Where is Galilee?

Reflection on the opening paragraph of Mark (1.1-11) When we notice that this is the first paragraph of the first of the gospels to be written, it may be a bit of a surprise. The "beginning of the Good News of Jesus, the Christ" begins with John the Baptist. Only then does the focus turns to Jesus, who "came from Nazareth in Galilee". What is surprising is that Mark introduces Jesus with NO reference to Bethlehem or angels, none to angels or magi, not even a mention of Mary. Mark, tells us simply, "... Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee..." Well, what about Galilee? Hymns and Sunday School suggest a quiet, pastoral countryside. A biblical geography book shows it is located North of Jerusalem and Judea, about 800 square miles of gently rolling hills, good for pastures and small farms, with a number of villages and towns (including Nazareth, Capernaum, and Cana), and one major city. And a lake, which supported a small fishing industry, and upon which sudden storms were known to arise. Three of the gospel writers tell us that the adult Jesus spent his entire ministry in Galilee, before heading for Jerusalem. His disciples were gathered from the people of Galilee, and the sermon on the mount, or on the plain, was preached there. The scriptures also point to another aspect of Galilee, related to this "pastoral" image. John tells us that, when Nathaniel hears about Jesus, he asks, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth? No doubt, he is quoting a local proverb, or prejudice. Centuries earlier, the prophet Isaiah spoke of "Galilee of the Gentiles", meaning that (after the reign of King Solomon), it was occupied by foreigners, and was "outside" the mainstream of Judaism. Outside the main stream. That is the point. Galilee was the backwater, the backwoods. For the urban sophisticates of Jerusalem, Galileans were sneered at, as country bumpkins. (Well!, I mean, you couldn't possibly find a Starbucks out THERE!) Mark then goes on to tell of the ministry of this small town, unknown Jesus. A ministry mostly to rural and small town people: unsophisticated, poor, many of them outcasts, and shunned by the higher levels of society. Shunned, because of illness, or otherwise failing to meet the official standards of moral purity. People who were crushed by the systems and structures and attitudes of the leaders in Jerusalem. And when Jesus did speak to the wealthy, and the religious leaders, he was clear about the danger they were in because of their wealth, or position, or the unwavering certainty of their opinions. Jesus came with a proclamation, and a ministry of INTEGRITY and acceptance for the despised and outcast; and a message of WHOLENESS for the broken. A ministry that led him, eventually, to confrontation in the city. We know what happened there. Now, we notice how Mark ENDS his gospel. Again, there are elements familiar to us that are NOT in Mark's story. There are NO resurrection appearances; there is NO glorified, authoritative Jesus, telling his disciples to "go into all the world". Notice the last few sentences of Mark, what the frightened women at the tomb, looking for the body of Jesus, are told: ... you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. ... But go, tell his disciples, and Peter, that he is going ahead of you, to GALILEE: THERE you will see him, just as he told you. The followers of Jesus are told to look for him IN GALILEE. Not in Jerusalem, the centre of political and religious power, but in the hills of Galilee. That is to say, at HOME. That is where we will find him. THAT is where the risen Jesus is to be found; and that is where OUR ministry is to take place; in our own homes, and our other workplaces. Look for him there; He has gone ahead of us, there. - Bryson