What is the significance of Perea in the Bible?

A district forming part of the tetrarchy of Philip. Luke 3:1. It was beyond the Jordan on the north-east, its centre being about 32 50' N, 36 30' E. The district is now called el Lejah.

In Peraea. — To this appeal to their Scriptures what could they say? "Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God," was their accusation. That Psalm silenced them. They dropped the stones that they had just taken up, wherewith to stone Him for blasphemy, and would content themselves with taking Him, if possible. Still were they foiled. He escaped out of their hands, and went away again to the place beyond Jordan, where John at first baptized, and there abode. "To Bethany beyond Jordan" (1:28) we presume He retired. He was now in Peraea, from whence, keeping on the farther side of the river, He subsequently returned to Judea. At that place in Perea He abode, for how long exactly we cannot tell. Only a few months at the longest could it have been, for between the feast of the Dedication and the approach of the Passover it was that the Lord had reached Bethany beyond Jordan. Whilst there, in comparative quiet, and in freedom from attempts of the Jews to compass His death, many resorted to Him, and said, for His miracles had certainly impressed them, "John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true" (40-42). The remembrance of John was not effaced, nor was his testimony to the Lord, which had been first, as far as we know, delivered in that place, consigned to oblivion.

Bethany. — To return. As the time of the interview of the priests and Levites with the Baptist can clearly be fixed, as already pointed out, being subsequent to the baptism of Christ, so the locality, where that interview took place, has been definitely noted by the Evangelist. It was at Bethany beyond Jordan. We can name the place; but can we fix the spot? We are all familiar with Bethany, a village east of the Mount of Olives, where resided that family of three whom Jesus loved. But another Bethany there was, according to the reading of most of the oldest uncials (John 1:28), situated east of Jordan. For Bethany, not Bethabara, is the name they give to the spot. At present unknown, it had a history then, memorable for the events of the first three of the six days of which we are reading. It was there that the Lamb of God was first pointed out. It was there, too, that John's testimony caused Andrew and his companion to go after Christ. And it was there that the Lord retired, as related in chapter 10:40 of this Gospel, and abode for a short time, ere as the Lamb of God He offered up Himself, the sacrifice for sins. There seems a fitness in His returning to the very place where He had been first proclaimed as the Lamb ere going up to Jerusalem to make that title good.

"They sought, therefore, again to seize Him, and He departed out of their hand. And He went away again beyond the Jordan204 to the place where John was at first baptizing, and abode there. And many came unto Him and said, John did no sign, but all things whatsoever John said about Him were true. And many believed on Him there" (verses 39-42). Thus it was not that their unbelief was incomplete, but that His time was not yet come. The Lord therefore retires till the moment appointed of God, and meanwhile goes to the scene of John's work at the first, and there abode, where grace wins many a soul that recognised in Him the truth of John's testimony.

John 10:39-42. The closing verses sum up the effect of this second discourse. The unbelieving Jews, rejecting the words and works of the Lord, sought to take Him. Their unbelief was complete, but His time had not yet come. Thus He went away beyond Jordan. Already they had cast out the man who had confessed Christ; now the Shepherd, utterly rejected by the nation, takes the outside place of reproach. In that outside place "many resorted to Him" and "many believed on Him there". The Shepherd thus becomes the Leader of His flock outside the Jewish fold.

"He went forth out of their hand": so wrote the Evangelist (10:39), as translated in the Revised Version. Foiled this time also in their attempt to seize Him, they did not, it would seem, pursue Him, when He recrossed to the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas by a sojourn in Peraea beyond Jordan. There He could enjoy comparative quiet. What, then, would draw Him back to Judaea, situated in the jurisdiction of Pontius Pilate, to be found again within easy reach of the hostile Jews? The glory of God, and the need of sheep of the flock, were the motives. For them He turned His face thitherward. For He would work the works of Him that sent Him, while it was day (9:4). And that work at this time necessitated His presence at Bethany, near Jerusalem. As yet that village, not mentioned in Gospel history, was henceforth to have a place in the sacred record, and to be imperishably connected with the Lord Jesus, and with a family therein which He loved.

The first of these events presents to us the blessed Lord now definitely rejected by the nation of Israel. At the close of this 10th chapter of John we find that, driven out, He retires to the place where John at first baptised, and there He abode. He had bidden Jerusalem and its temple farewell, so far, at least, as any testimony of grace was concerned, and had taken up His abode at John’s first point of service.

The Lord had been now rejected, both in His words and His works. In chapter 8 He convicts by His word. "Before Abraham was, I am." There was in that the full manifestation of who He was; but they rejected it. In chapter 9 He shews His works; but this testimony is also rejected. And then He shews how all is in grace and in chapter 10 speaks of gathering His sheep. When He said, "I and my Father are one," they took up stones again to stone Him; and then He goes again beyond Jordan. In chapter 11, in connection with the raising of Lazarus, He is spoken of as the Son of God; afterwards, in chapter 12, as Son of David and Son of man.

171 - 40-42. Thus the Lord left them; and the scene being, as we have now seen, closed, He returns as it were to the original testimony with which He set out on His toilsome but love-ministered and love-ministering journey. "All things that John said of this man were true." True they surely were, and John bore the best testimony to his own truth, however, in bearing witness, loving, faith - hearted witness, to His glory and Person and work; in a word, all his forerunning message. How long does the faithful testimony of a faithful, rejected witness last and bear fruit, when he perhaps little thought or dreamt of it! The Lord returns to that when all His works and word, wonderful as they were, had been rejected and passed by; "and many believed on him there."

But the moment was not yet come for their murderous hatred to take effect, and in His retirement to the place of John's baptism beyond Jordan the faith of a number was made manifest. John's witness was recalled and the truth of his words acknowledged. John was the last prophet of the old dispensation, and amidst its ruins miracles were not in season. They were in season, and in full measure, directly the Christ the Son of God appeared. Still John bore a true and faithful and unswerving witness to Christ, which was better than miracles. We too are at the end time of a dispensation, so let us not crave for miracles but emulate John in faithfulness of testimony. If it could be said of any of us before the judgment seat, that all things we have spoken of Christ are TRUE — that were commendation indeed!