sermon on the Mount, on the school site and wondrously full of iconography, was another special experience. It is a life-changing testament to peace, the message of the Sermon on the Mount and the mission of Father Chacour and the school—Christians, Muslims, Jews and Druze students learning together as they practice "peace across desktops."

The stunning Church of the Sermon on the Mount.

We got back to the Stella Maris much earlier than last night and could relax and dine and (hopefully) catch up on more sleep before tomorrow's activities, starting with a meeting with Father Chacour himself in his Haifa office.  ~  Mike