123.  Arrived in Galilee, Jesus seems to have returned to his home at Nazareth, while his disciples went back to their customary occupations, until he summoned them again to join him in a new ministry (see sect. 125).  John assigns to this time the cure of a nobleman’s son.  The father sought out Jesus at Cana, having left his son sick at Capernaum.  At first Jesus apparently repelled his approach, even as he had dealt with seekers after marvels at Jerusalem; but on hearing the father’s cry of need and trust, he at once spoke the word of healing.  This event is in so many ways a duplicate of the cure of a centurion’s servant recorded in Matthew and Luke, that to many it seems but another version of the same incident.  Considering the variations in the story reported by Matthew and Luke, it is clearly not possible to prove that John tells of a different case.  Yet the simple fact of similarity of some details in two events should not exclude the possibility of their still being quite distinct.  The reception which Jesus gave the two requests for help is very different, and the case reported in John is in keeping with the attitude of Jesus before he began his new ministry in Galilee.  On his arrival in Galilee he wished to avoid a mere wonder faith begotten of the enthusiasm he excited in Jerusalem, yet this wish yielded at once when a genuine need sought relief at his hands.

124.  The apparent result of this first activity in Judea was disappointment and failure.  He had won no considerable following in the capital.  He had definitely excited the jealousy and opposition of the leading men of his nation.  Even such popular enthusiasm as had followed his mighty works was of a sort that Jesus could not encourage.  The situation in Judea had at length become so nearly untenable that he decided to withdraw into seclusion in Galilee, where, as a prophet, he could be “without honor.”  He had gone to Jerusalem eager to begin there, where God should have had readiest service, the ministry of the kingdom of God.  Challenge, cold criticism, and superficial faith were the results.  A new beginning must be made on other lines in other places.  Meanwhile Jesus retired to his home and his followers to theirs.

   Outline of Events in the Galilean Ministry (Chapters III.  And IV.)

   The imprisonment of John and the withdrawal of Jesus into
   Galilee—­Matt. iv. 12-17; Mark i. 14, 15; Luke iv. 14, 15.

   Removal from Nazareth to Capernaum—­Matt. iv. 13-16; Luke iv. 31.

   The call of Simon and Andrew, James and John—­Matt. iv. 18-22; Mark i.
   16-20; Luke v. 1-11.

   First work in Capernaum—­Matt. viii. 14-17; Mark i. 21-34; Luke iv.
   31-41.

   First circuit of Galilee—­Matt. iv. 23; viii. 2-4; Mark i. 35-45; Luke
   iv. 42-44; v. 12-16.

   Cure of a paralytic in Capernaum—­Matt. ix. 2-8; Mark ii. 1-12; Luke v.
   17-26.

   The call of Matthew—­Matt. ix. 9-13; Mark ii. 13-17; Luke v. 27-32.