VISITING ISRAEL:

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF

JESUS
AN ABBREVIATED LIST OF LOCATIONS
WHERE JESUS WALKED
 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
MAP OF ISRAEL 4
CAESAREA PHILIPPI 5
CAPERNAUM 5
SEA OF GALILEE 6

NAZARETH 6

JORDAN RIVER 6

JERUSALEM, THE CITY OF GOD 7

GARDEN TOMB/HOLY SEPULCHRE 7

JERUSALEM HOLY TEMPLE 8
BETHESDA 9
GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 9
UPPER ROOM 9

BETHANY 10

BETHLEHEM 10

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 11

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

INTRODUCTION

It is quite exciting to think that while touring Israel you are walking
on the same land that Jesus did.

Whether it is the reason why you came to Israel or not, it is worth noting
which locations were significant to His life and ministry. God chose
this piece of land to send His Son to live on earth. It is worth noting
that many archeological findings confirm the locations mentioned in
the Bible.

We loved traveling and researching these sites with you in mind! So...

LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP TO ISRAEL!

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

MAP OF ISRAEL
HERE IS A LIST OF 12 LOCATIONS THAT
JESUS VISITED AND SO CAN YOU!
For clarity, we listed the locations in geographical order, north to south. The list does not
represent the order of importance nor chronology. Locations 6-11 are in Jerusalem.

1 1. Caesarea Philippi JERUSALEM

2. Capernaum 6. Garden Tomb/
3. Sea of Galilee Holy Sepulchre
4. Nazareth 7. Temple Mount and
2 3
5. Jordan River the Golden Gate
4 12. Bethlehem 8. Bethesda
5 9. Garden of
Gethsemane
10. Upper Room
11. Bethany

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6
7

11

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

WANDERING IN THE
NORTH

CAESAREA PHILIPPI
(pictured above)
Located in the country’s highest mountains, this small but significant
spot is surrounded by breathtaking nature that you won’t find in other
parts of Israel. Caesarea Philippi, also called Banias or Tel Dan, hosts
the remains of pagan shrines that are thousands of years old. And yet,
it was here that the disciples got the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah.
Speaking of this revelation, Jesus added: “...upon this rock I will build
My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
(Matthew 16:18)

CAPERNAUM

No other place (besides Jerusalem) has seen as many miracles and heard
as many teachings from Jesus as Capernaum did. This small fishing
village was the hometow n of Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends. We
know Jesus lived there (Matthew 4:13), taught there, and did miracles
(Matthew 8:14). He also delivered people (Mark 1:21) and healed them
(Mark 2:11). Capernaum is an archeological site, but there is a lot to
see there today. Ruins of a village from before our era and remnants
of a synagogue from the first century will help you imagine what life
was like in Jesus’ day

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

FROM CHILDHOOD TO
ADULTHOOD

SEA OF GALILEE
(pictured above)

Israel’s biggest lake is where arguably one of Jesus’ most famous walks
took place – the one when He walked on water (Matthew 14:22-34).
It seems like Jesus enjoyed spending time both on its shores and on
its waters. He often rested on a boat, when He needed to escape the
crowds, and even a storm could not steal His peace away. The Sea of
Galilee, known in Israel as the Kinneret, continues to be a source of
fish and drinking water for the region.

NAZARETH

Nazareth was a small village in Jesus’ day. In His “boyhood home”,

as Luke the evangelist puts it (Luke 4:16), Jesus learned carpentry
(or stonework, depending on the historical source) from His father,
Joseph. As an adult, He returns to Nazareth and at the synagogue
confesses to be the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah’s words: “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good
News to the poor...” (Luke 4:18). Today, Nazareth is a big city that is
predominantly Muslim.

JORDAN RIVER

The Jordan River flows from the Galilee to the Dead Sea, near Jericho.
At its lower end is most likely where John the Baptist called on people
to repent and return to God. When Jesus approached, John recognized
that He was the One Israel was waiting for (John 1:34). Despite John’s
hesitancy, Jesus asked to be baptized and many witnessed the beautiful
declaration of Father’s love: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

EVENTS THAT CHANGED

HISTORY

JERUSALEM, THE CITY OF GOD

Before we mention any specific locations inside, we need to properly

introduce the city that God chose for His name. There is no city on
earth that can compare in value to Jerusalem. We are discussing places
where Jesus walked, but in fact, Jerusalem was valuable to the Lord
long before the incarnation of Jesus. With over 800 references to
Jerusalem in the Bible, God has chosen this earthly city to dwell in and
to establish His name among men. It was the city of Kings and home
of the Tabernacle. You can read more about Jerusalem here.

