Follow The Jesus Trail In Northern Israel
For centuries, people have been fascinated by the life of Jesus of Nazareth
. To some, he is regarded as a prophet, to others he is a farce, and to Christians all over the world, he is the son of God. Regardless of your beliefs regarding Jesus as a person, no one can deny the fact that he made a major impact upon the world. That is why people of every color, race and religion have taken the Jesus Trail to walk through the life of Jesus and get to meet the people who live in these regions today.The Jesus Trail is a forty mile long trail that begins in Nazareth and ends in Capernaum. The trail is free and was developed by Maoz Inon, an Israeli tour operator, and David Landis, an American Mennonite tourist. They became friends through the internet and together came up with the idea of a trail that would take tourists step by step through the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The trail continues to become more popular every year.
The best times to go on the Jesus Trail are during the fall months of October to November and the spring months of February to mid-May. There may be some rain, but for the most part, you will find the temperatures to be perfect during these months. Especially during the spring months, you will find the landscape to be filled with greenery and beautiful flowers that are blooming.
The trail will be marked with white and orange painted flags so you will know what direction to continue on the trail. The trail will pass through various villages where you can buy necessary food and water. Most of the trail is accessible to hikers of all ages and even though some areas may take a little extra effort, it will be worth it. All throughout the trial, public transportation is provided for your convenience.
The trail will begin in Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. Here, you will pass over Mount Precipice, where you can see a panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley. The Church of the Annunciations is located in downtown Nazareth, which is the largest church in the Middle East and holds mosaic artwork of Jesus and Mary from all over the world.
Along the way, you will find the Zippori National Park and also many ruins from the city of Galilee, dating back to Jesus' time. Shortly thereafter, you will arrive at Cana, the site where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning the water into wine at a Jewish wedding. There are many churches that you can visit in the area and local restaurants where you can enjoy a hot meal.
From Cana, you will travel through forests and eventually you will be walking along a Roman road, once trodden upon by Roman soldiers. Here, you will visit Kibbutz Lavi, founded in 1949 by British immigrants and the largest manufacturer of furniture for synagogues. Further on, you will encounter the beautiful Sea of Galilee, where you can expect some breath-taking views. From here, you will visit the tomb of Moses' father in law, Jethro, and continue through the Arbel Valley where you will encounter ancient olive groves and a ruined Hattin village. From this valley, you will then arrive in Moshav Arbel, a quaint area where tourists often lodge in small cabins.
The sunrise at Arbel Cliff is breathtaking and the descent will introduce you to mysterious caves and ancient cliff dwellings. At Tabgha, the traditional site of the feeding of the 5000, you will enjoy mosaics. Continuing around the northern side of the Sea of Galilee, you will be able to visit the Church of St. Peter. In 1933, this church was built by the Franciscans, and is traditionally where Simon Peter received church authority by Jesus.
The next part of the trail will take you to Capernaum, the final leg of the journey. This was Jesus' main home during his ministry in Galilee. Many miracles took place here, such as the clearing of the temple, the healings of the paralytic and the centurion's son. At one time, there was apparently a thriving community of Christians, but it was destroyed around 700 CE after the Arab Conquest.
Jesus traditionally gave the Sermon on the Mount, which includes the Beatitudes, at the Mount of Beatitudes. There is a beautiful garden here and a Franciscan church that features the eight beatitudes in stained glass. A short distance from here is the Yardenite baptismal site along the Jordan River. It is tagged as the place where Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. Many Christians visit this area to be baptized in the Jordan River as well. At the end of your journey, you will be walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Through the Jesus Trail, you will experience the life of Jesus in a real way, allowing you to connect the stories you know with the actual places in which they happened. This area of rich culture and beautiful scenery will entrance you, as you pause to remember that Jesus and his followers walked these same roads many years ago. Regardless of your religious belief, your tour of the Jesus Trail in the Holy Land will leave you fascinated and entranced.
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