”Light in the Land”

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #40 - Acts 10. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the port of Jaffa (Joppa) and the text of Acts 10. Peter, the disciple of Jesus, receives a vision here at this coastal harbor located just south of Tel Aviv today. Peter is instructed to now take the kingdom message to Gentiles! Go here ( https://biblical...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #39 - Acts 1. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the Mt. of Olives and to the text of Acts 1. The event is the ascension of Jesus 40 days following His resurrection. The ascension took place only 10 days prior to Shavuot, or Pentecost. Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to v...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #38 - 2 Samuel 11. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the palace of King David within the City of David in Jerusalem. The story of 2 Samuel 11 includes Bathsheba and the sin David committed with her. Archaeologically, the palace of David has been uncovered by (the late) Elat Mizar. Below the excavation (A...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #37 - Matthew 3. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" to talk about Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River (Matthew 3). John 1 is that passage that gives us a specific location for where Jesus was set apart for ministry as John the "Baptizer" immersed Jesus in these waters. Today, th...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #36 - 1 Kings 6-9 (and 2 Chronicles 3-7). In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Jerusalem and specifically to the Temple of Solomon! This First Temple was built by Solomon in 967 BC. It was made of stone, wood, gold, and bronze. The details are given to us in 1 Kings 6-9 and 2 Chronicles 3-7. Go here ( https...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #35 - Acts 3-4 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Jerusalem and specifically to the Temple!  Within the courts of the Temple is the Beautiful Gate and Solomon's Portico. These temple locations are mentioned in the stories of Acts 3-4. These stories including the healing of a lame man and the bold proclama...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #34 - 1 Samuel 24 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Ein Gedi. Located on the edge of the heart of the Judean Desert and on the western coastline of the Dead Sea, this "oasis" (because of the presence of springs) served as the backdrop for the 1 Samuel 24 story. This "cave encounter" between King Saul and...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #32 - 2 Kings 6-7 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the Hill Country of Ephraim and to the site of Samaria! Located on the northern end of this biblical region, Samaria served as the third and final capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This story from 2 Kings 6-7 first takes us to Dothan but then t...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #31 - John 20 This is a special Easter episode! In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the story of the resurrection from John 20. There are two primary suggested locations for where the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus took place: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Garden Tomb. While we t...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #30 - Luke 22 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the Mt. of Olives to consider the Garden of Gethsemane narrative as recorded in Luke 22. The Mt. of Olives is located east of the Temple Mount. It was somewhere along the western slopes of the range where Jesus took His disciples following the Passover meal...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #29 - 2 Kings 18 In this episode, Dr. John takes us Lachish, a city in the Shephelah of Judah. In the 14th year of his reign, Hekeziah faced the formidable Assyrian army led by King Sennacherib. While Hezekiah was positioned in Jerusalem, most of his Judean cities (46 of them according to Assyrian records) f...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #28 - Acts 2 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the Southern Steps of the Temple in Jerusalem. Some of these steps were uncovered in the excavations in the 1970s. These steps would have been used by Peter and the other disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot) as they entered the Temple. The story of Ac...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #27 - 2 Chronicles 32 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to on an adventure at the City of David - we walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel! Chiseled from bedrock and completed in 701 BC, this tunnel was an incredible engineering accomplishment! We go to 2 Chronicles 32 to read about the tunnel and Hezekiah's unwav...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #26 - John 11 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Bethany. Located east of the Mt. of Olives on the edge of the Judean Desert, Bethany was the home town (perhaps an Essene town?) to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The story of John 11 is featured in this podcast, the raising of Lazarus from death. Go here ( htt...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #25 - 2 Kings 4 In this episode, we travel to the Jezreel Valley and specifically to Shunem. Located off the southern slopes of the Hill of Moreh, Shuman was the home of a woman whose son died of heat stroke. Elisha (found on the Carmel Range to the west), restores his life. Go here ( https://biblicalisraelt...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #23 - John 2 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the biblical Cana (Khirbet Cana). The site today is located on the north side of the Beit Netofa Valley in the Lower Galilee. John 2 records the miracle of the turning water into wine. Later, John 4 records Jesus being here again  where he restores someone i...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #23 - Isaiah 40, Matthew 3 In this episode, Dr. John takes us the Judean Desert. The word for desert in Hebrew is "midbar." Somewhere in this desert (Wadi Qelt?) Isaiah shared "Prepare the way for the Lord..." (Is. 40). John the Baptizer would echo these same words perhaps in the same place (Matthew 3). Jesu...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #22 - John 9 In this episode, Dr. John takes us to the Pool of Siloam. In the longest miracle narrative in the Gospels (John 9), Jesus heals the man born blind at this pool. "New" archaeology may help us specifically locate this pool. The story is a powerful example of transformation. Go here ( https://bibli...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #21 - Luke 2. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Bethlehem, the City of David. This is the classic birth narrative of Jesus. We talk about the role of the shepherds too. Jesus was born "just at the right time" (Galatians 4:4). Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to view/downl...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #20 - Matthew 2:13-23. In this episode, Dr. John takes not only builds upon the text about the wise men (2:1-12), but takes us to Egypt. According to 3:13-23, Joseph and Mary took infant Jesus to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod. In going to Egypt, Jesus would fulfill three prophetic teachings. Follow...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #19 - Matthew 2:1-12. In this episode, Dr. John takes talks about the "Wise Men" narrative from Matthew 2:1-12. This Christmas-oriented episode helps us understand who they were and their discovery of Jesus. Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to view/download the pictorial PDF...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #18 - Nehemiah 3-6. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Jerusalem and back to the Old Testament days of the 5th century BC. We talk about Nehemiah and the re-building of the walls. Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to view/download the pictorial PDF file corresponding to thi...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #17 - John 5. In this episode, Dr. John takes us to Jerusalem for an event that happened in the days of Jesus. The story of John 5 includes a healing that took place at the Pools of Bethesda. Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to view/download the pictorial PDF file correspondi...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #16 - Luke 19 and Mark 10 In this episode, Dr. John takes to "New Testament" Jericho (also called Hasmonian or Herodian Jericho). We unfold the transformational stories of Zachaeus (Luke 19) and Bartimaeus (Mark 10) here. Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to view/download the...

"Light in the Land" - Exploring the Bible within the Physical Settings of Israel - Podcast #15 - 1 Samuel 3 In this episode, Dr. John takes to Shiloh for the amazing story of the calling of Samuel. "Hineni" is the key word in this passage. Shiloh is located 20 miles north of Jerusalem. Go here ( https://biblicalisraeltours.com/radiostation-podcast/ ) to view/download the pictorial PDF file corresp...