Jericho: Walking by Faith

Being an avid fan of early American history, I can remember vividly how I felt when we moved to Lancaster County. Strolling the streets of downtown or driving around the rolling hills and farmlands, I was overwhelmed by a sense of connection to the people from the past who were once walking these same streets, seeing and falling in love with these same views. Though separated by hundreds of years and radically different cultures we are linked by this common place.

When Jesus walked through Israel with his disciples, they were walking over a land rich with the history of Yahweh showing up, over and over again for his people, calling them to righteousness and saving them by his grace. Can you imagine one of those disciples, growing up in Galilee, knowing the stories of Moses and Joshua by heart? Their world is already turned upside down as they travel with Jesus, but imagine them coming to the plains of Jericho, the place where their ancestors first took possession of the land promised to Abraham. I think I would be geeking out a little.

Jericho’s Walls

Jericho is frequently described as an oasis in the desert of the Jordan Valley. It is the lowest city in the world (800 feet below sea level) and one of the oldest continuous settlement from the earliest days of civilization.

The name, Jericho, is from the Canaanite word for “moon” (yareah) or the Hebrew word for “fragrant” (reah). It is thought to be the center of worship for the Canaanite deity of the moon (Yarikh) and also is known the world over for its sweet-smelling dates and balsam. It is often described as the “city of palms” because of its abundant palm trees but most modern readers remember it for the walls.

In Joshua 3-5 we read about the Israelites crossing over the Jordan River (on dry ground!), rededicating themselves to the covenant, and celebrating their first Passover as inhabitants. In chapter 6, they march around the massive walls of the most impressive city without saying a word for seven days. On the seventh day, they marched the approximate mile around seven times. Finally, they blew their shofars and shouted praises to the Lord. Their marching orders were beyond bizarre, but the Israelites responded in faith, and the walls of the fortified city crumbled in defeat.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” (Heb 11:30)

Sitting in a deep valley between Jerusalem and the Jordan River (just across from where Jesus was baptized), Jericho serves as a gateway to the Promised Land, a place where faith is abundant, and promises are fulfilled.

The Jericho Jesus Knew

By New Testament times the city of Jericho had been rebuilt and resettled by the tribe of Benjamin, hosted a school of prophets, and served a place of rest for David’s men and Elisha. Inhabitants from Jericho were included in the exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Attracted to it beauty and strategic location, Herod the Great built his winter palace, making Jericho again an affluent oasis in the desert.

Stories in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke indicate that Jesus entered Jerusalem (for what we now call Holy Week) by way of Jericho.

Though there are only two brief encounters recorded at Jericho during Jesus’ ministry both stories reflect the faith in action first seen by the Israelites taking possession of Canaan.

Not Short on Faith

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” (Luke 19:1-8)

Zacchaeus was a prominent tax collector which likely means he was cheating his neighbors and getting rich off their suffering. We’re also told he was short and curious about Jesus, so he climbed a tree. It never occurred to him that he was the one Jesus was coming to see. But Jesus did see him and called him by name, inviting him to take part in the promise of his forefathers.

He responded in joy, faith, and repentance. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (vv. 9-10)

Blind No More

“On his way out of town, a beggar by the name of Bartimaeus called out to him, persistently begging for mercy. And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 46-52)

Mark paints a picture of a desperate man, odds stacked against him. He acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah by calling out “Son of David.” Jesus, likewise, acknowledged his faith and told him to go on his way. Bartimeaus chose to follow Jesus from that day forward.

Interestingly, the name Bartimaeus is derived from a Hebrew word meaning “unclean” and is specifically used in reference to Gentiles. It’s a reminder of another Gentile from Jericho who was rewarded for faith in a god she could not see.

An Open Heart

Before crossing the Jordan River and taking Jericho by faith, Joshua sent spies to scope out the city. We read in Joshua 2 that they stayed at the home of Rahab the prostitute, who hid them from the king and told them,

“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:9-11)

She is one of only five women named in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), and remembered in the Hebrews “Hall of Faith”

“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” Hebrews 11:31

A Heritage of Faith

Jesus walked a hard road while he was on earth. As he left the lush and fertile Jericho, he faced an uphill climb to Jerusalem where pain, humiliation, betrayal, and death awaited him. Yet he walked in faith, the security of knowing his Father would fulfill his promise to restore the world through his sacrifice.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11