Geography: Evidence of Christ
Photography By Lonnie Paulson http://www.lonniepaulsonphoto.com
Why Geography?
The Christian religion is based on real geography; looking through any Bible atlas you will see many names of cities, rivers, and mountains that are the same as our modern names for these areas. The geography of Christianity is not laced with fictitious names as though coming out of a fantasy novel. The birth of Christianity has a real history and geography, and you can check that geography out on any modern-day map of the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
The geography of the Holy Lands as recorded in the Bible cover quite a large area. From the Bible early civilization starts out in Mesopotamia. Then you read of places like Canaan and Egypt. Next the kingdom of Israel is established. Reading in the book of Daniel you read about future empires at the time of Daniel. Now these empires that Daniel prophesied about are ancient history to us. Daniel predicted the fall of Babylon which was the nation he lived in. He prophesied Babylon would be captured by Persia, and Persia captured by Greece, and Greece captured by Rome.
Rome covered much geography. It was the Roman government that was in power when Christ was born in Bethlehem and crucified at Calvary. The apostle Paul, a Roman citizen, who was a Jew who also became a Christian shared his Jewish and Christian beliefs with the Apostle Peter. However, the Apostle Paul was specifically called to preach to the Gentiles the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul´s missionary journeys went through modern day countries such as Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Italy, and other European countries. He also went to the islands of Cyprus and Crete and talked about going to Spain. The Apostle John who wrote the gospel of John, the three epistles of John and the prophetic book of Revelation was exiled on the island of Patmos. If you visit Greece, you may have the chance to visit the island of Patmos. In this article I will concentrate specifically on the geography at the time of Jesus. I will only cover major areas, because the length of this article is limited.
Jesus in Judea
The Hebrews of long ago called the land Judah. The Greek and Latin equivalent for Judah is Judea. At the time when Jesus was born in the Roman empire of Judea there were four languages used. The Roman government, for their administration, military, and government law, favored Latin. Aramaic was the language of the common person which everyone spoke for everyday life. The traditional Hebrew language by the Jews was still spoken, but mostly for religious purposes. Hebrew was the language used for the Holy Hebrew scripture, prayer, and in the synagogue.
There was an immensely popular culture at that time shared by both Jews and Romans which was known as the Hellenistic culture. This culture shared the Greek philosophy, art, and the Koine Greek language. So, another important language was Koine Greek. The Hellenistic culture all started with the death of Alexander the Great who died in 323 BC. This culture was so enthusiastic among the Jews that they decided to translate their Hebrew scriptures into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint Bible. This Jewish Bible gets its name from the seventy-two Jewish elders who wrote the text. The word Septuagint comes from the Latin word for seventy. The Septuagint is often referred to as LXX. It was written in Alexandria, Egypt around 280 to 250 BC. Eventually the New Testament Bible would be written in Koine Greek.
Bethlehem: In the Hebrew language Bethlehem means House of Bread. A Hebrew prophet named Micah ministered around 738–698 BC. Micah prophesied that the birth of the Messiah would be in Bethlehem. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting” (Micah 5:2 NKJV). The earthly parents of Jesus were not from Bethlehem, but Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. A census was ordered by Caesar Augustus emperor of Rome. All Jewish males had to register for the census in the city of his ancestors. Joseph, the husband of the virgin Mary, was a descendant of King David. This meant Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem for the census. This is where Jesus would be born. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11 NKJV). Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the first century and this city still exists today. Bethlehem is in the country of Israel and just 6 miles or 10 km south of Jerusalem.
The King Herod of Judea heard about the baby Jesus. King Herod heard it said that the baby Jesus would be a king. So, King Herod wanted Him dead to avoid any competition for his throne. In a dream an angel visits Joseph the husband of the virgin Mary and tells him that King Herod wants to destroy Jesus. The angel tells Joesph to flee to Egypt until I bring you word it is safe to return. After the death of Herod, Joseph and Mary return with Jesus. Joseph was afraid to return to Judea, because of the new ruler, which he did not trust. He was then warned by God in a dream to go to the region of Galilee specifically in the city of Nazareth. Galilee was not an independent country but a northern region of Judea.
