The World Jesus Lived In

• Palestine• Galilee - north• Samaria - south• Judea - south

• Nazareth – city Jesus grew up• Capernaum - city near Sea of

Galilee• His public ministry

• Bethlehem – birth• Jerusalem - death

Galilee

• Mountainous and beautiful• Sea of Galilee (Lake

Gennesareth)• Rural• Major trade route• Greek and Roman culture• Many Galileans were gentiles• Judeans looked down on

Galileans

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean

of wildflowers and blossoming trees.Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast

blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit

orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate.

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Roughly speaking everything north and east of the modern city of Haifa was known as Galilee and this most famous region covers an area some 50 miles from north to south and 25 miles east to west. Under the Romans this small area in northern Palestine was a fixed administrative distinct; earlier its boundary was vague and variable. In ancient times, as now, it was Israel's lushest region, known for its sunny, temperate climate and its spring-watered lands. Each spring the valleys and slopes became an ocean of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Beginning in March the area was covered by a vast blanket of green. The fertile land was a texture of vineyards and fruit orchards. Grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, oranges and other fruits flourished in its pleasant, subtropical climate. 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who knew the area well, wrote this about it:

Samaria

• Samaria – south of Galilee• Avoided by Jews when they

traveled• Viewed as heretics

• Intermarried with gentiles• Worshipped in own temples on

Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem

Judea

• Judea – south of Samaria• Dry hot• Dead Sea to the east• Wilderness to the south• Jerusalem

• Capital• Israel’s kings lived• Holy City b/c of Temple• Sacred to Jews, Christians and

Muslims

Jerusalem today

Mediterranean Sea

• Mediterranean Sea• All of the known world• West of Palestine

• Jordan River• Flows south through Sea

of Galilee and into the Dead Sea

Town in Palestine during the time of Jesus• Surrounded by walls• Gates locked at night• Guards posted to keep watch

• Market places outside of the walls• Food• Crafts• Conversation – news from

travelers

Political Scene during the time of Jesus• Palestine• Occupied by Rome• Roman Emperors:

• Augustus Caesar• Tiberius Caesar

• Herod – King of Palestine until after Jesus’ birth• Great Builder – rebuilt the Temple• Very cruel

• Killed family b/c afraid of being overthrown

Sons of Herod the Great

Archelaus – ruled Judea and Samaria

- replaced with Roman procurators (Pontius Pilate)

Herod Antipas – ruled GalileeJesus called him “the fox”

Philip – ruled region east of Galilee

Herod the Great

Pontius Pilate

Roman occupation

• Rome• Respected Jewish religious

practice• Jewish men did not have to serve

in the Roman army• b/c they could not mix with gentiles

• Jews resented Romans• Taxes• Laws• Troops• Tax collectors – Jewish men collected

taxes and kept some money

Religious groups

• Pharisees• Large middle class Jews• Loved Torah, law• Added 613 rules to the law• Believed in resurrection and

angels• Jesus scolded them for stressing

outward acts rather than the spirit of love.• Most of the people were Pharisees• Scribes: copied the Scriptures

Sadducees

• Wealthy and powerful leaders• Most priests• Worked with Rome• Did not believe in resurrection• Did not want to add any more

laws

• Sanhedrin• 71 Jewish men• Supreme council• Chief high preiest presided over it• Spiritual leader and almost a

king• Caiaphas - high priest at time of

Jesus• Annas – helped Caiaphas

zealots

• Freedom fighters• Used violence to overthrow

Rome• Barabbas was a zealot

Essenes

• Men not happy with the way Jewish religion was lived• Seeks a pure life• Lived in desert• Doing penance• Waiting for the coming of God• Jesus was thought to be an Essene

Jesus’ religion

• Prayer • Jews prayed many times in a day

• Before and after eating• Morning and evening

• Shema – • Hear, O Israel, The Lord is our God,

the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God,with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.

• Mezuzah• Small case on the right post of a

doorway• Held a copy of the Shema

• Phylacteries • small boxes placed on the heads

of Jewish men• Contained the word of God

• Shalom • Greeting• Peace

Temple

• Pilgrimages to Temple:• Passover• Pentecost• Tabernacles

• Temple:• Only place where sacrifices were offered• 20 men needed to open one of its 13 gates• 20,000 people work there• Herod the Great ordered an expansion during Jesus’ time• Rome attacked the temple and destroyed it• Outer western wall all that remains even to today

• Western Wall• Jewish people pray • leave prayer requests in cracks in

the temple wall.

• Sabbath• The Lord’s Day• Strict day of rest• Synagogues – buildings such as

“churches”• Services said• Center of prayer• Center of education• Center of social life in towns• Scrolls – kept here and read

• The Law• Stated what made someone

unclean or unfit for worshipping• Required a special washing or

reading of Scripture• Touching a sick person• Touching a dead person• Dealing with Gentiles