The next set of lessons is from Luke 17. I happen to like the author Luke in the Bible. From Bible passages, he seems to have been both a physician (Colossians 4:14) and a researcher (Luke 1:1-4). His writing is fact-based, historic, detailed, and easy to read.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t read the rest of the Bible. It is all inspired by God and useful (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). So, while I may find some parts of the Bible easier to read or easier to relate to, there’s no reason that you have to feel the same way. God inspired authors to write many books of the Bible, in multiple styles.
Let’s start looking at a particular account from the book of Luke in verse 11 of chapter 17.
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
Luke 17:11 NIV
A map of this region in the first century (New Testament 31 | Dan Peterson (patheos.com)) shows several regions between the west side of the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River (along with a couple of other bodies of water). The Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee on the north, and into the Dead Sea in the south. Now, different maps of this region in the first century vary a little bit on the exact borders, but here are the general trends:
- Starting at the south, there’s a region called Idumea, adjoining the southwest border of the Dead Sea. We might not hear much about this region, but it shows up in Mark 3:8.
- North of that is Judea, which includes Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Judea borders on the northwest border of the Dead Sea.
- North of the Dead Sea is the Jordan River, and a region called Samaria falls between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Citizens of Samaria are called…Samaritans (who the Bible speaks about on multiple occasions, including – spoiler alert! – this chapter of Luke).
- Further north of Samaria is a region called Galilee, which borders on the Sea of Galilee (!), but may have been cut off from the Mediterranean Sea to the west by an arm of the region of Phoenicia.
The border between Galilee and Samaria looks like it is generally from the northwest to the southeast, so Jesus may have been following the border down towards the Jordan River, heading over to follow the river down towards Jerusalem. Or, he might just be following the border to get closer to a straight line to Jerusalem, since we know that – unlike certain other Jewish people of His day – He didn’t object to going through Samaria when it made sense to do so. We find an example in John 4 (John 4:3-26) where Jesus was going from Judea to Galilee and went through Samaria (meeting a Samaritan woman at a well).
So, as we prepare to learn what happened to Jesus (and you’re encouraged to read all of Luke 17:11-19 on your own), let me ask you: Where are you traveling today? This isn’t necessarily a physical journey; it could just be the way that your life is going. Is it a path that you walk between two cultures? Are you trying to plot a course that makes everyone happy, or are you doing your own thing?
No matter where your journey finds you today, keep your eyes open for opportunities from God. He may surprise you!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 17, 2023
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press Commentary, Luke, by Mark C. Black. College Press Publishing Company, © 1996.
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