The Holy Land

 

Dr. John (Jack) Beck, a renowned biblical geographer and educator, has created a captivating educational travel series titled The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories. With a deep passion for the geography of the Bible and its significant role in understanding biblical narratives, Dr. Beck brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this series. His extensive background in biblical studies and geography, combined with years of on-site research and exploration in the Holy Land, uniquely positions him to offer viewers an immersive and enriching experience. Through this series, Dr. Beck aims to bridge the gap between the ancient world and contemporary understanding, highlighting how the physical landscape of the Holy Land shapes and informs the stories of the Bible.

The series takes viewers on a journey through the diverse and historically rich terrains of the Holy Land, from the rolling hills of Galilee to the arid deserts of Judea. Dr. Beck expertly guides his audience through these regions, drawing connections between the geographical features and the biblical events that occurred there. His engaging narration and in-depth analysis provide a fresh perspective on familiar stories, revealing how the land itself played a crucial role in the unfolding of biblical history. By exploring key locations and their historical contexts, Dr. Beck helps viewers gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of the land and its stories.

The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories is not just a travel series but an educational pilgrimage that invites viewers to see the Bible through a new lens. Dr. Beck's scholarly yet accessible approach ensures that both seasoned students of the Bible and newcomers alike will find the series informative and inspiring. Each episode is meticulously crafted to provide a holistic understanding of the biblical narrative, enriched by the geographical insights that only a seasoned biblical geographer like Dr. Beck can offer. Through this series, Dr. Beck fulfills his mission of making the Bible's stories come alive, fostering a greater connection to the sacred texts by exploring the very land where these timeless events took place.

Season 1

Episode 1 | King David’s Palace, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, & The Tower Of David: Jack Beck takes us to the center of the Holy Land, Jerusalem. From the Tower of David to Hezekiah’s Tunnel to the excavation site of King David’s Palace, experience this ancient capital city and its connection to the Bible.

Episode 2 | Modern Day Jerusalem: The Temple Mount & Old City Markets: Dr. Jack Beck takes in views of the Temple Mount, then moves through the Old City Markets, where he meets three friends of different faiths — Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. At the Western Wall, get up close to the heartbeat of Jerusalem and reflect on how this city represents different things to different people.

Episode 3 | Jerusalem: Before And After Babylonian Conquest: Dr. Jack Beck illustrates the history of what happened to Jerusalem before and after the Babylonian conquest. Travel from the ruins of sixth-century Jerusalem homes to an authentic biblical harp shop to discover how the stories of the land continue to echo their songs of hope to the world today.

Episode 4 | The Land God Promised Abraham: Start your journey in Israel’s rugged Judean hill country, where life during the time of Abraham was about survival for the day and developing the land for future generations. See how Abraham trusted God’s promises (Genesis 12) to provide a land to call home and how those promises were eventually fulfilled.

Episode 5 | Where Jesus Was Born — Bethlehem: Visit the city of Bethlehem, a land filled with stories of provision and solutions. Meet Maher Canawati, an elected member of Bethlehem’s City Council, to explore the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of Jesus’ birth. Uncover the connection between Old Testament and New Testament stories as you explore the oldest and most holy church in the world.

Episode 6 | Mount Tabor, Deborah, And The Jezreel Valley: Fly with Jack Beck over the Jezreel Valley for a bird’s-eye view and see why this agriculturally rich land was something to fight for.

Episode 7 | The Epic Battle at Gideon's Spring: Join a water fight at Gideon's Spring where local families enjoy the refreshing water. It was here that Gideon and his army prepared for battles of their own and struggled with believing that God would provide the victory against a fierce opponent.

Episode 8 | The Important Role of Megiddo in the End Times: Megiddo is a city built for war because of its strategic location in the ancient world. From the first physical battle recorded in the fifteenth century BC to spiritual debates of today surrounding Armageddon, war is a constant theme.

Season 2

Episode 1 | Psalm 23: Finding Safety in the Wilderness: Jack Beck invites a friend, Dr. Con Campbell, to the Wadi Qelt in the Judean Wilderness to show the harshness of this tough environment. Standing atop a mountain between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, they ponder the role of shepherds to their sheep.

