John 4

John 4:1-54

Jesus’ Testimony to the Gentiles of His Divine Calling – Because of the hostility of the Jewish leaders, Jesus returns to Galilee. After the author shows us how the testimonies of Jesus were being rejected by the Jews, he then shows us in John 4:1-54 how the Gentiles openly received the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a lengthy passage of the Samaritan woman and her village welcoming Jesus Christ as the Messiah (John 4:1-42) followed by a statement that the Gentiles in Galilee widely accepted Him (John 4:43-45). We are then given the example of Jesus healing the nobleman’s son, who was a Gentile (John 4:46-54). The Samaritan woman testified to her village that Jesus was the Messiah that was to come (John 4:1-42). In Galilee His testimony is widely received (John 4:43-45), with the healing of the nobleman’s son serving as an excellent example of their faith in Him (John 4:46-54). While the first miracle in Cana of turning the water to wine symbolized the predestined plan of Jesus Christ to pour out His blood to redeem mankind back to God through a blood covenant, the second miracle of healing the nobleman’s son symbolized the calling of Jesus Christ to redeem both Jews and Gentiles through faith in Him. Our response to this second miracle is to recognize Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world (John 4:42) and to put our faith in Him. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Testimony of the Samaritan Woman — John 4:1-422. The Testimony of the Galileans — John 4:43-54a) The Galileans Accept Jesus — John 4:43-45b) Second Miracle (Healing of a Gentile) — John 4:46-54

John 4:43-54

The Galileans Respond to His Calling - In John 4:43-54 we have the testimony of the people of Galilee. The author tells us how the Galileans received Jesus’ ministry (John 4:43-45). Then the author follows this statement with an illustration of the healing of the nobleman’s son in Cana of Galilee (John 4:46-54). Thus, these opening verses give us the setting and reason behind the miracle of the healing of the nobleman’s son, just as John 4:1-3 serves an introductory statements for the story of the Samaritan Woman. In verse 44, Jesus says that a prophet has no honour in his own country. Why did Jesus make such a statement: because He knew the hearts of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and, thus, had to depart from Judea (John 4:1-3), and Jesus said it because He was about to work a second miracle here in the region of Galilee, which was ethnically no longer a part of the Jewish nation as was Judea. The first miracle took place in Cana of Galilee where Jesus turned the water to wine. The second miracle is in this passage, where he healed the son of a nobleman, also in Cana. Jesus performed a miracle because He knew that except they see signs and wonders, they will not believe (verse 48). Therefore, Jesus came and performed miracles in Galilee so that many would believe in Him. We see in this passage of Scripture that Jesus goes into Galilee (verse 43). This was the region where Jesus was raised from a child. Jesus says here that a prophet is not accepted in his own native place (verse 44). Jesus was referring to His rejection by those in Galilee. Because of his rejection in Cana, He had performed only one miracle in Galilee, when He turned the water to wine (verse 46). Jesus had performed many miracles while in Jerusalem (verse 45), and some of those of Galilee did receive Him. Therefore, the purpose of this passage is to show the second miracle that Jesus performed in Galilee (verse 54). This passage in the Gospel of John clearly illustrates an underlying theme, which is the fact that Jesus came unto His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11). Outline - Here is a proposed outline:

1. The Galileans Accept Jesus — John 4:43-452. The Second Miracle (Healing of a Gentile) — John 4:46-54 John 4:43-45 — The Galileans Respond to His Calling – John 4:43-45 tells us of how the Gentiles widely accepted the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage is followed by the example of one Gentile being healed by Jesus Christ (John 4:46-54). Just as the story of the Samaritan woman opens with a reference to Jesus’ rejection by the Jews (John 4:1-3), so does the story of the healing of the nobleman’s son open with a similar statement. For we read in John 4:44 Jesus declared that a prophet has no honor in His own country and that He was accepted by the Gentiles (John 4:45). John 4:43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. John 4:44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. John 4:44 — Comments - The declaration by Jesus Christ that a prophet is not accepted in his own country is recorded in the all four Gospels (Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24, John 4:44). While the Synoptic Gospels place this statement within the story of Jesus’ rejection in His home town of Nazareth (Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:16-30), John alone records this declaration of Jesus within the context of His testimony to the Jews in Judea of His call as the Saviour of the world. Matthew 13:57, “And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.” 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.” Luke 4:24, “And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.” Those family and friends who had grown up with Jesus and lived with Him had a difficult time accepting Him as the Messiah, while the rest of Galilee received Him gladly. Andrew Wommack quotes this proverb, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”[162] In other words, when we become too familiar with someone, we generally are less likely to praise his gifts, and more likely to condemn his weaknesses. Although Jesus Christ had not faults, no sin, He was fully human. Those who became familiar with His humanity had a difficult time embracing His deity. The writings of the New Testament reveal that Paul the apostle had a greater revelation of who Jesus Christ was than did the Twelve who walked with Him for three and a half years. This is because Paul only knew Jesus as the Resurrected Christ.

He did not have to lay aside his experience of walking with Jesus as flesh and blood. It is easier for us to understand the revelation of the deity of Jesus Christ than it was for those who walked with Him on earth because we can only view Him by the Word of God through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus said, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) There is a greater blessing in believing for those who have not seen Him because it is easier to take hold of the Word of God through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. [162] Andrew Wommack, “Familiarity Breeds Contempt,” in One Year With Jesus: February 16th, [on-line]; accessed 17 February 2012; available from Internet.John 4:45 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. John 4:45 — Comments - The feast mentioned in John 4:45 refers back to the first Passover mentioned in John 2:13 because it is within the thematic section of Joh 2:12 to John 4:54 that testifies of Jesus calling all men to believe in Him. John 2:13, “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,” John 4:46-54 — The Second Healing: The Testimony of Justification Through Faith in Jesus Christ (The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son) (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10) – John 4:46-54 tells us the story of Jesus healing the nobleman’s son. This is the second healing testimony that John records in his Gospel. This story serves as a testimony of the acceptance by the Gentiles of Jesus’ ministry. More importantly, this miracle testifies of the aspect of our spiritual journey called justification through faith in Christ. This is why Jesus says unless they see signs and wonders, they would not believe in Him (John 4:47), and why this passage of Scripture says that the man and his whole believed once they realized it was a miracle (John 4:53). John 4:46 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. John 4:47 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 4:47 — Comments - Jesus is asked by the nobleman to “come down” from Cana to Capernaum because Cana was located in the hill country west of the Sea of Galilee, while Capernaum was situated alone the lake’s shore. John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:48 — Comments - Jesus Christ knew every man’s heart. He understood that this nobleman would not believe in Him unless Jesus performed a miracle. This is exactly what Jesus did so that this man would believe; for when the man understood that his son was healed the very same hour that Jesus told him to go his way, he and his whole house believed John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. John 4:50 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. John 4:51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. John 4:52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. John 4:53 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 4:53 — Comments - Within each of the six feast sections is found a miracle that testifies of Jesus’ deity. We find six of these miracles ending with a statement that many believed in Him because of these miracles (John 2:11; John 4:53; John 5:15; John 6:14; John 9:38; John 11:45). The seventh miracle ends with a similar statement (John 20:29). John 4:54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. John 4:54 — Comments - Jesus Christ had wrought many other miracles in Jerusalem prior to this visit to Galilee (John 2:23), but this is the second miracle that He did in Galilee. John 2:23, “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.”