Happy Galilee Day

 Happy Galilee Day!!!!

My FOUR Favorite Christian Holidays:

Christmas: The Angels proclaimed to the shepherds the Good News (Gospel) that a Savior has been born! The one the prophets foretold was coming has now come. It is a time to celebrate Jesus’ coming and the Good News that God has come to save us.

Easter: Easter is really a weekend long (or even week long) celebration that Jesus is bridging the gap between sinful man and a holy God. Jesus dies on the Cross for all mankind on Good Friday and raises from the dead, defeating death, on Easter Sunday. A time to celebrate what Jesus does for us.

Galilee day: Before Jesus died He told his disciples to meet Him in Galilee after He raises from the dead. Galilee day is the celebration of Jesus’ command, that He gave in Galilee, that we are to take His message to the every nation and culture. This Holiday is seldom remembered anymore but I’m hoping to change that! (more below)

Pentecost: Pentecost is the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit coming on the Jesus followers after Jesus ascended into heaven. Before Pentecost Jesus followers were hiding from the authorities. Afterwards they became a force that shared the story of Jesus around the world.

My Galilee Day Journey

Many years ago I was talking with a university student from an African Country and he asked me why Americans don’t celebrate Galilee day. I told him I had never heard of it. He then told me that back at home on the Monday after Easter his church would gather and celebrate Galilee day – a day to remember Jesus’ command to “Go make Disciples of all Nations”. What a great idea!

Later that day I was in my office and I looked at the yearly picture calendar that was on my wall and on the Monday after Easter were the printed words “Galilee day”. I googled the concept and found little information. So I called my mom. She told me that when she was growing up in Iowa the Monday after Easter was a day off from school but that she always thought it was just a travel day to get home for Easter trips.

I believe Galilee days should be on all of our calendars. Here's why (it’s all in the Bible):

Before Jesus was crucified Jesus predicted He was going to be crucified and will rise again. And Jesus told his disciples:

“But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” - Matthew 26.32

After Jesus rose from the grave the on Easter Sunday an Angel told the women who had come to Jesus’ grave:

“Don’t be alarmed,” (the Angel) said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:6-7 will see me.” - Matthew 28.10

Matthew tells us that Jesus Himself also told the women:

“Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” - Matthew 28.10

And so the Disciples when to Galilee (John tells us this too). And in Galilee Jesus said to His disciples:

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 16-20

He made a proclamation: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

He gave a command: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . .”

He made a promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Wouldn’t it be great if every year Christians, who had just finished celebrating Jesus’ resurrection, would get together the next day and remembered and believed and obeyed Jesus’ Proclamation and Command and Promise.

Let’s make it so!

Happy Galilee day.