THE OTHER SIDE

I looked at the Durban beach this morning and it was very calm. It was 5:30 am. The view  was beautiful and it reminded me of the ministry of Jesus especially today being the last Sunday in the month of December 2012. I was convinced that if Jesus was physically here in Durban, He would probably be at the sea side teaching the people about the kingdom of God, and I would be in His congregation listening attentively.

Christians records shows that major portion of Jesus’ ministry took place around the shores of the sea of Durban in South Africa, oh no! Excuse me, I meant the sea of Galilee, an area widely influenced by Roman and Greek civilisations. This influence was primarily felt on the eastern shores of the sea where the cities were separated culturally, religiously, and geographically from the Jewish cities of Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida, located on the lake’s western shores. According to the book of Mattew, Jesus concentrated His teachings and miracles in these Jewish towns. This area was known by the Jewish population as “our side.”

On occasion Jesus travelled to “the other side” to teach the people. This phrase refers not only to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, but more culturally and religiously to the Gentile region. “The other side” was a specific reference given by the Jewish villagers to the Greek and Roman centres located on the other side of the lake, including the cities of Hippus, Gergesa, and Gadara.

According to the Gospels, thousands of people followed Jesus to the other side. This was no easy task for the Jews. Whether they journeyed by boat or land, they would pay heavy taxes to Rome.

Despite the physical, cultural, and religious obstacles of travel to “the other side,” the Bible records that on two occasions there were crowds of four thousand and five thousand people to hear Jesus. We know that these were mostly Jewish villagers who had travelled a long distance to hear Jesus. Since there were many Gentiles towns nearby, their complaints about having nothing to eat can be interpreted that there was no food available for the Jewish diet. The Gospels say that Jesus, out of compassion, provided fish and bread for the hungry multitudes.

Sometimes people may ridicule us, often it will take time out of our busy schedules, and it will certainly run contrary to the status quo for us to follow Jesus. Yet the reward for doing so remains the same: “He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need for healing... So they all ate and were filled” (Luke 9:11). Jesus filled their spiritual and material needs.

If you are reading this post or you are among those who follow this blog. It is my prayer that you would cross to the other side, i.e. into the New Year with me. I also pray that If you are sick in this year God will heal you as you cross over. I declare that God will also meet with all your needs as you cross with me into 2013. Perhaps you had some negative challenges in 2012, I expect you not to give up on God because He likes to do miracle(s) when you least expect. I believe that your miracle is next on God's list.

Shalom!