Locations in John

Do you remember my lesson about directions? The compass rose? North, South, East and West?

North represents law/jealousy.

South represents promise/inheritance.

East represents past/refuge.

West represents now/future/trembling.

So far as I can tell this holds true throughout scripture. For instance, If the scripture says “They come from the north” They are coming from the position of law.

Location and direction is part of who I am, It comes easily to me. So, while reading the scriptures I noticed that specific locations are noted all the time. Names of cities, bodies of water, regions and such.

Remembering a lesson from other teachers about how human names tell stories throughout the Bible, Start with Adam, his descendants through to Jesus, and you get the Gospel of Jesus when you learn the meaning of the name of the persons.

I decided to do the same with specifically named locations.

I started with Abraham. He started in Cannan, which means humble. Went to Sichem which means shoulder, think hard work. Then he went to Moreh which means teacher. On to Bethel which means House of God. Then to Egypt which means shut in, restraint, misery, tribulation and distress. From that awful condition he went to Bethel-Hai which means House of God-alive!

It really fits! This is so exciting!

Next, I decided to research Jesus’ travels as noted in the book of John.  He starts in Bethabara which means house of the ford or crossing, where John was baptizing and Jesus was there. This is where Jesus chose his first disciple, Andrew.

Then he went to Galilee which means circle or district.

Next Jesus went to Bethsaida which means house of fishing: place of hunting, hunting or fishing town. I can’t help but think of Bass Pro where I used to work. Ha!

On the 3rd day, Jesus went to Cana of Galilee. Cana is the place of reeds-measuring rod. Galilee must have been a fairly large region; I’m thinking, maybe the size of a state or something.

Then He went to Capernaum which means village of comfort. Then on to Jerusalem which means possession of peace.  I like that definition of Jerusalem because if it is a possession, it is something you can pick up and hold.

In John 3, Jesus baptized in Judea which means the praised one, while John baptized in AEnon which means spring.

In John 4 Jesus leaves Judea, the praised one, He goes through Samaria which means watch tower, to Sychar where he spent 2 days. Sychar means drunken, merry, madness, falsehood and deceit. This is near to the ground that Jacob gave to Joseph, where Jacobs well is. At the 6th hour He began the discussion with the woman at the well. “our fathers worship in this mountain, ye say in Jerusalem”  Mt. Gerizim is where the Samaritans ascend to worship 3 times a year; passover, shavoot, and sukkot. This is the place where Abraham would have began to sacrifice Isaac. Mt. Garizim means mountain cut in two. Samaritans are Palestinians, Gerizites is the other group of people.  Mt Gerizim is to the south (promise to Abram) Mt Ebal to the north.

The discussion was should we worship from law or peace?!  Jesus’ answer was to worship in spirit and in truth!

Jesus then went back to Cana of Galilee, place of reeds, measuring; in the district or circle, where he healed the nobleman’s sick son in Capernaum. The nobleman believed in the 7th hour.

In John 5 Jesus went out of Jerusalem, possession of peace to Bethesda which means house of grace, where he told the man to “pick up your bed and walk”.

in John 6 Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. This is a sea in Galilee, pretty large region. Tiberias means good vision, the navel, and she knows in Hebrew; and river-god in Greek. This is where he multiplied the 5 loves and 2 fishes.

Jesus went to a mountain, rise; the disciples went to sea in a ship toward Capernaum, village of comfort in Hebrew, disorderly accumulation of objects in Greek. This is where Jesus walked on water, then into the ship, then instantly the ship was at land.

“I am the bread of life” was taught in Capernaum, village of comfort.

In John 7 Jesus walked in Galilee and would not walk in Jewry because they sought to kill him. Secretly He went to Jerusalem.

In John 8 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, early in the morning He went into the temple where they brought the adulteress woman. Jesus spoke in the treasury, think money. He said “I am the light” I find it interesting that He spoke from the treasury, does that mean she was a prostitute?

In John 9 Jesus healed the blind man’s eyes with spittle clay.

Then told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, “which by interpretation is sent“-Greek.

In John 10 Jesus is in Jerusalem, possession of peace, at the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) which is the festival of lights, and it was winter. Jesus walked in the temple in Solomons’ porch. This was a grand covered walkway like an amphitheater.

In John 11 Lazarus of Bathany, which means desire for goodness/house of happiness, was sick.  Jesus and his disciples went to Judae, (Judah) Place of the Praisers for 2 days, then to Bethany where Jesus raised him from the dead. From there Jesus walked no more openly and He went to Ephraim, which means the fruitful, with his disciples, then back to Jerusalem.

John 18 Jesus went over the brook Cedron, which means turbid winter torrent, it goes through the valley of Kidron into the Dead Sea. The modern pronounciation of this word is: kayTHRONE.

The servants name whos’ ear was cut off is Malchus which means king, short sword. Sorry, I got off track. That is not a location.

They led Jesus from Caiaphas, this guys name means basket man, rock man, big round container, rock, to the hall of judgment where Pilate lived, like a summer home.

John 19 Pilate sat down in the judgment seat in the place called the Pavement but in Hebrew Gabbatha.

Jesus bore the cross to Golgatha, place of a skull.

Joseph of Arimathaea, which means a lion dead to the Lord; buried Jesus in his tomb.

John 20 Jesus shewed himself at the sea of Tiberias, river-god, same as Gennesaret, which means garden of riches, and same as Kinneret, which means harp, to the disciples. Then they went fishing! Caught 153 fish. Same place where Jesus walked on water.

 

I hope this adds a new depth to the Gospel Truth.

Love Always,

Rosie