The
Judaean Desert: Where Jesus
Was Tempted
The
Judean Wilderness, a desert in Israel and the West Bank, lies east of
Jerusalem, descends to the Dead Sea. It stretches from the
northeastern Negev to the east of Beit El, one of the world’s
smallest, yet most unique desert regions - descends from Jerusalem at
around 800 meters above sea level, to the Dead Sea, the lowest point
on earth, at 400 meters below sea level. Also known as as יְשִׁימוֹן
Yeshimon,
meaning desert
or
wildland.
It
was the main entry route to the Holy City of Jerusalem from the east,
and Moses famously looked out across it, and the Holy Land into which
he never entered, from the Moab Mountains of Jordan which lie across
the Dead Sea from Israel. Salient features and places to visit:
- The ancient fortress of Masada beside the Dead Sea, which is traditionally climbed at sunrise although can now be ascended via cable car.
- The site at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most important archaeological finds in history, were discovered less than 100 years ago.
- Herodium, the impressive tomb built for King Herod, whose influence can be seen across Israel
- The monasteries of Mar Saba and St George
- the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth, which is not technically within the desert but sits right next to it, is a unique experience – float and immerse yourself in the mud. The Megilot Region which encompasses the northern section of the Dead Sea and area of Judean Desert is home to a number of great Dead Sea Beaches.
In
one famous Biblical story, King David fled here with his soldiers
after king Saul ordered to have him killed. During the Greek and
roman times, the Hasmonean dynasty and the roman client king Herod
the Great built and fortified many forts, strongholds and even
palaces in the Judaean Desert, most famously, Masada. During the
Roman-Jewish wars, the Jewish rebels fled to the Judaean Desert and
fortified in the strongholds there. The last free standing Jewish
stronghold in Jewish history, prior to the establishment of the
modern state of Israel, was Masada.
Kelt
Oasis in the Prath river
The
smallest of the world’s deserts but probably one of the most famous
with dozens of famous prophets, generals, and kings journeying
through it during its history. And it’s pretty beautiful too…
“Then
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil.”
– Matthew
4:1
Traveling
south from Galilee, the landscape begins to change dramatically. The
fertile fields and abundant fruit trees disappear, and a harsh,
inhospitable desert replaces them. Its rolling hills are rocky
and ever changing, shaped by winds, erosion and the searing heat. I
had imagined it to be much different – kinder, with scrubby, little
trees and a cactus or two scattered here and there. Besides the
occasional shepherd with his flock of goats, it is desolate and
utterly bare…more like the surface of the moon.
How
appropriate that this parched land should be where Jesus would meet
the devil and consent to be tempted. His time spent here –
forty days and forty nights – is significant. It brings to
mind various periods of preparation and testing from the Old
Testament: the days Noah spent in the Ark while God cleansed the
earth; Moses’ fasting and prayer, as God revealed His Commandments;
and the forty years that the Israelites wandered in the desert before
entering the Promised Land. Whereas Adam yielded to Satan’s
temptations, Jesus – the “new Adam” – remains faithful. He
gives us the key to confronting and overcoming our own temptations –
time spent in prayer.
The
Monastery of the Temptation run by the Greek Orthodox Church
Throughout
the ages, the Judean desert has been home to hermits and monks alike,
dwelling in its many caves and residing in monasteries built into the
sides of the mountains. It’s the perfect setting for prayer and
contemplation. Here, in this “deserted place,” our thoughts
are distilled and our intentions are purified. Imitating our
Lord, we must retreat from the world from time to time. The
forty days of Lent have been given to us especially for this purpose.
In the same way that Jesus crossed these hills, we must allow
Him to traverse the barren landscape of our hearts, trusting that He
alone can transform it. He will be for us that rock in the
desert, broken open and gushing forth a stream of life-giving water.
Jesus wants to fill us, turning the dry land of our hearts into
a verdant pasture.
“He
pierced the rock to give them water; it gushed forth in the desert
like a river.” Psalm
105:41
The
largest monastery in the Judean desert is the monastery of
Theodosius, built in the fifth century around the cave Theodosius
used for seclusion.
Mount
of Temptation−Judean Desert
The
traditional site of the Mount of Temptation is amidst the hills of
Judea, overlooking the ancient city of Jericho.
To
the west of the ancient city of Jericho, said to be as old as 6,000
years, are the hills of Judea. This site, apart from being the lowest
place on earth in that it is 1,300 feet below sea level, is also the
place where Jesus was exposed to the temptations of the devil
(Matthew 4:1-11).
These
were put to Him after a forty day fast was completed and they had to
do with the lust of the eyes or materialism, the lust of the flesh or
bodily drives as the boastful pride of life or importance (1 John
2:15-17).
The
temptations of Jesus were real and proved that He was Who He claimed
to be. That is, perfect man and perfect God! In short: The Godman.
It
is interesting to note that He entered this wilderness of temptation
filled with the Spirit of God, but left full of the power of the
Spirit of God (Luke 4:1, 14).
The
lesson is clear: God always proves His servants before thrusting them
into service (1 Timothy 3:8-12).
Mark
4:8-10
the
devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give
you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus
said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship
the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
Dragot
canyon in the Judean desert.
St.
George's Monastery (Greek Orthodox) in Wadi Kelt, Judean Desert
