One of my biggest dreams in life was to visit the country of Israel and particularly see the Holy Land where Jesus walked. In May 2018 that dream came true! I never thought I would see it this soon in my life and am so thankful to have experienced this magical place. I’m counting the days until I can go back.
Visiting Israel is magnificent and can be life-changing for anyone, but it can be especially momentous for a Christian. My husband and I, along with several other family members, traveled to the region with a Christian group. We started in Amman Jordan where we first visited the ancient city of Petra and Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the promised land and is supposedly buried.
So, on day two of the trip, we crossed over from Jordan into Israel. I will never forget what the tour guide, Sammy said. He told us, “You have now stepped foot on holy land. You are no longer a tourist. This is a pilgrimage. This is Israel. This is your home.” I still tear up when I think of this. He was so sincere and so correct.
When you visit majestic Israel, you will feel an unbelievable peace and the sense that you are home. The whole tour group (100 of us!) loved him, he didn’t just point out historical sites, he preached the gospel and his love for Christ radiated off him. This made the trip even more special.
Our trip lasted ten days, three of which were travel days. We saw so many things it was like a whirlwind of history and adventure. We would be up and out on the bus by seven-thirty or eight o’clock in the morning and sometimes not back to the hotel until seven or eight at night.
But the Lord sustained up – we had an energy we couldn’t really explain. We walked up to seven miles a day but surprisingly the plantar fasciitis that I get occasionally in one of my feet never flared up.
We saw the ancient city of Jericho in the West Bank; Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found; Masada, the rock top fortress overlooking the Dead Sea; Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus; Megiddo or battleground of Armageddon which is the setting for the future battle between the forces of good and evil; Mount Tabor where the Transfiguration of Jesus took place with the appearance of Elijah and Moses; Mount Carmel where the prophet Elijah’s fire-lighting challenge with the pagan prophets of Asherah and Baal took place; Caesarea located on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea and the ancient Roman city that was the headquarters of Pontius Pilate and where the apostle Paul was imprisoned for two years; Temple Mount in Jerusalem; Bethany where Lazarus was raised from the dead; Shepherds Field where the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds; the Upper Room in Jerusalem where the Last Supper took place; Caiaphas’ House where Jesus was imprisoned before being condemned to death the following morning; the Dead Sea; Antonio Fortress where Jesus stood before Pilate; Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath; and so much more.
But I wanted to write more specifically about ten extraordinary places that really moved my spirit, where I really felt the presence of God and brought me to tears at times. People say when you visit Israel there will be at least one special place where you will have a profound spiritual encounter.
You may have an idea in your head of where that divine spot may be, but when it hits you, you may be caught off guard. But I promise you it will be wonderful and a moment that will stay with you forever.
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10 Extraordinary Places to Visit in the Holy Land that Will Change Your Life Forever:
1. Sea of Galilee
One of my many favorite experiences was staying on the Sea of Galilee also known as the Sea of Tiberius. Our hotel was right on the water next to a quaint boardwalk filled with street vendors selling anything from clothes to local souvenirs, restaurants, and some to the best gelato I have ever tasted (next time I will order the extra-large 😊). The first day there we sailed across the lake. I was stilled with amazement as I realized I was floating on the very water where Jesus calmed the storm and walked.
We took the boat from our hotel over to the Ancient Boat Museum that displays a boat that existed at the time of Jesus. This ancient vessel was used for fishing and transportation and may have been the very boat that Jesus traveled on. We ate the most amazing fish I have ever tasted. It is known as St. Peter’s fish. I must add, trying the food in Israel is reason enough to go there. It was the freshest, most delicious food I have ever tasted. I still miss the food!
2. City of Capernaum
I loved visiting Capernaum. During Jesus’ ministry, it was his home. The picture you see above is where the apostle Peter’s mother-in-law lived. This is significant because Jesus stayed in this house often as he traveled and preached around the Sea of Galilee. A church is built over this home (as is the case with many holy landmarks in Israel).
My eyes widened as I peered down through the glass and viewed the circular rock foundation where Jesus slept, ate his meals, and healed Peter’s mother-in-law when she was very ill with fever. An ancient synagogue stands there today where Jesus taught. He actually walked on the darker stone in the picture above. The stones are part of the synagogue where Jesus taught.
