Mt Carmel to Caesarea to Jerusalem
We started out today with a steep hike up Mount Carmel, site of Elijah putting the Baal priests to shame. It’s a tough climb to the top (thankfully the weather was a lot cooler) and Elijah climbed it, built an alter, dug a trench, slaughtered a cow, climbed back down, killed all the Baal priests, climbed back up to check the weather, climbed back down and then ran about 18 miles. In one day. Some of the reasons why he’s a hero to the Jews. Our lesson was a verse in James that says “Elijah was a man just like us”. Big shoes to fill.
View from Mt Carmel
Then on to Caesarea, a beautiful man-made seaside port built by Herod the Great. Pilate lived here and Peter came here to visit the centurion after a vision. Paul was imprisoned here while on his way to Rome. It’s an amazing architectural wonder that was a marvel of the world, covered in marble, technologically advanced. But now, of course it’s just ruins. So think about what you are putting your efforts to in life – are they for things that last?
Ceasarea
Our last two nights are in Jerusalem and we started off in the old city looking at a restored ruin of Sadducee homes, thought to be where Caiaphas the high priest lived. It’s an extravagant place, proof of how they lived so lavishly making money by extorting folks at the temple. Punks.
We finished with a walk through some of modern Jerusalem outside the old city to John’s favorite ice cream place. A definite highlight.
Ice Cream place
Tomorrow we will be in Jerusalem for the day.