Episode 2 | Where David Hid From Saul | Cave in the Judean Wilderness: Jack Beck doing what he does best—meeting people and sharing his love for the land and Bible stories. He then invites you into the story of how David transitioned from a simple shepherd boy into a mighty King all because he’d learned to trust God’s perfect timing for his life.

Episode 3 | Where Jesus Was Tempted In The Desert: Jack Beck will answer these questions amid the rock and rubble of the Judean Wilderness, but first we'll enjoy a plentiful bedouin feast complete with good music and generous friends. His gracious host, Adnan, shares how his family has passed down the secrets to survival from generation to generation.

Episode 4 | The Doorstep to Israel: The Coastal Plains: Walk with Jack as he explores the beaches, ruins, and ramparts of Ashkelon, one of the biggest cities in the Holy Land. You'll gain an insightful lesson in history and economics as Jack explains how this coveted land was conquered many times over the years as rulers desired its advantageous location.

Episode 5 | Jaffa: Where Peter Had A Change Of Heart: Follow Jack to Jaffa and watch as he brings the story of Peter's vision to life so you can decide for yourself: Just like Peter, will I step out in faith trusting that God has a plan?

Episode 6 | Joshua & the Battle of the Benjamin Plateau: Jack Beck takes us to this important region that was, and still is, a crossroads for Israel.

Episode 7 | Why The Stories Of The Bible Need To Be Shared | Shephelah: Join Jack and Emanual on this mountaintop experience and learn why it's so important to share these Bible stories and our experiences.

Episode 8 | Where David Defeated Goliath: Shephelah: We start our journey in the Shephelah with Peter and Batsheva who own a vineyard. As we walk the land, we come to understand how this agriculturally rich area was something worth fighting for.

Season 3

“The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories” Season 3 is a nine-episode series hosted by Dr. John (Jack) Beck that takes you to the Jordan River Valley systems to experience the land, the culture, and the customs that surround the sacred stories of the Bible.

 

Episode 1 | Mt. Hermon: Getting God Completely Wrong By Mistake: Dr. Jack Beck takes us to the top of this formation’s white peaks to the pagan ruins at its base to explore just how easy it is to get God wrong.

Episode 2 | Mt. Hermon: Getting God Completely Wrong By Choice: Dr. Jack Beck takes us to the ruins of Dan to learn about King Jeroboam, the High Place, and God’s persistent pursuit of His children no matter how far we may stray from Him.

Episode 3 | Mt. Hermon: Finally Getting God Right: Dr. Jack Beck teaches us how in specifically choosing the Mt. Hermon region to reveal His true, sacred identity, Jesus changed the trajectory of this location forever.

Episode 4 | Galilee Region: The Unexpected Home of the Messiah: Dr. Jack Beck takes us to Jesus’ hometown in the Galilee Region to explore how the Messiah’s humble upbringings shaped His life and ministry.

 

Episode 5 | Galilee Region: The Unexpected Base of the Messiah: Journey with Dr. Jack Beck to the Sea of Galilee, as well as Capernaum and Magdala, to learn how this small region played a big role in Jesus’ ministry.

Episode 6 | Galilee Region: The Unexpected People of the Messiah: Dr. Jack Beck takes us to Kursi to explore how Jesus’ ministerial location put Him in contact with all different types of people—including Gentiles.

Episode 7 | A Deadly Crossing for God’s Chosen People: Travel to the Jordan River with Dr. Jack Beck to learn more about how Joshua and the Israelites’ crossing of this water system still impacts us today.
 

Episode 8 | A Joyous Crossing For All God’s People: Dr. Jack Beck uses the Jordan River to help us understand more about how Jesus’ transition through baptism makes it possible for us to transition from old to new creations.

Episode 9 | The Dead Sea: Hope in a Dead Place: Dr. Jack Beck takes us to the Dead Sea to illustrate that although our lives may seem bitter and unchanging like its landscape, Jesus is in the business of making all things new.