Jesus’ sojourn to Tyre (rock) and Sidon (hunting) is his only recorded journey outside of Roman Palestine. And he makes this journey despite the fact that the message of the kingdom of God was to be given only to Israel, during his lifetime (Matthew 15:24).
…MATTHEW 15:24…But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”I believe he goes to visit the village of Zarephath/Sarepta (goldsmith’s shop), primarily (not shown on map…located almost midway between Tyre and Sidon). Both gospels say his journey takes him to the “area(s)”, and another bible version says “frontiers” of Tyre and Sidon (B-3-107). They do not say he goes “into” either city, although he has to pass through both cities by The Way of the Sea. But I believe that his primary destination is Sarepta.
Why Sarepta?
Because this is the village in which Elijah stayed…one of God’s greatest prophets. He stayed in Sarepta (Zarephath) during the famine in Israel, where he healed the son of the widow with whom he stayed (I Kings 17:8-23).
…I KINGS 17:8-23…Then the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah), saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you make one for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, “The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.” So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and her househould ate for many days. The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah. Now it came about after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house became sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, “What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance, and to put my son to death!” And he said to her, “Give me your son.” Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him upon his bed. And he called to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, has Thou also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the Lord, and said, “O Lord my God, I pray Thee, let this child’s life return to him.” And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”…
(Note: The comparison between Jesus and his experience with the “bread” and the “fish” with the “5000" and that of Elijah with the “flour” and “oil”…the Lord provides.)
On his journey to Sarepta, Jesus may well have taken an out of the way route that would take him by way of Mt. Carmel (orchard)…the sight of one of Elijah’s most meaningful triumphs (I Kings 18:1839).
…I KINGS 18:18-20, 22-24, 26, 29, 36-39…And he (Elijah) said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you (King Ahab) and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed the Baals. Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherath, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel, and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel…Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox, and lay it on the wood, and I will put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered and said, “That’s a good idea.”…Then they (Baal’s prophets) took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “Baal answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made…And it came about when midday was past, that they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention…Then it came about at the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that Thou, O Lord, art God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”
That is not to say, however; that Jesus doesn’t spread the gospel to the Israelites in and around the cities of Tyre and Sidon, as well. There are many Jews and others from the tribes of Israel in that area.
It is here that Jesus drives out the demons that inhabit the daughter of a Canaanite woman who is Greek. She is called “Syrophoenician” by race, to show that she is a gentile and not a Greecian Jew (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-28).
…MARK 7:24-30…And from there He arose, and went away into the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Gentile (Taken literally as Greek), of the Syrophoenician race (the dictionary defines “Gentile” as other than a “Jew”). And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, “Let the children (Israel) be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” And He said to her, “Because of this answer go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having departed.
Here he displays his compassion and a willingness to detour from a chosen path when mercy calls for it. It is his mission to bring the message of hope to the Israelites, but he responds to her anguish and apparent faith in him.
He departs the area and returns “to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis” (League of ten cities) (Mark 7:31).…MARK 7:31…And again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis.
Now in that short sentence, we have him returning to Palestine by a very unusual route. But no mention is made as to the route taken…only that by coming through Decapolis, he comes from the east. A look at the map shows he could have followed the road east and south from Tyre, or he could’ve taken the road south and east, originating near the vicinity of Sarepta. Both roads lead to Hazor, and continuing south would lead him to the west side of the Sea of Galilee. But he goes north “through Sidon” and enters Palestine on the east side of the sea.
Continuing north along The Way of the Sea, he passes through Byblos about 40 miles north of Sidon, from there north east to Qatna, another 70 miles or so, to connect with the road going due south for about 110 miles to Damascus (sack full of blood).
Why Damascus ?
First, because all roads leading to the Holy Land from the east and all roads from the sea, pass through Damascus one of the ten cities of Decapolis (even though it does not fall within the assigned boundaries of Decapolis), because of the mountain barrier east of the sea.
Second, I believe he chooses to go, because it is home to many Jews, and other members of the tribes of Israel. He wants to bring the good news of the coming kingdom of God to them.
While there he may have seen the Road to Damascus that the Apostle Paul, then known as Saul (king of Israel…death/ ditch), would take a few years later, where the most significant conversion of mankind occurs (Acts 9:1-30).
