Jesus Prints in Places of His Time

Bethlehem

Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus Christ and the hometown of his legal father, Joseph, and King David. In Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to baby Jesus, wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a manger because there was no inn available. Jesus was the child conceived in Mary’s womb through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 2:4-7, Luke 2:8-12, Matthew 1:18-21 and Luke 1:34-35

Egypt

Egypt was the country where the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – went to escape the massacre of children in Bethlehem. King Herod learned about the birth of Jesus from three traveling magi who was following the star of the “King of the Jews.” Herod instructed them to return to him after finding the exact place where Jesus was born. When the three magi did not return to King Herod after they had visited the “King of the Jews” in Bethlehem, Herod got furious and ordered the massacre of all boys 2 years old and below. The order was carried out but before the massacre happened, an angel of the Lord instructed Joseph – in a dream – to leave Bethlehem immediately and go to Egypt.

Relevant Bible Verses: Matthew 2:1-3, 7-8 and Matthew 2:16-18

Nazareth

Nazareth was the town of Mary in the region of Galilee and the town where the Holy Family lived after returning from Egypt upon learning about the death of Herod. It was the boyhood town of Jesus where he grew and became strong with the blessing of God. It was the place where Jesus lived for about 30 years and the place where he began his ministry of preaching, healing and reconciliation with a reading of a scroll of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue. During the initial stage of his ministry, Jesus was unable to perform miracles in Nazareth – except for the healing of a few sick people – because of the people’s lack of faith in him.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 1:26-27, Matthew 2:13-15, Matthew 2:19-23, Luke 2:39-40, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:16-21 and Mark 6:1-6

Jerusalem

Jerusalem was the city where Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to the Lord as required by the Law of Moses. The temple priest who presided over the event was a righteous man named Simeon who had been waiting to see God’s salvation. He took Jesus in his arms, thanked God and said: “Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:29-32 / NLT 1997)

Jerusalem was the city where the Holy Family went every year to attend the Passover festival. It was during one of these yearly pilgrimages that the twelve-year-old Jesus “got lost.” He was found, later, in the temple, discussing certain things with religious teachers who were amazed with the intelligence of Jesus.

Jerusalem was the city where Jesus told Nicodemus the reason for the coming of the messiah. It was the city where Jesus attended religious festivals, performed many miracles, preached the good news of salvation and told the people who he was. It was the city where he made his triumphant entry as a savior during the final stage of his ministry. The event happened during the Passover festival. Riding on a donkey, Jesus entered the city and he was greeted by a large crowd who shouted, “Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven!” (Luke 19:38 / NLT 1997) It was the city where Jesus – for once – made an aggressive physical display of his anger. He drove out the people who were buying and selling inside the temple and overturned the tables of money-changers. He said: “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a place of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” (Matthew 21:13 / NLT 1997)

Jerusalem was the city where Jesus taught the people about the two greatest commandments of God. It was the city where he washed the feet of his disciples and ate his last supper with them before he was betrayed by one of his disciples; yet, Jesus gave them a new commandment on love. It was the city where he was put on trial, sentenced to die on the cross and crucified on Golgotha. Jerusalem was the city where Jesus was buried and, on the third day, rose from the dead.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 2:22-32, Luke 2:41-47, John 3:16-17, John 2:23, John 7:10-11, John 7:14-15, John 2:23, John 7:30-31, John 7:16-18, John 7:37-39, John 8:12, John 8:58, Luke 19:37-40, Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 12:28-31, John 13:3-9, Mark 14:22-25, Mark 14:43-49, John 13:34-35; Mark 15:1-5, John 18:28-40, John 19:1-18, John 19:38-42 and John 20:1-18

River Jordan

River Jordan was the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist who recognized Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” who witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit – in the form of a dove – on Jesus as he was baptizing him and who testified that Jesus was the Son of God.

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:3-4 and John 1:29-34 

Cana

Cana was the place where Jesus performed the miracle of converting jars of water into wine during a wedding celebration.

Relevant Bible Verses: John 2:1-12

Sychar

Sychar was the town in Samaria where Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. The town was not far from Jacob’s well which was constructed in the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. The action of Jesus startled the Samaritan woman who knew that Jews did not use cups and bowls that Samaritans used. The conversation continued and the topic of conversation moved from water and ancestor’s well to personal information about the woman to the coming of the messiah. After the chance encounter, the Samaritan woman wondered if Jesus was the messiah she and her people were waiting for.

