Cover Image – Galilee

‘And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee’, Matt. 21. 11.

Galilee forms one of the most northerly parts of the land of Israel, its soil and sea often forming the backdrop of the Lord’s teaching and miracles. Easton states that, ‘It is noteworthy that of his thirty-two beautiful parables, no less than nineteen were spoken in Galilee. And it is no less remarkable that of his entire thirty-three great miracles, twenty-five were wrought in this province. His first miracle was wrought at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and his last, after his resurrection, on the shore of Galilee’s sea’ (Bible Dictionary).

Yet, apart from its associations with the public ministry of the Lord, it was also the place where He was brought up. Matthew records that Joseph relocated to Nazareth in the southern region of Galilee because of a fear of Archelaus, Herod’s son, and, in addition, because he was warned of God in a dream, 2. 22. The reputation of Nazareth, John 1. 46, seems to be almost characteristic of the region, John 7. 52; Matt. 26. 73. However, these were the people that listened to the Lord gladly and followed Him enthusiastically, Matt. 4. 25, and from which He called several of the fishermen to be His disciples, 4. 18.

Although poorly regarded by many, it was the place to which the Lord often resorted, John 4. 3; 7. 1, and it was from this region that ‘many women were there [at the cross] beholding afar off ‘, Matt. 27. 55. As Robertson comments, ‘We have come to expect the women from Galilee to be faithful, last at the Cross and first at the tomb’ (Word Pictures in the New Testament). Finally, it was to Galilee that the Lord went after His resurrection and there that He commissioned His disciples to ‘teach all nations’, Matt. 28. 19.

It may have been an area of little importance, humanly speaking, but it was greatly blessed by the presence and ministry of the Saviour.