Nazareth

Day Two:

We woke up and drove two hours north towards Galilee.  It is a scenic drive,  passing lots of lush green farms.  Just north of Jerusalem the landscape changes to rolling hills and open pastures.  Our first stop was the Church of the Annunciation, right downtown Nazareth.

Nazareth is a busy, modern city today.  It is very pretty with hillside homes, lush gardens, olive groves, pine trees, and majestic basilicas.  It is home to Christian Arabs and Muslims.  It is famous for many of Jesus miracles and boasts the "regions most beautiful women".  It is rumored many women lay claim to Mary's lineage.

We got totally turned around and could not find the church we were looking for. There wasn't any signs to religious sights.  We drove all over the hills and narrow side streets.  

Finally after many words in Arabic, we found the Basilica.

You would have thought it would be easier to find.  It is only the largest church in the Middle East.

This is a statue of the angel Gabriel - the angel that appeared to Mary and announced that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God.

The basilica is built over the traditional site of Mary's home.

Upstairs there hangs many murals portraying Mary and Jesus.  They have been donated from many nations.

USA

Under the church lies the original city of Nazareth.

From Nazareth we headed towards Galilee.  We wanted to see the Mount of Beatitudes and Capernaum before the end of the day.

The ancient city of Capernum is my favorite place in Galilee.  I think it is because Jesus performed many miracle here.  He demonstrated through his miraculous healing's that he was indeed the Son of God.  He had the power to relieve the sick and afflicted through God the Father.

It was here that he called his first disciples - Peter, Andrew, James and John, and Matthew.  He healed the sick, cured the leper, preached the gospel, and raised the centurions daughter.  He preformed more miracles in this town than any other.  

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people".  Matthew 9:35

Mount of Beatitudes

There is nothing in Israel that parallels this view.   The grassy hills slowly sweep towards the sea of Galilee.  It is here that Jesus gave the famous Sermon on the Mount- the Beatitudes, and the Lord's Prayer.

Back at our home rental.  Views were breathtaking.  

Best part is that the cousins could all sleep in the same room!