and Sidon.) (1.) The discourse in the synagogue, showing the spiritual
nature of Christ's kingdom, led to the defection of the multitude, and
the retirement of Jesus and the Twelve. (John 6:60-71.) (2.) At the
"coasts," or frontiers, of Tyre and Sidon, he restored the demoniac
daughter of a Syrophoenician woman. (Mark 7:24-30.)
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 5.
PERIOD OF RETIREMENT,
A.D. 29.]
2. =The Journey to Decapolis.= (From the borders of Tyre and Sidon to
Decapolis.) (1.) The crowds gathering around Jesus in Phoenicia, he
crossed Galilee, and sought seclusion in Decapolis, southeast of the Sea
of Galilee. (Mark 7:31.) (2.) Here he wrought two miracles, healing a
deaf stammerer, and feeding the four thousand. (Mark 7:31-37; 8:1-9.)
3. =The Journey to Cæsarea Philippi.= (From Decapolis to Dalmanutha,
Bethsaida and Cæsarea Philippi.) (1.) He sailed across the lake to
Dalmanutha, but was met by the Pharisees with unbelieving demands for a
sign, so took ship again. (Mark 8:10-13.) (2.) He sailed northward to
Bethsaida, where he healed a blind man, who saw "men as trees walking."
(Mark 8:22-26.) (3.) Pursuing his way up the Jordan, he came to Cæsarea
Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where he remained several days.
(4.) Here occurred Peter's confession, "Thou art the Christ," the
transfiguration, and the restoration of the demoniac boy. (Luke
9:18-45.)
4. =The Last Return to Capernaum.= (From Cæsarea Philippi to Capernaum.)
He probably went down the Jordan to Bethsaida, and thence by the shore
of the sea to Capernaum. Here he kept in seclusion, and gave his
disciples a lesson in humility, from "the child in the midst." (Mark
9:30-50.)
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--FIFTH PERIOD.
PERIOD OF RETIREMENT.
1. _To Phoenicia._ (Capernaum to coasts of Tyre and Sidon.) (1.)
Defection of the multitude. (2.) Syrophoenician woman.
2. _To Decapolis._ (Phoenicia to Decapolis.) (1.) Journey to Decapolis.
(2.) Healing the stammerer, and feeding the four thousand.
3. _To Cæsarea Philippi._ (Decapolis to Dalmanutha, Bethsaida and
Cæsarea Philippi.) (1.) Dalmanutha: a sign demanded. (2.) Bethsaida:
blind man healed. (3.) Cæsarea Philippi. (4.) Transfiguration.
4. _To Capernaum._ (Cæsarea Philippi to Capernaum.) The child in the
midst.
VI. PERIOD OF JUDÆAN MINISTRY.
This includes the events of about three months, from the Feast of
Tabernacles to the Feast of Dedication. The following places are
referred to during this period: 1. Capernaum, noticed under Period II.
2. The "village of the Samaritans" where Jesus was inhospitably treated,
has been traditionally located at En-gannim, on the border of Galilee
and Samaria. 3. Bethany, a small village on the Mount of Olives, east of
Jerusalem, the home of Mary and Martha, now _el Nasiriyeh_. 4.
Jerusalem. (See description on page 73.) 5. Bethabara, on the east of
Jordan, referred to as the place of the baptism, in Period II.
This period embraces but two journeys, at its beginning and ending; the
one before the Feast of Tabernacles, the other after the Feast of
Dedication.
1. =From Galilee to Jerusalem.= (1.) Bidding farewell to Galilee, Jesus
left Capernaum for the last time, and journeyed through Galilee toward
Jerusalem. While starting he conversed with "the three aspirants" (Luke
9:57-62), and showed the duty of full devotion to his work. (2.) On the
border of Samaria, perhaps at the village of En-gannim, he was rejected
by the Samaritans, but refused to allow his disciples to call down fire
from heaven, "as Elias did." (Luke 9:52-56.) (3.) While in Samaria he
healed the ten lepers, of whom but one turned back to give him thanks.
