MEET THE STRANGER OF GALILEE
As our daughter is on tour with her church group in
Israel, along with our granddaughter, we have been sharing many memories of our
trip to Israel when she was a child. I
will never forget the peace of walking where He walked and sharing communion in
the garden where He was buried and then in three days walked out of that
tomb. And then visiting the place on
Mount of Olives where He ascended back into heaven, and oh how we long for His
return, when He steps out of heaven onto the Mount of Olives once again!
My husband asked me “what was the highlight of our trip
to Israel for you?” I shared that I
actually had two highlights and that one of them was communion at the Garden
Tomb and the other was what I am going to share with you now.
One beautiful morning our tour group met on the shore of
Galilee. Our tour was with our fellow
church members from our church and it was a large tour so we usually met
together in smaller groups with a Pastor for each group. On this particular day we all gathered
together there at the Sea of Galilee. We
would listen to a Pastor teach from a boat pushed out from the shore just as
Jesus taught. (Matthew 13:1-2). And later we would take the trip across the
lake in a boat.
As we were standing there listening to the Word taught
and pondering on the scene before us and remembering what it was like when
Jesus was there, there was a sudden quiet and suddenly a tenor voice from the
crowd began to sing and the words of this song echoed out over the lake. I still am moved from that memory and the
tears still come.
THE STRANGER OF GALILEE
“In fancy I stood
by the shore one day, of the beautiful murm’ring sea. I saw the great crowds as they thronged the
way of the Stranger of Galilee; I saw how the man who was blind from birth, in
a moment was made to see; the lame was made whole by the matchless skill of the
Stranger of Galilee.
Refrain: And I
felt I could love Him forever, so gracious and tender was He! I claimed Him
that day as my Savior, this Stranger of Galilee.
His look of
compassion, His words of love, they shall never forgotten be; when sin sick and
helpless He saw me there, this Stranger of Galilee; He showed me His hand and
His riven side, and He whispered, “It was for thee!” My burden fell off at the
pierced feet of the Stranger from Galilee.
I heard Him speak
peace to the angry waves, of that turbulent, raging sea; and lo! At His word
are the waters stilled, this Stranger of Galilee; a peaceful, a quiet, and holy
calm, now and ever abides with me; He holdeth my life in His mighty hands, this
Stranger of Galilee.
Come ye who are
driven, and tempest tossed, and His gracious salvation see; He’ll quiet life’s
storms with His “Peace, be still!” This Stranger of Galilee. He bids me to go and the story tell-what He
ever to you will be, if only you let with you abide, this Stranger of Galilee.”
4th
verse Chorus: Oh, my friend, won’t you
love Him forever? So gracious and tender is He!
Accept Him today as your Savior, this Stranger of Galilee. (Leila
N. Morris-1893)
And today, this Stranger of Galilee is no longer a
“Stranger.” He comes into our lives full
of compassion and love. And because of
His sacrifice at the cross, we behold His nail pierced hands and feet and the
wound in His side by faith. And He whispers to all who come to Him that He did
it for us, for the whole world.
We remember in His Word how in His great compassion
healed the sick, the blind and the lame, and this same Jesus is still healing
and working miracles today. And we can
come to Him anytime and our burdens will fall off as He brings peace to our
hearts.
“And suddenly a
great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the
waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples to Him and awoke Him,
saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then
He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea.
And there was a great calm” Matthew 8:23-27.
As the disciples feared for their lives, the Lord was
asleep in perfect peace. He held their
lives in His Mighty hands. After all, He
controlled the sea and all the waves roaring, He was the Creator, the wind and
the waves obeyed His voice as He spoke “Peace, be still.”
And you, my friend, are waves of trouble rocking your
ship? He comes speaking to the trials of
life, calming the storms, bringing a great calm. Do you know this “Stranger of Galilee?” He is calling out to you to just “Come.” And when you “Come” and kneel at His feet, He
will always be there, walking the path of life with you, and He will no longer
be a “Stranger” to you. He will become
your best friend, your Savior, your King and your Lord and never leave your
side. Won’t you ask Him today? See His outstretched arms waiting for you,
just come! Come meet the Stranger of Galilee.”
In the Name of Jesus,
Pastor Sharon
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