The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee
The period of Jesus’ life known as the great Galilean ministry must have lasted for at least eighteen months. It was the most prolific segment of His entire ministry of about three and one-half years. During these months, He selected and trained His twelve disciples; delivered most of His major teachings, including the Sermon on the Mount; and performed most of His miracles. This period was also marked by increasing hostility and resentment toward Jesus by the Jewish religious leaders.
Jesus Begins Preaching in Galilee
Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14–15; John 4:45
Jn 4:45When they entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him because they had seen everything He did in Jerusalem during the festival. For they also had gone to the festival. Mt 4:17aFrom then on Jesus began to preach Mk 1:14b–15the good news of God: 15“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
Cana of Galilee
The village of Cana was only about six miles northeast of Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. But this royal official who came to Jesus at Cana was from Capernaum near Lake Galilee, about twenty miles away. He probably walked the distance to ask Jesus to heal his son. Although Cana was an insignificant village, it was a place where Jesus worked two miracles (see John 4:47). One of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Nathanael, was from Cana (John 21:2).
Matthew 4:12-17
Mark 1:14,15
Luke 4:14,15
John 4:43-45 (Galilee) Jesus Returns to Galilee
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
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Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
Other Resources:
Keeping God's Commandments John 4 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/john/4/
John 4:43-54
In Galilee (Nobleman's Son), 4:43-54
Synopsis: Jesus left Samaria and entered Galilee. When he came to Cana of Galilee, a nobleman from Capernaum came and asked him to come heal his son. Jesus told him, "Go back home; your son will live.” The man believed Jesus and went home. When he arrived home, his servants told him that his son was well. He asked them what hour he got well. They stated the hour and it was the same time that Jesus had told him that his son would live. The nobleman and his whole house now believed in Jesus. This was the second miracle in Galilee.
43 And after the two days he went forth from thence into Galilee.
After spending two days with the Samaritans in the city of Sychar, Jesus resumed his journey to Galilee.
44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country.
This statement is found in the other three gospels in reference to the city of Nazareth where Jesus grew up (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24). Here it seems to be referring to all the Jews, especially those who lived in Judaea (see John 1:11; 5:43 and 12:37). However, it should be remembered that the other three writers show he meant Nazareth. The meaning may well be that Jesus left Jerusalem because the atmosphere of Galilee would be better suited to work out God's timetable instead of men's. It seems this verse is showing the reason for his leaving Judaea.
45 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.
Jesus received a warm welcome when he returned to Galilee because there were many who had seen the miracles Jesus performed in Judaea. The feast in Jerusalem refers to the passover feast.
46 He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
Jesus bypassed Nazareth and went to Cana where he had performed his first miracle. In Cana, Jesus heals a nobleman's son who was ill in Capernaum. Capernaum is about twenty miles from Cana. The nobleman was an officer in the court of Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, who was popularly called "king." Herod reigned from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. This healing should not be confused with the centurion's servant recorded in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:2-10. The Great Galilean Ministry begins at this point and covers about sixteen months.
47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
When the nobleman heard that Jesus was in Cana, he went there to request Jesus to heal his son who was dying. He requested Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son.
48 Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe.
Ye is plural, showing that Jesus' statement was not directed just to the nobleman. Jesus was pointing out that the Galileans were looking for him to do miracles. This man was a Galilean.
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
The nobleman does not argue the point; he is so concerned about his son that he begs Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal him. The nobleman believed Jesus could heal him if he went to his bedside in Capernaum.
50 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.
When Jesus told him that his son was now well, the nobleman believed without seeing the son. This shows his great faith in Jesus. He believed Jesus could heal without being with the person. Since it was twenty miles to Capernaum, which is a day's journey, the man probably spent the night and then started home early the next morning. The crisis was over; the son was well. The man believed the words of Jesus.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son lived.
It seems that the servants left early in the morning also to tell the nobleman the good news. They met each other on the way. The servants told the man the good news, which he already knew; the son was well.
52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
The nobleman asked his servants what time the child took a turn for the better. They replied the fever left the child at the seventh hour. If John is using Roman time, the time would be 7 p. m. This is the reason it was probably the next day before the nobleman started for home. It was dangerous to travel after night in first century Palestine.
53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
It was the seventh hour when Jesus told the nobleman that his son was well. He believed the words of Jesus. Now the nobleman's belief was confirmed. He believed in Jesus in a deeper sense. And his whole house indicates when the nobleman told his wife and servants all that happened, they all believed in Jesus. They now believed the healing of the boy was the work of God.
54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judaea into Galilee.
When Jesus turned the water into wine, he had just come out of Judaea. Now Jesus returns from Judaea again and performs another sign. This is not the second miracle of Jesus. It is the second miracle John refers to in Galilee. Sign is the term John likes to use to refer to the miracles of Jesus. A sign pointed to something bigger than itself. The miracles of Jesus pointed to the fact that he was the Son of God. This is the point John is seeking to prove in his gospel.
Further Reading
From Wilderness to Ministry
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