365 Ways to Know God by Elmer Towns June 22

365 Ways to Know God by Elmer Towns

(Devotional Readings on the Names of God)

June 22

JESUS: JESUS OF GALILEE

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying,

"You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

MATTHEW 26:69

Jesus of Galilee was both His name and address. The angel told Mary to name Him Jesus. His name in Hebrew—Yehoshua--is a derivative of "Joshua" and means "Jehovah saves." Jesus, who came to save sinners, is from Galilee, so He was called Jesus of Galilee. The Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would come from Galilee: "by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles" (Isaiah 9:1). Did you see that Jesus' home area was called "Galilee of the Gentiles"? He was a Jew from the place where many Gentiles lived, because He is the Savior of all, both Jews and Gentiles.

Jesus, I know You came to Your people, but You died for all.

I thank You for dying for me.

The people of Jerusalem during Jesus' day were prejudiced against anyone from any other place. The servant girl sarcastically referred to Him as "Jesus of Galilee" (Matthew 26:69). Once before, some had questioned if their Messiah could come out of Galilee (see John 7:41). Another even claimed, "No prophet has arisen out of Galilee" (v. 52). Yet God had sovereignly arranged that His Son would be born in Bethlehem, the town of privilege, according to the prediction of Micah 5:2. Then Jesus grew up in Galilee in the city of Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy, "He shall be called a Nazarene" (Matthew 2:23).

Jesus, I know Your earthly home was in Galilee, but now I want You to

make Your home in my heart. Amen.

Reading: Matthew 2:13-23

Key Thought: God prepared a specific location for Jesus' birth and home.