“Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.” John 4:43-45.

“After the two days…” refers to the time Jesus spent in the city of Sychar of Samaria; His original destination was Galilee, as seen in John 4:3, “He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.”

In those two days, without any miracles being recorded, the Samaritans accepted Jesus as the Christ.

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’” John 4:42.

Having been received gladly by what was considered the dregs of society, Jesus returned to those who should have recognized and received Him, His own people.

Yet He says of them, “…a prophet has no honor in his own country.” How true this was in His life.

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…” John 1:10-12.

“And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’ And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:54-58.

“Now the Jews Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, ‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” John 7:2-5.

Another passage describes a time when Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath stood and read out of the book of Isaiah. When He had finished reading He sat down and said.

“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21b.

In their disbelief, it says of them.

“So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” Luke 4:22.

Jesus then admonished them for their unbelief in Luke 4:23-27. Their violent response is as follows.

“Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” Luke 4:28-30.

Read all of Luke 4:14-30 for context.

“So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.” John 4:45.

It is likely that this was more of a circus gathering than one of believers in Christ. Herod had similar expectations.

“Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.” Luke 23:8.

It seems odd that the Galileans would hold this lopsided view of Him in spite of all His claims to being the promised Messiah.

“So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.” John 4:46-47.

Capernaum was some 25 miles away from Cana so time was of the essence. It is not hard to see how frantic this man must have been. So what was Jesus’ reply?

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.’” John 4:48.

The main reason for this strange statement goes back to John 4:4-42. The Samaritans in Sychar took Jesus at His word and accepted Him as the Messiah.

No miracles were performed there; yet His own people the Jews rejected both His words and miracles.

Jesus’ signs and wonders were His credentials; they confirmed that He was the Christ, the Son of God. No one on earth has exhibited such power before or after.

“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” John 10:37-38.

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” John 5:36.

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’” Matthew 12:22-24.

Many, including this nobleman may have thought of the Lord as, perhaps a great prophet, but little more. The following three quotes are examples of superficial belief.

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men…” John 2:23-24.

“So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem…” John 4:45a.

“As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, “You will be made free”?’” John 8:30-33.

Jesus wanted this nobleman to know that He could do these things because He was the Christ, not just some holy man.

This has been said before and repeated here again. You cannot be saved by just believing in Jesus, as many do.

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!” James 2:19.

One must believe that Jesus is God incarnate and that He shed His blood for your sins and by believing in that sacrifice and accepting His payment for your sins you will be saved and have a real relationship with God as your Father.

Notice the nobleman’s response to the Lord.

“The nobleman said to Him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies!’” John 4:49.

This distraught man addresses the Lord as Sir, and though the Greek word kyrios is translated Lord, in reference to Jesus in other passages, it is translated Sir six times as an address of respect to Him without meaning that the one addressing Him knew Jesus as Messiah.

The woman at the well addressed Jesus as Sir three times in John chapter 4; “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.” verse 11, “Sir, give me this water…” verse 15, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” verse 19.

And the nobleman, out of deep respect for a prophet, said, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

“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. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, ‘Your son lives!’ Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, ‘Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’” John 4:50-52.

Unlike the centurion described in Luke, this man did not understand that Jesus could heal both those nearby and those far off.

“Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, ‘Lord do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, ‘I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’ And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.” Luke 7:6-10.

There may be other reasons why the Lord did not travel to Capernaum with this man, but the main one is that He wanted to show the nobleman that He is a God of power, over distance, time and nature.

It is significant that, “…the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.” I am not so sure I would have had enough faith to just quit pleading with Him.

Now, I know that hind-sight is 20/20, and that will color how you answer this, but what would your response be? Is your answer to prayer more likely to come if, like this man, Jesus was standing in front of you? Or can you expect the same results not being able to see Him as it is now?

In fact, how do you pray; do you think, “Aw, what’s the use!” or do you press in while laying your petitions before the Father? Jesus tells us to be persistent, see, Luke 11:5-13 and 18:1-8.

“So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, ‘Your son lives.’ And he himself believed, and his whole household. This again is the second sign that Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.” John 4:53-54.

This is what it took for this man to go from saying, “Sir” out of respect, to saying, Lord, and knowing Him as the Christ. Too often we suspect God’s motivation, rather than resting in His loving omniscience.

Unless You See Signs and Wonders, John 4:43-54 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 8-4-12, updated on 7-16-17.

Scripture taken from the New King James version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.