The Gathering In Galilee

Chapter 7.

The “Gathering In Galilee”

As we noted earlier, during Holy Week and in the days immediately following His Resurrection, Jesus told believers, often, about an upcoming “Gathering in Galilee”, during which His followers would be able to meet and greet the Risen Lord and hear Him describe the future of the faithful. The Gospels contain six references to this important event. But of course, these 4 Gospels record only a small portion of all that Jesus said. So, it is highly probable that Jesus promoted the gathering on many occasions not mentioned in the New Testament.

We believe Paul referred to this wonderful gathering when, in his first letter to the Corinthians, he pointed out that on one occasion, the Risen Lord “appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time”. This phrase is found in a portion of Paul’s letter in which he lists the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus of which he is aware.

Let’s examine Paul’s list ...

... what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas,^] and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV)

Interestingly, when Paul wrote this letter to the Church in Corinth, he was not aware of all the encounters with the Risen Lord that believers had experienced. His list began ...

... he [Jesus] was seen of Cephas [Peter] ...

That meeting occurred about midday of the first Easter. However, before that meeting occurred, Jesus had met with a group of ladies who had gone to His tomb at sunrise and then, privately, with Mary Magdalene.

Next, Paul mentions that Jesus was seen ...

... of the twelve ...

Here, Paul is including Matthias in his roster of the twelve, even though Matthias was not appointed as Judas’ replacement till many days after the first Easter. And, Paul does not explain that Thomas did not see the Risen Lord until the Sunday evening following Easter.

Next, Paul mentions the event we have designated as the “Gathering in Galilee” . ..

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time ...

Then, Paul notes ...

... most of whom [those who attended the gathering] are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

This assertion irritates “Bible-Denying” theologians. They try to convince us, Bible-Believers, that Paul’s letters were written by a ghost writer hundreds of years after Christ died. But, that cannot be. The average lifespan of men and women in the days of Jesus was about 40 years and most of the folks that attended the “Gathering in Galilee” were still alive when Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians. So, Paul must have written this epistle in the first or second decade following Christ’s Crucifixion.

Then, Paul says ...

... He [Jesus] appeared to James ...

Here, Paul is probably referring to James, the Apostle, the brother of John and not to James, the Lord’s brother. James was the first Apostle to be martyred. We wonder if Jesus spoke to him about that.

Then, Paul says that Jesus appeared ...

... to all the apostles ...

again. We aren’t sure how many times this happened, but it certainy happened on the day when Christ ascended from the Mount of Olives to take His place at the right hand of the Father.

Finally, Paul says ...

... and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

As we shall see, Paul became the 14th man to bear the title, “Apostle”. But since, Judas was scratched from the list by his scandalous betrayal of Jesus, many regard Paul as the “Thirteenth Apostle”. He says he was “abnormally born”, as in born again, makinf reference to the strange way in which he was converted and called into apostleship.

Five Hundred Souls

Met the Risen Lord.

On the beautiful, gentle slopes of a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee, an expectant crowd of believers gathered over a period of several days. Men, women and children came from all parts of Israel to see the Risen Lord. They had traveled to this remote location with their provisions stowed on pack animals and had “camped out”, awaiting a great event. Matthew says they had journeyed ...

... into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(Matthew 28:16b-20)

We wish Matthew had described this gathering in much more detail. We only have this scant outline. But, we firmly believe that this description is exactly what the Lord wished to have Matthew include in his Gospel. we presume it was a joyous and substantial rally. Jesus had vigorously promoted the occasion, so we don’t think it was over in a few minutes. Believers had streamed to the meeting at a great expense of time and resources. The Lord rewarded them.

It was a foundational event. Jesus was magnificent. In His dazzling, Resurrection Body He mixed with the crowd and assured each of the believers there that when he or she entered Heaven, he or she would be wearing a glorified body like His. Was Lazarus there with his sisters? Perhaps he testified to his unusual experience of having gone to Paradise wearing a glorified body and, then, rising from his grave to live out the rest of his life for Jesus. For sure, almost everyone there was a dedicated believer, ready to spend the rest of his or her life evangelizing the citizens of the world.

We believe Jesus gave a comprehensive address that day, explaining the mission of the New Testament Church. Matthew gives us an outline of the proceedings. Let’s examine it.

The Believers

Worshipped Jesus.

Matthew says ...

