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This morning, Reverend Daniel T.O. shares with the Gospel of John chapter 4 and begins with a question: if a prophet is not honored in his hometown, why do the Galileans welcome Jesus?

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We are told that in John chapter 4, verse 43, Jesus departed, likely from Samaria, because that was the place where he was ministering to the Samaritan woman in earlier. And we John records for us that many Samaritans had believed in him through his ministry to the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4. So he departed from Samaria and uh he was on his way for to Galilee and he was traveling traveling for two days. He then follows with a kind of a perplexing note, kind of a troubling. If we read on first reading, we may not understand what is John talking about. So verse 44 to 45 of John chapter 4, John says, For Jesus himself had testified that the prophet has no honor in his own hometown. And verse 45 says, So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. I'd like to frame my sharing this morning with a question that it will be a guiding question that will lead us to explore uh implication for us as we hear God's word uh preached today. And the question is this if a prophet is not honored in his hometown, in this case, if Jesus himself said that a prophet has no honor in his hometown, then why do the Galileans welcome Jesus in verse 45? There seems to be a disconnect between what Jesus said about not having honor in his hometown and the response of the Galileans. How do we make sense of this text? I believe when Jesus said that the prophet is not honored in his hometown, the hometown he refers to likely is not just Galilee as a place, but rather, according to John, is how Galilee represents the Jewish people as contrasted with the Samaritans. Just a few verses before in John chapter 4, as I mentioned earlier in Samaria, Jesus saw the fruit of his ministry where many Samaritans had believed in him. John chapter 4, verse 39. And now as he makes his way to Galilee, as he returns to his own people, and consistent with the pattern developed so far in the Gospel of John, the response at best, the Jewish people's response to Jesus is at best ambiguous. So allow me to just bring us through the narrative to see the various responses of the Jewish people. And it kind of trays different portions of John chapter 2, all the way to John chapter 4, verse 1 to 3. So we begin with John chapter 2. So although in John chapter 2, verse 1 to 11, his disciples put their faith in him after the first sign he did, which was the changing of water into wine. So that was the first sign that Jesus did. Nevertheless, uh the Jews, in the subsequent uh narrative, further down, the Jews challenged him by asking him a sign to authenticate what he did. What sign would you do? That's what the Jews are asking. What sign would you do? What sign? How will you show us to the signs that will authenticate your ministry? Few verses falling from John chapter 2. We see that many people put their faith in Jesus. In fact, Jesus was drawing a crowd. And because they saw the signs that Jesus was doing. And a very key verse is John chapter 2, verse 23 to 25. And this is what it says. Now when Jesus, when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But look at the response of Jesus. But Jesus, on his part, did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man. For he himself knew what was in man. In other words, there was something telling about the people putting their faith in Jesus only because they saw the signs that he did. So he knew that Jesus knew that as long as he continues being a wonder worker, you know, having many miracles, many will put their faith because the people are seeking the signs. They are seeking uh something that Jesus can do for them. But it does not imply, uh, which we will see later, it does not imply that they will believe in Jesus. It doesn't imply that just because Jesus did a miracle to heal a child or someone disabled or lame, it doesn't guarantee that the person will put their faith in Jesus. We see further in John chapter 3, moving on, the narrative, in Nicodemus, uh the great teacher, Jewish teacher, encounter with Jesus. It was somewhat his response, despite being a learned man, a teacher, he was kind of dense spiritually. Could not make sense over the idea, the concept of being born again. He thought that being born again was to enter a second time into his mother's womb. That's why Nicodemus said to Jesus in John chapter 4, verse 34, How can a man be born when he's old? So he's thinking about a physical birth. He said, Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Of course, Jesus was talking about uh another sense of the rebirth, about being born of the spirit, but Nicodemus locked his frame of mind of understanding in terms of uh physicality, about a physical rebirthing. So, somewhat his encounter with Jesus was he was a bit dense, uh he couldn't understand uh spiritual things. And further, in John chapter 4, verse 1 to 3, we read that Jesus leaves Judah, not because of any active persecution against him, but because he learned that now the crowds are coming in. The Pharisees have heard of the popularity of Jesus. John chapter 