The geography of first-century Israel plays a crucial role in understanding Jesus's ministry and the biblical text's context. When John writes that "Jesus went into Galilee," have you ever wondered where Jesus was before that? What was happening geographically when John the Baptist was baptizing and when Jesus called His first disciples?

In this lesson, we’ll explore the three major regions of first-century Israel: Judea in the south, Galilee in the north, and Samaria in the middle. These areas weren’t just names on a map—they were home to distinct cultural and religious dynamics that deeply influenced the message and mission of Jesus.

We’ll also tackle a critical misunderstanding in John’s Gospel. When John speaks of those who opposed Jesus, he uses a term that is often translated as "the Jews" in English. But does this refer to all Jewish people, or is he specifically pointing to the Judeans—those in the south near Jerusalem and the Temple authorities? This distinction has significant implications, especially given how the text has been misread throughout church history.

Join us as we delve into the geographical, cultural, and theological layers of the Gospel of John to gain fresh insights into Jesus' ministry and message.

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Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-jews-or-judeans-john-pt-16

Explore my digital notes on the Gospel of John, now available at the links below:

Notes on John 1:43-52: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/notes-on-john-143-52

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mh4v8e7FDwOoPhQd7bz7Y

YouTube: https://youtu.be/4FUOf3_IxCY

Learn about the Zealots:

Introduction to the Zealots: https://youtu.be/I5l47CP64KQ

Politics that drove the Zealots: https://youtu.be/cp-yXWuFop0

The Zealous Disciples: https://youtu.be/Zlwcw6R_euQ