Daily Reading Week 30

John 4 (Scripture Focus John 4:43-54)

Discover:

In today’s passage, we read that Jesus left Samaria and headed to Galilee, as recorded in John 4:43. But right after that, John adds an interesting note: Jesus Himself said that a prophet has no honor in His own “country” . That might seem confusing at first, especially since the next verse says the people in Galilee welcomed Him. After all, Galilee was where Jesus grew up—in Nazareth—and large crowds often followed Him there, as seen in Matthew 4:23.

So what did Jesus mean when He said He wasn’t honored in His own country? Well, there are a couple of things to consider. First, not everyone in Galilee was thrilled about Jesus. His hometown of Nazareth, for example, mostly rejected Him. Second, even those who seemed to welcome Him often did so for the wrong reasons. Many were more interested in seeing miracles than in truly believing in Him as the Messiah. So while the Samaritans had believed in Jesus for who He was, many in Galilee were more focused on the signs and wonders. That’s why John includes this reminder: even though Jesus came first to the Jewish people, many of them didn’t truly receive Him. People were often excited about Jesus when they wanted to see miracles—but they didn’t honor Him as the Messiah.

That said, miracles can still play a powerful role in building faith. In today’s story, Jesus meets a royal official—likely someone who worked for Herod Antipas—whose son was very sick. The man begged Jesus to heal his child. At first, Jesus seemed to challenge him, pointing out how people often want signs before they’ll believe. This echoes what Jesus later said about those who believe without seeing. But Jesus wasn’t saying it’s wrong to ask for healing—Scripture encourages us to do that. The issue is when our faith depends only on miracles, rather than on God’s promises.

Thankfully, the royal official showed real faith. He believed Jesus’ word that his son would be healed—even before seeing any proof. And sure enough, the miracle confirmed the faith he already had.

What is your faith built on? While signs and miracles can strengthen our belief, they aren’t the foundation. Many people saw Jesus perform amazing things and still didn’t believe. True faith is rooted in the promises of God. When we trust in His character and His Word, our faith can stand firm—no matter what.

Respond:

1. How do you relate to the royal official's desperation and need for Jesus' intervention?

2. What does this story teach you about the power of Jesus' words and promises?

3. In what areas of your life is God asking you to trust Him without immediate evidence?