Mark 3
It is told in this chapter that “great multitudes” came to hear the words of Jesus, or to be healed by Him: they came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from Tyre and Sidon, and from beyond Jordan.
Could you tell where Galilee, Judea, and the other places were? If you know about the places, you will enjoy and understand the accounts better. The names were of real countries, or cities, and God’s word is meant to be real to us now.
All that country was once called the land of Israel, but since that nation lost its power, the land is called Palestine. It is a narrow country in western Asia, along the Mediterranean Sea, as you may know.
Syria is on the north and a part of Egypt south, but its borders have changed some at different times.
When the Lord Jesus came to earth, there were three main divisions; Galilee in the north, Samaria in the center, and Judea in the south.
Perhaps you know that Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, was a town of Judea, a few miles south of Jerusalem, the capitol city.
When a young child, Jesus was taken to Nazareth to live. It was in the land called Galilee, and it seems He lived there the most of His life on earth. The large lake or sea, called Galilee, was in that country, and there were several large towns on its shores. Capernaum, on the north shore, was where Jesus did so many miracles.
There were mountains and much wild, grassy land around Galilee; and those places, and to the seacoast were where the people came to see Jesus.
If you have a Bible, or an atlas, or school map of Asia, look for these names, and you will know the people came from some distance to see Jesus. There were highways and roads in those times, but not as easy to travel as now, and the people walked long distances.
The people who came from Jerusalem, came sixty miles or more. Idumea was south of Judea, and people came from there. Tyre and Sidon were cities on the Mediterranean Sea, with mountains to be crossed. So all those people came long journeys to see and hear Jesus. Those who believed Him were not disappointed: He taught them of God as they had never heard before.
Some of the towns were tater ruined in wars, but Jerusalem is still a most important city, and Bethlehem and Nazareth are towns, although called more by Arab names.
Find River Jordan on map.
ML 01/23/1944