It’s hard for me to believe but it’s been almost a decade since my first trip to Israel. I remember when someone who’d been there learned I was making a trip to the “Holy Land” they would tell me, “You’ll never read the Bible the same way again!” or “You’ll be changed forever!” These animated statements became so frequent I got tired of hearing them. I couldn’t believe the hyperbole would actually be true- until I got there. The most significant moment on that first trip occurred when my study tour reached the shores of the Sea of Galilee. As I stood on the shoreline and looked across the water a thought came to me so strong and clear, “Jesus was here!” It was then that all the enthusiasm made sense, and yes, it also proved to be true!
The Galilee region is divided into two sections, Upper and Lower Galilee. The Upper Galilee region is mountainous and windswept. Although it is not at its center, the Sea of Galilee is definitely the hub of activity in Lower Galilee. It is approximately 20 miles long and 8 miles wide. The temperate climate and fertile soil of Lower Galilee make it a wonderful place for agriculture. Galilee was also a melting pot of people. Economic and political threats from outsiders had been stopped by Rome and the road systems which cut through it opened up trade with the outside world. Galilee was hardly the backwater region of peasants and Pharisees as it is often depicted to be. The broad scope of Greek, Roman and Jewish culture was probably one of the reasons the orthodox Jews of the south despised the people of Galilee and were convinced that no prophet could come out of it (Jn. 1:46; 7:41,52).
One might think that the Messiah (as a descendent of David) would launch His ministry from Jerusalem the capitol of David’s kingdom but Jesus chose the city of Capernaum in Galilee. From the hillsides where terrace farms grew grapes, olives, figs and grains, to villages with family-run industries in fishing and masonry to cities like Capernaum and Nazareth where synagogues were at the heart of daily life, Jesus walked through them all and drew upon the daily routines associated with them to teach and proclaim the Good News. As He interacted with His surroundings He taught the people about both His human and Divine Nature by celebrating weddings (Jn. 2:1-11), feeding thousands (Mt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:33-44; 8:1-9), healing the sick (Mt. 4:24; 11:5; 12:5; 14:14; 15:30; 19:2; Mk. 7:37; Lk. 7:22; Jn. 9:39), demonstrating His divinity (Mt. 17:1-8; Mk. 9:1-8; Lk. 9:28-36), raising the dead (Lk. 7:11-17; 8:49-56; Jn. 11:1-45) and performing miracles (Mt. 9: 30; 11:4-6; 12:22;14:22-34; Mk. 6:45-52; 7:32-25; Lk. 8:22-25; Jn. 9:1-7; 11:47).
But why begin in Galilee? It could be said that Galilee was chosen solely on the basis of God’s sovereignty. That is to say that He chose this area because He wanted to. However that would ignore two rather obvious factors concerning Galilee itself. First, Galilee was chosen because of its geographic location. The Via Maris (or Coastal Highway), an ancient and well-traveled trade route, ran diagonally through it. The Via Maris acted as communication central for the ministry of Jesus. Whatever He did in Galilee, the news of it spread with the merchants, traders and pilgrims who traveled this road as they conducted their business and went to Jerusalem for the holy days. It is commonly known in business today that “word of mouth is the best advertising” and this was no different for Jesus. He wisely took advantage of people’s natural tendency to talk about the news of the day. And Jesus was certainly news! Secondly, the choice of Galilee fulfilled prophecy (Is. 9:1-2; Mt. 2:19-23; 4:12-16; Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 4:14-21) which is one of the more important things that Jesus said He came to do (Mt. 5:17-18).
While Galilee’s place in fulfilled prophecy is unquestionable, it demonstrates to us an even more important aspect of God’s nature. He desires to be with us! From the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:7) to the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8) and Temple (1 Ki. 8:10-13), Galilee proves that when God said He would once again dwell with His people (Zech. 2:10), He did it in the most intimate way by taking on flesh and walking upon the Galilean soil (Jn. 1:14-18). Your life is not much different to Him. He wants to walk with you and you to walk with Him. Some of His first disciples came from the shores of Galilee. When He called them, they left what they were doing to follow Him (Mt. 4:18-22; Mk. 1:16-20; 2:14; Lk. 5:1-11, 27-28; Jn. 43-51). He wants you to do the same. Will you?
