01292021 – John 1. 43-51
This is actually meant as an “Important Biblical Corrective” … it is important because of the “real time” bias surrounding Galilee. And a bias there was. There was a prejudice, an anti-Galilean sentiment. It is a truism that Galileans were perceived as being simple, uneducated peasants far from the Temple in Jerusalem and far from everything considered holy. The bias was real. The prejudice was based on supposed Judean superiority. A prejudice based on “an elitist mindset.”
Judeans good, Galileans bad.
Judeans superior, Galileans inferior.
Judeans savvy, Galileans backwater hillbillies.
Judeans highly educated, Galileans poor and illiterate.
It was a long-standing us versus them kind of mentality.
The Judeans constantly belittled the people of Galilee. CONSTANTLY.
That is why we should not be surprised to hear the words come from the mouth of Nathanael, a Galilean himself. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
If you remember from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, on the Day of Pentecost…the Judeans were amazed that simple Galileans could possibly speak in FOREIGN tongues or other languages. How can this be? They were Galileans? They were backwards, poor, fisherman and farmers…uneducated.
The truth of the matter is…that Galileans were extraordinarily strong in their lives of faith. They knew what they believed in…and what they did not. They could be very articulate about their faith.
Galileans lived on the crossroads to the Sea. Galilee was a major trade route for caravans, sellers of spices and people from all over the then known world. They had a great deal of constant interaction with a great many foreigners…
They were some of the first to hear and to learn of new ideas…New trade routes…Squirmishes and places to be avoided…
Jerusalem on the other hand was far more isolated in the mountain regions.
Galileans were actually more educated in the Holy Scriptures than most people of their time. They were well aware of the applications of the law of Moses. They could argue the scriptures with the best of them. They were actually known for their great reverence of the scriptures and their desire to be faithful to it.
Most of the famous Hebraic teachers of great renown came from Galilee more so than from any other place in the world.
In Galilee there were vibrant religious communities. They were devoted to strong families. They loved their country. And they posed a staunch resistance to any and all pagan influences…especially to the Greek Hellenistic influences. When the great revolt against the pagan Romans and all of their elitist collaborators finally occurred, it began among the Galileans…
So, the fact remains, that Jesus was born, grew up and spent the majority of his ministry among a people who knew the Scriptures by memory, who debated its applications with enthusiasm, and who loved the Lord their God, with all of their souls, hearts, minds, and strength…
This was the context that Jesus grew up in…far from being backwards, far from being illiterate, far from being simple…
Jesus fit into his world perfectly…
It was the false pretext, prejudice, and bias of the elitist Judeans where Jesus ran into trouble.
Understanding this view of the Galileans helps us to understand the great faith and courage of his followers who left Galilee and went into the whole world to bring and to share the Good News of Jesus. Their courage, their message, their methods they used and their complete devotion to God and his WORD were born in the religious communities of so-called-backwards-Galilee.
Can anything good come out of Nazareth, indeed!
If you belittle a people long enough, if you tell someone they are simple and slow often enough, sooner or later they will begin to believe you.
Just so you know and are aware, this is a vitally important Biblical correction that I thought you should have…
Knowledge is always a good thing. But knowledge that is correct and accurate is everything. And Jesus proudly came from Nazareth in Galilee.
Amen.