30-32. Preaching, Healing, and Rejection

BACKGROUND

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 from Wikimedia Commons

30. Jesus preaches in Galilee

30a. Arrival in Galilee: John 4:43-45

30b. Nature of the Galilean Ministry: Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:14-15

Yet not in Jerusalem and Judah will the light first dawn, but in the northernmost part of the land of Israel, a region which lay in darkness and death at the time Jesus came to fulfill the ancient prophecy, and which even John the Baptist had not been able to reach by his call to repentance.  (The Gospel According to St. Matthew - An Introduction and Commentary by R.V.G. Tasker, p. 56)

This part of the gospel accounts is often called the "Great Galilean Ministry." The major cities included Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, Nain, Cana, and Nazareth. Galilee is 60 miles long by 25 miles wide. It is mountainous with fertile valleys and an average temperature of 70 degrees. It was the most beautiful, productive, and populous district of Palestine with grain and olive groves. Flora and wildlife still thrive there.  There was a mixture of races from Jew and Gentile backgrounds. 

Galilee of the Gentiles was a choice cradle for the universal Gospel. Jesus liked to mingle in the crowd. He loved human beings and here He found a dense population made up of heterogeneous elements of all types and nationalities. (The Christ of the Gospels, p. 115)

One interesting thing: not one prophet had ever come out of Galilee.  

After two days in Samaria, Jesus went to His "own country" of Galilee (John 4:44). Even though he was received, he was not really accepted there (John 2:24-25; 4:48).  In Galilee, he preached the message of the Kingdom. It was at hand, and they needed to repent and believe in the gospel. 

31. Jesus heals a government official's son: John 4:46-54

While in Galilee, He healed the government official's son, and this is the second sign (attesting miracle) in Cana. We do not know whether this official was a Jew or a Roman. Our only clue is that Jesus rebuked him and lumped him in with the people who needed signs and wonders, and Paul later said that this is what the Jews wanted (1 Corinthians 1:22). 

The man was not going to argue with Jesus for rebuking him. He had walked 25 miles to seek help for his son. So, that shows some kind of faith, and it was rewarded because his son was healed from a distance. The result was that he and his household all believed.

32a. Jesus is rejected in Nazareth: Luke 4:16-30 

32b. Move to Capernaum: Matthew 4:12-16 (4:17 before 4:12-16)

From Cana, Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth. Luke is the only gospel writer who covers Jesus' rejection in His hometown of Nazareth. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power (dynamei, "spiritual ability") of the Spirit that descended on Him during John's baptism. While everyone praised Him, the news about Jesus spread. He proclaimed Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue of His hometown:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel [good news] to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD. 

When Jesus said, "The Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing," He was stating that He was the Messiah ("anointed one"). The hometown people doubted, and Jesus used two instances of miracles of grace to Gentiles when Israel remained in unbelief: 

1) Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16)

2) Elisha and Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1-19)

The people became angry because He mentioned Gentiles as being blessed! Jesus always went to the Jews first, but He wanted to make it clear that Gentiles were part of God's plan of salvation too. We will see this in the book of Acts also. 

As a result of this rejection, he moved to Capernaum, the home of the official and his family who had recently come to believe. This move fulfilled the prophecy quoted in Matthew 4:15-16 (Isaiah 9:1-2). This area was settled by the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali after the conquest during Joshua's time. This would now be the "center of operations" for Jesus' ministry.

REFLECTION

The people in Nazareth rejected "Joseph's son."  Sometimes, it is hard to let our hometown kids grow up and even surpass us in wisdom!  I went to the same church for 28 years, from age 19-47, but some of the "old guard" women continued to treat me like I was still 19. It came apparent that I was not going to grow much more if I continued to be treated like a teenager (It did not help that I got married later, and my kids were much younger than many other women my age). So, we moved to a church where people only knew me as a grown adult.  It has been a great change and helped me to grow more.

APPLICATION

Look at those who are growing up around you. Do not put them in a box!  Let them grow into adulthood and be open to them. They may just be anointed by God and can teach you something!

PRAYER

Lord, help us to be teachable no matter how old we are. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.