Page 26 - Holyland Magazine - 2009 Edition

Looking at the archaeological evidence in Back in Nazareth a few miles away, a recent
the geographical area where Jesus grew
up, it is obvious that he was familiar with
such ritual bathing (baptism) long before he
was baptized by John in the Jordan River.
Many mikvehs were found in Sepphoris,
the large town near Nazareth where Jesus
probably worked as a carpenter and spent
time with his father. Not far away, in the
site identified as Kana in the Galilee, known in the New Testament, it was thought
from both Jewish and Christian tradition,
the mikveh is associated with the story
mentioned in John 2:1-11. It tells us of the
first miracle performed by Jesus, who turned
water into wine at a Jewish wedding. Going
to the mikveh is a ritual performed by both
the bride and the groom in modern-day
Jewish Orthodox communities prior to the
wedding, as it was done 2,000 years ago.
Finding some pieces of large hand-thrown
or lathe-made chalk or soft limestone jars
at the site adds to the story’s authenticity
since these jars are of the type the Gospel
says Jesus used when he turned the water
into wine. Stone vessels, unlike clay ones,
are associated with Jewish ritual purity
because they are deemed impervious to
ritual impurity. The first miracle of Jesus
came at a crucial time in the early days of
his public ministry; his reputation was still
growing and although he had selected his
disciples, he was under pressure to
demonstrate his divinity.
Emmanuel de Ruyver
26
This is likely to influence a new
finding indicates that Jesus was probably
familiar with the Roman baths too. This
type of bath was the most Roman of all
public institutions, a cultural and architectural The bathhouse also opens up the possibility
tradition introduced in every Roman city
or military garrison, for the benefit of
Rome’s subjects.
Since there is no mention of such a bath
unlikely that Jesus had much contact with
the Roman pagans as he grew up 2,000
years ago in Nazareth, a poor Jewish village
on the periphery of the empire.
However, a large-scale bathhouse found
recently in Nazareth right next to the site
known as Mary’s Well may indicate
otherwise. The size of the bath implies that
it could only have been built for a Roman
city or to service a significant garrison town.
That would mean that Joseph and Mary,
and their son Jesus, would have been living
in the very heart of the occupying power.
understanding of Jesus’ early life in the
Galilee and its effect on his later teachings.
of discovering a treasure trove of artifacts
from the time of Jesus in his hometown.
The Roman bathhouse was used by locals
much like modern spas are used today.
Friends gathered while enjoying cosmetic
treatments, massage, haircuts and beard
trimming. A major part of the social activity
centered around the Frigidarium (cold
room) set up as a pool and the Caldarium
(hot room) in which hot air would be
pumped under the floor and rise in clay
pipes along the wall, turning the room
into a steam bath.
There is little doubt that while Jesus was
growing up in Nazareth, he was influenced
by the rich Jewish culture of nearby
Sepphoris as well as by the pagan Roman
bathhouse life in his backyard.
Deep under Mary's Well in
Nazareth the newly
excavated bathhouse gives
us a glimpse into the city
where Jesus grew up.