Q: #618. Did Jesus go to Galilee after His Resurrection, and if so, why?
A: Yes, the Bible does show us that Jesus went to Galilee after His Resurrection. The clearest place is found in John Ch. 21, which shows Him there with 7 of the disciples (Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and 2 unnamed others). Following this event, in (Mt 28:16-20), we are told that Jesus met with His disciples (and likely others – more below) on a mountain in Galilee.
On the first day of His Resurrection (Sunday), we are told that an angel (Mt 28:7)(Mk 16:7), as well as Jesus (Mt 28:10), sent word to the disciples through Mary Magdalene (and women) that Jesus wanted them to go to Galilee, and meet Him there (He had previously mentioned this before His resurrection as well: Mt 26:32, Mk 14:28.). We are not clearly told “why” He wanted them to meet Him there, but we will explore a few possible reasons below.
But first, let’s try to narrow down “when” they went there, and for how long.
First, we know from (Acts 1:3) that after His Resurrection, Jesus was on the earth for 40 days.
The first day of these 40 days was on Sunday (“the first day of the week:” Mt 28:1, Mk 16:2, Lk 24:1, Jn 20:1), the day He was resurrected from the dead. (Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried on the previous Friday: Mt 27:35-65, Mk 15:24-47, Lk 23:33-55, Jn 19:17-42.). Several things happened on this first day:
1. Jesus (and angels) appeared (separately) to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:14-17), and 4 women (Mt 28:9-10), who then “ran” to tell the disciples (Jn 20:18)(Mk 16:9-11)(Mt 28:8-10)(Lk 24:8-11).
2. Jesus appeared to two men (one named Cleopas) who had left Jerusalem, and were on the road to Emmaus (7 miles from Jerusalem – Lk 24:13). Later that evening, after finding out that the man who was speaking to them was Jesus (and seeing Him vanish) (Lk 24:30-31), “they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the 11, and those gathered with them.” Upon their arrival, they were greeted by the disciples saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Lk 24:33-34). Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the room, and spoke with them (Lk 24:36-49)(Jn 20:19-23). (***Note: While Lk 24:33 says that “the eleven” were there, we know from [Jn 20:19-25] that Thomas was not there, and it was only “ten.”)
After these events on the first day, we aren’t told what happened, or what Jesus did until eight days later, when Jesus again appeared to the disciples (with Thomas) (Jn 20:26-29)(Mk 16:14-18).
Sometime after these “eight days,” both the disciples, and Jesus went to Galilee. It is worth noting that the journey from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee (where Jesus is first shown to have met with the disciples in Galilee: Jn Ch. 21) was / is about 80 miles. The road between the two was difficult (“hilly”), and about a 4 day journey at 20 mi / day. Let’s just “assume” that the disciples left on the day after Jesus appeared to them the 2nd time (or the 9th day). After making the 4 day journey, they arrive at the Sea of Galilee, which puts them in Galilee about 2 weeks after Jesus’ Resurrection.
We aren’t told how long they were in Galilee before Jesus appeared to them, but the fact that Peter said to the other disciples, “I am going fishing” (Jn 21:3) may indicate that they had waited several days for Jesus, and when He didn’t appear, they decided to do something to pass the time. It was while they were fishing that Jesus made His appearance to them, and the events of John Chapter 21 unfolded.
***Note: I do not believe that Jesus made the “4 day journey,” but instead “suddenly appeared” there, just as He had in His previous resurrection appearances.
After the events of (Jn Ch. 21), we are only “clearly” told about only one more thing that occurred in Galilee, and that is found in (Mt 28:16-20), when Jesus appeared to “the eleven disciples” on a “mountain in Galilee.” It was here that Jesus gave them the famous, and well-known “Great Commission.”
Now, let’s get to the “why Galilee.” (This is interesting!!)
First, all of the disciples (except Judas Iscariot, who was now dead) were from Galilee (Acts 1:11). It was where Jesus first called them. Nazareth, where Jesus grew up was in Galilee (Galilee was a region, and Nazareth was a city in that region). Galilee was where Jesus began His public ministry, spent the majority of His ministry, and did the majority of His miracles. In other words, Jesus closed in the same place He began.