4, verse 1 to 3 tells us. And apparently he retreats. You know, he's not in a popularity contest. You know, he knows that all the miracles have a way of drawing people, the signs have a way of uh pointing, uh drawing the crowd and drawing the people. So he retreats, and that is where he went to, he had to pass through Samaria. So we read, I mean, we we were uh if you look at your Bibles in John chapter 4, verse 4 onwards, to a large chunk of the text deals with Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria, but that's not our point today. My point today is as we trace the narrative, we see the certain amount of uncertainty and hesitation that characterize the response in the passage here, which we will see. Jesus himself had declared that the prophet has no honor in his own country, and knowingly so he still heads in that direction. So therefore, when Jesus returns to Cana in Galilee, where he did the first sign, turning water into the water into wine, the Galileans welcomed him. It was a welcome because they saw the sign he did. They saw him uh they his miracles work, his miracle works at the feast, they saw him turning water into wine. But perhaps what Jesus was looking for is do you Jews recognize that I am the Christ, the Son of the Living God? And that is where John is heading all the while. His gospel is written in John 20, verse 31, so that people will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. So that's at the heart of what Jesus was looking for. But surrounding all that are the clouding the picture, are the pursuit of signs that seemingly could authenticate the person of Jesus. So the Galileans welcomed him, not because he was the Christ, the Son of God, but because they had seen with their eyes all that he had done at the Passover feast in Jerusalem. And John had already let his readers know earlier, as I read before us in John chapter 2, verse 23 to 25, where Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he knew that as long as there are signs, there are miracles, the crowds will follow. So the details of the healing of the official son that follows make the same point. So the narrative uh is for us to just follow through the story, it's good for us to just have a look at uh John chapter 4, verse 46 to 54. So it says, So he, referring to Jesus, came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capanon there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, Again, a strange thing, but now we know it's not strange because this is common for the Jews. Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. So the official replied, Sir, calm down before my son dies. Jesus said to him, Go, your son will live. So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better. And they said to him, Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, Your son will live. And he himself believed all and all his household. This was now, John records for us the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. So the royal official here is commentators say that it likely refers to Herod Antipas, uh the Tetrarch of Galilee, when he ruled Galilee from 4 BC to about AD 39. So Herod begs Jesus to come to his house to heal his son, and he approached Jesus out of a sense of desperation, perhaps not knowing who he is, but hearing of all the miracles, the wonders that he's done. Come, come heal my son. And perhaps very likely with little thought of who Jesus really is. So, as far as Herod is concerned, he has heard that Jesus can perform miracles. And such power holds out hope for him. And because, sorry, let me repeat again, as far as Herod is concerned, he has heard that Jesus can perform miracles, and such power of being a wonderworking miracle worker holds out hope for his son. Interesting in the narrative, it's not until the miracle of his son's healing that was completed that faith was displayed. In other words, faith was consequential to uh following uh the healing that resulted. Uh so the uh official Herod put his faith in Jesus. So it doesn't uh the official's faith doesn't show a faith that goes beyond desperation. Uh so of course the urgent request for help by Herod secures a demonstration of Jesus, Jesus' healing powers, he accepted the word that Jesus proclaimed and departed. And while Herod was on his way, he received news of the healing of his son. Yet, because the welcome of the Galileans displayed was so dependent on miracles, therefore, on visiting Cana in Galilee and being petitioned to perform a healing, Jesus detects in Herod, the royal official, a welcome and a faith that desires a cure but does not truly trust him. Therefore, whenever Jesus speaks in the Gospels, we need to listen, right? Because the narrator tells us, wake up, see the responses of Jesus, because his responses are telling. And he said this in John 4 48 Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. But Jesus in John's Gospel is always bringing about something spiritual behind physicality. Right? So uh so interestingly, uh the deep irony is this in this passage. The Galileans welcomed Jesus, having seen all that he has done, yet Jesus had no honor. Because the question backs do they truly trust in Jesus because of who he is or because of the signs and miracles he performs? So, what is the application for us today? I