On our first full morning in Israel, we drove far north to visit Caesarea Philippi. The ruins of a huge pagan Roman temple there added poignancy to the confession Peter made there. In this city he said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". The gods of Rome were among the first to fall before the advance of the Nazarene. I found it significant that the place where Jesus was exalted by Peter is also the place where nothing but ruins remain of a pagan temple.
As we drove up the valley to the north, we could see Lebanon to our left and Syria to our right. Both are military hotspots. Lebanon is controlled by Hezbollah. Syria is in a civil war. It was a bit eerie to drive so closely between the two hostile countries.
We toured Nazareth Village. Our tour guide and fellow Second Baptist member Cary Summers is the CEO of Nazareth Village. Over 150 movies have had scenes shot here. It is an amazing reproduction of first century Nazareth. It gives a genuine feel of what Nazareth was truly like when Jesus lived there.
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