Q. Was there a reason Yeshua made his home in Galilee and taught there, especially around the Sea of Galilee?

A. As mentioned before, names and places mean things in the Scriptures and God is communicating something whenever specific names or places are mentioned. Galilee and the Sea of Galilee are no exception. This “sea” is more like a lake and it is often called Lake Galilee. It is also called the Sea of Tiberias but I want to concentrate on another name that has Scriptural connections. It is also called the Sea of Kinneret in Num. 34.11 and Joshua 13.27. The name Kinneret seems to derive from the Hebrew word “kinnor” which means “harp” because the lake is shaped like a harp. Galilee means “circuit” and comes from the word “gal” which means “circle,circuit “ or “to roll” and the circle carries the meaning of “eternity” and would be related to eternal life. It is related to the word Gilgal where Joshua circumcised Israel after crossing the Jordan and before they entered the promised land. The Tabernacle was placed there and it was the traditional place where the kingdom was renewed in the time of Samuel and David. So Gilgal and Galilee are connected by the concept of the “rolling away” of the reproach of sin. In Isaiah 9.1-2 it talks about Galilee dwelling in darkness and in the shadow of death, but now sees a great light. This area was the first to go into the Assyrian captivity and they are the first to hear the good news that Yeshua was bringing. The New or “renewed “ covenant ( remember the concept of the kingdom being renewed) was first preached in Galilee. So being in Galilee fulfills many prophecies. But there are deeper meanings to these names and places that we will get into. In Psalm 33.2 it talks about praises being sung to God on a harp with ten strings. The harp was synonymous in Hebrew thought with the heart and the ten strings is an allusion to the Ten Commandments. In Proverbs 20.27 it says that the “ spirit (heart) of man is the lamp of the Lord” because the Torah is written on our desires (hearts) and we want to obey His word. The harp is the only known instrument whose strings can be played by the wind/breath or “ruach” in Hebrew. The heart is also aroused and stimulated by the Ruach ha Kodesh in the same way. In Rev. 14.2-3 it says that the 144,000 play “harps” but that is symbolic for being born from above by the Spirit of God who “plucks” their heart to follow God wherever He goes ( Rev 14.4) because the Spirit has written the commandments on the hearts fulfilling the promise of the New Covenant. They sing a “new song” which is alluding back to Psalm 33.2-3 again. So Yeshua teaches in Galilee about the “rolling away” of our reproach by a lake shaped like a harp because the wind of the Holy Spirit will “pluck the heart-strings” of the people to hear His word and obey it. This brings us to another concept. In Mark 3.28-29 it talks about the unpardonable sin. This confrontation takes place in Galilee around the Sea (harp) as mentioned in v 7. Some scribes from Jerusalem have accused Him of casting out demons by the power of the devil. He says that all manner of sin will be forgiven except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. In Jn. 3.5 Yeshua teaches that a person must be born from above through the Holy Spirit who is likened to the “wind” which blows when and where it pleases. So the Ruach (wind) plucks the heart and man is born from above. Romans 8.29-30 explains the process. God declares us sinners, helpless and dead. He proposes to save us so He reaches for us and the “wind” begins to blow on our hearts (harps) while we were dead. We had no thoughts of God in our hearts before that, no need of salvation (Rom 3.9-12, 5.8, Jn 1.13). Saving faith is planted by the Holy Spirit, plucking our heart-strings, bringing conviction. It looks like we were searching for God when in reality that “seeking” is the first sign eternal life (the circle=Galilee) has been planted already. Then God uses some human agent who comes along bearing the good news and faith is stirred and we are born from above, but this process is entirely the work of God. Blasphemy is simply calling something that is holy unholy, or calling something unholy holy. I know this may offend some but saying that Sunday is the Lord’s day and the Sabbath is blasphemy. Saying December 25th is a “holy night” is blasphemy. Saying a believer can eat pork and catfish is blasphemy. Certain days and certain creatures have been “set apart” (holy) by God and man can’t change it. Well, Yeshua is working miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit . The scribes attribute it to something unholy. As a result the Spirit is blasphemed and He cannot do the saving work on the heart( harp) that is required to be born from above. So, in short, unbelief is the one sin that cannot be forgiven. All of this was taught by Yeshua and being in Galilee and around the Sea of Kinneret were physical allusions to spiritual realities