John 4:43-45 – What's a response to Christ?

Let’s recapitulate all that had happened in Samaria. To travel to Galilee, Jesus had to pass by Samaria. Being wearied, He stopped by Jacob’s well at Sychar and deliberately engaged a woman in conversation. The result was her conversion. She then left her water pot at the well and went in to town to share her testimony. Many folks came rushing to where Jesus was and discovered that He was indeed the Savior of the world. John 4:43 tells us that He stayed with them two days, probably to continue teaching them in their new found encounter with the Savor of the world. From thence, Jesus made His journey, as He initially intended, to Galilee. While on the journey to Galilee, he made a startling remark. He Himself testified that a prophet has no honour in his own country. 

To say that “A prophet has no honour in his own country,” seemed contradictory, if we see it in connection with verse 45 that tells us that “…when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him….” How do we reconcile the two? In the synoptic Gospels in Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4 and Luke 4:42, it is quite evident that the statement was made in connection to His rejection by the people at Galilee. But here in John’s Gospel, the author tells us that after what happened at Jerusalem at the feast, those Galileans who were there saw what He did, so they received Him when He came to Galilee.      

What was John’s intention in these three short verses? Jesus was probably preparing His disciples for the upcoming rejection. Here in Galilee some would warmly accept Him having encountered Him in Jerusalem. But by and large He was not widely accepted. Their enthusiasm in accepting all that He had done, should not be interpreted that they had faith in Him. A true reception of Jesus could be seen in one’s commitment to Him and the mission He came to do. It makes a follower want to follow His example to do the will of the Father. We have all acknowledged His Lordship over our life, now the mark of our reception and commitment to Him must surely be our wholehearted surrender to the assignment He has apportioned to us. In what we say and do, we will clearly show whether we have committed our life to Him. Let us let the conduct of our life speak!