New Testament Sites - Israel Trip, by Garth

Here are some New Testament sites we visited on our trip to Israel.

Bethlehem - Place of Jesus's Birth. There is a star in the Church of the Nativity that represents the cave where Jesus was born. The site was identified by early Christian pilgrims in the middle of the first century. The Roman Emperor Hadrian ended up building a pagan temple over this site until Constantine built the Church of Nativity on the same site.

Garth and the girl standing in front of the Church of the Nativity

Star in the Church of the Nativity which marks where Jesus was born

Mount of Beatitudes - Traditionally believed to be the site where Jesus did the Sermon on the Mount, but there is no clear evidence that it was on the exact same spot. Pilgrims in the 4th century began to identify this spot as the place where Jesus did the Sermon on the Mount.

Franciscan Basilica 

Looking down towards the Sea of Galilee

Tabgha - It is the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:30-46) and the fourth resurrection appearance of Jesus (John 21:1-24).

Inside the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha

Temple Mount - Jesus is dedicated as a child at the temple (Luke 2:22). Jesus listened to the teaching in the Temple at the age of 12 (Luke 2:41-52). Jesus taught at the temple (Luke 21:37). Jesus drove out the money changers (Matthew 21:12-13). The Dome of the Rock now covers the site where the temple used to be.

Eileen and the girls outside the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount

Garth standing outside the Dome of the Rock

Inside the Dome of the Rock looking toward where the Holy of Holies would have been. Non-Muslims are not allowed in the Dome of the Rock. We were able to get someone standing by the door to take this picture inside for us (he even included a picture of his finger)

Capernaum - Site of of Jesus's ministry - Jesus heals Peter's Mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-39). Dead daughter of Jairus raised (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Paralyzed man let down through the roof and healed (Mark 2:1-12). Jesus caused four of his disciples to catch a fish in a miraculous way (Luke 5: 1-11). Through a fish, Jesus supplied tribute tax money needed by Peter (Matthew 17:24-27). Healing of the centurion's servant afflicted with palsy (Matthew 8:5-13). Healing of the son of a nobleman in the King's court of Herod Antipas (John 4:46-54). Capernaum was settled from the second century BC until the 11th century AD. It was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt at least twice during this time frame.

Ruins of a 4th century synangogue. The synagogue was built on the ruins of the synagogue that Jesus would have preached in

Remains of Peter's house. There is a Byzantine Church built over the remains of the house

Ruins of Capernaum

Mount of Olives - Jesus starts his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday from the Mount of Olives (Matthew 21:1). They went out to the Mount of Olives after they celebrated the Passover meal (Matthew 26:30).  Jesus was talking to his disciples about the end times from the Mount of Olives looking down at the Temple (Matthew 24-25). Each day after he spent teaching in the Temple, Jesus would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37).

Looking down towards the Dome of the Rock and the rest of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Golden Gate where Jesus would have entered on Palm Sunday. Gate was closed off in 1541 by the Muslims; they speculated that this way the Messiah would not return and be able to enter the city through the Golden Gate.  (I don't think that will stop him)

Garden of Gethsemane - The place that Jesus went with some of his disciples to pray before he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. It is located closer to the bottom of the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39-46).

Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. Constantine built the Church around 325 AD. A pagan temple was on the site before the Church was built. Romans would often place pagan temples on sites that were considered important by Christians to discourage Christians from following their beliefs and worshiping at the sites.

Here is an excellent article on the topic: Pagan Temples built on Christian sites

View of the Church from the Citadel (site of Herod's Palace)

Front entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Close up view of the Church

Old tomb in the Church

Joppa - The home of Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, a Christian lady known for her goodness and generosity. When she became ill and died Peter, by the power of God, restored her to life (Acts 9:36-41). It was also at Joppa, while in the home of Simon the tanner, that Peter had the vision that showed him that the Gospel was to go out to Gentiles as well as Jews (Acts 10:9-16, 36-43).

The four girls in front of the house of Simon the Tanner

Caeserea Phillipi - Caesarea Philippi, an ancient Roman city, was located close to the Golan Heights northeast of the Sea of Galilee. It was a city dedicated to the Greek god Pan and called Banias, Paneas, or Baniyas. The surrounding region was known as the Panion. The city is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew (Matthew 16:13) and Mark (Mark 8:27-33).

