-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - EARLY JUDEAN MINISTRY

 Time for Jesus to Leave Judea and Go to Galilee

-John 4:1-4, Matt 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 3:19-20

      -Remember, it was common for the Jews to avoid going through Samaria when traveling from

       Judea to Galilee and back.  The Jews looked down on the Samaritans to such a degree that they

       would often times take the extra time and go the extra distance to completely avoid Samaria.  Not

       Jesus.

-Initially, it might seem that Jesus was trying to avoid Herod.  However, Luke 23:6-7 reveals that

Galilee was also under the jurisdiction of Herod.  “Some think that Jesus was hurrying north to

encourage John’s disciples in that area, to keep them from scattering” (Roper, p7).  Remember, John

was in the vicinity of Aenon.  There have been different opinions as to where this was located.  Some

believe it was within Samaria while others say it wasn’t actually within Samaria but very close to it,

perhaps in the area of Scythopolis (also known as Beth Shean).

-“If one starts at Sychar, at the foot of Mount Ebal, and follows the Damascus road northward for

  seven miles, he comes upon the valley called Wady Farah.  In this beautiful wady the stream flows

  eastward, having Salim three miles to its south and ‘Ainun four miles to its north.  For the most part

  the valley is narrow, and hemmed in by rocky cliffs.  But if one follows the course seven miles

  eastward from the Damascus road, he comes upon a beautiful valley, about one mile wide and three

  miles broad – a place every way suitable for the gathering of multitudes to hear the preaching of

  John.  A perennial stream, with copious springs all along its course, furnishes, even in the longest,

  driest summers, the ‘much water’ required for baptism” (McGarvey, Pendleton, p134).  

-However, there was another reason for Jesus leaving Judea at this time.  John’s account indicates

  that the Pharisees had noticed that the people were listening to and following Jesus.  Jesus realized

  the resistance that would unfold at the hands of the Pharisees.  But, the time to address them directly

  had not yet come.