Day Three, Journey from Jericho to Jerusalem...

Journey From Jericho to Jerusalem, along the Jericho road.

Sunday 9th of Nisan [Friday the 07th April 2006].

Arthur Action Reporting. [Day 3]

I am up early anticipating the departure of the Christ and His followers from Jericho.
As Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, there was a commotion as someone, or maybe two people, shouted out to the Christ for him to have mercy on them. I was too far back of the large crowd to see clearly, so I cannot say for sure if there was one or two people shouting out to the Christ. The end result was that the one, or the two blind men were healed of their blindness. It was said later that one of the blind men went by the name of Bartimaeus, [Bart-ti-mae-us] the son of Timaeus, [Ti-mae-us]
The difference in the accounts maybe because Barttimaeus was known to most, and the other blind man was not and it was Barttimaeus who was remembered and the other blind man wasn’t.

Matt 20:29-34. Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Mark 10:46-52. Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

The road to Jerusalem is a tough one, as we had to climb out of the Jordan valley. This is the road goes back through the same mountain range that we traveled from Ephraim to Jericho.
We kept moving at a steady pace most of the day, just stopping for the odd rest now and again.
In the late afternoon we arrived at Bethany.

Jn12.1-2. Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.

Jesus Christ stayed at the house of his old friend Lazarus and his two sisters Martha & Mary. The Christ had dinner with Lazarus and later in the evening Mary took a pint of pure nard, which is an expensive perfume and poured it on the Christ’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

John 12:3-8 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii’s and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
Jn12.9-11. Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

After such a hard, hot day I just had to walk the 2 miles into Jerusalem and sink a few beers. Can’t have to many mind you, I have to be up early as the Christ is off tomorrow morning to go into Jerusalem. Contemplating as I walked to Jerusalem for the beers, I reflected on this character, Jesus Christ. He seems to have a strong magnetic charisma that extrudes authority. Isa53.2.It is surprising, as by looking at him you would under everyday circumstances not be able to pick him out of a crowd as anyone special. He is not a good-looking fellow, just having the typical Jewish features and being a little on the short side. 1Cor11.14. He certainly does not have long hair, as we are lead to believe, his hair is short. Lk4.23. He is not even robust but rather, one who seems to have need of a few vitamin pills.

I’ll report to you with what happens tomorrow; I think things will heat up now that the authorities know that He is here for the holy days of Passover and the days of unleavened bread.

Derek has provided many in depth studies through many scholars, historians and bible researchers that are not in this series but are available to confirm these findings. They are, of course, opinions of these people.