On the day Jesus rose from the dead, the women who first came to the tomb, encountered an Angel whose appearance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. They were terrified at the sight but excited to hear that the LORD was risen. But the Angel had just one message for them to publish: “… go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” Mt 28:7. He even highlighted the fact that he had delivered the message. One, that the LORD was risen and secondly, which was very important too, that they should go to Galilee, there they would see Him. While the women were going, Jesus Himself appeared to the same women and told them the same thing: Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Mt 28:10. This time, they saw Him alive with their own eyes, so it is no more news, but the message still remained- “go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” There must be something important about this meeting in Galilee.
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” Mt 28: 16-17. The disciples all together saw Him with their own eyes. It was a sight of mixed feelings and expressions. Some bowed in worship while others doubted. The doubters stood transfixed, not knowing how to express how they felt. Their doubt or worship was not as important as what followed. Jesus spoke to them, He said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mt 28:18-20
Jesus declared to them that the ‘Missio Dei’ now belonged to them. It is now the turn of the church to continue and finish what God started. It will not be done without God but in partnership with Him. For He said, Lo, I am with you until the end of the age. But the crucial thing to note is that the LORD handed over the work of making disciples to the church– every believer, wherever they go (or find themselves). As the dust of the earth (Gen 13:16; 28:14) spreads unhindered, disciples are to make disciples wherever they settle whether temporarily or permanently.
This is the significance of Galilee. The LORD’s work must not die, it must continue with the disciples. The first disciples did their part. Today, it is our turn. It is your turn!