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After 13 years
excavating in the Negev, Dr. Jimmy Albright, from
St. Joseph, Missouri, joined Rami Arav, Bethsaida's
chief archeologist, for two seasons of excavations,
in 2000 and 2001. He hopes to bring a group of
volunteers in the next season. When asked why
he enjoyed being part of the dig at Bethsaida, Jimmy
responded,
"It’s the unbelievable thrill and excitement of
ready stories from history, in this case the Bible
and the writings of Josephus, and then pulling back
the layers of debris that have piled up over the
millenniums. It is knowing you are the first
to look on these ancient remains of New Testament
Bethsaida and Old Testament Geshur since their
destruction. |
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Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
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Dr. Jimmy Albright standing on the
Iron Age wall at Tel Bethsaida |
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To slowly reveal
everything from the largest Iron Age gate found in
Israel to the tiniest coin or earring never ceases
to amaze me. Also, there is the fulfillment of
knowing you have opened up an ancient site where
thousands of people can now come and relive those
stories because of my work as an archeologist.
They will
be visited for all time to come in the future. |
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Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
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The Winegrowers' House in 1st
century AD Bethsaida |
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Out of all the sites
I have excavated in Israel, this is the only one
that is on the pilgrimage routes and not so out of
the way. I simply cannot explain what it is
like
to stand in front of people and describe to them how
an archeologist works, our methodology and
techniques as well as the time schedule of our
workdays. Then, to walk my group around the
very site where I have spent my summers, to know
they have supported me in my work all these years,
and to now be able to show them what we have found,
describe the elements to them, show them the layout
of the site, is simple off the scale of exciting."
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Dr. Jimmy Albright |
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St. Joseph, Missouri |
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Archeologist Dr Jimmy Albright has prepared a
vivid
one and a half hour DVD presentation on Peter's
hometown of
Bethsaida. This DVD is very highly recommended for anyone
interested in participating in an archeological dig.
See Digging It at Tel
Bethsaida with Dr. Albright.
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Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
Dr. Albright, “We had no idea
this gate existed when we started excavating the
Roman stratum above this gate complex.”
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Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
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Bethsaida's city gate is the
largest Iron Age gate found in Israel |
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For Bethsaida's connection to King David, see "Let's
gather by Bethsaida's city gate." |
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"Bethsaida, the home
town of Peter, Andrew and Philip (John 1:44) is one
of my favorite sites in the area of Galilee.
It was a fishing village on the north shore of the
Sea of Galilee and the place where Jesus ministered
and healed many who were sick. It is also the site
where Jesus fed the 5000, a miracle of no small
proportions.
Matthew’s Gospel verse 19 says,
'…He took the five loaves and the fish, and looking
up toward heaven, He blessed the bread, and breaking
the loaves, He gave them to the disciples and the
disciples gave to the multitude, and they all ate
and were satisfied.' |
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Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
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A well-preserved village road from the
time of Jesus, Bethsaida |
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Now it is important
to note the four parts to the miracle: 1) He Took
the Bread;
2) He Blessed the Bread; 3) He Broke the Bread; 4)
He Gave the Bread. And they
all ate and were satisfied.
Now not only does the Lord do that with the five
loaves and two fish, that is exactly what he does
with each of us who turns to Him and surrenders.
First He takes us, and then He blesses us. In
order to do that, God must break us; our will must
be broken, like a wild horse. We are not much
use to the Lord, until we are willing to be broken.
In order for us to be useable, we must first be
willing to submit. Then He gives you. As
we go into the world (Matthew 28:19-20), we are to
be ambassadors for Christ, reconciling the world to
Him. The world is not our home, we are just
passing through, but by the Grace of God, may we
allow the light which lives in us,
to shine through so others my see Him, who is the
king of kings and Lord of Lords.”
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Pastor Rob Zinn, Senior Pastor at
Immanuel Baptist Church
from Highland, California, on site at Bethsaida |
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Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
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Fisherman's house where net
weights, anchors, and fish hooks were found |
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