Julia Fisher visited the Holy Land

Ancient Synagogue at Capernaum

Having just returned from leading a tour around Israel and the West Bank, I'd like to tell you all about it! A combined Canadian/British group, we've enjoyed 10 days of touring the land and talking to the people who live there...Jewish and Arab believers and finding out how they manage to get on together.

The title for the tour was taken from a book I wrote last year called, 'Israel: the Mystery of Peace' in which I told the stories of a number of Jewish believers and Christians (many of them Arabs) who have discovered the secret of peace as described in the Bible (for example in Ephesians where Paul talks about the 'one new man'...Jew and Gentile, reconciled through a shared belief in the death and resurrection of the Jesus on the cross which has the effect of breaking down ancient hostilities.)

On our tour was a former imam from Ghana. He became a Christian quite unexpectedly some years ago and for him this was his first visit to Israel. He was visibly moved to tears on a number of occasions as he met and talked with Arab Christians who now cherish the land of Israel and the Jewish people.

We visited Jaffa, Caesarea, Mount Carmel and Megido...and remembered what happened in these places!

We met local believers in each place we visited...heard their stories...listened to their challenges, their pain, and their stories of hope.

Sea of Galilee

In Nazareth we met a local Arab pastor who represents a minority within a minority. We sailed across the Sea of Galilee; walked down the Mount of Beatitudes, wandered around the ruins of Capernaum, everywhere using the Bible as our guide book. On Shabbat we worshipped with Jews and Arabs together...a unique experience. The next day some of our group chose to be baptised in the River Jordan.

We drove up into the Golan Heights...looked over Lebanon and Syria. We visited Caesarea Philippi where Peter acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We saw the snow on the summit of Mount Hermon. And then we drove down the Jordan Valley, around Jericho and on up to Jerusalem. Our first view of Jerusalem was from the top of the Mount of Olives. We climbed out of the coach and walked down the Mount to Gethsemane.

And what about Bethlehem where the dividing fence becomes a giant wall? We walked through the security gates...and emerged into another world...a silent world of pain and hardship. But even here we saw how the Arab Christians are helping their Muslim neighbours...providing health care, child care, education, food and clothing. We saw that the darkness cannot put out the light.

Southern Temple Steps

We walked through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, passed the Pools of Bethesda, stood on the southern Temple steps...the very steps Jesus would have climbed countless times as he visited the Temple. And we shared a communion service in the Garden Tomb.

It is said that to understand Israel, you have to understand the Holocaust...and so we visited Yad Vashem.

Then we drove down to the Dead Sea, to Ein Gedi and climbed the waterfall and thought of David being pursued by Saul.

And then it ended, but not before we agreed to meet next year in Jerusalem and discover more about what God is doing in the Middle East...reconciling people to Himself and to each other.

If you would like to join a similar tour, email me at julia.fisher@btopenworld.com