John 4:43-54

43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

 

 

Monday 17th October

 

43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.) 

 

Last week we read about Jesus’ remarkable encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well and his stay in her town for two days afterwards. This verse points out the irony of the situation – Jesus is not welcome in his own country: the religious leaders don’t want him to be heard. They want to silence him. Yet the Samaritans in Sychar wanted him to stay with them so that they could spend time with him and hear what he has to say. The comment about a prophet having no honour in his own country may be alluding to an incident which is not recorded in John’s gospel but which is to be found in Mark 6:1-6 – his own family didn’t believe him and took offense at his teaching. This seems to have been a pattern throughout his ministry, especially with regard to the religious leaders of his own people. How do you think Jesus would have felt about this rejection? Do you know anyone at the moment who has been rejected by his or her own people because of his belief in Jesus? Or perhaps you know someone who is not allowed to speak about his or her faith in his or her own area or country? This is very common in our world today, and many of our guests at the City Mission who have had to leave their country because of their belief find themselves in this position. Take some time to pray for them today.

 

Tuesday 18th October

 

45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.

 

Jesus comes back to Galilee and there he is welcomed by the people. This might seem strange after the comment about a prophet not being honoured in his own country in the last verse. But think for a moment about why the Galileans are welcoming him. They are welcoming him because of what they remember him doing.  They remember him clearing the temple courts and turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana. In other words, they remember the extraordinary and exciting things that Jesus has done. Was this the reason that they welcomed him back? Did they want to see more extraordinary and controversial things being done? If so, it is in stark contrast to the way the Samaritans had welcomed him – they did not need miraculous signs. They heard what he said about life in all its fullness and saw a man who overturned cultural and religious norms in order to bring that life to people – no matter who they were. It is worthwhile examining ourselves as to what it is that we want from Jesus. We need to be careful not welcome him in our lives because of what we think he can do for us rather than because of who he is in himself. Let’s pray for an authentic faith which seeks to know more of Jesus himself.

 

Wednesday 19th October

 

And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

 

A royal official comes to Jesus. As an official of the royal court he is hardly an ordinary person. And he is likely to an object of suspicion in the general populace because he is the assistant or administrator for the king, possibly Herod, who is really serving the Roman occupying power. Outsiders can come from all levels of society. Even the wealthy and influential can find themselves isolated and hated. Let’s pray for all those who find themselves marginalised in society.

The official asks Jesus to heal his very sick son. Jesus’ response is rather surprising – he seems irritated. This does not seem to be the compassionate Jesus that we expect. Why might he have been irritated? He may well be frustrated by the fact that people only want to see signs and wonders, as we have already noted in the story of Nicodemus. This is important for us to think about. As we are discovering, there is a theme in John’s gospel that the signs and wonders are only means to an end. What matters is Jesus’ teaching and his power to give life in all its various forms. It may help to look at it from Jesus’ perspective. How would you feel if you were only wanted for what you could do and not for who you are? Or if you knew that you have so much more to offer than the amazing things that you have done? Pray that we will have a healthy view of Jesus and all that he is.

 

Thursday 20th October

 

The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.

 

Already in the gospel we have seen Nicodemus given new life, and Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman about living water. Here we find him giving life to a sick boy. This boy is likely to be a Gentile, that is, he is not Jewish. What does this tell us about Jesus’ ministry? If there was any thought that life in all its fullness was something only for the Jewish people, then that is dispelled in the story of the Samaritan woman and in the healing of this child. What does it mean to you that Jesus comes to give life to all humanity? Is there any particular people group that you are interested in or are concerned for”? Take some time to pray for that group today. How can they come to know about Jesus as the giver of life in all its fullness?

Jesus does not do what the man asks – he does not go to his home, but simply says “your child lives”. Think of those times in your life when Jesus has not done exactly as you have asked. Looking back, how did it work out? Give thanks that Jesus knows what we need more than we do ourselves.

 

Friday 21st October

 

When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

 

It is interesting to note that the child’s father is said to have believed when the man realised exactly when his son was healed. What difference do you think this makes? There were many healers going about Galilee at the time, and perhaps he simply saw Jesus as one of them. The official may simply have been trying all the avenues, and Jesus as just another option. Do you know anyone who simply sees Jesus as one amongst many religious figures, as nothing special? Or perhaps you know someone who has become disillusioned when they haven’t received what they wanted from him? Pray that people will see Jesus for who he is.

When the man gets home he learns that the boy recovered at the very time that Jesus had spoken. That is when he believes that Jesus is more than simply an average healer. Not only that his whole household believes – Jesus’ word is true. Jesus becomes the life giver not only to the boy who had been so near to death, but to the whole household. Their lives were transformed as they became members of Jesus’ “household”. As people whose livelihood was reliant on the man’s work for the king, how might the becoming part of Jesus’ kingdom have affected their everyday lives? The impact would be profound – they have an entirely new allegiance. What difference does being a member of the “household of God” mean for you? Take some time today to think and pray about how your life as a believer impacts those around you.