The Life of CHRIST, Lesson 3, 1-16-2011

The Geographic and Political Situation at the time of CHRIST'S Ministry will be outlined during our study this week. I would like to challenge you all to look up the areas I will be outlining in the next few minutes in our study. I have never been to the Holy Land or the region of Palestine. As we studied this chapter, it makes me want to study and research further this area. It is where CHRIST ministered and HE either walked and or rode a donkey through this very rugged region. Keep this in mind while reading the scripture references I will provide through out this study. I wasn't a History buff in school, but, I was simply amazed, when presented with these facts. We have heard of the Dead Sea, which is one of the geographic features in Palestine. If a canal were cut to the Mediterranean Sea from the Dead Sea, the ocean would run in, instead of the Dead Sea running out. The Dead Sea recieves more than 6 million tons of water daily from the Jordan River and other smaller rivers. After a very rainy season, the Dead Sea will deepen by 15 feets and will be 1 mile longer than usual. Evaporation at the Dead Sea is so great that it creates dense clouds. The waters of the Dead Sea is nauseous to the taste and oily to the touch, leaving upon the skin, when it dries, a thick crust of salt. It's buoyance is so great that it is difficult to sink the limbs deep enough for swimming. The Gospels are filled with references to other similarly interesting places, all of them connected in some way with the minsitry of CHRIST. A thorough understanding of the land of Palestine will help one to understand the life and ministry of CHRIST on earth. Its distinct geographic features and political realities provide the background of HIS life. Visualizing and tracing HIS ministry throughout the land enhances our appreciation for what CHRIST did for us. The physical characteristics of Israel may be divided into 5 features running eastward from the Mediterranean Sea.. 1. Coastal Plain 2. Shephelah 3. Cis-Jordan Hills 4. Jordan Valley 5. Trans-Jordan Hills. The Jordan River runs north to south through Israel. 2 lakes or seas that are found there are the Dead Sea to the south and the Sea of Galilee to the north. The Shephelah is the region of gradually rising hills between the coastal region and the Cis-Jordan Hills. Israel has 2 ranges of hills, the Cis-Jordan Hills and the Trans-Jordan Hills. The Cis-Jordan Hills contains most of the cities CHRIST visited during HIS earthly ministry. The highest point in Israel is Mount Herman which is 9,232 feet in elevation. Jerusalem is 2680 feet above sea level. Just 10 miles from Jerusalem is the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, which is 1300 feet below sea level. Israel's climate is best described as variable. Extreme differences in altitude in such a small country guarentee widely varying temperatures. When snow is falling in Jerusalem, tourist might be baking under the sun in 90 degree temperatures at the Dead Sea. Generally speaking, the country has 2 seasons. Warm and dry summers and mild wet winters. The rainy season lasts from November through March. The average temperature in Jerusalem ranges from 50 degrees in January to 85 degrees in August. Galilee is pleasent in the summer, whereas the Dead Sea is a scorching 100-110 degrees that season. Palestine comprises 3 major areas: judea, Samaria and Galilee. Other surrounding areas that JESUS visited during HIS earthly ministry include Pera, Decapolis and Bashan. The Gospel mention 21 cities that CHRIST visited or mentioned by name. Again I mention to visualize CHRIST either walking or riding a donkey to get from place to place in the following scripture references and I will include the mileage traveled following each reference: John 4:1-5 ( 50 miles ), John 4:43-46 ( 40 miles ), John 4:54-5:1 ( 90 miles ). The Bible states that CHRIST went up to Jerusalem when HE actually traveled south because Jerusalem is higher in elevation than that of Judea. John 10:40 ( 20 miles ), John 10:40-11:1-17 ( 18 miles ), John 11:54 ( 25 miles ). JESUS'S Ministry was primarily in Galilee, by the Sea of Galilee. This area, which is by the water, is where it flourished, and the people HE ministered to was near the water area. Israel, north to south is 390 miles long and east to west is 30-80 miles wide. Isreal is actually the center of the world. If you can draw a line horizontally and diagonally through the world map (Globe), the dead center would be Israel. The richest soil in the world is found in the Coastal Plains. Pastor Donnie, our Sunday School teacher has been there several times, and he states that anything you can think of can be grown in this area. This is very unual when it comes to the various crops, that require various types of soil, temerature, water, etc. He also mentioned the oranges there are very very delicious. Judea is the wilderness of the area, Samaria to the North and Galilee to the South. If you go away from Jerusalem you will be going down hill. During CHRIST'S life and ministry on earth, several different Roman rulers governed various political regions of Palestine. We now turn to the Geo-Political Region of Judea and Samaria which was governed by Herrod the Great ( 43-4 B. C. ), Archelaus ( 4 B. C. - A. D. 6 ), the Procurators were Coponius, Pontius Pillate, Ambivius ( A. D. 26-36 ), Rufus, Gratus. Galilee and Perea which was governed by Herod Antipas ( 4 B. C. - A. D. 39 ), He killed John the Baptist. Iturea and Trachonitis ( which is North East of the Sea of Galilee ), was governed by Philip ( 4 B. C. - A. D. 34 ). As we sum up this lesson I encourage you to take time and research these areas and indulge into the Word of GOD. Allow the Word to soak in to your very soul as we study. As penned by David in Psalms, there is a place in Israel that is refered to as The Valley of the Shadow of Death. This area, in the Life of CHRIST and HIS ministry was the only way to travel across Israel. This is where the wolves would be because they knew the Shepards would be bringing their sheep through and they would lurk and prey on those sheep. Thieves and Robbers would hide there as well, to seek and rob the people, for they knew this was the only way through. Modern day improvements has made Israel more accessable, with more routes to and from, but, you can look down and see this Valley from above, according to folks that have been able to go to Israel. The last part of this study is to look at what the Dead Sea signifies as we picture many CHRISTians today. When fresh water flows in, but, nothing comes out...We lose our Joy and Enthusiasm. We become Bitter and Harsh. We produce no life and our soul Shrivles. I would to GOD, we would restore our landmarks, get back to our old fashioned roots, fall down before a HOLY GOD and Pray, Pray, Pray, Ask, Ask, Ask, Seek, Seek, Seek, Knock, Knock, Knock..Until the Power of GOD Falls from Heaven onto the Altar of our soul and We Have Revial in our midst!! Until next time is my prayer. GOD Bless the study of HIS Word!!