Faith Expressions

River Jordan

River Jordan was the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist who recognized Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” who witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit – in the form of a dove – on Jesus as he was baptizing him and who testified that Jesus was the Son of God.

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:3-4 and John 1:29-34 

Cana

Cana was the place where Jesus performed the miracle of converting jars of water into wine during a wedding celebration.

Relevant Bible Verses: John 2:1-12

Sychar

Sychar was the town in Samaria where Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. The town was not far from Jacob’s well which was constructed in the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. The action of Jesus startled the Samaritan woman who knew that Jews did not use cups and bowls that Samaritans used. The conversation continued and the topic of conversation moved from water and ancestor’s well to personal information about the woman to the coming of the messiah. After the chance encounter, the Samaritan woman wondered if Jesus was the messiah she and her people were waiting for.

Relevant Bible Verses: John 4:1-30

Lake Galilee

Lake Galilee was the place where Jesus called his first four disciples. As he was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he called Simon (Cephas or Peter) and his brother Andrew who were catching fish. Both left what they were doing and followed Jesus. He continued to walked along the shore and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus called them. The brothers left their father and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.

Lake Galilee was the site where Jesus calmed a storm. This happened one evening when Jesus and his disciples went to the other side of the lake. Suddenly, a strong wind came, causing the sea water to rush over the boat. The disciples became afraid for their lives and woke up a sleeping Jesus. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind to stop.

Lake Galilee was the body of water on which Jesus walked. Jesus was on land and the disciples were on the lake, rowing the boat with difficulty. Jesus saw what was happening and decided to go to them and, thus, he walked on the water of Lake Galilee to be with his disciples.

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 1:16-20, Mark 4:35-41 and Mark 6:45-51

Capernaum

Capernaum was a town in Galilee where Jesus healed a man with evil spirits named, collectively, as “Mob.” Jesus commanded the evil spirits to leave the man. The evil spirits in the man recognized Jesus as the Son of God and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs which were nearby. And so it happened. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs which rushed down a cliff.

Capernaum was the place where Jesus brought back to life the daughter of Jairus who recently died. Jairus requested Jesus to come to his house to heal his sick daughter. However, when they arrived at the place of Jairus, they were informed that the child was already dead, and there were people crying. Jesus told them that the girl was just sleeping. The people made fun of him. But Jesus, together with his three disciples and the parents, went to the child’s room. Jesus commanded the girl to stand up and she did. It was also during this period when a woman – who was suffering from bleeding for twelve years – was following Jesus who was on his way to Jairus’s house. She believed that if she could only touch the cloak of Jesus, she would get healed. The woman got healed, and Jesus became aware that healing power had gone out from him because of the faith of the woman.

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 5:1-20 and Mark 5:21-43

Bethsaida

Bethsaida was the place where Jesus preached about the kingdom of God and performed a miracle by feeding five thousand people using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 9:10-17

Jericho

Jericho was the place where Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus. As Jesus was passing by, Bartimaeus cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47 / NLT 1997) The people scolded Bartimaeus for shouting, but he went on calling Jesus. Jesus told the people to bring the blind man to him. He asked Bartimaeus what was it that he wanted from him and Bartimaeus replied that he wanted to see. Jesus healed him because of his gut-level faith.

Jericho was the place where Jesus preached the good news and where a small man and rich tax collector named Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see and hear Jesus preach. Jesus asked Zacchaeus to go down quickly because he wanted to stay in Zacchaeus’s house. The people were surprised that Jesus had decided to go to a sinner’s house. But Zacchaeus promised Jesus that he will give half of his belongings to the poor and pay back – four times – anyone whom he had cheated. Jesus replied, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.” (Luke 19:9 / NLT 1997)

Relevant Bible Verses: Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 19:1-9

Bethany

Bethany was the place where Jesus performed what could probably be the greatest miracle of his ministry: he raised dead Lazarus to life! The extraordinary event was witnessed by Lazarus sisters, Martha and Mary, by the people who condoled with the sisters, by Tomas and the other disciples and by individuals who spied for the Pharisees. The miracle supported the claim of Jesus that he was “the resurrection and the life.” The miracle was so astonishing that it caused the high priest Caiaphas and other religious leaders to plan for the killing of Jesus.

Bethany was the site where Jesus ascended into heaven several days after his resurrection. The ascension of Jesus into heaven was witnessed by his disciples.

Relevant Bible Verses: John 11:17-26, John 11:38-46, John 11:13-16, John 11:45-54 and Luke 24:50-53

Emmaus

Emmaus was the place where Jesus appeared to two of his disciples after his resurrection. His followers were on their way to Emmaus when Jesus appeared to them. The followers did not recognize that it was Jesus but they continued walking together and discussed the recent crucifixion of Jesus and his burial and empty tomb. Jesus talked with his followers, explaining the event based on the Scriptures. His followers invited Jesus to stay and eat with them since it was already nighttime. It was during dinnertime when Jesus took the bread, said a blessing and broke it that they recognized him.

Relevant Bible Verses: Luke 24:13-31

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