(Luke 17:11-19). (4.) He found a home at Bethany, with Lazarus and his
two sisters, and reminded Martha of her needless care, while Mary was
seeking "the good part." (Luke 10:38-42.) (5.) He came to Jerusalem
during the Feast of Tabernacles, and gave the teachings embodied in John
7-10. (6.) While here he healed the blind man at the Pool of Siloam.
(John 9:1-41.)
2. =From Jerusalem to Bethabara.= (1.) At the Feast of Dedication the
teachings of Christ created such an opposition that he left the city.
(2.) He went to Bethabara beyond Jordan, the place of the baptism, and
there prepared for his tour in Peræa.
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 6.
PERIOD OF JUDÆAN MINISTRY,
A.D. 29.
TO THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES FROM THE FEAST OF DEDICATION.]
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--SIXTH PERIOD.
PERIOD OF JUDÆAN MINISTRY.
1. _From Galilee to Jerusalem._ (1.) Three aspirants. (2.) Rejected by
Samaritans. (3.) Ten lepers. (4.) Mary and Martha. (5.) Feast of
Tabernacles. (6.) Blind man at Pool of Siloam.
2. _From Jerusalem to Bethabara._ (1.) Departure from Jerusalem. (2.) At
Bethabara.
VII. PERIOD OF PERÆAN MINISTRY.
This extends through four months, from the events immediately succeeding
the Feast of Dedication, to the Anointing at Bethany, six days before
the crucifixion. Its places are as follows: 1. Bethabara, already
noticed in Period II. 2. Bethany. (See Period VI.) 3. Ephraim. This was
probably the village in a wild region northeast of Bethel, in the Old
Testament called Ophrah, now _et Taiyibeh_. 4. Peræa was the province on
the east of Jordan, and south of the Hieromax river. It was governed by
Herod Antipas, the slayer of John the Baptist, and was inhabited by a
mixed population. No towns are named as visited by the Saviour; but we
have conjectured a route through most of the province, as shown on the
map. 5. Jericho, at that time the largest city in the Jordan Valley, and
recently beautified by Herod. It is now a miserable village, called _er
Riha_. This period includes four journeys.
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 7.
PERIOD OF PERÆAN MINISTRY,
A.D. 30.
FROM FEAST OF DEDICATION TO ANOINTING AT BETHANY.]
1. =From Bethabara to Bethany.= (1.) While at Bethabara Jesus sent out
the Seventy, to proclaim his coming in the Peræan villages. (Luke
10:1-16.) (2.) Hearing of the sickness of Lazarus, after some delay, he
went to Bethany, and raised him from the dead, a miracle which caused
the Jewish leaders to formally resolve upon putting Jesus to death.
(John 11.)
2. =The Retirement to Ephraim.= The hour had not yet come for Jesus to
die, and he therefore secluded himself from the rulers, in the village
of Ephraim, in a wilderness north of Jerusalem, on the mountains
overlooking the Jordan Valley. Here he remained several weeks, probably
instructing the Twelve.
3. =The Journey in Peræa.= Descending the mountains, Jesus crossed the
Jordan Valley, and entered the province of Peræa. His ministry, during
this journey, was of teaching rather than miracle, and is mainly related
by Luke. Its events were: (1.) The miracles of healing the woman bent
together by an infirmity, and the man with the dropsy. (Luke 13:10-17,
and 14:1-6.) (2.) The seven great parables, among them that of the
Prodigal Son. (Luke 14-16.) (3.) Blessing the little children. (Luke
18:15-17.) (4.) The rich young ruler's question, and Jesus' answer,
"Sell all that thou hast," etc. (Luke 18:18-30.) (5.) The ambitious
request of James and John, for the first places in the kingdom of
Christ. (Matt. 20:20-28.)
