Follow the Jesus Trail in Northern Israel

People of every race, color and religion have been fascinated by the life of Jesus of Nazareth. To Christians, of course, he is the son of God. To others, he is regarded as a prophet and to some, he is viewed as a troublemaker. Beyond all of that, however, it cannot be denied that this one man made a huge impact upon the world.

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. You will find beautiful flowers blooming and the landscape filled with greenery during the spring months.

You will be able to easily follow the Jesus Trail by watching for white and orange markers along the way. The trail will pass through various villages where you can buy necessary food and water. People of all ages will find the trail to be manageable, although some areas may take a little more effort. However, it is worth every step along the way. 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. At the next stop, you may visit the tomb of Jethro, Moses’ father in law. You will then continue to the Arbel Valley, an area filled with ancient olive groves and a ruined Hattin village. From this valley, you will arrive at a quaint area called Moshav Arbel, where visitors will stay in small antiquated 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 final part of the Jesus Trail will take you to the city of Capernaum. 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. There appeared to be a thriving Christian community in this area from the second to the fourth centuries also, however, it was destroyed after the Arab Conquest around 700 CE.

Jesus traditionally gave the Sermon on the Mount, which includes the Beatitudes, at the Mount of Beatitudes. Here you will find a Franciscan church that is ornate with stained glass bearing the eight beatitudes and a beautiful garden surrounding the area. 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.