Galilee 

During Jesus’ time, Galilee was an area south of the east–west section of the Litani River, north of the Mount Carmel and Mount Gilboa mountain range, on the west the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and on the east side of the Jordan Rift Valley. It is divided into multiple sections, the largest two being called Upper and Lower Galilee. The upper area is characterized by higher elevations and mountainous terrain. It is known for its natural beauty, lush landscapes, forests, and scenic vistas. Lower Galilee is named because it is less mountainous, hence less dramatic, but peaceful and quiet. Other areas are called Western Galilee, Galilee Panhandle, Jezreel Valley, Jordan Rift Valley, and the Israeli Coastal Plain. In modern times, some of the boundaries have changed. For example, Galilee used to include part of Lebanon.

Most of the cities are in the lower area, on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, which is plentiful with Tilapia. Heading up the coast sits Tiberias, Magdala, Bethsaida, and Gennesaret, with Capernaum on the top. To the west lies Jotapata, Sepphoris, Cana, and Nazareth.

The region below Galilee is called Judea, where Jerusalem, Bethany, and Bethlehem rest, west of the Dead Sea. It is 65 miles on a map from Nazareth to Jerusalem, but over 90 miles of trails in the time of Jesus.

After the death of Herod the Great, the Roman emperor Augustus appointed his son Herod Antipas as ruler of Galilee. Antipas rebuilt the city of Sepphoris, and founded the new city of Tiberias. These two cities became Galilee's largest cultural centers. Sepphoris, only a little over three miles from Nazareth to the northwest, was the capital of Galilee from 4 BCE to about 25 CE. Then Tiberias was made the capital of Galilee, all during the time of Jesus.

It was Herod the Great who issued the order that massacred babies to try to destroy the infant Jesus. Herod Antipas denied Jesus outstanding compensation due to his father, Joseph, at the time of his death and later imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist.

Galilee served as the nurturing ground for Jesus' formative years, instilling in him a deep sense of compassion and empathy for diverse communities. Raised in the modest town of Nazareth, situated in the hilly terrain of Galilee, Jesus imbibed the values of humility and communal harmony. The socio-cultural environment of Galilee, characterized by a blend of Jewish traditions, Hellenistic influences, and Roman governance, exposed Jesus to a spectrum of beliefs and practices, fostering his inclusive worldview and shaping his open-minded approach to spirituality. The diverse population of Galilee allowed Jesus to interact with people from different walks of life, contributing to his understanding of human nature and the varied challenges faced by individuals across social strata.

Galilee is where Jesus spent most of his life, and includes many of the cities Jesus visited. Jesus was born in Nazareth, and was referred to as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus of Galilee. Jesus’ first and second and third preaching tours were to cities in Galilee. After Jesus arose, he wished to meet his apostles in peaceful Galilee, where they used to fish together.

Galilee's vibrant network of synagogues and centers of learning served as platforms for Jesus to disseminate his spiritual teachings and engage in thought-provoking discussions with local religious leaders. His presence in synagogues across Galilee, including those in Capernaum, Magdala, and Chorazin, not only facilitated the spread of his revolutionary message of love and compassion but also led to intense theological debates and intellectual exchanges. Jesus' ability to contextualize complex spiritual concepts within the framework of traditional Jewish teachings resonated deeply with the Galilean population.

Galilee was more gentile than Jewish, and tended towards a more liberal interpretation of the religious laws, especially the ones about contamination from contact with the gentiles. The Pharisees in Jerusalem considered residents of Galilee as provincial. Many decided Jesus could not be the Messiah simply because David’s throne resided in Judea, not Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias or Lake Kinneret, in particular played a pivotal role in Jesus' ministry, serving as the backdrop for several notable miracles and profound teachings. Its serene waters and picturesque surroundings provided a natural setting for Jesus to deliver timeless parables and engage in transformative interactions with his disciples and the local community. From the tale of his calming of the storm to the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, the Sea of Galilee bore witness to Jesus' divine power and his unwavering commitment to alleviating human suffering. Furthermore, the region's proximity to bustling fishing communities facilitated Jesus' engagement with common fishermen, enabling him to convey profound spiritual insights through simple yet profound analogies drawn from their daily lives.