After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.
- John 7:1

After working multiple miracles and being abandoned by all but his closest disciples, Jesus continued to teach in the area of Galilee. Galilee is the region where Jesus and many of his disciples were from. It was in the northern part of Israel, far from Judea, Jerusalem and the Temple in the southern part of the country.

Galilee was, according to Virgilio Elizondo, filled with "inhabitants who were mostly poor, rural peasants exploited by distant landowners and even Temple officials, some of whom considered them backward, impure, rebellious, and ignorant." Judea, on the other hand, would have been filled with the powerful and the influential, the movers and shakers, the religious and political leaders of the day.

Why did Jesus hesitate to go to Judea?

For the first time in the Gospel of John, we read that people were angry enough about Jesus' teaching and ministry to want to kill him. This will only escalate until the story reaches its dramatic conclusion with Jesus' death and resurrection.

Jesus created strong feelings in others. And he still does.

Take a few minutes today to pray a prayer of blessing over those who have strong negative reactions to Jesus. Ask God to treat them with kindness, generosity and mercy.