4. =From Jericho to Bethany.= Jesus had now reached Jericho, on his last
journey to Jerusalem, and from this point we notice the following
events: (1.) The healing of Bartimeus at the gate of Jericho. (Luke
18:35-43.) (2.) The visit of Jesus at the house of Zaccheus the
publican. (Luke 19:1-10.) (3.) At the end of his journey, the anointing
by Mary at Bethany, on the Saturday evening before the Passover. (John
12:1-8.)
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--SEVENTH PERIOD.
PERIOD OF PERÆAN MINISTRY.
1. _Bethabara to Bethany._ (1.) Sending the Seventy. (2.) Raising of
Lazarus.
2. _Retirement to Ephraim._
3. _Journey in Peræa._ (1.) Two miracles (infirm woman, and dropsy).
(2.) Seven parables. (3.) Blessing little children. (4.) Rich young
ruler. (5.) Request of James and John.
4. _Jericho to Bethany._ (1.) Bartimeus. (2.) Zaccheus. (3.) Anointing
by Mary.
[Illustration: MAP 8. THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
PERIOD OF THE PASSION, FROM THE ANOINTING TO THE RESURRECTION.]
VIII. PERIOD OF THE PASSION.
Although this period embraces only the week from the Anointing by Mary
to the Death of Jesus on the cross, its events are so minutely related
by the Evangelists as to occupy one-third of the Gospels. If the entire
life of Jesus were as fully written out, it would fill nearly 80 volumes
as large as the Bible. The events of the Passion-Week took place in and
near Jerusalem. The locations on the map are those of tradition only,
and are largely conjectural, while the lines of the journeyings are
entirely unknown. The map is intended merely as a guide to the student
in presenting the order of events, and must not be regarded as fixing
the places with any authority. We arrange the events under nine short
journeys.
[Illustration: NAZARETH.]
1, 2, 3. =From Bethany to the Temple and Return.= These three journeys
took place on successive days, and were marked by distinctive events.
(1.) The First Journey, on Sunday, was the triumphal entry into the city
and the Temple, after which Jesus returned for the night to Bethany.
(Matt. 21:1-11.) (2.) The Second Journey, on Monday, was marked by the
cleansing of the Temple, when for the second time the Saviour drove out
of the Court of the Gentiles those who made it a place of trade. (3.)
The Third Journey, on Tuesday, was made memorable by the last teachings
of Jesus, to the people and rulers in the Temple, and to the Twelve on
the Mount of Olives, looking down upon the city. (Matt. 21-25.) At the
close of each of these three days Jesus returned to Bethany, where he
remained in seclusion on Wednesday, no event of that day being left on
record.
4. =From Bethany to the Supper.= The traditional place of the
_Coenaculum_, or supper-room, is on Mount Zion, where Jesus came with
his disciples on Thursday evening. Here took place the Last Supper, and
the farewell conversation of Jesus with his disciples. (John 13-17.)
5. =From the Supper to Gethsemane.= Near midnight of Thursday, Jesus and
his disciples (Judas being absent) left the supper-room, and walked up
the Valley of Jehoshaphat to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here Jesus
endured the agony, and here he was arrested by the officers of the Jews,
led by Judas. (Matt. 26:36-56.)
6. =From Gethsemane to the House of Caiaphas.= The fettered Jesus was
dragged by the crowd, first to the house of Annas (John 18:13-15), for a
brief examination, thence to the house of Caiaphas for the formal trial
before the Sanhedrim. This place is traditionally located on Mount Zion,
near the house of the Last Supper. Here he was condemned by the rulers,
and mocked by their servants. (John 18:16-28.)
7. =From Caiaphas to Pilate.= Jesus was brought before the Roman
procurator at his _prætorium_, or place of judgment. We are inclined to
think that this was the castle built by Herod the Great on Mount Zion;
but we give on the map the traditional location at the Tower Antonia,
north of the Temple. Here Jesus was examined by Pilate, who vainly
sought to deliver him, being convinced of his innocence. (John
18:28-38.)
8. =From Pilate to Herod and Return.= Wishing to avoid the
responsibility of condemning Jesus, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas,
who was then in the city, probably in the palace of the Asmonean
(Maccabean) kings. But Herod only mocked Jesus, and returned him to
Pilate. (Luke 23:8-12.)
