JESUS GOES TO GALILEE
JOHN 4:43-54
Introduction:
Although Jesus was as welcome among the Samaritans as he could be anywhere, and had better success, yet after two days he left them because he had to preach to other cities. Luke 4:43-44, “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.”
I. A PROPHET IN HIS OWN COUNTRY
A. The Lord leaves Samaria to go to Galilee, v. 43, “Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.”
1. Jesus had success in Samaria, vs. 41-42, “And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
a. The Samaritan woman had testified about Jesus, v. 39, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.”
b. Some had heard for themselves and believed, v. 41, “And many more believed because of his own word;”
2. There He openly declared Himself to be the Messiah, vs. 25-26, “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
a. Jesus could not do that in Judea until later in His ministry because of their belligerence.
b. In Samaria there were no political implications with the Jews.
B. The Lord goes into Galilee, v. 43, “Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.”
1. Jesus is received by the people, v. 45, “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.”
2. Jesus had avoided His hometown because He knew the people, v. 44, “For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.”
a. He knew how they thought, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
b. He knew that they would not accept Him, Mark 6:4, “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
C. He came unto His own…
1. He came to His own world, the one He had created, but there was no welcome, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
2. He came unto His own people, the Jews, but was rejected by them, Isaiah 53:1, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”
II. EVEN IN GALILEE THE POWER OF GOD IS NOT LIMITED
A. Jesus does His Second Miracle.
1. Jesus encounters a certain nobleman (ruler) in Cana where He did His first miracle, v. 46, “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.”
2. Apparently he was a Jew because Jesus includes him in those who wanted to see signs, vs. 47-48, “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. 48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:22, “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”
3. Jesus heals the nobleman’s son, v. 50, “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.”
a. The nobleman believes and goes his way.
b. There is confirmation of the Lord’s power, vs. 51-53; Luke 4:14, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”
CONCLUSION:
Verse 54 say, “This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” The Lord had done two miracles in Galilee and still the Jews were not convinced that He was the Christ. He had told them directly in Luke 4:15-30, and they tried to kill Him.