Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ (Mark 1: 14-15)

Both Mark and Matthew are unclear on what happened between the wilderness and John's arrest. The Gospel of Luke can be read to suggest that Jesus had already returned to Galilee and begun his teaching before John's arrest.

According to other gospels Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea. All of the Gospels agree that he was raised in Galilee. For over 200 years Galilee had been part of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. As such it had developed a very different religious tradition from Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom of Judea. It's history and experience was much closer to that of Samaria than to Judea.

But in the 120 years before Jesus Galilee had seen a substantial influx of both Judeans and gentiles. As a result, it was a place where many different ideas contended and combined.

The sense of being on the edge of a New Age was especially keen in Galilee. When Jesus was between five and fifteen years of age Judas of Gamala led a revolt against Roman rule in the Galilee. For many months it appeared he might have succeeded and some considered Judas the promised Messiah.

Jesus offers a teaching that transcends time and place. But understanding the time and place it was first offered may help us fully grasp its meaning.