43 "AND after the two days He went forth from thence into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in His own country. So when He came into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went unto the feast.
46 "He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, 47 whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought Him that He would come down, and heal his 48 son; for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in nowise 49 believe. The nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come down ere 50 my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his 51 servants met him, saying, that his son lived. So he inquired 52 of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left 53 him. So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and 54 his whole house. This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee."
Golden Text.—"Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and his whole house." Verse 53.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Two days after Jesus' talk with the woman at Jacob's well, where did He go? V. 43. (2) What had He been doing during those two days? Note 1. (3) What did he testify concerning prophets? V. 44. (4) What was His experience on arriving in Galilee? Why was He so readily received? V. 45. Note 2. (5) To what place in Galilee did He first come? What had He done in Cana before this time? V. 46. (6) What noted man came to Jesus at Cana? What request did this man make? V. 46, last part, and 47. (7) What did Jesus say to him? V. 48. What was the nobleman's anxious reply? V. 49. (8) What command and promise did he receive? In what spirit did he receive these words of Jesus? V. 50. (9) Whom did the nobleman meet as he neared his home? What did they say? V. 51. (10) What inquiry did the nobleman make of his servants? What did they say as to the time? V. 52. Note 3. (11) Then what did the father know? And what was the result? V. 53. Note 4. (12) How many miracles had Jesus now performed in Galilee? V. 54.
NOTES.
1. "After two days."—That is, from His talk with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Verse 40 states that the Samaritans "besought Him that He would tarry with them; and He abode there two days."
2. Galilee, in the time of Christ, was very populous. Josephus computes the population at not less than three million. There were over two hundred towns which contained fifteen thousand inhabitants or more. Capernaum was the leading trade and travel center of all Palestine. It was no doubt for this reason that Jesus spent much of His time there. While His ministry was primarily for the Jews, the Gentiles heard much of His teaching and carried the Gospel seed to other lands. Because Galilee was more democratic, Christ could get hold of them more readily than He could of the priest-ridden people of Judea. His twelve apostles were Galileans.
3. Yesterday at the seventh hour.—When Jesus had spoken. As of old, "He sent forth His Word and healed." We do not need to see Jesus with the natural eye in order to be assured of His presence, or to know His power. Through the agency of the Spirit He is everywhere where a needy one calls upon His name. He always answers the call of faith, even if there be but one, and distance is of no consideration. "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:20. "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7.
4. "Himself believed, and his whole house."—Note the steps that led up to this result: First, there was affliction, a means of turning the attention of the father away from the every-day cares. Anxiety caused him to look for a remedy for his afflicted son. He had heard of Jesus, and had faith enough to seek Him, and of course found Him. ("Seek, and ye shall find.") He heard the Word, and believed. ("Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.") He acted upon his faith, and went home to find it confirmed. Then he confessed Christ before others, and they believed. "All things work together for good to them that love God." Rom. 8:28. The affliction of the son was the means of bringing salvation to the family.