mean, after hearing uh this this story and so on. I believe in John's gospel, he wants the reader to know, he wants all of us to know that too much interest in raw miracles themselves, too much interest of chasing after miracles, signs and wonders is spiritually dangerous. God does at times use miracles and signs to point to himself. We see that also in John's gospel. So he's saying that signs and wonders are necessary, you know. It's not that uh John is saying that throw away all signs and miracles, you know. Neither am I saying that signs and wonders are not happening today, you know, but rather uh it almost seemed to be like not as important as who Jesus is. Who Jesus is is much more important than what He performs. So to give us an illustration, you look at John chapter 10, verse 37 to 38. Jesus says this if I'm not doing the works of my father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father. So in other words, he's telling the the people, the crowds, you do not believe me? Look at the works, believe the works, because the works in some way do uh point to Jesus as the source of the works. Then another account in John 14, verse 8 to 11, Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, it's now for us. Again, Jesus said, Have I been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How can you say, Show us the father? Do you not believe that I am the father and the father is in me? The words I speak to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the father who dwells in me does his works. Again, Jesus says in John 14, 11, Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or else, believe on account of the works themselves. So again, John alludes to the fact that miracles, signs, and the works are needed and necessary. However, miracles and signs do not always compel genuine faith. God does use miracles and signs to draw people to Him. But at least in John we read that it does not always compel genuine faith. We can't always determine that there's true faith just because there is a healing, there is a miracle being performed. So what was Jesus looking for? What was Jesus looking for? I believe Jesus was looking for the people to have faith in him, for which the signs point to. Rather than to seek the signs and works, he was doing as an end to itself. So when we seek the signs and miracles, when we go after wonderworking people, rather than to Jesus Himself, Jesus then becomes the means to whatever we seek and not the end or the telos, the end goal, the end purpose of our seeking. So crucial to our interpretation of this passage is the idea of how signs in the Gospel of John function. Signs serve two purposes in John. Firstly, they are meant to authenticate the ministry of Jesus and reveal his glory. It was meant, signs are just meant to point to something beyond the signs, and that is to Jesus Himself, to his glory, such that as the signs are being performed, people will see the glory of the one that performed the sign. But the Galileans have been too caught up with signs and wonders. And similarly, today, as God's people, we can be caught up with much signs and wonders and lose the focus on Jesus Himself, who is the source of all things. Secondly, the signs serve to persuade the reader to believe in Jesus Christ. Right? So the signs do not serve an end to itself, but it serves to bring the reader to faith in Jesus Christ. So John writes that the purpose of his gospel is this in John 20, 31. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. You know, we encounter signs regularly in our lives. In fact, it would be impossible or difficult to function without them. Signs along the roads help us. To drive safely, to find the right elevators in the hospital, especially in uh more complex facilities, you know, uh shopping malls. Signs do help us to navigate. Can you imagine with no signages everywhere? To get from different zones when you park your car is uh is uh disastrous. You know, those of us who drive, we probably spend uh uh an hour or so to find the right block. So science uh does give us a certain direction uh uh and focus. It helps us navigate through uh traffic and so on. So it plays a useful and helpful function in our daily lives and convey important information and point themselves beyond themselves to an ultimate reality. So crucial for us uh to understand this passage is this that the miracles and signs actually just point to the person of Jesus Himself. And what is key for us today is that the key in the healing of the official son, uh, the key uh the key uh person that the sign points to is that Jesus is the son of God that grants life by the word of his power. So, this is what the people should be looking for. They should be understanding that Jesus is the son of God that grants life simply by the declaration of the word of his power. All that was needed for him to speak the word and it comes to pass. Jesus speaks the word and it comes to pass. And we see that happening in the healing of the official son. Uh, he just spoke the word, you know, he didn't even go there to uh lay hands or to heal, but in this instance, John wants us to see that by the word of his power, healing happens. So Jesus just spoke the word in John 4, verse 50 Go, your son will live. Go, your son will live. And John tells us in John 