Holy Land Video Blog

A Tour of the Holy Land

Day 12 and 13 of the Tour

PETRA, JORDAN – May 24 – Today featured a full day’s journey from the northern portion of Jordan to the southern desert region. Our day began in the modern city of Amman and ended in the quaint village of Petra. Before leaving the modern city of Amman, however, we saw several significant historical sites. The first stop was an outdoor arena at ancient Philadelphia . . . one of the ten cities in the Decapolis. In the cool morning air our entire group stepped into the classically designed amphitheatre and took our places on the ancient terraced seats. The structure pre-dates the time of Christ and was the perfect setting to relive a familiar Old Testament story. Traveling actor, Reg Grant, treated us to a dramatic presentation from the floor of the amphitheatre . . . this time assuming the role of Uriah. In full warrior garb, Uriah spoke in the first person about his devotion to King David. You might remember that it was Uriah who was married to Bathsheba, the woman who was the focus of David’s lust and ultimate moral fall. From Philadelphia, we drove a few more minutes and arrived at the Citadel. This ancient archaeological site overlooks Amman, with sweeping 360-degree views of the modernized city. It also contains a small museum where fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. And then we drove to the other side of the city to see Madaba. At this nearby town, intricate, colorful Byzantine-era mosaics have been found inside homes and churches. The most famous of these is a mosaic of the Holy Land that dates back to the sixth century AD—the earliest map of this area found to date. The “Madaba Map” depicts Byzantine Jerusalem in its heyday, with many recognizable biblical landmarks and structures apparent throughout the detailed rendering. But doubtless the highlight of the day was driving outside the city limits to Mount Nebo, where from 3,000 feet above sea level, we could witness with our own eyes the landscape promised to Moses. It was here on this mountain where God spoke to Moses, showing him the Promised Land. Because it was a clear day, we could see all the way across the Jordan River to Jericho, the Dead Sea, and even a hint of Jerusalem on the horizon. Few of us will ever read the passage in Deuteronomy that describes Moses’ conversation with God in the same way again, with the views from atop Mount Nebo still etched in our memories. The afternoon was spent driving from Mount Nebo to Petra. It took about four hours to navigate the King’s Highway before arriving at our destination. Yes, we saw camels. Lots of camels. And Bedouin shepherds leading their flocks across the vast desert landscape. We spent the evening relaxing and recovering from a full day’s journey. Tomorrow, I’ll describe what promises to be a highly engaging experience—hiking through the natural fortress of Petra. Until then, I remain grateful to be among the travelers, Roger Kemp

