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STEVE & LAURIE MARTIN - LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FOUNDERS My good wife Laurie and I (45 years in October 2022!), through the ministry of Love For His People we founded in 2010, give love and support for our friends in Israel and in other nations with friendship, humanitarian aid, and social media support, along with Steve's messages, and our Ahava Adventures trips to Israel. Steve has also authored and published 34 books. We live in the Charlotte, NC area. We have four adult children, spouses, and eight grandkids.
Take a ride along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee and you'll find one of the archaeological treasures of Israel. It's the ancient town of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene, the friend of Jesus. She played a pivotal role in the life and ministry of Jesus. You can find her described throughout the New Testament. She was delivered from seven demons (Mark 16:9: Luke 8:2). You can find her too at the foot of the cross (Mt. 27: 55, 56; John 19:25); when Jesus was buried (Mt. 27:61) and was the first one to see Jesus after His Resurrection (Mark 16:1-11).
But who was this woman? Throughout history she has often been described as a prostitute before she began her ministry with Jesus.
However, new discoveries at Magdala suggest Mary Magdalene might not have been a "woman of the night" but rather an influential and wealthy woman. For example, in the first century, well known people were often called by the name of their hometown. That appears to be the case of Mary Magdalene. Some scholars also believe Mary Magdalene could have been a rich widow since she supported the ministry of Jesus. In Luke 8:3 it names her first among the women who cared for Jesus out of their own means.
Magdala is a relatively new archeological site but one rich in the history of the New Testament. CBN News reported a first century synagogue was discovered there. Since the Bible says Jesus taught in all the synagogues around the Galilee, it's almost certain He preached there. Inside the synagogue, Israeli archeologists discovered what they call the Magdala stone. Some consider this one of the most significant discoveries in Israel in the past fifty years since on the stone itself is a relief of the Second Temple menorah.
Jennifer Ristine, the Magdalena Institute Director told CBN News, "I think it's pretty amazing 2,000 years later standing around a synagogue where it's highly likely Jesus taught."
She added, "In 2017, 130,000 visitors came to the first-century Magdala synagogue. Messianic Jews and Christians from a multitude of denominations have all come to the synagogue to reflect on the essential message of those who follow Jesus. That He is alive and that message continues over the course of 2,000 centuries because of women like Mary of Magdala. Magdala becomes a unifying factor of all these people who believe in Jesus – that He is alive and we are saved by faith in Him."
The entire archeological dig at Magdala opens up to the world a much more complete picture of Mary Magdalene's hometown. They've unveiled a thriving market place, a fish factory, Jewish ritual baths and part of an ancient harbor.
Ristine is writing a book on Mary Magdalene to be released this summer and reflected on what the town may have been like:
“The ancient town of Magdala makes us think about the ambience of life in first century Magdala. Seeing the archaeology and imagining the variety of people passing through the bustling marketplace or Jesus and other religious figures teaching in the synagogue, makes you wonder what Mary Magdalene experienced. Was she attracted by the charismatic teachings of Jesus in the synagogue? Was she herself one of those people from whom Jesus expelled demons in the synagogue? Did she encounter Jesus here along the streets of Magdala as so many people do today?”
The site is open to tourists and by late 2018, he hopes to have a retreat center open for pilgrims. For those considering visiting Israel and the Sea of Galilee, Magdala is one of the most significant sites in the ministry of Jesus. Many believe it's a must see.
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The incense shovel after having been cleaned in the Israel Antiquities Authority metallurgical laboratories. Photo: Clara Amit (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority/TPS)
2,000-Year-Old Bronze Artifacts Tied to Temple Unearthed Near Sea of Galilee
“And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices; every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it.” Exodus 30:7 (The Israel Bible™)
An ancient bronze shovel and jug tied to the religious rituals of the Second Temple were discovered in archaeological excavations at Magdala – an important Jewish town dating back to the period of Roman antiquity, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Tuesday, April 5.
During an ongoing excavation project, a group of volunteers from Chile discovered an ornate bronze incense shovel and a matching bronze jug believed to have stored incense or coals for ritual use.
“The incense shovel that was found is one of ten others that are known in the country from the Second Temple period. From early research it is thought that the incense shovel was only used for ritual purposes, for the embers and incense that were burnt in ritual ceremonies,” Dina Avshalom-Gorni, the Chief archaeologist on behalf of the IAA, told Tazpit Press Service (TPS).