4, 53, Herod's son was healed at the hour that Jesus spoke to him. Your son will live. So, this is the main point that John is trying to get us to understand. Jesus is the Son of God, he grants life by the word of his power. So, my challenge or the the question for us to apply to our lives this morning is this do we dare to trust Jesus and take up his word for our lives, regardless of the outcome or the need for confirmation of it through miracles or signs. Sometimes we say that, right? Uh God, if you if you say this is students, show me some signs that will confirm this, uh uh direct me in certain pathways and show me different signs that will point to that reality. I mean, fair enough. This is your way as you pray and seek the Lord. He does, you know, use certain of those means to uh draw us to him. But here John is talking about a deeper faith, a deeper faith that belief in him transcends just the physical and what we see. Now that's why in one of the resurrection appearances of Jesus, remember Thomas in John 20, where you know he said, uh, touch me, Jesus said, I'm here, I'm alive. He said, Uh unless can I feel you, can I touch you, can I uh just have this experience of physicality touching you? Then uh yeah, so Jesus said, Yeah, yeah, go ahead, I'm here. And after that, uh Jesus made a comment. He said, Blessed are those who do not see yet believe. Right? So there seems to be a need today uh as a response to trust Jesus and take his word for our lives as true. Because what Jesus speaks over our lives will come to pass, because this is who he is. If what Jesus says over our lives cannot come to pass, that means he's untruthful. We can't take his word, we can't trust him. But he has spoken a word by his power over our lives, it means that it will come to pass, regardless whether circumstances or miracles or signs authenticate that word. That's what John is trying to tell us. What Jesus says simply he will do, and he has the power to do it, he has the power to back up his words, and John wants us to see that just by speaking the word, healing happens. And so when it comes to trusting Jesus in our lives and taking him at his word, there's usually either one of two responses. Firstly, perhaps there's a lack of desire. We are not desperate enough. Actually, my right leg is slightly longer than my left leg. So when I walk, sometimes I mean I can't stand straight because my right leg is longer. So when I walk, uh, it looks a bit odd. Yeah, but I think that's the way God uh designed me to be, and I think it's okay. So there were some people who wanted to pray for me. He said, Pastor, let me pray for you. Because we uh just went for a conference and we saw that at work, you know, when uh the the healing evangelist prayed, and yeah, that happened, you know, and we want to uh pray for you. Can I can we pray for you? Then I said, uh, sure you can pray for me. But to to for them to exercise their faith. I think that's fine. But I realized that why perhaps one of the reasons, it could be or could be not, but I guess at least my hypothesis, what one of the reasons why it didn't happen is because I wasn't desperate enough. I mean, I didn't desire that healing. I'm like, okay, if it happens, yeah, it happens, but actually it's okay. I'm happy that things are like uh just as it is, you know. So I I wasn't wanting that healing. So I wasn't I wasn't desperate, right? I wasn't like this official uh who was so desperate, you know, and somehow God sees our desperation. I believe one day I'll be healed if I, you know, God willing, He gives me the desire to want it, and His power is at work. I believe so, yeah. But uh it's just currently this is the same. So I was like that, you know, a lack of desire, you know. People want to pray for you. You also need to come with a sense of faith. But at that time I was like a bit half-hearted, right? So well, maybe one day that will happen. Maybe one day, maybe after the service, some of you like to pray for me. Yeah, okay. Secondly, we want to trust Jesus only when we see a visible sign or miracle. So that's the second second category. You know, we say, Lord, we'll trust you only if you show me this, then I'll trust you. But John says that blessed are those who uh believe, even though they do not see, and this is the faith that is commendable before God, a faith that takes God at His word, trust that He in His time, His word of power will be fulfilled in our lives. So, what is the promise or the word that God has given to you this morning? Whether it's for you, for your own life, for your family, uh certain promises in scripture that he is reminding you of. Lay hold of it, trust Jesus, hold on to his word of power because uh this is what God desires, this is what pleasing to this is what is pleasing to him when we trust him, regardless whether we see a miracle happening, whether we see a sign happening, and and interestingly, the gospel is always the those on the fringes, the Syrophoenician uh woman, uh and woman of with issue of blood, having uh infirmity for many decades, desperate, pressing in, touching the garment of Jesus, having the faith to press into Jesus. She said, if I touch the hem of his garment, I will be healed. The faith that arises because of who Jesus is.

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