GARDEN TOMB / HOLY SEPULCHRE

(pictured above)
The perplexing week that started with Jesus’ triumphant entry into
Jerusalem ended in heartbreak. It concluded at “a place called Golgotha,
that is to say, Place of a Skull” (Matthew 27:33). Many witnessed Jesus’
death on the Cross. Soon after, a few faithful followers laid Him to rest
in a tomb in a nearby garden. But three days later He rose again! There
are two sites in Jerusalem that commemorate these events. The Holy
Sepulchre, in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, and the Garden
Tomb outside the present-day city walls.

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

THE FATHER’S
HOUSE

JERUSALEM HOLY TEMPLE

(pictured above)
The very first time Jesus was in the Temple was probably about a month
after His birth. That is because His earthly parents wanted to dedicate
Him to God, in accordance with the law (Luke 2:23). The family must
have also frequented the Temple regularly when Jesus was growing up.
As a result, at 12 years old He was already debating scholars at this
holy place. Years later, He confronted merchants in the courts of the
Temple, saying they turned His Father’s House into a den of thieves
(Matthew 21:12-13).

He cared for this House of God so deeply that He often rested and
prayed on the Mount of Olives, which holds the best views of the
Temple Mount (more on that on the next page). It was from this side
that Jesus entered Jerusalem before He was betrayed. On that day
however, He was celebrated and praised! Today the Temple is no more,
but you still can visit the Temple Mount. If you get a chance to do so,
you can get quite close to the Eastern Gate from the inside. You can
also join the Jewish people in prayer at the Western Wall, right below
where the Temple used to stand.

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

FOR ALL MANKIND

BETHESDA
(pictured above)
On one of Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem, He walked past the Bethesda
Pools near the Sheep’s Gate (today’s Lions’ Gate). It was unique not
just for being a source of water for the Temple. Occasionally, an angel
came down to stir the waters with healing. One man was waiting to be
healed for over 38 years! Jesus saw his anguish and healed him on the
spot. The site today, within the compound of St. Anne’s Church, is a
treat for any fan of antiquity.

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Jesus and His disciples spent a lot of quality time with each other and
with the Father on the slope of the Mount of Olives. They often came he
re to rest, pray and admire Jerusalem from an excellent vantage point.
But the most memorable night at the Garden of Gethsemane saw Jesus
betrayed by one of His disciples. Today, the majority of the land on
the Mount of Olives is privately owned, however several plots are still
open to visitors.

UPPER ROOM

That day, before He was betrayed, Jesus observed the first evening of
Passover with His disciples. They borrowed a room from an unnamed
man and followed the traditional order (in Hebrew “Seder”) of the
Passover meal. Here, Jesus inaugurated communion – what we call “the
Lord’s Supper”. It was a touching night for everyone involved. The
spot considered by some to be the location of the Last Supper was
rebuilt by the crusaders and is open to visitors today.

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

A PLACE FOR FAMILY

BETHANY

Bethany was the hometown of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, close friends
of Jesus. These siblings went through a chilling experience when
Lazarus passed away, but not long after he was raised from the dead
by Jesus (John 11:1-45). It was an astounding moment when everyone
saw Jesus’ divine power as the Son of God, and at the same time His
humanity, crying with those who mourned. The once small village on
the eastern side of Mount of Olives is now a sizable Arab town, called
Al-Azariya.

BETHLEHEM
(pictured above)

We do not know if Jesus spent any time in Bethlehem throughout His

life, if at all, after being born there. Nevertheless, it was an important
town in His family line, as it was the hometown of King David. Mary and
Joseph, Jesus’ earthly parents, had to return to Bethlehem to register
for a Roman census. They did so right in time for Jesus to be born (Luke
2:1-6). Jesus spent the first weeks, possibly months, of His life in this
“House of Bread” (the Hebrew meaning of the city’s name), less than
10 miles away from Jerusalem.

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 VISITING ISRAEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES

We hope the FIRM list of places where Jesus walked inspires you to
study the Bible and the land of the Bible more. From biblical accounts
and archeological discoveries, we can draw out a pretty accurate map
of where Jesus spent His life on earth. And now, you can follow in His
footsteps!

YES, THIS LIST IS INCOMPLETE. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE
JESUS WALKED FROM OTHER FIRM RESOURCES ONLINE.
SIMPLY CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW:

10 Places where Jesus walked

5 Places Jesus walked before the Cross

Are there any other locations you would add to our lists?
Send your suggestions to hello@firmisrael.org

HAVE YOU WALKED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF

JESUS YET? JOIN US ON THE NEXT TOUR:

JERUSALEM ENCOUNTER

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 The gospel went
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Jerusalem, but did
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