…ACTS 9:1,3-8, 17,18…20…Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest…And it came about that as he (Saul/Paul) journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who art thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.” And the men who travelled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading by the hand, they brought him to Damascus…And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized… And immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying “He is the Son of God.”
Why does Jesus choose to return by way of Decapolis?I’m not sure, but I will attempt to give reasons that may be his.
There are disciples that have been sent into Decapolis and he wants to visit them to give encouragement, and to tell them what is to happen to him. He also may want to gauge the temper of the inhabitants there regarding the treatment of his disciples. He may just want to bring the gospel to the Jews that are there.
In Gerasa (country of the Gerasenes) there are many Jews, and the Gerasenes were followers of John the Baptist. He may well want to make them aware of the latest message. He can pass through Gerasa by taking the King’s Highway south from Damascus. From there he can follow the road south to the Jabbok River (luxuriant river) which Jacob crossed, returning from Haran. Another historic river crossing (Genesis 32:22).
…GENESIS 32:22…Now he (Jacob) arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
He would continue to the west, where he picks up the road paralleling the Jordan River leading north to Pella. Pella is the city to which the followers of Jesus will withdraw for asylum, when the revolt with Rome in 66 A.D. begins (B15-726). Following His resurrection, Jesus, the Christ, might well have advised them to go there later, as a result of this visit.
Why Pella as a refuge? I don’t know, but it is off the “beaten track”.
Now, he could take the King’s Highway south and then pick up the road southwest through Gamala and then to the Sea of Galilee, but I believe he deliberately detours to visit both Gerasa and Pella for the reasons mentioned, and maybe to see the Jabbok River. But whatever route he takes, eventually it brings him from the east to the “Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis”.
For whatever reason, it is plain at this time, he wants to stay away from certain parts of Galilee.
Then we might ask why he doesn’t decide to take the more direct route and pass through Gaulinitis, on the way south out of Damascus?
I believe he chooses not to go this way because he plans to visit this area at a later time near the village of Caesarea Philippi mentioned above. He knows his time is limited and he doesn’t want to repeat himself.
This circuitous route covers around 300 miles, give or take. They slog over dusty roads and foot paths looking for the next place of rest.
Think of what that trek is like? How exhausting? Where do they eat? I expect kindly villagers feed them when they come to rest at night. But what about when they are in the “wilds”…do they carry food with them, or merely fast between meals? And what of their “call to nature”…slit trenches, and then afterwards cover up. What about water? They can do without food for awhile, but not water. I expect that he has scoped out the route in advance and knows where the wells and springs are.
So after a month or so, he comes to the Sea of Galilee through Decapolis. In the “mountain” he feeds the “4000" (Matthew 15:29-38; Mark 8:1-9).
…MATTHEW 15:29-38…And departing from there (Tyre/Sidon), Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up into the mountain, He was sitting there. And great multitudes came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet, and He healed them, so that the multitude marvelled as they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. And Jesus summoned to Himself His disciples, and said, “I feel compassion for this multitude, because they have remained with Me for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not wish to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in a desert place to satisfy such a great multitude?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven and a few small fish.” And He directed the multitude to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples and the disciples, in turn, to the multitudes. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven full baskets. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Again he provides a multitude…one thousand less, and then Jesus crosses the sea to the west and lands at Magadan/ Dalmanutha (a bucket/branch) in order, I believe, to visit with Mary Magdalene. It is believed by many that the town of Magdala (tower) was located there. Here, as mentioned earlier, he is opposed by the Pharisees and Saducees (Matthew 15:39; Mark 8:10-12).
…MATTHEW 15:39…And dismissing the multitudes, He got into the boat, and came to the region of Magadan.…MARK 8:10-12…And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples, and came to the district of Dalmanutha. And the pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven to test Him. And sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
Again he crosses the sea and ends up in Bethsaida, where he heals a blind man (Mark 8:13, 2225).…MARK 8:13, 22-25…And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side…And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him, and entreated Him to touch him. And taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes, and laying His hands upon him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.” Then again He laid His hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.
Jesus perseveers. If at first you do not succeed, etc. He isn’t satisfied with a half-miracle.
From Bethsaida he goes to Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27).