Back to Galilee

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 4:43-54

 

John 4:50-51

 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. ⁵¹ And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

(NKJV)

 

After cleansing the Temple, a nighttime discourse with Nicodemus, and an encounter with a Samaritan woman that turned into a revival, Jesus returns to Galilee. While Jesus had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country, Jesus was well received in Galilee because they had witnessed the things Jesus did in Jerusalem during the feast (John 4:44-45). Now the people in Galilee are about to witness another miracle that did not even require the physical presence of Jesus, reminding us that God is omnipresent and able to answer our prayers.

 

After two days in Samaria where a revival had broken out, Jesus headed for Galilee (John 4:43). Jesus had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country but returned to a friendly reception in Galilee. This is because the Galileans had been at the feast in Jerusalem and witnessed what Jesus did there (John 4:44-45).

 

Jesus returns to Cana, the place where He turned water into wine. Once word gets out that Jesus has returned from Galilee, a nobleman whose son is sick and near death comes to Jesus, imploring that he come and heal his son (John 4:46-47). Jesus’ reply to the nobleman was that unless the people see signs and wonders they will not believe (John 4:48). This prompts the man to implore Jesus to hurry and come before his son dies (John 4:49).

 

Sensing the nobleman’s faith, Jesus tells him to go on his way because his son lives with the nobleman believing Jesus and going on his way (John 4:50). As he was going home, his servants met him and told him the good news, his son lives (John 4:51). The nobleman than asks his servants when his son got better and they tell him yesterday at the seventh hour which was the very hour Jesus told him his son lives causing the nobleman and his household to believe (John 4:52-53). This was the second sign Jesus did when he came out of Judea into Galilee (John 4:54).

 

Jesus returns to Galilee after his stopover in Samaria and is welcomed because they had been at the feast in Jerusalem and saw what Jesus did at the feast (John 4:45). Jesus comes to Cana the sight of His first miracle and is met by a nobleman who implores Jesus to heal his son who is near death (John 4:46-47). Jesus questions why the people need a sign before believing to which the nobleman asks Jesus to come before his child dies (John 4:49). Jesus tries his faith by telling the nobleman to go home because his son lives. Jesus is God and is everywhere in spirit and able to heal the nobleman’s son even though He is not physically there.

 

James reminds us that prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16). The most powerful aspect of prayer is one can pray for someone thousands of miles away and God, who is everywhere can visit them and answer our prayer for them. Unfortunately, busy schedules and even ministry can rob one of time in prayer with God, something every believer must avoid considering the power of prayer. As we look out at the state of affairs in our world, there is no lack of things to pray for, but I believe there may be a lack of prayer warriors.

 

Prayer is our connection with God along with the Bible, the word of God so we must not allow the cares of this world to rob us of our time alone with God in prayer. Please join me in setting aside time, even if it is just a few minutes, for daily prayer and time in the study of the word of God to connect with God. We are in a spiritual battle with many prayer warriors needed to engage in the battle. I encourage prayer warriors reading this post to put on the full armor of God and engage in the battle (Ephesians 6:10-18), and never take off the armor of God.

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief in Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.