Chapter 37
Good Monday Morning to this new week 37 of 2023
As my eyes followed the map of the Sea of Gallilee near Tiberias, I recognised a set of cities and places sprawled across one side. Soon the question arose – what about the other side? What’s going on over there?
It’s a stark reminder of how we often breeze through the geographical intricacies when delving into our Bible. Without a profound familiarity with the biblical landscapes, we risk glossing over critical details that hold the power to intensify our grasp of the biblical narrative.
In the gospels we read stories where Jesus got into a boat and traveled to the other side.
The Jewish side – the people known as Galileans are the Jewish people that live on the western side of the sea. Their towns were adapted to their Jewish culture with synagogues and ritual cleansing baths. The farming and work practices on this side allowed the people to follow the jewish law and cultural practices. Many of the jewish people stayed in their area of Galilee to avoid the unclean habits of non jewish towns and cities. The Jews also reduced their payment of taxes to Rome if they did not cross the borders into the other regions.
The other side – many other people lived and worked around the Sea of Galilee that were not practicing Jews. There were some hellenized or secular jews living in these towns The towns on the other side of the sea were formed around roman culture and roman styles of building. The towns often had pagan temples, secular bath houses, amphitheatres and cultural buildings.
In passages like Matthew 8 and Mark 5, we find Jesus engaging with teachers of the law, firmly situating Him within the Jewish heartland of Galilee. His remarkable ability to heal the sick serves as a testament to His authority over infirmity. Then, embarking on a boat, Jesus and his disciples venture across the Sea of Galilee. Along this journey, He demonstrates mastery over the tempestuous elements, calming the storm and revealing His dominion over nature itself. Finally, they reach the distant shore.
This terrain, it becomes evident that this region is predominantly associated with pig farming, signaling its status as a Gentile enclave. In Matthew’s narrative, the local populace, predominantly Gentiles, express discontent over the loss of their swine and compel Jesus to depart from their midst. This incident potentially serves as a crucial learning juncture for the disciples, offering them a direct encounter with a non-Jewish community. Mark, on the other hand, portrays a distinct reaction. The healed man returns to “his people” and spreads the astonishing news throughout the Decapolis, a cluster of ten Roman cities. Mark underscores the profound impact of Jesus’ work on the Gentile population, leaving them awestruck.
The Golan is known as Bashan in the Bible, referenced in Deuteronomy 4:43, 1 Kings 4:13, Psalm 22:12, and Isaiah 2:13 for example. This is where the half-tribe of Manasseh settled, and Golan is named as a city of refuge in Joshua 21:27.
The area was also not foreign to the Philistines, who chose the highest parts of the mountains for their idol worship. The Bible specifically mentions Mount Hermon in Judges 3:3 and 1 Chronicles 5:23 as home to the rulers of the Philistines.
These “high places” in the Golan were significant to cultures entertaining idols. It was thought that the higher the point, the holier it was.
Later on, prophet Elijah and the righteous kings Hezekiah and Josiah torn down these type of ‘high places of worship’. They confronted idol worship of the Canaanite gods.
Why did Jesus embark on this voyage to “the other side”?
Jesus didn’t shy away from the other side; He embraced it. With purpose and intent, He beckoned His disciples, saying, “Come, let’s go to the other side.” This call wasn’t merely a physical voyage; it was a challenge, a mission fueled by love, destined for the blessing of others. It was part of the spiritual and physical and emotional journey of Jesus!
Sending warm wishes for a strong start to your week, especially for those of you facing challenges on “the other side” – whatever that may signify in your unique circumstances and context. You’ve got this, Jesus got this, or at least he know’s what you’re going through!
Philemon