... when they [the believers] saw him [Jesus], they worshipped him ... (Matthew 28:17a)

We “worship” a person, an object or an idea when we deem he, she or it has “worth”. So, we can stretch the word “worship” to “worth-ship”. There are many degrees of worship. We can worship the beauty of an orchid or a sunset. At times, we worship a toddler or the special someone to whom we are married. But of course, our most intense feelings of worship are directed to God. We sing to Him. We pray to Him. We study His Words. When the poor widow gave her last 2 pennies to the Lord, she proclaimed, “He is worth everything!” When the believers saw the Risen Lord, they worshipped Him. They shouted praises, bowed their heads, fell to their knees, prostated themselves, and worshipped Him.

Some Doubted.

Next, Matthew states ...

... but some doubted ... (Matthew 28:17b)

As the 500 believing brothers and sisters journeyed to the “Gathering in Galilee”, they brought along children, parents, relatives and friends. So, some of the attendees at the rally were doubters and remained so. We wonder how anyone could meet the Risen Lord and hear His plans for the New Testament Church and remain unmoved to faith. But, it reminds us of the fact that during the Millennium, some of Earth’s residents will not come to saving faith, even though they are surrounded by resurrected believers who are urging them to become Christians, and even though Christ is on Earth reigning over the planet from Jerusalem.

Jesus Explained

His New Role.

Jesus wanted His faithful followers to know that He would soon be sitting at the right hand of Father God. When He had risen victoriously over death, He had again become of the same essence as the other members of the Trinity. Yes, for a season, He had emptied Himself of some of His divine attributes to serve as the Messiah, but at that Resurrection moment, He had returned to His role as Creator and Master of the Universe. Matthew relates ...

... Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)

Jesus addressed the believers. He revealed the future, outlining the coming “Church Age”, the era that would follow His return to Heaven and continue on till He returned to reign over planet Earth. He declared, “On the next ‘Day of Pentecost’, the New Testament Church will spring into action.”

He reviewed the events of the past. He reminded His listeners that He had descended “out of the ivory palaces” of Heaven “into this world of woe”. He had relinquished His power and glory to become the “Babe of Bethlehem”. As the English Standard Version of the New Testament says, “He had emptied Himself” of some of His Godly traits when He became flesh and dwelt among men. In His ministry, He had shined the light of truth into the darkness of sin. His enemies had hated His sermons and despised His fame. They had crucified Him.

His words portended the observations Paul would later record in his epistle to the Church in Philippi ...

Let this mind be in you [Christians], which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Philippians 2:5-8)

Then, in His resplendent, Resurrection body, Jesus asserted, “But, now that I am Resurrected, God the Father has exalted Me. And again, I have the full essence of the supernal Godhead. All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth.” As Paul would later say ...

... God ... hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ... (Philippians 2:9-10)

And, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul offers an even more superlative description of the Risen Lord ...

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:16-23 NIV)

And, Paul adds ...

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. (Ephesians 4:10 NIV)

Probably,

Jesus Explained

the Future Role of the Holy Spirit.

It is likely that Jesus included in His address a discussion of the role the Holy Spirit would have during the “Church Age”. Matthew does not delineate the work of the Spirit in his brief notes of what Jesus said at the “Gathering in Galilee”. But, on prior occasions, when Jesus had spoken of His departure, He had indicated that the Holy spirit, the “Comforter”, would be guiding the New Testament Church after He ascended. Jesus made it clear, “I will no longer be at your side, but the Holy Spirit will be dwelling inside you. And, He will empower you to evangelize the world.” Earlier, Jesus had said ...

... I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment ... (John 16:7-8)

And,

... when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth ...

(John 16:13)

Jesus declared that in the era of the Old Testament Covenant, the Holy Spirit inhabited the Tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, the Temple in Jerusalem. He dwelled in the Inner Sanctum, the “Holy of Holies”, in each of these facilities. But, in these days of the New Testament Covenant, believers will be Temples of God. The Holy Spirit will abide in each of them. Just a few years later, Paul asked the Corinthians ...

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

And,

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Jesus Said,

“You Are Fully Equipped,

Now, Go!”

Jesus summarized saying, “Father God, who loves each of you believers dearly, is on Heaven’s Throne. I, the Son of God, will soon be sitting at His right hand. I, the Head of the New Testament Church, have been elevated to serve as ‘Master of the Universe’. And soon, the Holy Spirit of God will be residing in each of you believers. You are richly equipped to evangelize the world. The Triune God is watching over you and residing in you. Now, go!”

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations ... (Matthew 28:19a)

Jesus Sent His Church

Into the Whole World.

Old Testament saints, under the Old Testament Covenant, did not make a passionate effort to win converts to their faith. But, members of the New Testament Covenant are commanded to take their faith to every nation on Earth and win converts to Christianity. Probably, everyone involved in the “Gathering in Galilee” was a Jew. So, taking their faith to Gentiles seemed odd. But, Jesus declared that the Gospel was to be taught to Jews and Gentiles alike.

