LOC – 023 – Jesus In Galilee

Lesson Objectives:

Jesus knows when it is dangerous to stay and where to go to be safe.

We will see another example of the power of Jesus.

Jesus can work miracles from a long distance. (The Doctor can heal without seeing the patient!)

Faith in Jesus as a miracle worker is not necessarily faith in Him as Lord.

Lesson Commentary

Read Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14a; Luke 4:14-15; John 4:43-54

In the last lesson, Jesus had paused to rest at Jacob’s well in mid-Samaria. While He was there, a woman from the nearby town came out and Jesus engaged her in a life-changing conversation. As a result, she drew the whole town to come out and hear Him. As the townspeople approach He also gets the opportunity to explain to His disciples that many people are anxious to hear about the Gospel of forgiveness of sins and that reaching the lost souls for God is more important than even our daily food. (Jesus is not suggesting that we should neglect our daily food, but that we should not be neglecting the evangelism of the lost!)

Ah, Galilee, at last. Jesus finally arrives back from the trip He took to Jerusalem about six months ago for the Passover. The Galileans are generally a friendlier group of Jews than those in Judea. We will see that they are more open to hearing the Gospel proclaimed and not as severe a threat to the life of Jesus. Most of His ministry will be spent in and around the area of Galilee. Soon after He arrives, an official asks Jesus to heal his son who is close to dying. Lets do some more “Walking With Jesus” and see what happens.

Jesus Returns and Teaches in the Synagogues in Galilee

Mt. 4:12; Mk. 1:14; Lk. 4:14; Jn. 4:43 – Jesus gets news that His cousin, John the Baptist, has been put in prison for speaking out against Herod (to be covered in a future lesson). The way the Gospel writers mention the news about John suggests that Jesus’ return to Galilee is connected with John’s imprisonment. Jesus may want to make Himself less available to Herod for a while or He may have been awaiting John’s removal from the scene before getting into the area where John may have been doing much of his preaching. Luke makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is guiding Jesus and empowering Jesus as He returns to Galilee. John mentions that Jesus stays for two days in Samaria before continuing to Galilee. Jesus was well received in Samaria, but His ministry is for a larger audience. It is time for Him to continue in that for which He has been called. Can you remember an instance where you had to flee for your safety (if even just for the moment)?

Jn. 4:44 –Jesus comments that “…a prophet is without honor in his own country” referring to the Jews in Judea who are less open to His message than the Jews in Galilee. Jesus will make this comment again at a later time referring to the people of Nazareth (Cf. Matthew 13:57 and Mark 6:4). Galileans are generally more favorable towards Jesus. But even that faith in Him as a miracle worker and evidence of His cleansing the Temple of the sellers is not faith in Him as Lord. We will see later that even the Galileans will try to kill Him (Luke 4:18-30.) John’s inclusion of these words may be a reference to the difference between Jerusalem and Samaria. It is a sad commentary when we become suspicious of or reject someone that we have known who has now become one called of God as a minister or prophet. We should not discredit someone simply because we knew them before God changed their life. It is a great discouragement for someone to minister to his own people and be rejected by them.

The Old Testament prophets, and even the Apostle Paul, were often rejected most severely and, in some cases, killed in their home communities. “Familiarity (sometimes) breeds contempt.” We should ask ourselves why someone else’s behavior or beliefs bother us. Is it because they are wrong, or because we have previously labeled them and are hesitant to change the label? If some people reject God’s messenger, others will receive Him. The Jews from Judea do not accept Jesus as easily as the Galileans, therefore, most of His ministry will be done in Galilee. We are not required to win everyone to Jesus, but need wisdom to apply our energies on those who are most open to the Gospel.

Jn. 4:45 – Jesus popularity increases because of what He has done, not because of who He really is. The Galileans don’t yet understand that He is the promised Messiah. Though some may be thinking of Him in that light, they have only a dim reflection in the mirror about what the Messiah is really going to be like. They see Jesus primarily as a man of great words and awesome miracles. The event of the feast that probably made the strongest impression was His cleansing of the Temple. Even though Jesus cleaned the temple in Jerusalem and is starting to heal people, believing in Him as a healer does not mean having faith in Him as Lord.

Galileans are primarily Jews who have been displaced northward. They still travel to Jerusalem for the Jewish Feasts. Therefore, it is very likely that many of them saw what Jesus had done when He was in Jerusalem for the Passover and the rest of the Galileans will have heard about it. In His first miracle of changing the water into wine, Jesus dealt indirectly with the theme of life. In this second miracle, life is near the end and Jesus is intervening to save a life. This progress will continue until John 11 when Lazarus is raised from the dead.

Lk. 4:14b-15 – Luke does not deal with any of Jesus’ activities that are outside of Galilee until He returns to Jerusalem at the end of His ministry for His Crucifixion. Here, Luke inserts a summary comment to point out that Jesus is getting His message out to several locations. Jesus is going from community to community and speaking in their synagogues. As He does this, He gathers much respect and praise from those who hear Him preach.

