Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
After two days Jesus departed and went into Galilee, returning to Cana. The two days had been spent in labor with the Samaritans, whom He then left to continue His journey onward.
On the way He bypassed Nazareth, where He had spent His youth and early manhood, and made no stay or tarry there. The reason was unbelief, for its people did not believe and had received Him unfavorably when in the synagogue He announced Himself as the Anointed One. He instead sought more fruitful fields, places where ears would listen and hearts would receive His message, and people more willing to hear Him.
His cordial reception in Galilee had been prepared by His earlier miracle at Cana and by reports brought back from the Passover of His cleansing of the desecrated temple and His healings of the sick and of the blind and deaf, restoring sight and hearing. Reports of His works at the Passover and the judgment of Jerusalem's leaders and temple dignitaries against His acts further opened His way. Many lamented the abuse of the temple and the arrogance of the priests, and hoped He was the Messiah, the looked-for Deliverer.
News of His return and presence at Cana spread through Galilee and the surrounding region, bringing hope to the suffering and distressed. It drew a royal officer from Capernaum to seek help for his dying son. His bypassing of Nazareth illustrates that a prophet receives no honor in his own country, since people who judged Him by His humble birth, clothing, and daily work and who had known Him since childhood could not value His sinless character and greatness, while becoming excited about a stranger or adventurer.
After two days Jesus departed and went into Galilee, returning to Cana. The two days had been spent in labor with the Samaritans, whom He then left to continue His journey onward.
On the way He bypassed Nazareth, where He had spent His youth and early manhood, and made no stay or tarry there. The reason was unbelief, for its people did not believe and had received Him unfavorably when in the synagogue He announced Himself as the Anointed One. He instead sought more fruitful fields, places where ears would listen and hearts would receive His message, and people more willing to hear Him.
His cordial reception in Galilee had been prepared by His earlier miracle at Cana and by reports brought back from the Passover of His cleansing of the desecrated temple and His healings of the sick and of the blind and deaf, restoring sight and hearing. Reports of His works at the Passover and the judgment of Jerusalem's leaders and temple dignitaries against His acts further opened His way. Many lamented the abuse of the temple and the arrogance of the priests, and hoped He was the Messiah, the looked-for Deliverer.
News of His return and presence at Cana spread through Galilee and the surrounding region, bringing hope to the suffering and distressed. It drew a royal officer from Capernaum to seek help for his dying son. His bypassing of Nazareth illustrates that a prophet receives no honor in his own country, since people who judged Him by His humble birth, clothing, and daily work and who had known Him since childhood could not value His sinless character and greatness, while becoming excited about a stranger or adventurer.