Jesus Returns To Galilee

John 4:43-54

“Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.  For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.  Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.” (John 4:43-45)

After spending two days in Sychar teaching the Samaritan people, Jesus continued his journey into Galilee.  While he had largely been ignored before, the people had seen the attention the Jews in Jerusalem gave him and the various miracles.   As a result the people in Galilee became more receptive to his message.  After all, the Jews in Jerusalem must be more spiritual than those in Galilee since they had the Temple and the High Priest to teach them. 

“So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.” (John 4:46-47)

Jesus had done several miracles while he was in Judea and Jerusalem and some of the Galileans had seen them.  When he returned to Cana, one of the business leaders from Capernaum, who knew about the miracles in Judea begged Jesus com and heal his son, who was at the point of death and the doctors had given up hope. 

“Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” (John 4:48-50)

Jesus commented that the people had not believed in him or his power until they saw his miracles elsewhere.  The leader’s only concern was that his son was dying and he hoped Jesus could help him.  At the moment, he wasn’t worried about whether Jesus was the Messiah or not.  Jesus told him to go on back home because his son would live.  The man took Jesus at his word, and returned home.    

“And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.  Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.  So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” (John 4:51-53)

When the man got back to Capernaum, his servants met him and told him his son had recovered.  When he asked what time the fever broke and his son began to recover they told him it happened about one o’clock in the afternoon.  The leader knew it that was just about the time Jesus said his son would live.  He was convinced Jesus was the Messiah, and the whole family believed.     

“This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” (John 4:54)

This is the second miracle Jesus did after he returned from Jerusalem, but John never mentions what the first was.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe many others during this period, which lasted for some time.