Section 113b
Anticipation of Jesus' coming death and his sorrow over Jerusalem
Perea → Jerusalem
Luke 13:31-35
31On that same day some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, “Leave this place and go somewhere else, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32But he said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Behold, I will continue casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.’ 33Nevertheless, I must go on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is unthinkable that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. 34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will certainly not see me again until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Notes
Perea
Perea was the term used by the historian Flavius Josephus, and others, for a section of the territory east of The Jordan River, opposite Judea and Samaria. Although the word Perea is not found in the Scriptures, the area was mentioned frequently in the Gospels as the “land beyond the Jordan”. John the Baptist baptized in Perea, and was also martyred there at Herod’s fortress of Machaerus. Jesus Christ often visited Perea during His ministry, and had many followers from there, which at the time had a large Jewish population.
Jesus spent most of his final 3 months before Passion Week traveling around Perea, teaching in its towns and villages. Jesus had been in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39), and the Jews tried to stone him again. He escaped their grasp and went back across the Jordan into Perea for the final months before his crucifixion. During these months he taught his disciples about the cost of following him and he tried to prepare them for his coming death.
Today, most of Perea is in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.