“Getting up, He *went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds *gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them.” Mark 10:1
Jesus now makes a major move south from Galilee to the region of Judea. Though the traveling details are not recorded in the text, it most likely took several days.
This move was significant because it positioned Him much closer to Jerusalem. He stayed “beyond the Jordan River.” This was most likely close to where John the Baptist had his ministry and where Jesus and His disciples were baptizing a few years earlier. It was a place well know by Jesus and His disciples.
Matthew 19:1-2 covers this same relocation. However, Matthew adds the detail that Jesus also was healing them there. He ministered to the whole person wherever He went. Teaching and healing went hand in hand in the ministry of Jesus.
As was His practice, He continued to teach publicly. A significant group accompanied Him from the region of Galilee. Crowds from throughout Judea also flocked to Him.
The geography of this verse is important because it placed Him near Jerusalem for His final Passover where He would be arrested, condemned and crucified. He would not return to Galilee again until after His resurrection. (See Matthew 28:16 and John 21)
This move had another implication. He was now much closer to His critics from among the Sanhedrin. The religious leaders in Jerusalem used His new proximity to double down their attacks against Him.
Sadly, as we shall see in the next section, the Pharisees used the sanctity of marriage as the basis for their next attack. Matthew 19:3-12 and Mark 10:2-12 cover the same heated exchange.
Daily Bible Commentary
By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