Ann H. LeFevre
Week of 10/29/2017
The Galilee region is divided into two sections, Upper and Lower Galilee. The Upper Galilee region is mountainous and windswept. Although it is not at its center, the Sea of Galilee is definitely the hub of activity in Lower Galilee. It is approximately 20 miles long and 8 miles wide. The temperate climate and fertile soil of Lower Galilee make it a wonderful place for agriculture. Galilee was also a melting pot of people. Economic and political threats from outsiders had been stopped by Rome and the road systems which cut through it opened up trade with the outside world. Galilee was hardly the backwater region of peasants and Pharisees as it is often depicted to be. The broad scope of Greek, Roman and Jewish culture was probably one of the reasons the orthodox Jews of the south despised the people of Galilee and were convinced that no prophet could come out of it (Jn. 1:46; 7:41,52).
One might think that the Messiah (as a descendent of David) would launch His ministry from Jerusalem the capitol of David’s kingdom but Jesus chose the city of Capernaum in Galilee. From the hillsides where terrace farms grew grapes, olives, figs and grains, to villages with family-run industries in fishing and masonry to cities like Capernaum and Nazareth where synagogues were at the heart of daily life, Jesus walked through them all and drew upon the daily routines associated with them to teach and proclaim the Good News. As He interacted with His surroundings He taught the people about both His human and Divine Nature by celebrating weddings (Jn. 2:1-11), feeding thousands (Mt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:33-44; 8:1-9), healing the sick (Mt. 4:24; 11:5; 12:5; 14:14; 15:30; 19:2; Mk. 7:37; Lk. 7:22; Jn. 9:39), demonstrating His divinity (Mt. 17:1-8; Mk. 9:1-8; Lk. 9:28-36), raising the dead (Lk. 7:11-17; 8:49-56; Jn. 11:1-45) and performing miracles (Mt. 9: 30; 11:4-6; 12:22;14:22-34; Mk. 6:45-52; 7:32-25; Lk. 8:22-25; Jn. 9:1-7; 11:47).
But why begin in Galilee? It could be said that Galilee was chosen solely on the basis of God’s sovereignty. That is to say that He chose this area because He wanted to. However that would ignore two rather obvious factors concerning Galilee itself. First, Galilee was chosen because of its geographic location. The Via Maris (or Coastal Highway), an ancient and well-traveled trade route, ran diagonally through it. The Via Maris acted as communication central for the ministry of Jesus. Whatever He did in Galilee, the news of it spread with the merchants, traders and pilgrims who traveled this road as they conducted their business and went to Jerusalem for the holy days. It is commonly known in business today that “word of mouth is the best advertising” and this was no different for Jesus. He wisely took advantage of people’s natural tendency to talk about the news of the day. And Jesus was certainly news! Secondly, the choice of Galilee fulfilled prophecy (Is. 9:1-2; Mt. 2:19-23; 4:12-16; Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 4:14-21) which is one of the more important things that Jesus said He came to do (Mt. 5:17-18).
While Galilee’s place in fulfilled prophecy is unquestionable, it demonstrates to us an even more important aspect of God’s nature. He desires to be with us! From the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:7) to the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8) and Temple (1 Ki. 8:10-13), Galilee proves that when God said He would once again dwell with His people (Zech. 2:10), He did it in the most intimate way by taking on flesh and walking upon the Galilean soil (Jn. 1:14-18). Your life is not much different to Him. He wants to walk with you and you to walk with Him. Some of His first disciples came from the shores of Galilee. When He called them, they left what they were doing to follow Him (Mt. 4:18-22; Mk. 1:16-20; 2:14; Lk. 5:1-11, 27-28; Jn. 43-51). He wants you to do the same. Will you?
Ann H. LeFevre
Week of 10/29/2017
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