The modern city of Cana Photograph courtesy of Glen & Sylvia Copple

Jesus Heals a Nobleman’s Son at Cana

Jn. 4:46 – John records Jesus’ return to Cana, about six or twelve miles NNE of Nazareth. Cana is only mentioned four times in the Bible. All references are in the Gospel of John. Nathaniel is from Cana (John 21:2). Jesus does his first and second miracles while in Cana of Galilee. While Jesus is in town, a royal official from Capernaum (20 miles away), comes to seek help from Jesus, for his son who is very ill. This person could be a religious or political leader. There is a strong consideration that he is a Jew (though he could possibly be a Gentile official in Herod’s court). Regardless of his power and position, it cannot assure the future of his son. Just because we have Jesus or affluence or status does not mean that we will be spared from tragedy!

Jn. 4:47 – In desperation, the official travels eighteen to twenty-five miles by road to see Jesus. That is a solid day’s journey by foot that is mostly uphill. Cana and Capernaum are more like fifteen to eighteen miles by air, but the roads have to wind up into the hills. Capernaum is about 700 feet (211 meters) below Sea level. Cana is about 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level. There is a difference in elevation between the villages of Cana and Capernaum that is between 1,500 and 2,000 feet.

The official believes that Jesus has the power to heal his son, but he thinks that Jesus has to come to the boy in order to heal him. Here is a strong testimony of the extent of his love for his son. In his position, he has ample access to the best doctors. They have evidently determined his son’s situation hopeless. It is also noteworthy that, as a royal official, he could easily send a servant to summon Jesus. Instead, he goes himself because he believes that Jesus is worthy of the trouble, and that Jesus can heal his son. Even the greatest of men must become beggars when standing before God. No one can be helped until they humble themselves and acknowledge their inability to help themselves. They must confess that they need God’s help before He can give it.

Jacob's Well is shown in relation to Sychar showing Jesus' most likely route to Cana.
Map courtesy of Logos Bible Atlas.

Jn. 4:48 – Jesus confronts us with a fact of human nature. The response is rather sharp towards the official. As in the miracle at the wedding feast, Jesus’ initial response is negative. Faith built only on miracles will never be complete or adequate. We should be careful when one comes into our midst doing signs and wonders to see if they are honestly seeking to glorify God or draw attention to themselves. It is not whether their signs or wonders are wrong, but what and why we are following after them. What counts more than anything else is: “Only one life, will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.” What are you doing to keep your priorities focused on Jesus and not get “wowed up” in the miracles?

Jn. 4:49 – The father is anxious about his son and strongly believes that Jesus can save him. He is in no position to argue, but realizes, like Mary, that his request has not been rejected. So he begs, respectfully, and prays earnestly for Jesus to come quickly. He has no idea that Jesus can heal from a distance, otherwise, he might not bother Jesus to “come.” Based on what he has heard, and possibly seen, in Jerusalem, he does believe that Jesus can heal his son while he is still alive. He does not appear to believe that Jesus can raise His son back to life. Many times, Christ must work on us before He can work for us!

Jn. 4:50 – Jesus says He can heal the son from a long distance. His power is not limited to His presence. This requires faith in action. The father takes Jesus at His word and begins his journey home believing that his son has indeed been healed. The father could have easily begged Jesus to come and not trusted Him at His word. Faith is the key. It acts with trust, which is the lock. Obedience is turning the key. The same is still true today. God is not limited to our limitations, but often only waits for us to apply our faith to His provision.

Jn. 4:51 – Here is confirmation of the miracle. If the servants leave as soon as the miracle has occurred, they will meet the official about half way. The good news is so exciting that they don’t wait for him to arrive at home. This son means a great deal to the father for him to go to this great length and trouble for his life. This situation was also important to the servants for them to leave to meet the father. Can you identify with this father’s love for his child? How far are you willing to go or sacrifice for your own children?

Jn. 4:52 – The father inquires to confirm what time the child showed signs of improvement to verify that it is the word of Jesus that healed his son. He only wants to be sure that Jesus is the responsible element in his son’s healing. The seventh hour in Roman time is 7:00 p.m. In the Jewish way of telling time, it is 1:00 p.m. As small as this village is, Jesus should not be hard to find. If the man traveled all day and arrived late, it could easily be 7:00 p.m. when Jesus heals his son. Either way you look at it, there has been an overnight stay at some point in this process. By the time that the servants catch up to the father, it is the following day. What events are you looking at to verify the power and presence of Jesus around you?

Jn. 4:53 – This only confirms to the father that Jesus is responsible for the child’s healing. This brings him great joy and encourages him to excitedly hurry home. As soon as he arrives, he shares this information with his household and leads them all to believe in Jesus, as the great healer who saved his son from death. Their level of faith is not in Jesus as the Son of God, yet. He is just getting started and has some preaching to do before any level of understanding as to His deity will be realized. Based solely on what you have learned so far in “Walking With Jesus,” who do you think He is?

