Drive Thru History The Gospels

Welcome to the Holy Land! Learn more about what was happening on the earth as God's unstoppable plan to redeem us was set in motion!

We stay in Nazareth and investigate the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel delivered very special news to a virgin girl named Mary. We explore the concepts of angels, miracles, and the importance of the Virgin Birth.

Today we travel to *actual Bethlehem* and see the spot where Jesus was believed to have been born! Plus, learn more about what was happening at the time of Jesus birth that made his arrival even more astonishing.

We delve into the world of Herod the Great at the time of Jesus' birth. We visit a number of archaeological sites in Israel built by Herod, including the massive Herodion about seven miles south of Jerusalem. We learn about the escape of Joseph, Mary and Jesus to Egypt. We travel to Jesus' hometown of Nazareth where he later grew up.

We start with the world of Jesus' youth after the death of Herod the Great. We delve into the Roman occupation and its impact on the Jewish people. We learn about John the Baptizer and his ministry of repentance in the wilderness. We experience the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River and his testing in the Judean desert shortly thereafter.

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to his hometown of Nazareth, where his own people ultimately rejected him. We travel with Jesus to the Sea of Galilee, where he later settled in Capernaum. We explore the ruins of the synagogue and the house of Peter at Capernaum, and we walk the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus called fishermen to be his first disciples.

Welcome to Cana-- site of the wedding where Jesus performs his first miracle! Plus, Dave delves into the story of Nicodemus, the Pharisee who was first to hear those famous words from John 3:16!

See what the site of the temple looks like today... including the "Southern Steps," still very similar to when Jesus was there! PLUS learn a plausible, cultural explanation for why Jesus called himself, "the Light of the World."

Visit the likely (and stunning!) place where the Sermon on the Mount was actually preached, and learn why some people say, "all roads lead to Rome!"

Jesus chose twelve apostles from his group of followers. Spend time on the Sea of Galilee and see Jesus calm the waves as he traveled the ancient harbors.

Travel to Caesarea Philippi where Jesus started to wrap-up his public ministry. Also, witness a mountaintop miracle known as the Transfiguration.

On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus spent time with children and confronted a rich young ruler. Visit Bethany and experience the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus visited Jericho on his final approach to Jerusalem. Experience the accounts of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, and Zacchaeus, the tax collector.

Experience the Last Supper between Jesus and his closest followers.

See the events that lead up to the trial of Jesus. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Jewish authorities.

Experience the horrible torture of Jesus and his agonizing execution just outside the walls of Jerusalem and examine the nature of crucifixion and the importance of Jesus' death.

Share in the excitement of an empty tomb three days after Jesus' death, visiting Jerusalem to investigate the accounts of the Resurrection. Explore the Jewish and Roman responses to such a miraculous event.

We finish with the four faces of the Gospels, the different biographical perspectives on the life of Jesus. We reexamine the Messianic prophecies and visit Qumran in the context of the Dead Sea Scrolls. What is the legacy of Jesus' followers? What is the summary of the "Good News" of the Gospel accounts? Dave gets personal and ties it all together.