Let's Go To Galilee

LET'S GO TO GALILEE

"6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Mark 16:6-7.

After the death of the the Lord Jesus, the disciples scattered! Their faith had been shaken, and everything seemed over. All their hopes were dashed! These people had just seen their Lord arrested, publicly humiliated, tortured, and crucified. The disciples were scared for their lives. But now the women brought a message of hope! The message came to them like a ray of light in the midst of chaos, darkness and confusion. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus, were at the tomb where the Lord was buried and found it empty. An angel appeared to them, saying, THE LORD JESUS IS RISEN. The Master is no more in the grave! And He instructed the disciples to meet Him in Galilee. "5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7.

WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GALILEE:

Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and He called the apostles from that area. The present day Galilee lay on the border of what is now Lebanon and Israel. It was the place Jesus and His disciples began their ministerial journey. The first miracle was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and His last, on the shore of Galilee. The Jordan River where Jesus was baptized flows through the Sea of Galilee.

Each of us also has our own Galilee!

1. Figuratively, Galilee is a place of divine encounter. A divine encounter is God’s means of introducing Himself to us in a personal way so that we can know Him better. It removes doubts; prepares us for challenges; and allows us to see ourselves as God sees us. So to go to Galilee is to have a fresh encounter with the Lord.

2. Galilee is a place of renewal. To go to Galilee is to experience a spiritual awakening. The experience you have at Galilee will strengthens and energize you for a bigger ministry.

3. Galilee is a place of spiritual refreshment. To be refreshed is to be revived. The word revive means to restore something to its original condition. To go to Galilee is to be brought back from spiritual death to life. Revelation 3:1. To return to Galilee is to be spiritually replenished. To go to Galilee is to be spiritually rejuvenated. It is to energize. To return to Galilee is to recharge your spiritual battery. To go back to Galilee is to be restored to the original plan of God for your life. Galilee is a place of drawing new energy from the sources of our faith. Going to Galilee will reignite your spiritual life.

4. Galilee is a place of new beginnings. It is the place where everything started for Jesus and the disciples. To return to Galilee is to experience a new beginning with God. The Lord is a God of second chances and fresh starts. So regardless of your past and failures, your life can still be rebooted. You can have a fresh start! You can start over. God can give you a clean slate. Today can be the start of a new season. The story of your life is not over! No matter how many times you fall, stumble, or rebel, God’s grace gives a fresh start!

5. Galilee is a place of rediscovery. To go to Galilee is to find and rediscover your place in the body of Christ.

6. Galilee is the place of God's grace and mercy. Mercy is when you don’t receive the punishment you deserve. But grace is when you receive God's love and blessings that you don’t deserve. To return to Galilee is to receive God's mercy everyday. Lamentations 3:22-23. To go to Galilee is to experience God’s gift of forgiveness. By grace alone we are saved. To go to Galilee is to return to that blazing light with which God’s grace touched us.

7. Galilee is the place of divine calling. To go to Galilee is to rediscover and pursue the call of God.

8. Galilee is a place of transition. It was there the lowly fishermen transformed into world famous fishers of men. To go to Galilee is to allow Him to move you from zero to hero.