Experience the feeling of being in places where Jesus walked, some of the most exciting religious travel destinations you will ever experience.
There are many religious travel destinations where you can strengthen your faith and get away from the everyday world. Among the most noteworthy are places Jesus walked while He was here on the earth.
Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem
You can plan your entire trip around places Jesus walked or include them on an overall trip to Israel or the Middle East. Experiencing these places will give you an appreciation for Jesus’ time and give you endless stories to tell your friends and family. Here are five sites that we highly recommend:
Located in Jerusalem at the foot of the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane is one of the most recognized places Jesus walked. It is the place where Jesus prayed on the night he was betrayed by Judas.
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’” (Matthew 26:36)
The garden is full of olive trees that are more than 900 years old. A pilgrimage site for Christians, it is the last place Jesus visited voluntarily prior to His crucifixion, death and resurrection.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as the Church of the Resurrection by many Orthodox Christians, encompasses the area where Jesus was crucified and buried (Calvary). The church is now the headquarters for the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and also houses Catholics and other Orthodox religions. The location is disputed by some Christians who believe that Jesus’ burial is actually at the Garden Tomb, a rock wall tomb that was discovered in Jerusalem in 1867.
The church also is associated with the Crusaders and has been destroyed and rebuilt throughout its existence. It contains the Stone of Unction where it is believed that Jesus was anointed after His death and prior to burial.
Mount of Beatitudes
Located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, between the towns of Capernaum and Gennesaret, the Mount of Beatitudes is believed to be the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them.” (Matthew 5:1-2)
Places to see at this location include the mountain itself, monastery ruins and a Catholic chapel that was built in the early 1900s. If you are on a religious tour of Israel, Mount of Beatitudes is likely one of the places you will stop along the way. While you visit Mount of Beatitudes, make sure to walk down to the Sea of Galilee and touch the water. This is the same body of water that Jesus walked on following the Sermon on the Mount.
Tomb of Lazarus, Bethany
Just before Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time prior to His death, he went to the tomb of Lazarus where He raised him from the dead. This is one of the more famous places Jesus walked and can be seen in conjunction with the Garden of Gethsemane as it is located at the base of the Mount of Olives
“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” (John 11:43-44)
To get to the actual tomb, you descend down a flight of stairs carved into the rock. The entrance to the burial location is narrow and dark and evokes the passage in John, chapter 11.
The Wedding Church (Kafr Kanna)
The Wedding Church, located in the Valley of Galilee in the town of Kafr Kanna, is the location believed to have held the wedding associated with Jesus’ first miracle. Also known as Cana, this is where Jesus turned water into wine.
“Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.” (John 2:8-9)
Visiting this location is a must. Although biblical scholars debate the exact location of where the miracle took place, having a story to tell your friends and family makes this the perfect location to stop if you are planning out a list of religious travel destinations.
While these are only a few of the places Jesus walked, they are highly recommended for any journey to the Holy Land. You can visit them independently or as part of a tour package. Visiting these sites is a must if you are looking to visit the places Jesus walked during His time on earth.