Second, it would have been difficult for Jesus and the disciples to “openly” meet within the confines of Jerusalem, given that virtually everyone in the city knew Jesus and the disciples (including those who sought His death in the first place).
Third, tied to the above, were are told in (1 Cor 15:6) that at some point during His Resurrection, Jesus “was seen by over five hundred brethren at once.” When did this happen? A number of scholars (i.e. MacArthur, Guzik, Gill, Benson) believe that this meeting with the “over 500” may have been at the same time that Jesus met with the disciples on the “mountain in Galilee” (Mt 28:16-20). It is interesting to note that (Mt 28:17) says that “some” at the mountain “doubted.” It seems unlikely by this point that any of the 11 disciples “doubted.” However, with the “500” being there, that could certainly account for this. Therefore, if this meeting “was” in Galilee, it seems logical to conclude that a gathering of this size would have been difficult or impossible to do in Jerusalem without drawing undue attention.
Finally, we are told in (1 Cor 15:7) that after Jesus was “seen by over five hundred…. He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” This James was Jesus’ “half-brother” (Mt 13:55-56)(Mk 6:3) (same mother [Mary], different father [God the Father vs Joseph]). Since Jesus and His family were from Galilee (Nazareth in Galilee), and His family certainly still lived there, it seems logical to assume that Jesus’ appearance to James would have been while in Galilee (another reason for the gathering in Galilee!).
***Note: The evidence seems clear that after this appearance to James, James ran home, told all of his family that he had seen the resurrected Jesus, and they all became believers themselves (they had not been believers before Jesus died: Jn 7:3-5). We know this because when the disciples were praying in the Upper Room in (Acts Ch. 1), before the Holy Spirit was given in (Acts Ch. 2), we are told, “and Mary the mother of Jesus (was there), (as well as) His (Jesus’) brothers” (Acts 1:14). Jesus’ brother James later became the head of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-21)(Acts 21:18)(Gal 1:19). He also wrote the Book of James (James 1:1), and Jesus’ brother Jude wrote the Book of Jude (Jude 1:1). (More on Jesus’ brothers here.)
Sometime after meeting at the “mountain in Galilee,” the disciples traveled back to Jerusalem (3-4 days journey). There, on the 40th and final day of His Resurrection, we are told that Jesus “led them (the disciples) out as far as Bethany, lifted up His hands and blessed them…, and was carried up into heaven” (Lk 24:49-51)(Mk 16:19). We are told in (Acts 1:12) that this “Ascension” of Jesus occurred on the Mount of Olives (***Note: When Jesus returns in the future, He will again stand on the Mount of Olives: Zech 14:4.)
Just before He ascended, Jesus tells them, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). This is what we see the disciples doing in (Acts Ch. 1). (See Acts 1:4-11 for a few other things that occurred at time of Jesus’ Ascension.)
——–
In closing, let me take a small “rabbit trail,” and share a “theory” I came up with during this study (I don’t know that I have heard anyone say this before!). Over the years, there has been a lot of debate over (Jn 20:22), when Jesus “breathed” on the disciples, “and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Why did Jesus do this?
In short, I believe that this was an temporary infilling of the Holy Spirit, just like what happened to people who received the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. It was given to empower those receiving it to carry out a task for the Lord: See – (Ex 28:3)(Ex 31:2-5) (Judg 3:9-11)(Judg 6:34)(Judg 11:29)(Judg 14:5-6,19)(Judg 15:14)(Ezek 11:5). But, what task would this be for those who were in the room when Jesus “breathed on them?”
Previously, I have taught it was to carry them until they received the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts Ch. 2). HOWEVER, tying this to our study here, notice what the disciples did when Jesus sent word to them to “go to Galilee, and meet Him there” (verses above). They hid in a locked room “for fear of the Jews” (Jn 20:19). Could Jesus have given them this “empowering of the Holy Spirit” so that they would have the courage (8 days later) to leave that locked room, and go to Galilee? Maybe?
Related: How many people did Jesus appear to after His resurrection?