Places Around Israel: Mark 3

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It is told in this chapter that a “great multitude” came to hear the words of Jesus or to be healed by Him: They came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Tyre and Sidon, and beyond Jordan.
Do you know 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. God’s Word is meant to be real to us now.
All that country was once called the land of Israel, but when that nation lost its power, the land was called Palestine. It is a narrow country in western Asia, along the east edge of the Mediterranean Sea, as you may know. Since its revival in 1948, it has continually struggled to survive.
Lebanon and Syria are on the north, Jordan is on the east, and a part of Egypt is south, but its borders have changed some at different times.
The Land in Jesus’ Day
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 majority of His life on earth. The large lake or sea, called Galilee, was in that region, and there were several large towns on its shores. Capernaum, on the northwest shore, was where Jesus did so many miracles.
There were mountains and much wild, grassy land around Galilee. From those places and to the seacoast were where the people came to see Jesus.
Long Trips to See Jesus
If you have a Bible, an atlas, or a school map of Asia, look for these names, and you will see that people came from some distance to meet Jesus. There were highways and roads in those times, but not as easily traveled 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 made 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 later ruined in wars, but Jerusalem is still a most important city, and Bethlehem and Nazareth are towns, although called more by Arab names.
Further Meditation
1. What small but important detail about travel in Bible times is hidden in John 4?