Nazareth & The Jezreel Valley

One weekend in November, we had a short CFI outing to northern Israel. We were to spend two nights on the Sea of Galilee. On the way the way to the Galilee, we went on top of Mt. Carmel, through the Jezreel Valley (Armageddon), and had lunch in Nazareth. Below is the Jezreel Valley as seen from Mt. Carmel. And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. Revelation 16:16.

The Jezreel Valley is certainly an open area where "multitudes" will gather as the prophet Joel states. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14.

In order to get the best photos, you have to crawl on top of some rocks to see over the trees. I'm always amazed how God can grow flowers out of rocks. "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" Jeremiah 32:27.
Even different colors. These were violet, a very light purple.
I managed to take this photo without breaking my neck but could have used a bigger rock to get over the tree tops. The prophet Hosea obeyed God and married a harlot. Their son is the valley's namesake. And the LORD said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. "On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." Hosea 1:4-5

On top of Mt. Carmel.

It was a beautiful, cloudy day in Israel.

Close to the bus.

Driving to Nazareth, the Jezreel Valley is actually very fertile farm land. Naboth's vineyard that King Ahab desired would have been close to here. As we came down the east side of Mt. Carmel, we passed Megiddo where Ahab ruled. Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which {was} in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 1st Kings 21:1.

Current day Nazareth with a mosque in the middle.

Driving through the streets of Nazareth, I saw a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

A small market selling some nice looking fruit.

No doubt that football (soccer) is the favorite past time of Nazereth boys.

Nazareth streets are very narrow and crowded.

Nazareth Village where local Christian Arabs show how Nazareth looked during the time of the Lord Jesus. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:9.

Purple daisies?

There is a small musuem but most of Nazareth Village is outdoors.

A shepherd who was taking care of his sheep. "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

Neighborhood surrounding Nazareth Village.

A real working olive press used to get the oil out of olives. "You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. Exodus 27:20. This donkey sure looked like Kay's "Hershey".

Making yarn out of wool.

A carpenter's shop like Joseph's in ancient Nazareth. "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:55.

A small synagogue similar to the one in Nazareth where the Lord Jesus announced that He was the long anticipated and expected Messiah. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." Luke 4:16-19.

Walking around right after lunch.

From an open area of the "carpenter's shop" in Nazareth? Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and {also} the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." John 1:45

Two thousand years ago, Nazareth would have been a small, quiet little village. Who would know that the Promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus, would come from such a humble setting? Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip *said to him, "Come and see." John 1:46.

But the Lord Jesus did come from Nazareth which was also a fulfillment of prophecy. ... "He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23.