Day 5: John 4:43-54

Stories: Royal Official’s Son

Curiosities: Why does John mention the phrase about a prophet not being accepted in his own country? In the synoptic gospels, that statement fits when the Jewish people reject Jesus’ teaching, but it seems out of place here.

Why does Jesus respond to a father’s genuine plea for his son’s life by insinuating that everyone around only wanted to see signs? Doesn’t this seem rude and off-putting? What was Jesus’ point?

The man took Jesus “at His word” and departed. Many times we like to assign faith to a belief in something, but John will make the point repetitively in his Gospel that faith requires action. We turn our belief into faith when we take action. Here the man “departed.” This is no small notion in the book of John.

Paradoxes: none

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