Stroll through Scripture for February 8, 2026

Based on John 4:46-54

After Jesus’ time in Samaria, he continues north to Galilee.  The Narrative Lectionary leaves out verses 43-45.  Here’s what they read:  “⁴³ When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee ⁴⁴ (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country). ⁴⁵ When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival, for they, too, had gone to the festival.”

Jesus was welcomed in Sychar in Samaria, and now he is welcomed back in Galilee.  It appears the further away from Jerusalem he goes, the easier it is for people to welcome Jesus.  This is not surprising though.  Again, John is set in conflict between the religious authorities, with their rules and regulations, accommodation of empire, and abuse of the common people.  

John 1:11 talks about Jesus coming to his own people and those people (the Jewish leadership and their followers) reject him.  John puts the cleansing of the Temple right in chapter 2.  The religious authorities would have seen Jesus as a threat, whereas the common people saw him on their side.  

Which makes this story even more interesting. We are told that royal official came to Jesus.  While we don’t have a name, we know that this official served in the court of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee.  Herod Antipas is absent from the Gospel of John, whereas the Synoptic Gospels show different picture where Herod is afraid of Jesus and Jesus offers an insult (“tell that fox”) towards him.  

The royal official comes to Jesus as a last resort to ask for healing for his dying son.  He traveled what is now approximately 16 miles to get to Jesus.  He approaches Jesus with humility, not with his status.  Jesus heals the boy from a distance, and this causes the man to believe in Jesus.  

One of the major themes of the Gospel of John is the contrast between enlightenment and being in the dark.  We see this play out in this story as well – this isn’t just a healing story.  It is a story in which a household is “enlightened” into belief in Jesus.  

Questions for further reflection:

• Where are the places in our life that are more open and welcoming of Jesus?  
• How does Jesus enlighten our lives?