Page 12 - Holyland Magazine - 2016 Edition

Magdala: view from Mt. Arbel
could serve as place for personal reflection
and spiritual connection. From its inception,
the idea for Magdala was to provide a place
for people to encounter the life and message
of Jesus - all from the very region where a
majority of His remarkable ministry took place. The stunning Duc In Altum facility houses the
In a providential turn of events, the
groundbreaking for the hospitality center
at Magdala turned out to be the discovery
of the most well-preserved first-century
synagogue in all of the Galilee. Additional
archaeological discoveries at Magdala
include the Magdala Stone (which is likely
the earliest known artistic depiction of the
Second Temple), multiple villas and mikvaot
(purification baths), fishermen’s houses, fish
processing pools and an ancient harbor, all
revealing the faith, commerce and prosperity
of this first-century community.
These discoveries take on incredible
significance when we read in Matthew’s
gospel that, “Jesus went about all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds
of sickness and all kinds of disease among
the people.” At Magdala, people can walk
where Jesus taught.
In addition to the synagogue, the central
structure at Magdala is Duc In Altum, which
Duc In Altum
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is Latin for “launch into the deep,” a reference spirituality inviting the diverse sounds of all
to the words of Jesus in Luke 5:4. “He said
to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let
down your nets for a catch."
Women’s Atrium, honoring the women who
followed Jesus, a beautifully designed Boat
Chapel commemorating Jesus preaching
from the boat, four 50-seat Mosaic Chapels,
each with an evocative mosaic revealing a
biblical event that transpired near the Sea
of Galilee, and the Encounter Chapel on the
lower level of Duc In Altum, which is modeled
after the first-century synagogue discovered
on the property. Since its inauguration in
May of 2014, Magdala has attracted well
over 100,000 visitors and volunteers to the
amazing site.
It is a sizable challenge to accurately
describe the ambience and essence of
Magdala, which just entered its second
phase of development to include a 160-room
guesthouse, restaurant and visitors center.
It is so much more than an archeological
discovery or just another holy site in the holy
land. Magdala is both vision and reality. It is
both first century and twenty-first century.
It is truly an operational and inspirational
intersection of ancient and modern. Simply
stated, Magdala is arising as a symphony of
Mikva (ritual bath)
seekers to come and join the song. All are
welcome at Magdala, because Magdala is
for everyone.
Audrey Assad is an American singer-
songwriter and contemporary Christian
music artist. She wrote a song called “Love
Is Moving” that captures what many have
experienced when they come to Magdala.
She writes, “The hem of His robe is where
our healing lies, the wounds in His hands
are where our life resides. Love is moving,
moving among us. So we reach, we reach
our hands to Him to touch, to touch the
Healer's hand. We fall, we fall in worship.
Our God is with us.”
Well over half of the recorded miracles of
Jesus took place in the Galilee region. His
words and His touch transformed the lives of
all who came to Him. First-century multitudes
witnessed the miraculous connection
between human and divine, pure and impure,
and holy and unholy as Jesus preached the
kingdom of God and manifested its power.
Today, Jews and Arabs, spiritual seekers,
and Christian believers of all denominations
and walks of life are coming to Magdala and
discovering both a historical connection
and spiritual encounter at the crossroads of
Jewish and Christian history.
Encounter