John 4 Verses 43-46 

John 4:43 “Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. 45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. 46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.” 

“Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.”  Jesus had departed Judea on his way to Galilee and passed though Samaria and spent two days there.  Now he is continuing his journey into Galilee.  

“For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.”  In the 13^th chapter of Matthew we read of this testimony: 13:54 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”   

The children of Israel often slew their own prophets: Matt. 23:34 “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”   

“Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.”  Here we note that the Galileans received Jesus and the Samaritans received Jesus but those of Judea did not receive Jesus.  This bears testimony to the statement the Lord had made that a prophet hath no honor in his own country.   

“So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.”  As we recall this was the first miracle that Jesus did.  He turned the water into wine which showed forth his glory.  

John 4 Verses 46-54 

John 4:46 “And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 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. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” 

We make several points to the above passage of scripture: 

1.  The certain nobleman had no doubt heard of Jesus and of the miracle that he had done in turning water into wine.

2.  The nobleman believed Jesus could heal his son.

3.  His son was at the point of death so the nobleman’s plea was urgent.

4.  Jesus told the nobleman to go thy way, thy son liveth.  Jesus did not have to go down to see the child.  All he had to do was speak and it was done.

5.  The nobleman believed when Jesus said, “Go thy way; they son liveth.”

6.  The nobleman’s servants met the nobleman as he was returning home and told him that his son liveth. 

7.  The nobleman was told that it was the same hour in which Jesus had spoken to him.  The nobleman knew it was of the Lord and his whole house believed.  Thus, the nobleman had to have shared this information with his whole house.  This is a lesson to us that we should share our experiences with the Lord with our whole house.

8.  The Lord made the statement: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”  This was a fact and the Lord’s observation.  1 Cor. 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”