11.09.07
The Acceptance in Galilee (John 4:43-45)
The Acceptance in Galilee (John 4:43-45)
Jesus stayed in Samaria for 2 days. He probably got a little rest from traveling, but He also got the chance to disciple folks. Perhaps He tarried because of the reception He knew He would get once the trip to Galilee was made (verse 44).
We see in verse 45 the Galileans welcomed Him. Perhaps they were surprised that Jesus would come to their territory. The anticipation was that the Messiah would appear in David’s city and carry on His ministry in Jerusalem and in the temple. After all, Jerusalem was the center of wisdom and learning. Why would anyone leave the sacred precincts and come to their despised land? But, He came, and they received Him gladly. In fact, many of these folks had seen what he had done in Jerusalem.
Were these folks among those in John 2:23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. After all, when these people returned home, they most certainly recounted what they had experienced on their trip.
But often good and bad run on parallel tracks. We’ve seen much good to this point. The foretaste of what is to come was found in verse 44. While Nicodemus and a Samaritan woman at a well (as well as many people in Sycar) accepted the message of Christ, there was an anticipation of the rejection of the message and the person of the Messenger.
Ah yes, good and bad running on parallel tracks. That has been an experience of mine over the years, perhaps yours as well. Jesus anticipated it. I’m still amazed that messages are preached and told to others that just accepting Jesus will wash all you troubles down the drain. I still struggled paying the same bills, still had the same relationship woes as before (but now many were worse as I moved from life of sin towards life in Christ). Are we realists in this area? I don’t mean fatalists – if something good is happening, something bad is right around the corner (or vice-versa). Sometimes going home brings back memories that we can never recapture. Are we living in the right now for Jesus? No matter if it’s good – or not so good?
