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THE KING’S BUSINESS
His authority there before He would be received at home. This appears also from the following verse. The principle stated in verse 44 is of almost universal application. The last place to receive not only a proph et but a great man is the place where he was brought up. Any community, especially a small community, finds it very hard to forgive one of their own children for becoming greater than the ordinary run of persons in that community, and however much he may be honored abroad, they are sure to think and speak slightingly o f him. V. 45. “ Then when he was come (rather, So when he came) into Gali lee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that (rather, what soever) he did in Jerusalem at the fedst: for they also went unto the feast.” The Galileans, who on His former visits, had not received Him with any enthusiasm did now, because He had manifested His power and gained a reputation in Jerusalem. On His for mer visit, a little company of His disciples, and apparently only His dis ciples, believed on Him (ch. 2:11) but now the Galileans as a whole were disposed to receive Him because of what they had seen at Jerusalem. From this time on He had a heartier welcome in Galilee than anywhere else, though even the Galileans did not receive Him as cordially as the Samaritans did. The word here translated “ receive” has in it a sug gestion of a welcoming that is not in the other Greek word which is commonly translated “ receive” in the New Testament. The last words of the verse “ Foi they also went up unto the feast” are an explanation' by John to his non- Jewish readers, those outside of Pal estine, would not have known that Concluded on page 641
after two days (rather, after the two days), he departed (rather, went forth) thence (rather, from thence ) into Galilee. For Jesus himself testi fied, that a prophet hath not honor m his own country.” The two days mentioned in this verse are the two days spoken o f in verse 40. This comes out plainly in the definite article “ the” which is omitted in the Authorized Version but found in the Greek text and in the Revised Version. Probably the earlier part of the narrative in the synoptic Gospels (Mark 1:14-2:14 and parallel passages) comes at the same period as what is recorded in these verses in John to chapter 5:1. The contents in this section of John are peculiar to him v. 44 apparently gives our Lord’s reason for going into Galilee at this time. What is meant by “ his own country” in this verse has been a matter o f dispute amongst commentators, some contend ing that Judea is meant, some that Gal ilee in general, some Nazareth, some Lower Galilee in which Nazareth was situated as distinguished from Upper Galilee in which Capernaum was situ ated. Even so reliable a commentator as Wescott contends that Judea is meant. He says “ It seems impossible that S’t. John could speak of Galilee in this connection as Christ’s ‘own Country.’ ” But to this the all-suffi cient answer is that' Jesus Himself made use of the same proverb as re ferring to Galilee, and especially Nazareth (Luke 4:24; Matt. 13:57; Mark 6 :4) and John constantly speaks of Jesus as a Galilean (ch. 1 :45, 46; 7 :41), therefore there can be but little doubt that by “ His own country” in this passage is meant Galilee, and the thought of the reason is that Jesus had gone first to Judea and not gone into Galilee before but went there now, because He realized it was nec essary that He should first establish
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