Israel Trip: Day 3

We had an early start as usual, and we headed over to Tabgha where we visited the Church of the Multiplication. Churches are erected at sites of importance to the faith and this is the spot where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes took place. It was really cold as it was drizzling. :(



See the mosaic on the floor in the church? It shows the mosaic of the fish and loaves in front of a large rock and it is believed that Jesus stood on this rock when he blessed the fish and loaves before the items were distributed. We did much of the sharing on the bus because silence must be maintained on church grounds and it was really too cold to be able to stay focused on what our pastor and guide was going to share.

It was such a pity we couldn't go to the Mount of Beautitudes to see where site where Jesus delivered the famous Sermon on the Mount. Our guide shared that the place is like a natural amphitheatre and has amazing acoustics so cool that it can amplify the speaker's voice. It was a bummer that we didn't get to experience it live.


We then visited Olea Essence, an olive oil press at Golan Heights and they make use of every part of the olive fruit! When the founder heard that Singaporeans were here, he came out to meet us. The founder considers Pastor Prince a personal friend and apparently everytime he comes here with his pastors! :D


This is the R&D department where they are testing out stuff for new products. After testing/sampling the products, we made our purchases and headed off. You can also buy their products online here!

As you can see outside, it's a very foggy day... We got to the site dubbed as the Valley of Tears on Golan Heights. It's really freezing out there as it was drizzling.


Remains of the war... an Israeli tank on the left and a Syrian tank on the right that never left. Apparently intelligence was received in the week leading up to the war, that the mines were being cleared and there were signs of an imminent war but the military commander did not believe so and didn't take any action.

So the war went into effect on the nation's holiest day Yom Kippur and the Israelis were severely unprepared for the attack. We know how the war ended and it was a victory for Israel, but it wasn't without much bloodshed by both sides. Our guide also shared with us that his brother brought him to the spot and it was a sight he would never forget, with tanks littered all over the place.

Okay, enough of that. Let's move on to Caesarea Philippi or Banias Springs! This is the source of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. This site is a place of pagan worshiip and they worship the god Pan during the Greek times, thus the name Panias, or Banias in Arabic, and human sacrifices were offered there to please the god. That is just so twisted x.x This a pretty scenic place and I wished we had time to go on a hike there...








The Gates of Hell - Where human sacrifices were thrown into... If the sacrifices disappeared into the water, it meant the gods had accepted the offering. If signs of blood appeared, it meant the sacrifice was rejected. This is also the location where Jesus asked His disciples for their take on the peoples’ impressions of Him and his callings, and Peter replied that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” - Matthew 16:17- 19

Pastor Pauline then shared on operating in the authority He has given us and here are my notes:

Operate in the authority He has given you. You must know it before you can exercise it. Speak! Live in your new identity as a king-priest, leave behind your old life. Your life is bound by what you know and you need to know about your inheritance. The Lord has come to give you a new identity, a new beginning and authority, walk in it! Jesus has severed you from death and you received His salvation, health, peace and wholeness. He wants you to be reigning in this life.

Field of maize just outside the kibbutz. We then went to the place where people can buy dates and other items as souvenirs. I got some tea leaves and garlic salt (the smell is really strong!) to take home.


It felt like such a short day huh? More travelogues coming up! :)