Galileans in the Bible

In our fast-paced world, we often equate power with prestige, influence with success, and wealth with worth. The empire we live in celebrates those who rise to the top, who achieve the most, and who command the greatest attention. We are bombarded with messages that tell us to climb the corporate ladder, to achieve the highest academic accolades, and to curate a life that captures the admiration of others. Social media feeds become showcases of accomplishment, where the most followers or likes translate into perceived value. In this landscape, those who seem different, those who come from humble beginnings or exhibit vulnerability, often find themselves sidelined. The prevailing narrative, constructed by the empire, suggests that greatness comes from power and status, rather than from humility and service. This is where the Galileans come into play—a group often overlooked, marginalized, and dismissed.

Galilee, the region where Jesus spent most of His life, was not a place of high status. It was seen as a backwater, a place of lower social standing, and yet it became the cradle of the revolutionary message of Jesus. When we think of Galileans, we must confront our assumptions about where God's work is done. We often associate holiness and divine revelation with the grandiose or the elite. But the story of the Galileans invites us to reconsider our definitions of power and influence. It exposes the empire's tendency to overlook the very vessels that God chooses to use to manifest His kingdom.

The Way of the World

The world often rewards those who play by its rules—climbing to the top, wielding authority, and projecting an image of success. In every sphere of life, we see individuals striving for recognition, whether it’s in the workplace, in academic settings, or even within our social circles. Popular culture idolizes the rich and famous, portraying them as the epitome of success, while the ordinary person is frequently depicted as unworthy of notice. This power dynamic creates a hierarchy that prioritizes wealth, status, and influence over compassion, kindness, and humility.

In the hustle of everyday life, this pursuit can manifest in various forms. For example, think of the single mom working multiple jobs to provide for her children, feeling overlooked in a society that glorifies the high-flying executive. Or consider the recent college graduate, drowning in student debt and anxiety, striving to land the “perfect” position that society deems worthy. In hospital settings, I witness patients who carry invisible burdens—mental health struggles or chronic illnesses—often dismissed in a world that only values the physically strong and the successful.

Even in the church, we grapple with these worldly values. Congregations can inadvertently place emphasis on charismatic leaders or those who bring financial resources, rather than on the quiet, faithful service of those who may not seek the spotlight. We create a culture where the loudest voices drown out the whispers of the broken-hearted. Our ministry structures often reflect the same success metrics that plague the secular world, leading to a cycle of burnout and disillusionment among those who feel they don’t measure up to worldly standards.

This condition of the world leaves many feeling isolated and inadequate. It permeates our daily interactions—whether it’s the pressure we feel to present a curated life on social media or the deep-seated belief that our worth is tied to our achievements. When we are caught in this cycle, we risk missing out on the transformative, healing power that comes from embracing the strength found in weakness. The Galileans remind us that God often operates outside the lines of societal expectations, beckoning us to see the beauty and value in the overlooked and marginalized.

The Divine Disruption

But the kingdom! In stark contrast to the world's values, God's kingdom operates on an entirely different paradigm. Jesus, who himself hailed from Galilee, turned the world’s perception of power upside down. He preached that the meek would inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5), and He consistently identified with the poor, the broken-hearted, and the marginalized. The Beatitudes, delivered in the Sermon on the Mount, offer a radical redefinition of blessedness that runs counter to the empire’s values. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Here, the kingdom is granted not to the powerful, but to those who recognize their need for God.

Jesus's actions further illustrate this divine disruption. He chose to surround Himself with fishermen, tax collectors, and those considered outcasts. The Galileans represented the very essence of humility and simplicity, and yet, God chose them as the primary vessels of His transformative message. When Jesus sent out His disciples to share the good news,