The incense shovel as it was found in the excavation. ( Eyad Bisharat, Israel Antiquities Authority/MFA)
According to Avshalom-Gorni, incense shovels are known worldwide as ritualistic and religious implements in ancient religions, and their use has permeated into Judaism. The book of Exodus states: “You shall make the altar…you shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and firepans; all its utensils you shall make of bronze,” a quote which ties these artifacts to the rituals of the Jewish Temple, at least symbolically.
“We know that these are certainly sacred tools, perhaps pertaining to the local synagogue discovered on this site, a synagogue which was quite grand and rich and important in the region,” Avshalom-Gorni explained to TPS. “It’s a rare and exciting find.”
The site is located near the town of Migdal along the western shore of Sea of Galilee. Migdal, or Magdala as it was known by its Latin name, was a large Jewish fishing and trade town in the Early Roman period. It is mentioned in Jewish sources, and at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple it served as a main military base for the ancient Jewish historian and general Josephus.
Another famous denizen of the city, according to the Christian tradition, was the penitent prostitute Mary Magdalene—named for her birthplace Migdal.
The jug as it was discovered in the excavation. (Photo: Eyad Bisharat/Israel Antiquities Authority/TPS)
In recent years the IAA has been leading extensive excavations at the site, overseen by the archaeologists Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Arfan Najar, in partnership with the Anahuac University of Mexico’s Dr. Marcela Zapata-Meza and with the help of volunteers from Mexico, Chile, Spain and Italy.
“It is a very impressive site and is open to the general public. The land actually belongs to a private developer from the Catholic Church, who planned to build a hotel for pilgrims on that plot,” Avshalom-Gorni explained.
According to Israeli law, before approving construction on any building project in the country IAA experts must first survey the plot to assure it will not damage an archeological site.
The stone with the menorah symbol which was discovered in the synagogue at Magdala. (Photo: Yael Yulowich, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority/MFA)
“We began exploratory digs in 2009 and little by little it became evident to us and to the Catholic Church that we have discovered a major site which was dated to the exact time of the ministry of Jesus in the Galilee, and the home of Mary Magdalene,” she added.
The landowner then decided to turn the location into an open-air museum alongside the ongoing excavations, which continue to produce thrilling archaeological finds.
A synagogue where Jesus likely preached has been uncovered on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. The 1st century Jewish house of prayer was discovered amidst the ruins of the ancient town of Magdala, home to the most well known female disciple of Jesus, Mary Magdalene.
"This is the first synagogue ever excavated where Jesus walked and preached," said Father Eamon Kelly of the Catholic organization developing the property. "This is hugely important for both Jews and Christians,” he added. The synagogue is one of only seven dating back to the time of Jesus uncovered anywhere in the world.
There is a very high probability that Jesus preached in this very synagogue. Before Tiberius was built, Magdala was the only town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 15:39 tells us that Jesus landed here as he "he took a boat, and came to the coast of Magdala." According to the New Testament, Jesus traveled extensively through this area teaching and preaching in local synagogues.
Magdala is just a few kilometers south of Capernaum, the fishing village where Jesus met Simon Peter, and not far from the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached his legendary Sermon on the Mount. The town is also situated on the road that Jesus walked from Nazareth and Bethsaida to Capernaum.
This area is on the Via Maris - an ancient trade route that ran from Egypt along the Mediterranean and then up the western shores of the Sea of Galilee all the way to Syria. Jesus spent much of his time here as it provided an important opportunity for him to teach the multitudes passing through.
People tend to think of Bethlehem or Jerusalem as central places in the life of Jesus, but actually Jesus spent most of his life and ministry in the Galilee and northern Israel. "Eighty percent of Jesus' public life was right here," says Father Kelly, pointing to the Galilee region.
In the times of Jesus, the local synagogue was not just a place for prayer, but also a community center where people would gather to discuss the news or share information about current events. Whenever a new rabbi came to town, it was custom for him to come to the local synagogue meet with the people and teach.
According to archaeologists, the Magdala synagogue was destroyed in 67 or 68 CE by the Romans. A sculpted limestone relief depicting a menorah was uncovered in the center of the synagogue. It is the oldest stone-etched menorah ever found.
Archaeologists have also found fishing pools and Jewish ritual baths at the site, which is now open for visitors.
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