Many Christians today are in an unhealthy place in their walk with God because they’re weighed down by things like guilt, shame, hurts, regrets, and failures from the past. In his book Hope in Times of Fear, which he wrote after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Tim Keller writes on the meaning of resurrection: “Doesn’t nature itself teach you that after winter comes spring? That even in a disaster and after death there can be new beginnings? That even in our misfortunes, we can discover lessons, we can grow, and we can begin afresh?”

Before the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, Jesus said to His disciples, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered’” (Mark 14:27). After the Passover, Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, where He often taught His disciples. There, Jesus revealed to them that they were all going to fall away—specifically that Peter would deny Him. Jesus knew that when they saw His arrest, His trial, and the ensuing crucifixion, they would become fearful and flee.

Why did Jesus reveal to His disciples that they would all fall away? And why did He specifically prophesy that a rooster would crow twice as a reminder to Peter of what Jesus said he would do—deny Him three times? Sandwiched between Jesus revealing to His disciples that they will all desert Him and that Peter would deny Him three times, Jesus said, “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (Mark 14:28).

After revealing that they would all abandon Him in His darkest hour, Jesus doesn’t say, “But when I rise from the dead you will miss out on all that I had planned for you.” He didn’t say, “Wherever you’re hiding out, I will find you and I will make you regret what you did for the rest of your lives.” Rather, as James Coffman explained, “Christ here went far beyond the detailed prophecies of His Passion and calmly set up an appointment to meet the Twelve in Galilee after the Great Sacrifice had been offered. Nothing in literature, fable, myth, legend, or imagination is worthy to be compared with what Christ promised in this verse. [Moreover], He did it!”

It’s clear in the Scriptures why Jesus would reveal to His disciples that He would rise from the dead. The promise of His resurrection would assure them, and assures us today, that all of Jesus’ promises are true and faithful. Because He conquered death, we can trust that He is able to come through on His promise to give life to all who believe.

Jesus’ resurrection assures us that all of His promises are true and faithful. Because He conquered death, we can trust that He is able to come through on His promise to give life to all who believe.

But Jesus didn’t just assure them that He would rise from the dead. He said, “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (Mark 14:28). Galilee was a place where our Lord and His disciples could commune with one another away from the crowds so that Jesus could encourage them and instruct them in the things concerning the kingdom of God. Moreover, Jesus would wait for them in Galilee because He had more disciples there to whom He would offer Himself and manifest His resurrection than He had in Judea. But more significantly, His disciples were from Galilee. He was waiting for them at the place where He found them. He’s taking them back to where their journey with Jesus began.

Incredibly, Jesus did more than remind His disciples, who were going to abandon Him, that He would rise from the dead. He set up an appointment to meet them in Galilee. And Jesus is not speaking like a father who says to a disobedient child, “Wait until we get home, you’re going to get it.” He’s assuring them that, although they may have let Him down, He will not let them down.

Jesus did more than remind His disciples, who were going to abandon Him, that He would rise from the dead. He set up an appointment to meet them in Galilee.

Likewise, if you’re saved today, Jesus wants you to know that you may have failed Him, but He will not fail you. You may have denied Him, but He will not deny you. You may have even forsaken Him when it mattered most, but He hasn’t forsaken you—and He never will.

I so appreciate how Jim Cymbala put it:

“Do you know what Galilee is? Galilee was where He first called them. That’s where He started with them. In other words, He was saying, you might have given up on Him, but He will never give up on you. You might have made a disaster of the whole thing but He’s not throwing you away. He wants to start over. He wants to take you back to the place where you first started. Jesus not only gives another start, He gives 1,000 new beginnings. How many of you have found that [to be true] in your own life? You might feel unworthy to come to Jesus, but Galilee means He’s not done with you. He knew you would mess up before you messed up. But go back to Galilee. He never gave up on you. He’s amazing. I’ve given Him 10,000 reasons to give up on me. Anybody here with me? But He never gave up, never gave up. Satan is a liar. If you feel like, ‘It’s too late’ or ‘I missed my moment’ or ‘I messed up too much and I’m ashamed of it,’ I’m telling you, go back to Galilee. Go back to where you started. Go back in your heart to when you had childlike faith, and say, ‘Jesus help me; I need you.’ He will start with you right there. I’m so glad He doesn’t throw people away. [You may still be saying in your heart], ‘But I’m unworthy.’ No, [Jesus is saying to you], ‘My love is greater than your mess up. My strength is greater than your weakness.’”

Jesus wants you to know that you may have failed Him, but He will not fail you. You may have denied Him, but He will not deny you. You may have even forsaken Him when it mattered most, but He hasn’t forsaken you—and He never will.

Where are you today? Have you drifted from the Lord? Have you abandoned your first love (Revelation 2:1-5)? Like the disciples, have you made mistakes you regret and never thought you would ever make? Do you feel like God can’t use you because of something you did in the past? Are you struggling with a sin issue in your life that is making it hard for you to come to church, read your Bible, or even pray? Have you been isolating yourself because you feel like a hypocrite rather than being open and honest about where you are in your walk with God? Have you ever had a relationship with the Lord?

Jesus is alive, and just as He waited for His wandering disciples in Galilee after paying the debt of their sin, He’s waiting for you with love and resurrection power to renew, restore, and give you a fresh start. You may have given up on Him, but He’s not given up on you. He’s waiting for you to come humbly and in faith knowing that He will receive you in love. He’s waiting to bring you back to where you once were so that you can get to where He wants you to be. He’s waiting for you to come to Him—not so He can condemn you but restore you to a place where you will once again experience the joy of fellowship with Him and the power of His resurrection in your life. With childlike faith cry out, “Jesus, help me; I need you.” He will start with you right there.

Jesus is waiting to bring you back to where you once were so that you can get to where He wants you to be.

Copyright © 2024 Marco David. All rights reserved.

Pastor Marco David came to know Jesus as his Redeemer and Lord at the age of 17 after a zealous evangelist knocked on his brother’s s apartment door and came in for a visit. For 20 years he served the city of Chicago in various roles in the correctional system and the police force. Ordained in 2000, he began to serve the Church in a part-time capacity until he retired from the police force in 2015 to become the lead Pastor of Midwest Bible Church. He also serves as a Regional Leader for the 6:4 Fellowship and as a Renewal Coach with the 6:3 Discipleship. His passion is to make disciples who spread the fame of Jesus as he prayerfully relies on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Marco married his high school sweetheart Elizabeth and they have four sons, who are all in law enforcement.