Vere. 43-45.-0ur Lorcl's return into Galilee. He was now about to enter on the scene of his longest ministry. I. 'l'm; REASON OF HIS RETURN TO GALILEE. "For Jesus hims~]f testified, that a prophet bath no honour in his own country." 1. This might appear to be a reason .foi· his avoiding Galilee, which was undO'Ubtedly his own country. 2. He meant that, though he might have no reputation in Galil,ee, he coul,l carry into it the reputation he acg_uvred in Judrea and Jerusalem. These places might be regarded as setting the fashion to Galilee by the high estimate they put upon his achievements. 3. The proverb implies that a prophet, or any one who speaks in the name of the Lord, is entitled to special honour by virtue of his office. He ought to receive (1) reverence, (2) obedience, (3) and maintenance. II. THE WELCOME OF THE GALILlEANS. "The Galilreans received him, having seec1 all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast." 1. The Galilreans were not religious cdiens in Palestine. "For they also went unto the feast." (1) They were less pre- judiced than the Jews of Judrea, and more accessible to religious instruction. (2) They were more patriotic than their southern countrymen. All the worst revolts against the Homan power bad their origin in Galilee. 2. The reason of the Galilrean u:elcome to Christ was the impression made upon them by the miracles at Jerusalem. 'l'his fact marks their spiritual inferiority to the Samaritans, who believed on him for .his word.
Vers. 46-54.-The second miracle of Cana. Our Lord is led to open his Galilrean ministry at the scene of his first miracle, at the spot where he had attached his first band of disciples more closely to himself. I. A FATHER'S PRAYER FOR ms DYING CHILD. "He besought him that he would come down, and heal his son : for he was at the point of death." 1. The petitioner u-as a i·oyal officer of the household of Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, probably Chuza, "Herod's steward," whose wife afterwards, in gratitude for her child's recovery, ministered to our Lord of her substance (Luke viii. 3). 2. It was ajfiiction that brouglit him to Jesus. Many persons never think of Christ till they are driven to him by sickness or sorrow. 3. He had faith enough to beUeve in our Lord's power to save his child's life. This faith was based upon testimony; for the Cana miracle, as well as the signs doue at Jerusalem, must have been noised all over Galilee. II. Oun LORD'S TESTING ANSWER TO HIS APPLICATION. "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe." 1. The words, through addressed to the royal officer, are really designed for the Jews, who wish to see him as a Worker of miracles. They desire to see miracles, not e.s the mere manifestation of facts of the invisible world, as "signs," but as "wonders" calculated by their strangeness to arrest attention. 2. The Jew8 represent a lower type of faith than the Samaritans, who asked for no miracle, but merely believed in Christ's word. 3. Yet the Lord condescends to the demands of a faith which is more sight than faith. III. 'l'HE INCREASING URGENUY OF A FATHER'S SORROW. "Sir, come down ere my child die." 1. He did not regard our Lord's words as any refection of his prayel'. 2. His powerlessness leads him to a more unreserued dependence upon. the Lord"s power. IV. OUR LORD'S ANSWER TO HIS PRAYER. "Go thy way; thy son liveth." 1. .A word is enough. Divine power acts through a word. 2, The Lord gives us of/en more than we ask for. 3. Jesus strengthens the faith of the royal officer by shi(ting his faith from the testimony of others to faith in himself. It rests now on a better foundation, even in Jesus Christ himself. V. THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH. "And the man believed the word that Jesus b:id spoken unto him, and he went bis way." 1. He believed in Christ's power to heal his son a distance of twenty-five miles from Capernaum. This fact marks the rapid growth of his faith. 2. His faith received a speedy confirmation. "And as he was now goin;; down, his servants met him and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.'' His faith has now reached its highest piint, that of personnl exrerience, 18S THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. [en. 1v. 1-64.
VI. THE FAITH OF THE ROYAL OFFICER EXTENDS TO ms ROUSF.ROLD, "And himself believed, ~nd bis whole house." 1. A weal., faith has in it the elements of growth. 2. The faith of a father often leads, th1·01i,gh the Divine blessing, to the conversion qf llis laousehold.