DEAD SEA, JORDAN – May 25 – If you could manufacture the perfect morning hike in an exotic location, we found the spot today. Our hotel was located within walking distance from the gate of the famous historical landmark known as Petra (“The Rock”). It was yet another picture perfect blue-sky day. In the shadows of the valley and mountains, the air remained cool and comfortable. We walked into the ancient setting through a narrow passage created by two towering cliffs. It took nearly thirty minutes to navigate the winding path to the main entrance, with jaw-dropping natural beauty accented by multi-colored sandstone. Surely no picture will give justice to the experience, because no single lens could possibly capture the enormity of the dramatic escalating views. Even so, most of us were running down the batteries in our digital cameras, doing our best to bring home a visual keepsake. The hike crescendos at the final breakthrough passage where you get your first view of the signature carving known as “The Treasury”— a huge columnar façade chiseled into the stone centuries before the time of Christ. Made familiar as the site for a blockbuster film, many see this wonder of the world as nothing more than a backdrop for the adventures of Indiana Jones. Here’s a brief synopsis of Petra’s history, provided by the Insight for Living team: The natural fortress of Petra was originally inhabited by the ancient Edomites (2 Kings 14:7). Located in a valley surrounded by mountains, Petra’s main access is through a narrow, winding path between two cliffs known as the Siq. Because its geography created a nearly impenetrable fortress, the people of Edom felt extremely secure. Through the prophet Obadiah, the Lord rebuked the Edomites, saying, “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights. . . . From there I will bring you down” (Obadiah 1:3-4 NIV). Petra was conquered and occupied by the Nabateans in the fourth century BC. Upon their arrival, they began to carve temples, tombs, and dwellings out of the rose, purple, and crimson limestone cliffs. Unfortunately, a devastating earthquake in AD 363 destroyed much of the city. But the ruins that remain still portray a breathtaking marvel of ancient workmanship. From Petra, we made a four hour drive to the seaside resort on the north end of the Dead Sea. At this destination, Mount Nebo is to the east, Jerusalem to the west, and the Dead Sea in between. With spectacular views overlooking this salty body of water, we watched the sun set behind the Mount of Olives, backlighting the skyline of what is now familiar geography to our traveling team. As the intense heat of the day turned cool, the new discoveries from our trip to Israel were permanently sealed in our hearts and minds. Well, it’s finally time to go home. Tomorrow, we will spend our morning relaxing on the shores of the Dead Sea. Around the noon hour, we will board our six buses one final time and cross the border from Jordan to Israel. From a temporary resting place in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, travelers will begin to shuttle to Tel Aviv to catch their respective flights home. It has been a profoundly meaningful trip to the Holy Land. Doubtless we will never read our Bibles the same way. Thanks for traveling along with us. We are eager to return home to be with you! Ever grateful for this experience, Roger Kemp 

Day 11 of the Tour

AMMAN, JORDAN – May 23 – Last night we bid farewell to our co-travelers who had completed their international journey to the Holy Land.  With mixed emotions, we felt sad about their departure … but excited about the adventure ahead for the 260 people extending their trip to Jordan.  Instead of fourteen, there were six buses that left Jerusalem early this morning … bound for the Jordanian border en route to Amman.  We crossed the Jordan River just southeast of the Sea of Galilee at mid-morning.  At the security check-point, we displayed our passports, allowed our suitcases to be x-rayed, and then … we said “farewell” to our Israeli tour guides and “hello” to our Jordanian tour guides.  It was another warm blue-sky day … the perfect backdrop for viewing the diverse culture from our buses.  The tour guide brought context as we captured our first impressions of Jordan.  He said, if Israel contains a wealth of New Testament history, then Jordan is rich with Old Testament history.  It is the land of kings, judges, and prophets.  Our first and only stop today was at Jerash … a city of the Decapolis.  Today’s modern city of Jerash rests near the ruins of the ancient city of Gerasa, once one of the largest cities east of the Jordan River.  According to Greek tradition, Gerasa was founded by Alexander the Great.  After the Roman conquest of Syria in 65 BC, Gerasa was incorporated in the league of Roman cities called the Decapolis (meaning “ten cities”).  It soon became a bustling enterprise, thriving as a center of religion and commerce. The Romans created intricately detailed temples, theaters, and other impressive structures throughout Gerasa.  Some of the construction pre-dates the time of Christ.  Excavated in the 1950s, much of the city is visible today.  Following an informal lunch in a quaint local restaurant alongside the site of Gerasa, we toured through these ancient ruins.  We saw the classic Roman columns that lined the stone-paved streets, the opulent pagan temples, the southern arena, and stone staircases leading to panoramic views of Gerasa and beyond.  Gerasa is arguably one of the best preserved archaeological sites in all the Holy Land.  This evening, after a long journey, we gathered together for dinner … and a special presentation from the leadership of Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS).  We heard the stirring testimonies from students who have come from all parts of the Middle East to prepare for a lifetime of ministry at this renowned center for biblical training.  It’s an inspiration to know that God’s Word continues to transform the hearts of men and women from all cultures.  Tomorrow is another big day for us travelers.  Thank you for taking an interest in our adventures and we hope that someday you will join us, too!    Until tomorrow’s blog entry, Roger Kemp