Mark 10:1

The Mission In Judaea and Beyond Jordan (10:1).

Having stressed the importance of what is done in His Name, bringing out the supreme importance of His Name, Jesus commences His journey to Jerusalem by moving down into Judaea and Beyond Jordan.

‘And he arose from there and comes into the borders of Judaea and beyond Jordan. And great crowds come together to him again, and as he was usually accustomed to do he taught them again.'

The last journey to Jerusalem was now under way, although there was at this stage no sense of urgency, and Jesus therefore commenced a ministry in Northern Judaea and in Beyond Jordan where great crowds gathered. The plural ‘crowds' suggests a continuing ministry. We know from John's Gospel that He had preached and wrought miracles in Judaea and Beyond Jordan before (John 2:23; John 3:22; John 4:1). Judaea may be mentioned first because it was reached first through Samaria, or simply because it had precedence in Mark's mind. By Beyond Jordan Mark may be indicating Peraea which was across the Jordan, but in the Old Testament both sides of the Jordan River could be named Beyond Jordan, thus He may be referring to the area on the west bank of the Jordan in the Jordan rift valley and its surrounds.

‘And as He was usually accustomed to do He taught them.' This indicates that He continued His ministry as He usually did. It reminds us that we should recognise that His ministry has been continual, even when not mentioned. So satisfied that His ministry in Galilee over a number of years was complete He had now returned South again. This small note emphasises that Jesus preaching ministry continued in progress even while He was teaching His disciples.

In the example of His ministry that now follows Jesus not only gives important teaching on marriage and divorce, but also stresses His position as One Who can speak with unique authority on the significance of God's word. Indeed it cannot be overemphasised what a totally different view of life Jesus introduces as obligatory on all, the kind of life only liveable by those who come under the Kingly Rule of God.