Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, February 6, 2014 Read John 4:43-54 At the beginning of chapter 4 John had told us that Jesus was on his way to Galilee. That journey was interrupted by the story of the woman at the well. Now the journey to Galilee will be completed. It is interesting that, almost as an aside, John tells us that Jesus made the comment that “a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country.” Jesus is leaving Judea! We have heard these words of Jesus in another context in the synoptic gospels. You may recall that it is at Nazareth in Galilee, Jesus’ hometown, that Jesus says these words in the synoptic gospels. Nazareth is in Galilee. Of course Jesus might have said these words on more than one occasion. However, within the storyline of John it is significant that Jesus refers to Judea as his own country and it is important for John’s storyline that it is in Jerusalem where Jesus has no honor. Once again these differences give indication that the writers of John and the synoptic gospels do not have a direct connection with one another. They share older traditions with one another but often they shape those traditions to meet their own needs. John tells us that Jesus receives a warm welcome in Galilee. The reason for that warm welcome is that they had witnessed what Jesus had done at the festival. Keen ears may be wondering what festival John is talking about. It’s been a long time since we have heard anything about a festival. Within John’s storyline the only festival that can be referred to here is the Passover during which Jesus had cleansed the Temple. So John wants his readers to reflect back to that scene. We now learn that the destination of Jesus as he returns to Galilee is Cana, the city where Jesus did his first “sign” of changing the water into wine. Once again John is leading his readers to reflect back on that earlier story. As we left the story of the wedding in Cana, we left it with some confusion. The more we probe into that story the more complicated it becomes. Are “signs” the vehicle through which belief is bestowed? What is the meaning of the “sign?” We soon discover that the story that unfolds in Jesus’ return to Cana also has to do with signs. John tells a story of a royal official from Capernaum who comes to Jesus because his son is dying. Before we listen more closely to John’s story it is important for us to notice that Matthew (Matthew 8:5-13) and Luke (Luke 7:1-10) tell a very similar story of a centurion who has a slave/servant who is near death. In their story Jesus is in Capernaum where the centurion is stationed. Are these two versions of the same story? There are certainly enough similarities to lead one to think that is the case. There are also differences which may lead one to think we are dealing with two separate stories. This is one of those instances where making a final decision is impossible. There are other times when it is clearer that the same story is being shaped in different ways. Here cloudiness remains. At the very least, we should be keeping Matthew and Luke in mind as we hear John’s story. As we listen to the story, John’s concern clearly is that “signs” are not capable on their own to produce sufficient belief. The royal official comes pleading for Jesus to save his son from death. We expect Jesus will quickly respond with compassionate acts of healing. Jesus does not do that. Instead, as if in exasperation, Jesus comments that all the people are looking for are signs. The royal official persists. And Jesus does not perform a visible sign but simply tells the royal official that his son will live. At that “word” of Jesus the man believes and starts on his way back to Capernaum. On his way home he is met by others who confirm that immediately upon Jesus’ word and the man’s belief in that word the boy was healed at that very hour. The point John is making in all of this is that visible signs, as helpful and important as they might be, are not the source of sufficient belief. The word creates belief. Once again we are delving into John’s concern that faith is a process. Belief may be inadequate – especially if that belief is based on “signs.” Adequate faith is the product of the word. John will reinforce this theme throughout his gospel. The healing of the royal official’s son was a sign. John tells us that this was the second sign that Jesus did, the changing of water into wine being the first. But John has modified our expectation and understanding of signs. We will need to dig deeper to fully understand what John is saying. As a writing technique this story works together with the story of the wedding at Cana to form a unit. The two “signs” at Cana form bookends around the story. We are now ready to move deeper into John’s gospel.