Grotto where sacrifices were made to the god of Pan

Walking through the ruins of Caeserea Phillipi

Pool of Bethesda - The lame man is cured at the pools of Bethesda. (John 5:1-15).

Ruins of the Pool of Bethesda

Caeserea - This city was the Roman administrative center during the time of Jesus. It is on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, about 30 miles north of Joppa. First Gentile convert - Cornelius (a Roman centurion) was from Caeserea. He was converted to Christianity after Peter went to visit him from Joppa. In Jerusalem, Paul was arrested and sent to Caeserea for his trial. He was imprisoned in Caeserea for two years. Paul was tried before the governor Felix and also Festus who succeeded Felix as Governor. Paul wanted to be tried in Rome before the emperor and appealed to the governor because he was a Roman citizen. Paul, as a prisioner, was then sent to Rome to be tried. (Acts 23:33 – 27:2)

Aquaduct at Caeserea

Eileen, Aimee, Kate, and Elizabeth standing in the Aquaduct

Place where Paul appealed to have his case heard before Caesar (see below)

Replica of an inscription to Pontius Pilate (see below)

Introducing Our Newest Family Member, Jasper

We have adopted a pet guinea pig.  His name is Jasper although I prefer to think of him as Jazz Buhr.  The middle school teacher who we got him from is moving back to the U.S. and had to find a new home for him.  At a family meeting it was unanimous (even Garth) that we have him.

This is a common kind of grass here and Jasper likes it the best of all his food.  And it is free for the picking.

His birthday is March 21 and he was about 8 weeks old when we got him.  I would never have thought we would ever have a guinea pig as a pet, not that I was opposed to having one as a pet but rather that I would not have thought they were appealing.  But one look at this little guy and we all could not resist.

Some of his habits include doing 180 degree turns in the air, kicking the sawdust out of his cage, upsetting his water bottle, and hiding under the bush in our front yard.

P.G. Content Below:
Jasper had a sister I informally named 'Autopsy'.  When she was about 5 or 6 weeks old she was used as a science dissection.  The teacher broke her femur which caused her to bleed internally.  She died in 20 seconds.  

This is his former owner explaining Jasper's care to Elizabeth (in my classroom)

Going for a ride on a pennyboard

"Helping" Hannah do homework

Who Is Afraid Of Whom?

To be taken not too seriously:

Newsletter, April 28 - 30 (Caving)

Caving Field Trip, 2014

On Thursday, April 24th, my partner teacher (Stephanie) and I took our Grade 2 students on our annual trip to the Gua Tempurung Caves.  Garth came with us to help supervise the students and take pictures. We have been studying rocks and minerals and there is nothing like going to see some fantastic specimens up close, sliding down them, ducking down to avoid them and splashing on them.

This is my class lined up extra early in the morning outside my classroom before we head out to climb on the bus.

One boy from my class missed the bus (we had given very strict instructions and many reminders that everyone had to be on time) and so he didn't go.

We got to the bus in the upper parking lot but there was no bus driver.  I had planned things as meticulously as I could but of course had not thought of that situation.  I tried phoning the school to phone the bus company, I phoned the lady who had booked the bus but in the end Garth went hunting down the street and kept asking people he met if that person was the bus driver.  Garth finally found our bus driver.

The first part of the cave we are on solid footing with paved walkways and either paved or metal stairways with railings.  This is a class picture where it all changes.  We duck under that railing and that is where the real adventure begins.

We walk a few metres and then are faced with this slide down a steep rock.  That's me in the green shirt.  It takes about 4 people helping to go section by section down this rock. 

Right after the slide down the rock we go through a hole that, for the students, means someone above the hole holds them by the armpits and there is an adult kneeling down below the hole who guides their foot down to place the child's foot on the adult's knee and then the student climbs down from there.

This is the hole.

Now that we are through the hole we are in cold running water.  We will alternately walk, crouch, and crawl through this water.

Here is a picture of both Grade 2 classes with parent volunteers (except for two who were taking pictures).  My partner teacher is in the back in the white tank top.

It was a great field trip and we will do it again next year.

Aimee Visiting My Class

On Friday, April 26, the Grade 6 students did a service day in conjunction with another school.  Part of the day included the students visiting some of the elementary classrooms to read to the younger students.  Aimee was among a group that came to my classroom.  She and the other students did a great job.