Almost every turn in the story is a movement on this map. Jesus spends most of His ministry in the north, in Galilee, and travels south to Jerusalem for the feasts — and as the opposition grows, those journeys south become more dangerous. Knowing where Nazareth, Capernaum, Samaria, Jerusalem, and Caesarea Philippi sit in relation to one another turns a list of place names into a story you can follow.

Why the geography matters

Galilee, in the north. Capernaum becomes His home base after Nazareth turns on Him. Most of the miracles, the calling of the Twelve, and the Sermon on the Mount happen within a short walk of the lake.

Samaria, in the middle. The region most Jewish travellers went around rather than through — which is exactly why His stop at the well there is so striking.

Judea and Jerusalem, in the south. The centre of religious authority, and the place where the threat to His life is greatest. He goes there for the feasts, and in the final months He goes and stays.

Caesarea Philippi, far to the north. A pagan centre at the foot of Mount Hermon — and the place He chose to ask, “Who do you say that I am?”

Nazareth and Sepphoris. An hour’s walk apart. The Roman provincial capital sat next door to the village where He grew up.