PALACE OF PRIESTS ASSEMBLY ANNUAL EASTER PROGRAMME
GOING TO GALILEE (Matt 28: 1-10)
BACKGROUND
Jesus was born to die to save us from sin, poverty and bondage (Matt 1:21; Luke 4:18). Before Jesus Christ died, at the last supper, he told the disciples that after he is raised up, he will go ahead of them to Galilee.
Matt 26: 32- But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee (NIV)
On resurrection morning, the angel tells the women to go and tell the Apostles that Jesus would go ahead of them into Galilee. He requested them to meet them at Galilee.
Matt 28: 1-10 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (NIV)
PPA GOING TO GALILEE
PPA Annual Easter Programme is Going to Galilee on Monday morning at 8.00am. It is a symbolic show of going to meet Jesus at Galilee. The Headquarters and every branch should select a mountain to be designated as their Galilee. Every year, they should go to the mountain to praise God, pray and hear from the Lord.
THREE EXPECTATIONS FROM GOING TO GALILEE
1. To see Jesus: Jesus requested the Apostles to come to Galilee to see him. We go to Galilee symbolically to see Jesus. No one sees Jesus and remain the same. Every year, when we see Him, he changes our situation for the better. When we see Him, he takes over our burden. When we see him, there is a turning point in our life. When we see him, we renew our commitment and dedication to him.
2. To understand who we are in Jesus: When we go to Galilee, we remind ourselves of who we are in Jesus. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus met two people who were discussing the resurrection. They did not understand the events. Jesus explained to them what the scriptures said about himself and opened their eyes to understand. (Luke 26:31). We come to Galilee to understand who we are in Jesus. We come to understand that we are Kings and Priests (Rev 1:6; Rev 5:10). We come to Galilee to understand that we are not ordinary people (1 Peter 2:9). We come to Galilee to understand that we have authority (Mark 16:17). We come to Galilee to understand that we have inheritance ((Eph 1:11; Col 3:24; Heb 9:15; 1 Peter 1:3-9).
3. To pass from death to live: We come to Galilee to celebrate our passage from death to life. We come to Galilee to experience the resurrection power. We come to celebrate that we have eternal life.
CONCLUSION
Our going to Galilee is symbolic with expectation of spiritual benefits. As we go to Galilee every year, Jesus Christ will appear to us, open our eyes and make us live as Kings and Priests in this end time.