21. Jesus Again in Galilee: at Cana and Nazareth

Jesus, accompanied by His disciples, resumed His journey northward into Galilee, from which province He had been absent for several months. Realizing that the people of Nazareth, the town in which He had been brought up, would be probably loath to acknowledge Him as other than the carpenter, or, as He stated, knowing that "a prophet hath no honour in his own country," He went first to Cana. The people of that section, and indeed the Galileans generally, received Him gladly; for many of them had attended the last Passover and probably had been personal witnesses of the wonders He had wrought in Judea. While at Cana, Jesus was visited by a nobleman, most likely a high official of the province, who entreated Him to proceed to Capernaum and heal his son, who was then lying at the point of death. With the probable design of showing the man the true condition of his mind, for we cannot doubt that Jesus could read his thoughts, our Lord said to him: "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." As observed in earlier instances, notably in the refusal of Jesus to commit Himself to the professing believers at Jerusalem, whose belief rested solely on their wonder at the things He did, our Lord would not regard miracles, though wrought by Himself, as a sufficient and secure foundation for faith. The entreating nobleman, in anguish over the precarious state of his son, in no way resented the rebuke such as a captious mind may have found in the Lord's reply; but with sincere humility, which showed his belief that Jesus could heal the boy, he renewed and emphasized his plea: "Sir, come down ere my child die." Probably the man had never paused to reason as to the direct means or process by which death might be averted and healing be insured through the words of any being; but in his heart he believed in Christ's power, and with pathetic earnestness besought our Lord to intervene in behalf of his dying son. He seemed to consider it necessary that the Healer be present, and his great fear was that the boy would not live until Jesus could arrive. "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." The genuineness of the man's trust is shown by his grateful acceptance of the Lord's assurance, and by the contentment that he forthwith manifested. Capernaum, where his son lay, was about twenty miles away; had he been still anxious and doubtful he would probably have tried to return home that day, for it was one o'clock in the afternoon when Jesus spoke the words that had given to him such relief; but he journeyed leisurely, for on the following day he was still on the road, and was met by some of his servants who had been sent to cheer him with the glad word of his son's recovery. He inquired when the boy had begun to amend, and was told that at the seventh hour on the yesterday the fever had left him. That was the time at which Christ had said, "Thy son liveth." The man's belief ripened fast, and both he and his household accepted the gospel. This was the second miracle wrought by Jesus when in Cana, though in this instance the subject of the blessing was in Capernaum. Our Lord's fame spread through all the region round about. During a period not definitely stated, He taught in the synagogues of the towns and villages, and the people were amazed at His doctrine. The evangelist Mark observes that Jesus went about preaching the gospel of God, and that He was received by them with one accord; for from Galilee straightway after John had preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to them. IN CANA AND NAZARETH

Jesus again visited Cana, where He had previously performed His first miracle at a wedding feast. The people of that town received Him gladly, and He taught in their synagogue. While there, He healed a nobleman's son who was at the point of death, and the man believed in Jesus as the Healer. Jesus then went to Nazareth, where He had grown up, and was received with mixed feelings by the people there. They were amazed at His teachings and miracles, but they did not fully accept Him as their Messiah. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and predicted that a prophet is without honor in his own country. He then left Nazareth and continued His ministry in other parts of Galilee.

22. In Capernaum

Jesus went to Capernaum, where He healed a man who was an invalid and could not walk. The man was amazed at Jesus' power and believed in Him as the Son of God. Jesus then left Capernaum and continued His ministry in other parts of Galilee.