My family lived in a second-story apartment above my grandmother’s home until I was three years old. On occasion my parents would use a popular idiom of their day: living “on easy street.” Imagine my confusion when we moved to a home on Woodrow Avenue! Weren’t there any homes available on Easy Street? Were they unaffordable? Maybe Easy Street was too far away.
I wonder if that’s what the disciples thought when, in their heartbroken state, they were told to go to Galilee, a mere 90-mile jaunt from Jerusalem.
Eleven disciples, fearful of Romans bent on quashing the “Jesus Revolution,” scattered and hid. When women told them they’d seen Jesus, their beaten and crucified Messiah, and that He’d meet up with them in Galilee, two ran to see the empty tomb for themselves. One of them, even after viewing the empty tomb, decided to head to Emmaus.
Why Galilee? Why not let the disciples rest up, lay low, spend some time on Easy Street?
Galilee. The fishing village in Northern Israel. Where Jesus spent much of His time preaching the Good News. Where Jesus called six of the twelve disciples. The place some of Jesus’ followers called home. Home. Where they would find comfort and rest.
It wasn’t a coincidence that Jesus asked them to take the long, arduous trek to Galilee.
At this point in their confused and crushed lives, the eleven needed the reminder we’re blessed to read about in Matt. 26:32. Jesus had foretold of his death and resurrection, and gave the promise that He’d “go before them to Galilee.”
By getting the eleven out of Jerusalem, He protected them and secured their safety. Meeting them in Galilee, He showed Himself faithful. But there’s more. Remember the fish He served them after their 90-mile trip to Galilee? Jesus proved He was still Jehovah Jireh, their provider. The One who three years earlier told them on which side of the boat to cast their nets. And then taught them to fish for men.
After Jesus ascended to Heaven, did the disciples move to Easy Street? Not a one.
Matthew: Martyred in Ethiopia for his faith in Jesus the Messiah
Mark: Died after dragged behind horses in Egypt for his faith in Jesus the Messiah
Luke: Hanged in Greece for his faith in Jesus the Messiah
Peter: Crucified upside down for his faith in Jesus the Messiah
John: Boiled in oil, exiled to Patmos, and died an old man in Turkey for his faith in Jesus the Messiah
The remainder of Jesus’ followers died equally cruel, barbaric deaths, as many have throughout the centuries. Today’s bearers of the Good News happily face similar ends.
Why?
Easy Street was never promised to us. The hope found in the Gospel, of meeting up with Jesus in our heavenly home, that’s our promise!
Oh Erma, such a great reminder that this earth is not our home. And I'm so thankful it isn't! Thank you, as always, for sharing such impactful thoughts. They truly bless me!
A very good reminder:) When I taught Bible to high school students, I reminded them that none of the heroes of the faith had easier lives after God called them, yet I believed that not of those heroes would have traded their cushy before-God-called-them lives for the life to which God called them. As the Stephen Curtiss Chapman says, "This is the great adventure."