Relevant Bible Verses: John 4:1-30

Lake Galilee

Lake Galilee was the place where Jesus called his first four disciples. As he was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he called Simon (Cephas or Peter) and his brother Andrew who were catching fish. Both left what they were doing and followed Jesus. He continued to walked along the shore and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus called them. The brothers left their father and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.

Lake Galilee was the site where Jesus calmed a storm. This happened one evening when Jesus and his disciples went to the other side of the lake. Suddenly, a strong wind came, causing the sea water to rush over the boat. The disciples became afraid for their lives and woke up a sleeping Jesus. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind to stop.

Lake Galilee was the body of water on which Jesus walked. Jesus was on land and the disciples were on the lake, rowing the boat with difficulty. Jesus saw what was happening and decided to go to them and, thus, he walked on the water of Lake Galilee to be with his disciples.

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 1:16-20, Mark 4:35-41 and Mark 6:45-51

Capernaum

Capernaum was a town in Galilee where Jesus healed a man with evil spirits named, collectively, as “Mob”. Jesus commanded the evil spirits to leave the man. The evil spirits in the man recognized Jesus as the Son of God and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs which were nearby. And so it happened. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs which rushed down a cliff.

Capernaum was the place where Jesus brought back to life the daughter of Jairus who recently died. Jairus requested Jesus to come to his house to heal his sick daughter. However, when they arrived at the place of Jairus, they were informed that the child was already dead, and there were people crying. Jesus told them that the girl was just sleeping. The people made fun of him. But Jesus, together with his three disciples and the parents, went to the child’s room. Jesus commanded the girl to stand up and she did. It was also during this period when a woman – who was suffering from bleeding for twelve years – was following Jesus who was on his way to Jairus’s house. She believed that if she could only touch the cloak of Jesus, she would get healed. The woman got healed, and Jesus became aware that healing power had gone out from him because of the faith of the woman.

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 5:1-20 and Mark 5:21-43

Bethsaida

Bethsaida was the place where Jesus preached about the kingdom of God and performed a miracle by feeding five thousand people using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 9:10-17

Jericho

Jericho was the place where Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus. As Jesus was passing by, Bartimaeus cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47 / NLT1997) The people scolded Bartimaeus for shouting, but he went on calling Jesus. Jesus told the people to bring the blind man to him. He asked Bartimaeus what was it that he wanted from him and Bartimaeus replied that he wanted to see. Jesus healed him because of his gut-level faith.

Jericho was the place where Jesus preached the good news and where a small man and rich tax collector named Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see and hear Jesus preach. Jesus asked Zacchaeus to go down quickly because he wanted to stay in Zacchaeus’s house. The people were surprised that Jesus had decided to go to a sinner’s house. But Zacchaeus promised Jesus that he will give half of his belongings to the poor and pay back – four times – anyone whom he had cheated. Jesus replied, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.” (Luke 19:9 / NLT 1997)

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 19:1-9

Bethany

Bethany was the place where Jesus performed what could probably be the greatest miracle of his ministry: he raised dead Lazarus to life! The extraordinary event was witnessed by Lazarus sisters, Martha and Mary, by the people who condoled with the sisters, by Tomas and the other disciples and by individuals who spied for the Pharisees. The miracle supported the claim of Jesus that he was “the resurrection and the life.” The miracle was so astonishing that it caused the high priest Caiaphas and other religious leaders to plan for the killing of Jesus.

Bethany was the site where Jesus ascended into heaven several days after his resurrection. The ascension of Jesus into heaven was witnessed by his disciples.

Relevant Bible Verses: John 11:17-26, John 11:38-46, John 11:13-16, John 11:45-54 and Luke 24:50-53

Emmaus

Emmaus was the place where Jesus appeared to two of his disciples after his resurrection. His followers were on their way to Emmaus when Jesus appeared to them. The followers did not recognize that it was Jesus but they continued walking together and discussed the recent crucifixion of Jesus and his burial and empty tomb. Jesus talked with his followers, explaining the event based on the Scriptures. His followers invited Jesus to stay and eat with them since it was already nighttime. It was during dinnertime when Jesus took the bread, said a blessing and broke it that they recognized him.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 24:13-31