9. =From Pilate to Calvary.= At last Pilate gave orders for the
crucifixion of Jesus. He was now led forth, bearing his cross, perhaps
by the street called Via Dolorosa, "the Sorrowful Way," to the place
Golgotha, or CALVARY, outside the wall, where three crosses were
erected, and the Saviour of the world was crucified. As two locations of
Calvary are now given, both are indicated, and a journey from Pilate's
castle to each. The route to the northern locality is indicated by
dotted lines.
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--EIGHTH PERIOD.
PERIOD OF THE PASSION.
1. _Bethany to Temple and Return._ Triumphal entry.
2. _Bethany to Temple and Return._ Cleansing the Temple.
3. _Bethany to Temple and Return._ Last discourses.
4. _Bethany to Supper._ Last Supper.
5. _Supper to Gethsemane._ (1.) Agony. (2.) Arrest.
6. _Gethsemane to Caiaphas._ (1.) To Annas. (2.) To Caiaphas.
7. _Caiaphas to Pilate._
8. _Pilate to Herod and Return._
9. _Pilate to Calvary._ (1.) Crucifixion. (2.) Death. (3.) Burial.
IX. PERIOD OF THE RESURRECTION.
The events of the forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension
of Jesus cannot be arranged as journeys, since his resurrection body
moved from place to place by the will of his spirit. The student may
therefore consult the Map of Palestine during the ministry of Jesus for
the places referred to in the account of this period. Of the ten
recorded appearances, five were on the day of the resurrection, the
first Easter Sunday.
1. =At Jerusalem=, on Easter morning, to Mary Magdalene, after the other
women had received from the angels the news that he was alive. (John
20:1-18.)
2. =At Jerusalem=, soon afterward, to the other women, when Jesus
greeted them with the words "All hail!" (Matt. 28:1-10.)
3. =Near Emmaus=, on Easter afternoon, to two disciples, not apostles,
to whom he unfolded the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:13-33.)
Various locations have been proposed for Emmaus, of which we prefer
_Kulonieyeh_, four miles west of Jerusalem.
4. =At Jerusalem=, on the afternoon of the same day, to Simon Peter.
(Luke 24:34.) No account of this appearance, more than the mention of
the fact, has been preserved.
5. =At Jerusalem=, on Easter evening, to the ten disciples, Thomas being
absent. (John 20:19-25.)
6. =At Jerusalem=, a week after the resurrection, to the eleven
apostles, when Thomas received a tender rebuke for the slowness of his
faith. (John 20:26-29.) Perhaps these last two appearances were at the
place of the Supper, on Mount Zion.
7. =Near the Sea of Galilee=, to seven apostles, when Peter received a
new commission. (John 21:1-23.)
8. =On a Mountain in Galilee=, perhaps _Kurûn Hattin_, the place of the
Sermon on the Mount. Here were gathered 500 disciples, and the final
commands of Christ were given. (Matt. 28:16-20; 1 Cor. 15:6.)
9. =At Jerusalem= (?). To James, the Lord's brother. Only a mention of
this appearance is left on record. (1 Cor. 15:7.)
10. =Near Bethany.= Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to
the eleven apostles, gave them his last charges, and ascended to heaven,
from whence he has promised to come once more to earth. (Acts 1:9-12.)
[Illustration: THE VIA DOLOROSA.]
OUTLINE REVIEW OF NINTH PERIOD.
PERIOD OF THE RESURRECTION.
_The Ten Appearances of the Risen Christ:_
1. _Jerusalem._ Mary Magdalene.
2. _Jerusalem._ Other women.
3. _Emmaus._ Two disciples.
4. _Jerusalem._ Peter.
5. _Jerusalem._ Ten apostles.
6. _Jerusalem._ Eleven apostles.
7. _Sea of Galilee._ Seven apostles.
8. _Mountain in Galilee._ Five hundred disciples.
9. _Jerusalem(?)._ James.
