Have you ever wondered where Jesus walked while on His mission in the Holy Land? A number of people have asked this same question. Today, Israel welcomes tourists from around the world, from every nation and tribe.
Israel’s rich soil and history are filled with beautiful gardens, valleys and vineyards. Jesus walked many miles throughout the land during his lifetime, from Nazareth to Jerusalem and beyond.
The Messiah’s feet touched upon many miles of soil throughout the Promised Land, from Damascus to the Sea of Galilee, and more. In fact, in the past decade there has been a trail opened in Israel that follows some of the routes Yesuah walked. This trail, known as the Jesus Trail, is 40 miles long. It is ideal for those who are curious about His footsteps and affords them the great opportunity to follow them for themselves. This is a wonderful time of exploration for Believers to walk the land of their Savior and to better understand the roots of their faith.
Israel’s Jesus Trail explores paths throughout towns and villages in the northern region of the Galilee. This is a significant place for Christians, as it was the place Jesus and his disciples first began their ministry, and is mentioned throughout the New Testament.
You may be familiar with some well-known places Jesus walked, such as the Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Olives, but He covered a lot of ground and we can learn from scripture where He will walk when He returns!
The places Jesus walked.
There are a number of places mentioned throughout scripture. Here are a few:
- Bethlehem is the well-known town of Jesus’ birth.
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’”—Matthew 2:1-2
- Bethany is the location of Jesus’ miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. It is also the place following the resurrection, where Jesus ascended into Heaven.
“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’”—John 11:1-3
- Caesarea Philippi is located north of the Sea of Galilee. This is the place where Simon Peter confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, after He asked Simon Peter, “Who do you say I am?”
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”—Matthew 16:13-19
- Decapolis was the location Jesus performed the miracle of healing a deaf man.
“Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.”—Mark 7:31-35
- Golgotha means ‘the place of the skull.’ It was just outside of Jerusalem. This was the place Jesus’ crucifixion.
“And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.”—Matthew 27:33-34
- Garden of Gethsemane is the place Jesus prayed before He was betrayed by Judas and taken by Roman guards, ultimately resulting in His crucifixion.
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.’ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.’”—Matthew 26:36-38
- Jerusalem is referenced over and over throughout scripture. This is the Holy City. Jesus entered into the city six days before Passover on a donkey.
“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of them,” and immediately he will send them.’”—Matthew 21:1-3
Where will the Messiah walk when He returns?
The prophet Ezekiel spoke of the glory of the Lord passing through the Eastern, or Golden Gate in Jerusalem.
“And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.”—Ezekiel 43:2
The prophet Zechariah also spoke of Jesus' feet walking on the Mount of Olives facing Jerusalem on the east upon His return.
“And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.”—Zechariah 14:4
Jesus will pass through the ancient Kidron Valley and reenter through the Eastern, or Golden Gate of Jerusalem as the King of kings! Would you like to have a physical mark in the Holy Land, the land where Jesus spent His time sharing the hope and love of God? You can plant an olive tree right in the path of the Messiah’s future steps and be a part of prophecy… as history unfolds!