Luke 4:22 (16-30), Rejected by Friends, Acquaintances

Yesterday, Monday Feb. 17 (I have to note the dates; we have been on the road long enough that it is getting difficult to remember what day or date it is). we went to Nazareth.  Because of the time of our appointment at Nazareth Village we had time to drive by Mary’s Well (apparently tradition says Mary had a well, or met the angel at the well, or I don’t know; the Bible does not say Mary had a well) and the Church of the Annunciation (which has ruins of ancient Nazareth underneath it) before the hour plus tour at NV.  Afterwards, though we were pressed for time, we drove up to the Mount of the Precipice (traditional spot where, after rejecting Jesus, the people of Nazareth were going to push Jesus off the cliff).  I had never been there.  Whether it is the spot of not, the views of the Jezreel Valley are amazing from there, as from the other spots at Mt. Carmel, Megiddo and Mt. Tabor.

After that we had two national parks to hit, which means by no later than 3:30PM.  We had about 45 min. at Megiddo, including the video presentation.  The water system was closed.  And then we had an hour and a half at Beth Shean.  The friends with us had a great time roaming those ruins and climbing the Tel.  It really is a worthwhile visit, even though the only Biblical reference is to the hanging of the bodies of King Saul and his sons on the wall there.  From the Tel you can see the area of Jabesh Gilead; the man of that city came in the night and removed the bodies, took them to their city, burned them and buried the bones.  Last chapter of 1 Samuel!

The reward, as we have been calling dinner each night, was quite amazing.  We asked the man at the Beth Shean gift shop about the best place to eat.  He had no hesitation but let us to a spot that was outstanding, and at a good price.  We like those meals where they bring out the little dishes of all manner of garnishes, along with pitas or, in this case, some huge pieces of flatbread.  We could stop there and be satisfied, except to get that you have to order a meal.  And then they brought out coffee and ice cream at the end.  I know I shouldn’t be going on about the meals but … the times at the table are full of great conversation.  Last night showed that we, three couples, are becoming more comfortable with each other.  Some of the conversation centered around interesting incidents in our marriages.  Enough said, since I am not sure I am comfortable with the people who might be reading this.

Today we head to Jerusalem.  Always a big day.  Because we stopped at Mt. Gerazim on our way north earlier we will only go through Ancient Shilo and Bethel on the way to Jerusalem.  We hope to use our rental van for some things in the city before we return it this evening.  Then we will be using local transportation and walking a lot.

I will attach a map of the Old City, taken from the internet (sorry, I do not know the page) that will help us in getting around to various sites.  It might help you to know some of our story over the next few days.