Page 20 - Holyland Magazine - 2022 Edition

The Cenacle. Photo: Flickr,
Israel Tourism’s photo stream

A Visit to the Holy Land

A Life-Changing

Experience

Making the stories of the Bible tangible

By Nick Mancino – President of Journeys Unlimited

o other travel experience can compare final night in Jerusalem, everyone gave This remarkable location is where we read
with being in the Holy Land. Since testimony of its impact, with many stating in Matthew 16:13-16 that Jesus asked his
January 9th of this year, with the travel that it was in fact the highlight of their lives. disciples: “Who do men say that the Son
ban lifted, it’s again possible for us to of man is?” they said: “Some say John
Nwalk where Jesus walked, and so the The list of favorite places included the boat the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
ride on the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of
wonderful opportunity to be in the land of the the Beatitudes, Capernaum, Mt. Carmel, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said
Bible is once again available. Megiddo, Bethlehem, Mount of Olives, the to them: “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied: “You are the Christ, the
My first trip to the Holy Land was 51 years Old City, Via Dolorosa, the Garden Tomb, the Son of the living God.”
Holy Sepulchre, and the Upper Room. Some
ago. I was 22 years old and working for people, like me, could not specify a single
Wholesale Tours International (WTI), one site, yet everyone was equally moved. I knew This is familiar scripture to all Christians, but
of the first American companies to focus that my career path was set, and that I would do you know how significant this site, where
on faith-based travel to Israel. I was asked return to Israel again and again. Jesus chose to ask his disciples this most
to escort Colonel Sanders with his church important question, was? This was a site
group of 82 passengers on a tour that would During the 51 years that I traveled to the that was littered with as many as 14 temples
include the Soviet Union, Egypt and Israel. Holy Land, archaeologists have discovered of idol worship built over centuries under
The Colonel accepted Jesus Christ as his and developed many new biblical sites, but numerous empires.
savior late in his life, so he was overjoyed to I still cannot name a favorite place as each
visit many of the places where Jesus taught holds special memories for me. However, The respected Bible commentator William
and walked. many pastors and parishioners have sent us Barclay wrote: “Here indeed is a dramatic
wonderful letters telling us theirs. Recently, I picture. Here is a homeless, penniless
The members of the group were rightly asked the same question to Harry Welton, Galilean carpenter, with twelve very ordinary
impressed with the onion-domed churches our representative in the Midwest, and his men around him. At the moment the
of Moscow and the Pyramids of Giza, but response was Caesarea Philippi, one of the orthodox are actually plotting and planning
Israel was the highlight of the tour. On our northernmost sites Christians visit. to destroy him as a dangerous heretic.

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