3. Mount of Beatitudes
This is one of the most beautiful spots we visited. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Some of the most vibrant colors could be found on flowers I have never seen before. It was like an island paradise, so serene and full of beauty. The clean crisp air refreshed me and brought my lungs to life.
This is the location where Jesus taught the famous Sermon on the Mount. Spectacular views of the Sea of Galilee can be seen there. The hill provided a lot of room for a crowd to gather and listen to the sermon along with excellent acoustics, so all could hear when Jesus was preaching.
4. Church of the Nativity – Bethlehem West Bank
This basilica is the oldest church in the Christian world and Holy Land. It is built over the cave where Jesus was born. Most people think he was born in a wooden building commonly depicted in our Christmas manger scenes, but this wasn’t the case. The site is a grotto underground.
We were able to enter the ornate church but the wait to see the actual spot where Jesus was born was over two hours, so our guide took us to the cave on the other side of the wall where Jesus was born. As we entered the dimly lit grotto people began to sing “Silent Night.” It was so touching and beautiful.
5. Bethany
Bethany is the town were Jesus’ close friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived. These siblings were in several stories in the Bible. Most notable is when Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead in this village. I found it so stunning to be at the place where one of Jesus’ most powerful miracles took place. We visited the Franciscan Church there built over many other churches over the centuries to commemorate the site, but the actual tomb is located under the Al-Uzair Mosque.
6. The Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem
We visited the ruins of this large pool that existed at the time of Jesus. It is the holy location where Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The Church of St. Anne resides there next to the pool. It was built over the place where the house of Joachim and Anne stood. They were the parents of the Virgin Mary who was born there.
The presence of God fell so heavy on me when I entered the Church of St. Anne. It was a heaviness but in a comforting way. It was like a warm blanket enveloped me with a love and peace like I’ve never felt before. I feel like the Holy Spirit was hovering over me holding me down with compassion and strength and I didn’t want it to end.
I didn’t want to leave, but the tour had to go on and I left that church never the same. I was surprised this was my spot to have my God encounter but there must have been a reason. I may never know, but that’s ok. I was there. I got my spiritual moment I was hoping for. I will never forget it.
7. The Western Wall
This wall is deemed Judaism’s holiest place located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was built by King Herod and is the only vestige left of the second Temple that stood when Jesus was ministering on earth. Millions come to the Western Wall every year to make their prayer requests known to God. Men and women pray separately at the wall, and the top of men’s heads must be covered.
As you walk up close to it the presence of God becomes even stronger than it is across the Holy Land. I will never forget touching that sacred wall. I could feel a power radiating off of it – so strong, I had to remove my hand fairly quickly.
The crevices between the large stones are crammed with paper notes containing heartfelt prayers from the visitors. And I love this (it gives me goosebumps) – the notes are not destroyed. They are carefully collected, bundled up and treated with respect, then buried in the sacred cemetery on the Mount of Olives. How awesome is that!
8. Garden of Gethsemane
The Garden of Gethsemane, along with the Church of All Nations that stands beside it is breathtaking, but I felt a sinking sadness the closer I approached them. This is the place Jesus agonized, prayed, and cried tears of blood right before he was arrested and put to death.
The tranquil garden is full of ivory and rose-colored blooms canopied by the strong and steadfast olive trees. Some are ancient – up to 900 years old. And one tree that sits at the head of the garden, looking over all of it, is the tree that existed when Jesus was there. It is also fascinating to see the piece of bedrock where Jesus prayed before his arrest that sits next to the altar enshrined in the Church of All Nations.
9. Garden Tomb
The actual tomb where Jesus was buried then resurrected is up for debate. Some believe it occurred where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands while others believe it was here at what is called the Garden Tomb. Regardless if this is the actual place, this garden offers a tranquil place to relax and reflect on what Jesus did for us – the ultimate sacrifice – the giving of his life for our sins – the gift of eternal life for those who love and accept him into their hearts.
