Event 1 – Jesus’ Move into Perea

John 10:40-42

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.” And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Comments and Commentary by JB Myers and Lonnie Davis

 Note: From following the previous verses, Jesus appears to have left Jerusalem because of the rejection of the people.

 Jesus went back across the Jordan – This is on the east side of the Jordan in an area called Perea Josephus. Perea is not mentioned in the New Testament except as a variant reading in a few late manuscripts.

Where John had been – John was dead by now, but his ministry was still honored. His work lived after him because he pointed people to Jesus.

John never performed a miraculous sign – It is easy to see the miracles that Jesus performed and assume that the people were accustomed to miracles, but this is not the case. The Jews had not seen miracles since the days of the prophets. Even John the Baptist did not have the power of miracles. Jesus appeared on the scene performing real miracles and this astounded the people.