Jesus Said,

“Baptize Those Who Believe.”

Christ said, “As you teach, some will believe the Gospel and come to saving faith. You will be rejoicing with these new Christians and ...

... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ...

(Matthew 28:19b)

Baptism is for believers. It is a memorable ceremony that associates a new believer with the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. The Greek word, “baptizo” means “to submerge”. And originally, new Christians were submerged in water and, then, raised up, thus “acting out” the Burial and Resurrection of our Lord.

Paul explains the baptismal ceremony, vividly, in the Book of Romans, chapter 6, verses 3 to 6. He says ...

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)

The baptismal ceremony should remind us of Christ’s Death. He died on the Cross as the Ultimate Sin-Sacrifice. He took our sins upon Himself and infused us with His righteousness. He made us sin-free. He put us on the path to Heaven.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death ... (Romans 6:4a)

He was buried in the earth for 3 days and 3 nights. We are buried, momentarily, in water and, then, raised up ...

... that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also ... (Romans 6:4b)

He was raised up from His earthy grave with great glory and honor. And, we are raised up from our watery grave because we have set our feet on the path to a glorious future in Heaven. So ...

[we also] should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4c)

The Risen Lord was very different from the man, Jesus, whom these believers had known and loved. In His Resurrection body, He was more majestic and dazzling. And, He exercised powers He had not shown before. When we came to saving faith, we were changed too. We were “born again” (John 3:3). So, we should be new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection ... (Matthew 28:5)

Jesus was planted in the earth. We were planted beneath the waters of baptism. In every way, we are striving to be like Jesus ...

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Matthew 28:6)

That old, worldly man or woman we were before we were “born again” has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). We laid our old faults on Him. He erased them all. And, daily we “crucify” any new sins that beset us. We confess them to Him and He is faithful and just to forgive them (1 John 1:9). So, we no longer serve sin.

Jesus said,

“Form Churches

That Keep Teaching the Gospel.”

Christ said, “You will establish Churches. You will identify men and women who can promote the mission of each congregation. You will be ...

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you ... (Matthew 28:20a)”

Jesus highlighted 2 levels of teaching that each Church body should support:

1. Evangelistic Outreach. Each Church should

continue to save souls. It should teach the

unsaved enough truth to bring them to faith

and, then, baptize them.

2. Discipleship Training. Each Church should

become a learning center: copying and

distributing Scripture portions and other

Christian literature, offering classes that

explain Christian doctrines, encouraging the

memorization of Scripture passages, and

creating and presenting spiritual hymns, poems,

testimonials and plays.

Christ Said,

“I Will Be With You Always.”

Jesus concluded His address by saying ...

... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20b)

Since Jesus had revealed that He would be leaving Earth to return to Heaven, how would He be able to be “with” each of His followers “even unto the end of the world”? To unwind this conundrum, we must recall that our God is a Triune Entity. When Jesus made this declaration, the “Day of Pentecost” was a week or 2 away. On “that day” the Holy Spirit would come to Earth and take up residence in every saved soul on the planet.

Yes, on “that day”, physically, He would be residing in Heaven, but since He and the Holy Spirit are One, He would, also, be “spiritually” residing in His disciples. Earlier, Jesus had said ...

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

(John 14:19-20)

By the phrase, “ye in me”, Jesus meant that from the ensuing “Day of Pentecost” forward, His followers would be in the New Testament Church, which is called the “Body of Christ”, in many New Testament passages.

The New Testament Church

Grew Rapidly.

Early Christians quickly developed a reputation. Their enemies charged that they were “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

- Peter and his wife, Perpetua, preached in Israel,

Asia Minor and Rome.

- Andrew went to Asia Minor, Greece, the Slavic

nations, and Russia.

- Thomas preached in Turkey, Armenia and the area

east of Syria, including India.

- Philip ministered in Carthage in North Africa and

Asia Minor.

- Matthew ministered in Persia and Ethiopia.

- Bartholomew travelled widely: to India with Thomas,

to Armenia, to Ethiopia and to Southern Arabia.

- James the son of Alpheus ministered in Syria.

- Simon and Jude ministered in Africa, Egypt and

possibly even in Great Britain. Jude travelled to

Armenia before joining up with Simon.

- Matthias is usually associated with Armenia, on the

north shore of the Black Sea.

- John ministered in Israel and Rome. Later, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos.

To this present day, Christians are striving to take Christ to the nations.