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Two

Second Miracle in Galilee

Week 25 | Sections 36,37,28
(Broadcast on Nov 16, 2014)

Second Miracle in GalileeWhile Jesus was often performing miracles that were unmistakable divine, his teaching and presence as the Messiah was to evoke a change in heart and practice. Though some still wish to see miracles, salvation and belief come by faith – not signs. So what of our faith, what shall it yield? The answer will be limited to the power of the one in whom we put our trust.


Scripture:

Section 36 | John 4:43-45
43 After the two days he went out from there1 and went into Galilee.2   44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.3 45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast,4 for they also went to the feast.

Section 37
[one_third last=”no”]Mathew 4:17
17 From that time, Jesus began to preach,5 and to say, “Repent!6 For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:14b-15
preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom7 is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 4:14b-15
and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.[/one_third]

Section 38 | John 4:46-54
46 Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine.8 There was a certain nobleman9 whose son was sick at Capernaum.10  47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.11 48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”12  49 The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”13  50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.14 51 As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!”15  52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house. 54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.16


Group Dialog:

  1. What is the buzz happening in you small group and church about what Jesus has said and done among you and throughout history?
  2. Discuss the importance of repentance and believing the Good News.
  3. Should we expect or pray for miracles to happen in this day and age?
  4. What must we learn of faith, trusting the word of God, the prayer of the righteous, and asking?

Learning Objectives:

Repentance, we are given grace through faith, trust in Christ, faith that heals, take Jesus at his word, promises of God, acting in faith.


Study Notes:

  1. That is from Sychar in Samaria. Whether he took the eastern or western route northward from Sychar is not known. Either route would have taken about 30 hours (3 days).
  2. It seems that his ministry within Galilee lasted about 16 months.  Download “the Galilee Jesus Knew, by the Biblical Archaeology Society.
  3. Jesus says this later, see Week 68 | Section 69 (Mark 6:4; Mt 13:57)
  4. This will most certainly include the cleansing of the temple, but also other miracles (John 2:23-25) and perhaps word of his dialog with Nicodemus.
  5. The word here (Greek – kēryssō) means to proclaim wit ha gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
  6. Jesus most certainly calls us toward repentance just as had John the Baptist (Mt 3:2). The very action begins by one’s submission to the authority of God and the truth of God’s Word convicting hearts as they hear the Spirit’s whisper and prodding from the Lord’s rod and staff.
  7. The Greek word used here is basileia which has an emphasis on one’s right or authority to rule over a kingdom.
  8. Jesus had been to Cana before (John 2:1-11) week 19.
  9. This nobleman (gk. basilixos) was an official serving in the King’s royal court. Scholars agree that this is a different event from the one we can read in (Week 47 | Section 55). This table provides perhaps the easiest explanation of the uniqueness of each event.
  10. It was a days walk (about 8 hours) from from Cana to Capernaum.
  11. This instance the healing is of a “son” of a nobleman not the servant of a centurion. Some think this he was either Chuza, Herod’s steward, or Manaen, (Acts 13:1) who had been brought up with Herod.
  12. This warning is not so good for those who restrain faith, saying “seeing is believing”. Later Jesus will tell Thomas, “Blessed are those who believe who have not seen…” (John 20:26-29), and before that he says to the Pharisees, “”An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign” (Week 52 | Section 61).
  13. The nobleman implores Jesus with faith, simply not realizing that Jesus need not be present to heal his son. So it seems that Jesus’ response includes compassion as well as some measure of reproof for his unbelief.
  14. The ma received the reproof immediately – believing and taking action thereunto by going on his way back home. The same responsiveness ought to be characteristic of our lives.
  15. This is the first record of Jesus performing a miracle from afar. It is about a year later when Jesus heals the centurion’s son from afar (Week 47 | Section 55).
  16. This is the second sign Jesus did in Galilee, but he had provided many more in other towns during his travels thus far.

By Greg Troxell

Disciple, entrepreneur and catalytic leader. Advocate of the sharing economy. Ministering to youth, new Christians, and equipping the saints. Developing the Emotivational practice. Founder of www.harmony.bible.