JESUS SETS OUT FROM JUDEA FOR GALILEE
Subdivision C
ARRIVAL IN GALILEE
LUKE 4:14, JOHN 4: 43-45
This is a transitional piece that mentions Jesus's arrival in Galilee, noting that many of the Galileans welcomed him, knowing the works he did in Judea.
Helpful article from the Gospel Coalition on some of the differences between Galilee and Judea. The meat of the article comes from R.T.France's commentary on Matthew.
R.T. France has written two commentaries on the book of Matthew--one published in 1985 and a second published in 2007. First, when I think of my slow pace through the scriptures, it's good to be be reminded that one gospel, one book, can be the study of a scholar's life, and even then they still can't come to the bottom of it. One person can study a book exhaustively and twenty years later, have a different interpretation in spots, because he is a different person, older, hopefully wiser, more studied, reacting on newer scholarship.
Section 27
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF JESUS' TEACHING.
MATT. 4:17; MARK 1:14, 15; LUKE 4:14, 15
Christ begins to preach in earnest.
"Repent ye, and believe in the gospel." That is, prepare for the kingdom by repenting of sin, and by believing the glad news that the kingdom was approaching, for the King had come (John 1:49). The preaching of Jesus at this time did not differ materially from that of John the Baptist, for John preached repentance and the approaching kingdom (Matt. 3:2), and the gospel (Luke 3:18), and belief in the King (John 1:29, 36; 3:36). The fact that repentance comes before belief in this passage is by some taken as an indication that repentance precedes faith in the process of conversion, but it should be remembered that the preaching here is addressed to the Jewish people, who already believed in God, and in the Scripture as the revelation of God. They were, therefore, required to bring forth fruit worthy of the old faith and the old revelation as preparatory to their reception of the new faith and the new revelation. Thus repentance and faith appears to be the established order for Hebrews (Heb. 6:1), and their [156] proselytes (Acts 20:21), because of the spiritual standpoint or condition in which the gospel found them. But those who have no faith in God can surely have no repentance toward him, for belief precedes every call upon God, whether for mercy, pardon, or any other blessing--Rom. 10:13, 14] -Fourfold Gospel
THE SECOND MIRACLE AT CANA
JOHN 4:46-54
In Cana, Jesus is approached by a nobleman whose son is on his deathbed. He pleads for Jesus to come to his son and heal him. Jesus comments that the Cana population (Galilee) will not believe without signs and wonders. He heals the boy without going to him.
The rapid reversals of feeling which all efforts in doing good demand. His former visit to Cana was to a festival; He came now to a scene of anxiety and affliction.. Human experience is very fitful and uncertain. Now the circumstances are joyous, now gloomy; and he who wants to do good must be prepared for both. -BI, C. S. Robinson, D. D.
"Said unto him, Except ye see..." John 4:48
Addressing the nobleman (him), but having in mind the Galilean population which he represents (ye). -VWS
The healing of the nobleman's child was the second miracle, only in respect of its taking place upon Jesus' withdrawal from Judaea into Galilee. Hence the again. He wrought a miracle again, when He again came into Galilee, and this miracle was the second, as marking His second coming. -VWS
To me, the core of this passage is in this statement:
Joh 4:50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
Was his son's healing contingent upon the father's belief? I'm not sure, but either way, it's remarkable that this man believed at a distance that Jesus could and would heal his son. The act of healing resulted in the belief by the man and all his household (v53).
He felt that Christ could heal, but only on the spot. So we are tempted to prescribe to God the place and manner of His blessing, but God is the only judge of what is wise and best.-BI, J. Harding
ITS GRACIOUS EDUCATION.
1. Its radical defect was pointed out (Joh_4:48). The modern counterpart is the belief that is born of excitement and rests on feeling. BI
They go honestly and humbly to Christ, but unless they see signs they doubt whether all is right. Some change must be felt ere they can fully rest. But the requirement is to undoubtingly embrace Christ and leave Him to make all other things right in His own time and Rom_8:24-25. 4. Here is the true consolation of faith; not that the sick child is healed, but that we have a competent Saviour, and in the meantime patience is the proper exercise of faith. -J. A. Seiss, D. D.
We should count our mercies
God keeps count of what He doth for us, and will call for a reckoning. Should not we keep a register? write up the noble acts of the Lord? make a catalogue of them, such an one as was that Jdg_10:11-12. According to this term, and many the like insacred Scripture, we should polish and garnish, embroider and embellish, the great works of God, or else we undervalue them, which He will not bear with. -J. Trapp.
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