A barren knoll stands nearby that is claimed to be Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. The word “Golgotha” means place of the skull. The rock formation that outlines the knoll is eerily representative of a skull.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher holds more evidence of being the actual place of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It is hauntingly beautiful and the heaviness I felt in my chest as I navigated my way through the dark twists and turns were remarkable.
But I’m of the opinion it doesn’t really matter. I am so grateful to have seen both places. Regardless of where you believe the actual location of Jesus’ burial and resurrection is – remember this takeaway of hope – He isn’t there, He is risen!
10. Mount of Olives
We finished our tour of Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives. The hill sits at 2624 feet high to the east of the old city of Jerusalem. Jesus traveled over this mount and prayed there often. He ascended into heaven from there and will return there on the Day of Judgement and enter Jerusalem through the Golden Gate.
Finishing our tour here was so fitting because we were able to view the old walled city of Jerusalem from afar and our guide could put all the pieces and places together for us. It was awesome – Sammy pointed out the exact steps of Jesus starting at the Garden of Gethsemane to the crucifixion and burial.
You could see the actual stairs he climbed from where he was imprisoned at Caiaphas’ house to the Antonio fortress where he was condemned by Pilate. We had seen so much in so little time, our heads were left spinning a little, but viewing it all from afar on top of this sacred mount tied it all together. It allowed me to really sit back and ponder all the wonders I had just seen those past days.
I could go on and on about Israel and the Holy Land. Next to having my son it was the most wonderful time of my life. If you love Jesus, this trip will be magical for you. It will bring you even closer to him if you can imagine that. If you long to go there, my prayer for you is that you get that opportunity.
But don’t feel bad if you never get that chance. Sammy, our tour guide, made another resounding statement that I hold dear to my heart, and I want to share it with you. Please get this and let it sink down into your spirit. When we were at the Sea of Galilee, he told us that Jesus would tell his disciples they could always find him there in Galilee.
And Sammy said to us, “Wherever your home is in the world that is your Galilee. Jesus is there with you no matter where you are. He is your home.” I love that! It still brings tears to my eyes.
God exists everywhere, but his presence is so strong in Israel. It’s like a warm cloud you can’t escape – a feeling of complete rest, comfort, love, and true inner joy that blankets every part of you. My words don’t even begin to describe the all-encompassing peace you will find in Israel. You must experience it yourself. God lives there.
Many have told me they would never go to Israel because they would be too afraid. Fear didn’t live there for me. Honestly, I never felt afraid, even when we were mere miles from Gaza where conflict was taking place.
The peace seems to resonate with many of the Jewish people there. It seems like a quiet life – a life of reverence for God, family, customs, and tradition. One Jewish woman stopped us at the Western Wall wearing modest clothing and the traditional head scarf. She spoke so kindly and so gently. She had lived in New York but told us how she couldn’t stay away from Jerusalem. She asked us how our trip was going and thanked us for visiting.
This place, this Holy Land filled me with awe and gave me a tranquility that followed me home. I felt less anxious, less impatient when I returned to the United States. I left Israel, but it followed me. I returned with an entirely new appreciation for the Bible.
As I read God’s Word, the stories come to life. I brought back a souvenir worth more than gold. I brought back a more intimate closeness with God, a deeper knowledge of who Jesus is, an unstoppable love, a love for a new cuisine, and a deep yearning to go back and experience that unimaginable peace again.
When we visited the Western Wall there is a sign displayed that says, “Jerusalem light of the world” ~ Genesis Raba 59, 8.” Nothing good be closer to the truth.
I wanted to share one last photo with you. I took this picture with my iPhone right before we boarded the boat that would take us across the Sea of Galilee. No photoshop was involved. Some people don’t see anything. Some people do……..
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A couple of tips if you decide to visit Israel:
- Bring plenty of cash. Many of the restaurants and vendors did not take credit cards and ATM machines are hard to come by.
- Take a probiotic for a couple of weeks prior to your trip so your stomach/gut is strong.
- Bring comfortable shoes, preferably sandals during the warmer months. We walked an average of 7 miles a day. I wore tennis shoes in the month of May while visiting the Dead Sea and had a difficult time cooling down – it was better when I switched to sandals.
- Carry tissue with you wherever you go. Many bathrooms don’t have toilet paper.
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