Galilee

As the end of his ministry approached, Jesus repeatedly warned his followers what to expect in Jerusalem. The Son of Man was to be betrayed, tortured, condemned, killed—and then be raised on the third day. (Mark 8:31, 9:31-32, 10:32-34) They had no clue what he was talking about.

A few hours before his arrest, at his final meal with his disciples, he gave them one last warning, and a clear, unambiguous command: After his resurrection, they were to go to Galilee and meet him there. (Matthew 26:31-32)

This also must have sailed over their heads. In their grief after the crucifixion, they completely failed to recognize that the Lord had told them plainly what would happen. They had no expectation that he would be raised, and certainly made no move toward going to Galilee.

On resurrection day itself angels, and then Jesus himself, commanded the eyewitness women to direct the apostles to go to Galilee and meet him there. (Matthew 28:5-10) The women finally got it, they remembered what he’d said about being killed and raised. But the men scoffed at it. (Luke 24:4-11) They didn’t believe Jesus was risen, and made no move toward Galilee.

We then are shown the mercy of the Lord. Having failed to listen, failed to understand, failed to remember even when reminded, and failed to obey, how did the Lord respond? He showed up, in person and in Jerusalem, to prove to them that he was in fact raised. (John 20:19-20) So, you would think it would finally sink in that they needed to go to Galilee.

But no. What did they do? As far as we know, they did nothing. For a week. Thomas, who missed the first time Jesus appeared among them, refused to believe not only the women but his fellow apostles. Why the others did nothing, we’re not told. But Jesus, still being compassionate, appeared to all of them again, a week later, this time including Thomas. (John 20:24-27)

We’re told nothing of how they did it, but finally, finally, they did show up in Galilee. (John 21:1)

The disciples called Jesus Lord, acknowledging his right to command them. They revered him as God’s Anointed. They received a clear, unambiguous command from him. What would cause them to fail to comprehend? To ask this question is to also ask, “What would cause me to fail to comprehend, fail to obey?”

The apostles frittered away a week, doing nothing. I think we should be prompted to ask ourselves, What have I been doing this past week? Have I frittered away some or all of it? Is there something I should have done, a “Galilee” I should have gone to?

If we find that the answer is yes, the next question is, “Am I ready to finally go there now?” We see that Jesus is very merciful, even when we have failed to understand, failed to obey his clear commands. He comes back again, proves himself to us again, prompts us again to do what he commands. Even if we’re late in doing it, we can still go to our “Galilee”, and meet him there.

Love, Paul