Meet Me in Galilee

“This very night you will all fall away on account of Me…But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Matthew 26:31-32

By Dr. Jonathan Brooks
President, Voice of China and Asia Missionary Society, Inc.

From the peak of praise at the Triumphal Entry to the intimate fellowship celebrated around the Passover Table—what a week the disciples had experienced.

As they looked at Jesus, their minds must have been buzzing! “Who could be so confident as He to oppose the Priests and demand the Temple become a House of Prayer? Who had ever healed the sick in its Courts? And who had ever captured the hearts of all Jerusalem like Jesus?”

To His disciples, Jesus must have been the most intriguing Rabbi anyone had ever followed in Israel. Each one of them, at varying moments in their three years together, had come to believe that He was the Hope of Israel, the Promised One, the Deliverer their nation had for generations so desperately sought. And now they find themselves sitting with Jesus, the Messiah, at Israel’s most celebrated meal.

He was so unpredictable. What would He do next? Was He about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels and reward each of them for their three year commitment? (Mt. 16:27.) Would He take the throne of Israel? Would he call down fire on the oppressive Romans? Was He about to keep His promise and establish them on twelve thrones and make them judges over Israel? (Mt. 19:28.)

But Jesus was not sitting at the table lost in all their wonder. He had a dark message to tell. There was a betrayer among them (Mt 26:21).

Had I been there I can see myself responding, “Jesus, this is victory week, why are you talking like that? Who, after experiencing life as we have with you, would ever turn against you?”

We all know it was Judas, but after the meal another bombshell dropped. Jesus announced, “You will all betray me?” (Mt. 26:31)

This must have confounded them all the more. I can envision them all jumping to their feet with horror in their eyes and shouting, “ME, BETRAY YOU! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! NEVER!”

But lost in the panic is a little message that touched my heart. I had never seen it until I handwrote the Book of Matthew. It is found in Mt. 26:32. I will paraphrase it. Jesus said, “When we get through my crucifixion, resurrection, and your betrayal, meet me in Galilee!”

Let’s think about this. Is betrayal the way of all believers? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Just like an archer, our arrows do not always hit the bullseye and we miss the mark!

We have to admit at some point, just like the disciples, we have all failed Him (Romans 3:23). But even in our failure, God reminds us, He has anticipated our actions, yet laid the punishment for our sins upon Jesus (Isaiah 53:6).

So, our failures are not the end. Sometimes betraying others does end relationships and privileges, but not with God. The same thing Jesus told the disciples, applies to you, “Meet me in Galilee.”

It appears failures don’t disqualify us from His presence. Jesus told us, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Just like the disciples, our failures…our betrayals don’t negate the fact that we all have an appointment with Him, wherever our Galilee may be.

How easily we get it all backward. In ignorance we tend to think God loves us because of what we have done for Him. But that is not the truth at all. He loves us, because of what He has done for us by paying our debt on the Cross!

All we need to do to keep our appointment with Him in Galilee is have a repentant heart and a surrendered will to serve Him whenever and wherever He needs us (1 John 1:9).

I don’t know who among the disciples made it first from Jerusalem to Galilee, but if I was among them, I hope it would have been me. Because if I knew Jesus was there, and He wanted to see me, I would have surely run.

My friend, if you have not “been to Galilee,” or even if you need to revisit, there is a Savior who awaits your arrival. He desires to make you whole again, to forgive you, to guide you, to love you and someday bring you into His Heavenly presence. If you haven’t already, give your life to Him today. Love Him, because He dearly loves you—and waits for you in Galilee.

By Dr. Jonathan Brooks
President, Voice of China and Asia Missionary Society, Inc.