In the Steps of Jesus

Peter Walker studied Classics and Early Church History at Cambridge University and has done extensive research at a post-doctoral level on Christian attitudes to Jerusalem. Peter is now Professorof Biblical Studies at Trinity School for Ministry (near Pittsburgh, USA), having previously taught at Wycliffe Hall within the University of Oxford. He has led many study tours to the Holy Land. His books include: In the Steps of Jesus, In the Steps of Saint Paul, The Lion Guideto the Bible, and The Story of the Holy Land.

CONTENTS
Introduction 8
Luke: the man behind the message 10
Luke’s perspective on Jesus 12
Key dates around the time of Jesus 14
Josephus on John the Baptist and Jesus 17
Key dates in the Holy Land 23
Map of Palestine in Jesus’ day 25
1. Bethlehem 26
Humble beginnings 26
The star of Bethlehem and the date of Jesus’ birth 29
Key dates: Bethlehem 32
Bethlehem today 33
Jerome in Bethlehem 38
2. Nazareth 40
Map of Galilee 41
Childhood locations 42
Ancient Sepphoris 45
Locating Cana 48
Key dates: Nazareth 50
Nazareth today 51
The Nazareth Decree 53
3. The River Jordan 55
Baptism and renewal 55
Qumran, the Essenes and John the Baptist 59
Key dates: the River Jordan 61
The River Jordan today 62
Baptism in the Jordan 64
Evidence for the Byzantine site of Jesus’ baptism 67
4. The Judean Desert 68
Testing in the wilderness 68
Geological features of the desert 71
Key dates: the Judean Desert 76
The Judean Desert today 77
Map of monasteries in the Judean Desert 80
The Desert Fathers 82
5. Galilee and its villages 85
Scenes of public ministry 85
Josephus’ description of Lake Galilee 86
The locations of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee 89
Map of Lake Galilee in first century 91
Galilean imagery in Jesus’ teaching 94
Galilee today 96
Key dates: Galilee and its villages 97
Visiting Galilee today 99
6. Samaria 109
The enemy within 109
Samaria in the fourth century ad 110
Map of Samaria 111
The Samaritans according to Josephus 113
Key dates: Samaria 117
Samaria today 118
The Crusades 123
7. Caesarea Philippi 126
Time for a decision 127
The scene of the transfiguration: Tabor or Hermon? 132
Key dates: Caesarea Philippi 135
Caesarea Philippi today 136
8. Jericho 140
The lowest city in the world 140
The Dead Sea 142
The siege of Masada 144
Key dates: Jericho 146
Jericho today 147
The Bordeaux pilgrim’s visit to Jericho and Jerusalem 150
9. Bethany 152
A quiet haven 152
Key dates: Bethany 157
Bethany today 158
Egeria’s visit to Bethany 160
10. The Mount of Olives 163
Jesus’ favoured location 163
Map of the Mount of Olives 169
Key dates: The Mount of Olives 173
The Mount of Olives today 174
Eusebius and the Mount of Olives 179
A weekend in modern Jerusalem 183
11. The Temple 185
The heart of the nation 185
The Herodian Temple 187
The destruction of the Temple 196
Key dates: The Temple 197
The Temple today 198
The Temple: Muslim, Jewish and Christian perspectives 204
12. Jerusalem 207
The ‘holy city’? 207
Celebrating Passover in Jesus’ day 211
Map of Jerusalem in Jesus’ day 213
Pontius Pilate 219
Simon of Cyrene and John Mark 222
Key dates: Jerusalem 224
Jerusalem today 225
Jerusalem’s moving walls 228
Jerusalem in the book of Acts 231
Visitors to Jerusalem in the nineteenth century 234
Overview of Jesus’ last hours before the crucifixion 236
13. Golgotha and the tomb 237
From death to life 237
Crucifixion in the ancient world 239
First-century burial practices 243
Key dates: Golgotha and the tomb 245
Golgotha today 246
Eusebius’ description of Christ’s tomb and Constantine’s buildings 252
Christian celebration in Byzantine Jerusalem 263
14. Emmaus 266
Travelling along the way 266
Key dates: Emmaus 271
Emmaus today 272
Possible sites of Emmaus 273
Emmaus: the continuing journey 276
Further Reading 279
Index 282