Jn. 4:54 – This is the second sign performed in Galilee, but it is not really the second sign. There were other signs done in Jerusalem during the Passover. Even the encounter with the woman at the well had its miraculous overtones. (How could Jesus know this woman’s past so well?) There is a hidden aspect to this miracle and the turning the water into wine. Both were done in somewhat private settings. Jesus has much more to reveal before He is to be well recognized publicly.

Next week, Jesus returns to the town where He grew up, Nazareth. What kind of a reception is He going to receive from His home community? Will they welcome Him back and praise God for the local boy who has become a positive influence, or will they be so caught up in their negative thinking that they will not recognize that one of their own could ever amount to anything good. (Remember Nathaniel’s comment, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” – John 1:46)

Read Luke 4:16-30.

“Walking With Jesus”

Lesson Commentary

LOC – 023 Jesus arrives in Galilee
Rejection and Healing

Next time you become ill and need surgery or serious medical attention, wouldn’t it be nice if you could get that help without having to go to the doctor’s office? Just make a phone call and he you would not have to be exposed to other people’s illnesses. Doctor would not have to come visit!

We are in Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14a, Luke 4:14-15; John 4:43-54.Jesus gets news that John the Baptist has been put in prison because he spoke against Herod marrying his brother’s wife (we’ll cover this in a future lesson).Jesus now arrives in Galilee some six months after the Feast of the Passover. This is where He will spend most of the remainder of His ministry.

Jesus has to protect Himself! – Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14a; Luke 4:14-15; John 4:43-45

Jesus’ return after John’s arrest suggests that He wants to make Himself less available to Herod less His purpose is interrupted. Luke suggests that it is the Holy Spirit who motivates Jesus to go to Galilee. Have you ever felt a strong urging to go somewhere or do something? Could that urging have been the Holy Spirit working in your life? Jesus is in the life-changing business. How has He changed your life?

John mentions that a prophet is seldom accepted in his own neighborhood. This is most likely a reference to the resistance that Jesus experienced when in Jerusalem. Jesus will later make this same observation of His reception in Nazareth where He grew up. It is a sad commentary when we reject someone because we knew him or her when (in the past) instead of accepting him or her now! Most of the prophets and Apostles were rejected in their home communities.

The Galileans welcome Jesus because many of them saw what He did in Jerusalem at the Passover and have told others about Him.Jesus is now able to go and teach in all of their synagogues because He has championed an injustice that especially affected Galilean Jews. He confronted the priests with their greed and price gouging in the selling of animals for the sacrifices.

Wealth cannot buy health! – John 4:46-47

Ah, Jesus returns to Cana of Galilee, where He had changed the water into wine at a wedding recently! Word has gotten around the region that Jesus is in the area. A royal official from Capernaum whose son is sick, hears about Jesus and goes to Cana to ask Jesus to heal his son. The road from Capernaum to Cana is 18 to 25 miles uphill (2,000+ ft. change in elevation)! 6-8 hours by foot.

At first, Jesus balks at the request because many people are more impressed with sensationalism and want a miracle instead of enduing the hard labor that makes for success. Jesus’ hesitancy has nothing to do with this man’s position, popularity or power. Can you accept people regardless of their race, vocation, social status or wealth?

At this point in His life, Jesus’ popularity is more for what He has done than for who He is. Faith in Jesus as a miracle worker is not the same as faith in Him as the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. Sometimes Jesus has to work on us before He can work for us!

Jesus can heal without being there! – John 4:48-50

The official came to Jesus because he believes that Jesus can heal his son. He continues to plead with Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son. He is persuaded that the only hope for His son is a miracle for healing by Jesus. He has ample access to doctors and they have been unsuccessful.

Jesus’ reply is for him to go home, his son will be okay. He trusts Jesus (a step of faith) and leaves. Faith = key, trust = lock, obedience = turning the key in the lock. Even the noblest leaders and the most affluent or powerful are reduced to beggars in the presence of Jesus. There are some situations that only God can heal but most of the time He uses doctors and medicine to do it!

Proof of Jesus’ power! – John 4:51-54

As the royal official from Capernaum is returning home, some of his servants are traveling to Cana to tell him that the boy is okay. The life-threatening fever is gone and the child is back to normal. The official inquires about when the boy got better and they tell him. He recalls that this s the same time that Jesus told him to go home, the boy will be okay.

This is the second miracle recorded by John and done by Jesus in Galilee. Jesus did some miracles in Jerusalem, but no others in Galilee until now.

CONCLUSION

Have you ever been seriously ill or had someone in your family that survived a life-threatening illness? How did you feel upon your or their recovery? Did you see God’s hand in their recovery? Did you tell others what God did and praise Him for His mercy and grace in bringing about healing? It isn’t the miracles in your life that matter, but who Jesus is! What are you doing to build that relationship with Him?

Next week: Jesus gets more rejection. Will He give in or stand strong?