Jesus left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. ~ John 4:3-4
Jesus and his disciples were forever traipsing about from town to town. Without a map, it can be hard for a pilgrim to keep track of all the unfamiliar place names.
Maybe you’re like me. I might listen to a coworker’s stories about a trip, only to forget whether they visited Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. If you know those cities, which are both in Pennsylvania, you know they are miles apart and very different! (To say nothing of the Eagles vs. the Steelers.)
As pilgrims we become acquainted, at least a bit, with some biblical places. We note the differences between them, whether in character, climate or terrain.
As pilgrims we might notice how the dryness and desolation of Judea gives way to the green growth of Galilee. We might appreciate the proximity of Jerusalem to Bethlehem, especially when compared with the significant distance between Jerusalem and Caesarea Philippi, distances that matter greatly to the events recounted in the biblical stories.
As pilgrims we consult a map, and create memories etched in road dust and fringed with date palm trees.
Can you consult maps as you read the Bible this Lenten season?
Prayer: O Creator, let me notice your climate and terrain.
Click here for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
This material is adapted from my book, Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land.
The photo is mine, taken in Madaba, Jordan, home to the famous Madaba Map.
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