-
Jesus Preaches in Galilee: Matt. 15-17
Galilee is a region north of Jerusalem and Samaria, primarily between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a beautiful land with mountains and green valleys. It was also the land where Jesus grew up and spent much of his public teaching life. Most of His recorded miracles were performed around the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus’ home during His public teaching ministry was Capernaum (Matt. 4:13). This was a little fishing village on the northern shore of the sea. It was here where Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).
Galilee was also the region where Jesus’ first disciples were called. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen from Galilee. When Jesus called them, “they left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (Matt. 4:22).
Matthew 4:23-25 sums up the work of Jesus in Galilee: “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.”
The work that Jesus did in Galilee is striking, given the fact that it was primarily a gentile region. But Jesus took the opportunities there to teach the large crowds and heal the sick. It was in this region where some of His most profound teaching was done. The “Sermon on the Mount,” for example (Matt 5-7) was taught in the region of Galilee.
Discussion
1. Where is Galilee? Locate it on a map. What is the sea of Galilee? What role does this sea play in the gospel accounts?
2. Where is Capernaum? Why is it important?
3. Who were the first disciples of Jesus? How important are they in the developing story of the gospel?
4. What is meant when it says that Jesus was preaching the gospel of the kingdom?