Miracle Country
One of the most memorable experiences on my trip last year to the Holy Land was sitting on the shore of Lake (it is not big enough to be a Sea) Galilee. We had just toured Capernaum where Jesus had based his ministry when we went to the shoreline to meet together. We had a powerful time of praying for each other. I felt the presence of God in a way I have rarely known. I was certain that the significant need I was praying about would be answered by God-even though it would take a miracle.
But this was miracle country. At least thirty-three of Jesus miracles were preformed in the Galilee. If ever there was a place to believe God for a miracle it would be where more miracles per square mile had happened than anyplace on earth. I left there feeling like a burden had been lifted, thankful for partners in prayer and full of faith in God’s miracle working power.
What is strange, even funny about the Galilee is how it was viewed in Jesus’ time versus how I viewed it that day. Jesus was from the lower Galilee an area densely populated partly because Herod the Great had resettled Jews from Judea there. Also, it was prosperous with fertile lands, a crossroads of trade between Egypt and Damascus and a strong fishing industry. Galilee means “circle” or “district” and was heavily influenced by Gentiles in fact it was called the “land of the Gentiles” (Matthew 4:15). It was on the fringe of traditional Jewish life, a frontier between Hebraic and Greco-Roman worlds and as a result scorned by Judeans. They used the term “Galilean” as a synonym for fool, heathen or sinner.
Yet, a prophet came from the Galilee even though they were certain a prophet could not (John 7:52). It was there Jesus announced his ministry, where he recruited eleven of his disciples, where he preached nineteen of his parables. The Galilee was the main area of Jesus’ public ministry. He demonstrated the gospel was for everyone not just the elite. For those living in the Galilee Jesus chose them to spend the bulk of his time in ministry.
Unfortunately there is little evidence Jesus’ message was established after he left. “In the towns where Jesus had worked most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God.” (Matthew 11:20) Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum were all in the Galilee and Jesus judged them for not responding to his message even after witnessing his miracles. I have not yet witnessed my miracle though I am confident I will. I believe in the message of Jesus and I am certain he is the truth, now more than ever having been to the Galilee myself.
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