10. _Bethany._ Apostles. [Ascension.]
OUTLINE FOR TEACHING AND REVIEW.
1. Let each period be given as a separate lesson.
2. Draw the map for the period on the blackboard, and show each place
named in the period.
3. Let each scholar also draw the map, and locate the places upon it.
4. Draw the lines of the journeys in the period in colored chalk, naming
the places and events of the journeys, and writing only initials or
catch-syllables.
5. Review carefully and thoroughly each period, each journey under it,
and each event of the journey.
6. Erase the map, and call upon the scholars to draw its different parts
in turn; one the outlines, another the places, a third the journeys, a
fourth the events, etc.
7. Review with each lesson the leading points in all the previous
lessons, until the whole series is thoroughly understood and
remembered.
[Illustration: EARLY APOSTOLIC HISTORY.
PHILIP'S JOURNEY.
PETER'S JOURNEY.]
EARLY APOSTOLIC HISTORY.
DURING the seven years following the ascension of the Saviour, the
Christian church was entirely Jewish in its membership, and, so far as
we can learn, limited to the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding
villages. There was at that time no thought of the gospel for the
Gentiles, and the conception of the apostles was that the only door into
the church lay through the profession of Judaism and the rite of
circumcision. Probably the first to attain to wider views of the gospel
was Stephen, and the persecution in which he became the first martyr
arose from the tendency of his teachings toward extending among the
Gentiles the privileges of the new kingdom. This state of affairs was
suddenly ended by the death of Stephen, and the scattering of the church
at Jerusalem. The more liberally inclined of its members, when driven
abroad, were led to preach the gospel, first to Samaritans; then to
believers in the Jewish faith who had not yet submitted to circumcision,
and hence were called "Proselytes of the Gate"; and at last to the
general Gentile world. The period from the death of Stephen, A.D. 37, to
the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul, A.D. 45, may,
therefore, be regarded as an age of transition from Jewish to Gentile
Christianity.
This period requires us to notice two provinces, Palestine and Syria.
Palestine appears at this time under several forms of government in
frequent succession. During the public life of Christ, Judæa and Samaria
were under the direct rule of Rome, governed by a procurator, while
Galilee and Peræa belonged to Herod Antipas, and the region north and
east of the Sea of Galilee, anciently called Bashan, was held by Herod
Philip, both of these having the title of _tetrarch_, "ruler of a fourth
part." In A.D. 37 Herod Agrippa received Philip's tetrarchy, and in 41
he was made king of all Palestine. ("Herod the king," Acts 12.) In A.D.
44 he died, and his dominions were divided. Judæa, Samaria, Galilee and
Peræa again became a procuratorship, under a succession of Roman rulers,
until the final destruction of the Jewish state, A.D. 70. The
principality of Bashan was given to Herod Agrippa II. in A.D. 53, and
held by him until A.D. 70. Syria, the great region north of Palestine,
extending from Damascus to Antioch, was, during this time, a province of
the Roman empire, governed by a prefect.
[Illustration: DAMASCUS.]