Nazareth: Most of Jesus’ child and adolescent years were spent in Nazareth. “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23 NKJV). “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40 NKJV). As a child about twelve years old Jesus traveled with Joseph and Mary to the Jerusalem Temple for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus stayed in Nazareth till he grew up. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52 NKJV). After Jesus was tempted by the devil, He begins His Galilean ministry. Immediately His ministry was successful. “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all” (Luke 4:14–15 NKJV).
At this time Jesus made one last stop at Nazareth his hometown. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah. That would be Isaiah 61:1–2 in our Bible. Since this reading is very important and it is Messianic about Jesus the Christ I will quote it here. Jesus reads: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18–19 NKJV). Jesus made the most profound statement. “And He began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:21 NKJV). The people could not believe what they heard. They knew Jesus as Joseph’s son. Jesus just defined Himself as the long-awaited Messiah Jesus the Christ. “So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way” (Luke 4:28–30 NKJV). Nazareth is still alive and well and is about a one and half hours’ drive north of Tel Aviv. The population of Nazareth today is over 75,000 people.
Capernaum: For His ministry Jesus chose Capernaum as his base probably because it was some distance from Jerusalem to avoid confrontation with the religious Jews in the temple. However, Isaiah did prophesy about the location. “Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:1–2 NKJV). By the time of the first century many Jews despised the Galilean area because of the territories Zebulun and Naphtali. Many Gentiles took over this region. Capernaum was located on the northwest shore of Galilee. “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’”(Matthew 4:17 NKJV). While walking on the shore of Galilee Jesus saw fishermen. He spotted two brothers, Peter and Andrew and farther along the way He discovered brothers James and John. “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19 NKJV). The bulk of Jesus’ ministry was in this region. Today Capernaum exists as a tourist area in Israel exactly where it was in the first century.
Sea of Galilee: The Sea of Galilee is not a sea, but a lake. This lake is a freshwater lake. Google maps today still calls this body of water, Sea of Galilee. The Hebrew Bible or what we Christians call the Old Testament used the name Lake Chinnereth or Sea of Chinnereth. “the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth” (Numbers 34:11 NKJV). Chinnereth was a fruitful plain on the northwest side of the lake. Luke in his gospel used the name Gennesaret which is a Hellenized or Greek form of Chinnereth. “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret” (Luke 5:1 NKJV). The Romans named this lake after their emperor. In John’s Gospel, John gives the Roman name for this body of water, the Sea of Tiberias named after the Roman emperor. “After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias…” (John 21:1a NKJV).
The Sea of Galilee offered a fruitful economy for farmers and fishermen. There were thirty-five species of fish in these waters. To boost the local economy the region of Galilee exported various products in the first century such as fish from the Sea of Galilee that was heavily processed as dried and salted. Wheat, barley, olive oil, wine, and pottery. The topography does not favor a restful lake. The Sea of Galilee is 690 feet below sea level. This creates a warm blanket of air on the lake; mountains surround the lake causing cool air from the mountains to descend to the warm lake which can cause violent thunderstorms. We read in the gospels that Jesus calmed the storms.
Jerusalem: Because of the Jewish temple, Jerusalem was a major city for the Jewish population. Today Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel. If you are a Christian, there is a lot to see here. One winter of Jesus’ ministry He visits the Jewish temple during the Feast of Dedication. In the temple the Jews asked Jesus, “If you are the Christ tell us plainly.” “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.’” (John 10:25 NKJV). In Jerusalem you had the Upper Room which was where Jesus and His disciples met for the Passover or what we Christians now call the Lord’s Supper. Today the Upper Room is known as the Cenacle. It is a two-story building located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. You can visit this building in Jerusalem for free. Near Jerusalem you will find the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus would pray. Jesus took His disciples to this garden to pray before He would be arrested. This garden is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, and it is free to visit.
Jesus was then arrested and went through a series of trials before He was condemned to be crucified. Jesus was buried in a tomb in Jerusalem owned by Joseph of Arimathea. Jerusalem is where Jesus spent most of His post-resurrection days visiting many of His followers. Jesus met with His disciples for the last time until His ascension. Located on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem He ascended into heaven. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9–11 NKJV). Jesus will be coming back a second time to judge the world and to bring believers into His heaven. Read the book of Revelation which is prophecy of the end times. I am praying and looking forward to this glorious time.
Written by Lonnie Paulson