Scripture: John 4: 43-45
After the two days he left for Galilee.(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
Consider:
In John 4:43–45, Jesus turns toward home, and travels to Galilee. When He arrives, the Galileans welcome Him, as his reputation has preceded him…folks have SEEN with their own eyes the miracles Jesus has performed, and so they greet him with welcome! This welcome, however, seems a bit conditional…they are not welcoming because they truly understand who He is, but because they’ve seen His miracles in Jerusalem. It’s a “seeing is believing” sort of moment.
This moment invites us to examine why we welcome Jesus. Is it for what He can do for us, or for who He truly is?
Tough questions to ask of ourselves when we read passages like this and have to look at our own faith:
* Have we become too familiar with Jesus to truly honor Him? Is the name simply something we know we are “supposed” to say as the answer to all questions- and we want to say the right thing or look “correct” in the eyes of the church or society? Or do we really believe, even though we haven’t “seen for ourselves,”?
The Galileans were open, but their faith was shallow—based on eyewitness accounts rather than faith and trust in the Word made flesh. Samaritans, on the other hand, believed because of Jesus’ words. Ironically, those who were “farther” culturally saw more clearly than those closest to Him.
Deep faith goes beyond excitement in the moment and irrefutable evidence—it trusts Jesus even when there are no signs, no crowds, and no miracles in sight.
Respond:
Today, take a moment to be honest in your thinking around your faith…ask yourself why you follow Jesus. Is it mainly because that is what folks around you do? Or because you were brought up to do so? Or because you just “do’? Does faith look different when you choose to believe in the message of Jesus when there’s nothing to “gain”? No social acceptance, no accolades, no miracles…Just real, honest faith.
Pray:
Lord, help me to welcome You not just to check a box, but because I truly understand who You are. Give me a faith that listens, trusts, and honors You—even in the ordinary. Amen
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