03.25. Through Jericho

Through Jericho As Jesus prepared to leave the Jordan Valley and begin the ascent to Jerusalem, he told his disciples that this would lead to the climax of his life’s work. He would be arrested and condemned by the Jewish leaders and handed over to the Romans for execution. But on the third day he would rise victoriously from death.¹

Incredibly, the disciples seem not to have understood what Jesus said. They were too concerned about a dispute that arose when two of the group tried to secure the top positions in the kingdom. In spite of the years spent with Jesus, they still did not understand the sort of kingdom he brought. Nor did they understand the severe tests of loyalty they would face when persecution came. Jesus’ kingdom is not like the political structures of this world where ambitious people compete for power. It is a kingdom based on the example of the King himself, who served others and gave himself for them.²

Jesus must have been deeply disappointed with the disciples as he came to Jericho, the
last Jordan Valley town before the road begins its climb to Jerusalem. He healed several beggars as he passed through,³ though only after he made the men declare their faith openly. Plenty of people were ready to call Jesus by his messianic title Son of David if they thought it would help extract his blessing. The men’s open confession also strengthened their faith.

Another person in Jericho who became a believer was Zacchaeus, a Jew who was despised by other Jews because he collected taxes for the Roman government that ruled them.⁴ Onlookers were surprised when Jesus went to his house, but Jesus had the satisfaction of seeing Zacchaeus repent of his wrongdoing. Zacchaeus promised not only to make full restitution to those he had cheated, but also to give generously to those he had not cheated. Respectable citizens disapproved of Jesus’ associating with such a disreputable person, but that was the sort of person Jesus came to save.

1. Matthew 20:17-19 2. Matthew 20:20-28 3. Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46

From old Jericho towards the Mount of Temptation