Isn’t it interesting that all through John people are falling into faith / belief with Jesus. It is like a love story with people falling in love at the drop of a hat. Yes that’s right. It is God’s love story and John wants you to see the most important thing in all the world is to fall in love/faith with Him (God/Jesus).
Note Verse 4:43 – after the two days … which two days? The two days spent in Sychar with the Samaritans who came to faith / belief and confessed He was the Saviour of the World. Now note what John says – For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honour in his own country. (Jn 4:44) Interesting to see that John is stacking stories and quotes to make a point. Coming back to Galilee Jesus meets people who were with him in Jerusalem at Passover time and saw what happened there. They had seen the miracles and accepted / received Him. Notice he doesn’t say believed. He leaves his theme word out; Conspicuous by its absence. In fact he adds a little later, taking the words from a Jesus’ quote, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” (John 4:48) Bear in mind this is Jesus home area. So too are the Jews, his home people – but the very ones who rejected him. (John 1:11)
Interesting, the royal official whose son was healed; was he local or foreigner? It is most likely this official is a foreigner but we don’t know for sure. Notice how salvation has been coming to and happening for the foreigners. Samaritans have even believed but the “faithful” Jews seem to be missing out. I wonder why.
Lots of good things have been happening in and around Capernaum but to what effect? When Jesus finally departed from Nazareth, He dwelt in Capernaum (Mat 4:13) and made it the main centre of His activity during a large part of His public ministry. Near by He called the fishermen to follow Him (Mar 1:16), and the publican from the receipt of custom (Mat 9:9, etc.). It was the scene of many “mighty works” (Mat 11:23; Mar 1:34). Here Jesus healed the centurion’s son (Mat 8:5, etc.), the nobleman’s son (Joh 4:46), Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (Mar 1:31, etc.), and the paralytic (Mat 9:1, etc.); cast out the unclean spirit (Mar 1:23, etc.); and here also, probably, He raised Jairus’ daughter to life (Mar 5:22, etc.). In Capernaum the little child was used to teach the disciples humility, while in the synagogue Jesus delivered His ever-memorable discourse on the bread of life (Jn 6).
John is still working his theme. Notice what happens when we cross the chapter boundary from chapter four to five. But more on that in the next Gem; you have some time to look further for yourself.
Now for the new theme of Perseverance: NEVER GIVE UP
At the age of 65 was broke, jobless and separated from his wife. He faced 1009 rejections by restauranteurs before one finally allowed him to give his recipe a go. With every refusal his attitude was how can I do it better next time.
Colonel Sanders
You can’t change the world if you are afraid of it.
Anon
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
Anon