The events of this period gather around seven cities. 1. =Jerusalem.=
This place has been already described. (See page 73.) 2. =Samaria= (Acts
8:5-25), the field of Philip's early ministry, was the ancient capital
of the Ten Tribes (see page 87), located 30 miles north of Jerusalem,
and 6 miles northwest of Shechem. It had been rebuilt by Herod the
Great, and named Sebaste, in honor of Augustus. It is now a village
called _Sebastiyeh_. 3. =Cæsarea= (Acts 10:1), the place where the
Gentile Cornelius became a disciple, was the Roman capital of Palestine,
and the residence of the procurators. It was called Cæsarea Stratonis,
to distinguish it from Cæsarea Philippi, under Mount Hermon; and was
located on the sea-coast, 47 miles northwest of Jerusalem; and is now a
desolate, uninhabited ruin, called _Kaisarieyeh_. 4. =Joppa=, where
Dorcas was raised to life, and Peter received a vision (Acts 9:36-43;
10:11), is one of the most ancient towns in the world, in all ages the
principal seaport of Palestine. It lies 30 miles south of Cæsarea, and
35 miles northwest of Jerusalem; and is now a flourishing city called
_Yafa_, or _Jaffa_. 5. =Damascus=, the place where Saul was converted
(Acts 9:1-25), is an ancient and famous city of Syria, 133 miles
northeast of Jerusalem, beautifully situated in a plain at the foot of
the Anti-Lebanon mountains. Recently it had a population of 150,000, but
is rapidly decaying from the diversion of the Eastern trade through the
Suez Canal. Its modern name is _el Shams_. 6. =Antioch=, seat of the
first missionary church (Acts 11:19-30), was the metropolis of northern
Syria, situated on the river Orontes, 16-1/2 miles from the
Mediterranean, and 300 miles north of Jerusalem, in a deep pass between
the Taurus and Lebanon ranges of mountains. It is now a mean village of
6,000 people, called _Antakia_. 7. =Tarsus=, the home of the apostle
Paul, was the capital of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, and one of the leading
cities of the Roman world. It was 12 miles from the Mediterranean, the
same distance from Mount Taurus, and about 80 miles northwest of
Antioch, across an arm of the sea. It is now a place of 30,000
inhabitants, called _Tersous_.
[Illustration: PLAN OF ANCIENT ANTIOCH.]
The most important events of this period may be arranged under five
journeys, which are indicated upon the map.
I. =Philip's Journey.= (Acts 8:5-40.) Philip, one of the "seven" (Acts
6:3-5), was compelled to leave Jerusalem in the persecution that arose
on account of Stephen. He went first to Samaria, the city known by the
Greeks as Sebaste, now _Sebastiyeh_, 6 miles northwest of Shechem, or
Sychar, and there began to preach the gospel. This was a step outside of
narrow Judaism, as the Samaritans were considered at least semi-Gentile
by the Jews. After planting a church here, he was sent by the Spirit
southward "unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which
is desert" (Acts 8:26); that is, by the less frequented road. There he
met a nobleman from Ethiopia (the kingdom of Meroë, in Nubia), whom he
instructed in the gospel, and baptized as a believer. Suddenly caught
away by the Spirit, Philip next appeared at Azotus, the ancient Ashdod,
now _Asdud_. He followed the line of the coast northward, preaching in
the cities of the maritime plain. These cities were mostly inhabited by
heathen, though in all of them there were many Jews. We find in the
after-history the results of his preaching, in churches at Joppa, at
Lydda, and at Cæsarea, where he made his home for 20 years, and was met
by the apostle Paul, who, long before, as Saul the persecutor, had
driven him from Jerusalem. Philip's journey is indicated by a line of
red color on the small map.
II. =Saul's Journey.= (Acts 9:1-30.) The destroyer of the Jerusalem
church now began a journey for persecution, which was ended in his own
flight, as a Christian, from persecutors. 1. He went to Damascus,
expecting to bind others, but was himself bound by the cords of the
gospel, and preached the truth he had sought to destroy. 2. From
Damascus, as a disciple, he went into Arabia, a name which may refer to
almost any region from the Euphrates to the Indian Ocean, but probably
here indicating the desert lands on the border of Syria, and not
necessarily distant from Damascus, to which he returned after a stay of
from one to three years. (Gal. 1:17.) 3. Escaping from Damascus by being
let down over the wall in a basket, he returned to Jerusalem, where he
was introduced to the church by Barnabas, and received by the apostles
Peter and James. 4. After a fortnight's visit at Jerusalem, he left the
city by divine direction in a vision (Acts 22:17-21), and, aided by the
disciples, descended to the seaport of Cæsarea, where in after years he
was destined to spend two years in imprisonment. 5. From Cæsarea he
sailed to his birthplace, Tarsus, in Cilicia, where he spent several
years in retirement, preparing for the great work which was to open
before him. This journey is shown by a red line on the large map.
[Illustration: DAMASCUS AND VICINITY.]