John 4:44 - Printer Friendly

ESV: (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)

NIV: (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

NASB: For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

CSB: (Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

NLT: He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown.

KJV: For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

NKJV: For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

This verse seems an odd statement to add to this story. The comment about a prophet's lack of honor from his hometown is something other gospels record from Jesus as well (Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24). Most English translations place these words in parentheses, since it clearly appears to be a side-note. But the connection to this story is not immediately clear.

Jesus is travelling from Judea into Galilee (John 4:3), after spending two days teaching the Samaritans of Sychar (John 4:40). Verse 43 mentions His departure, and verse 45 refers to His arrival. But the upcoming events don't seem to indicate much rejection. In fact, verse 45 says He was welcomed. When Jesus has His next confrontation, it will be with the Pharisees in Jerusalem as recorded in John chapter 5. All of this raises the question of what John means by this remark, and why he included it in this place in his gospel.

Scholars offer several ideas. The most reasonable is that Jesus is returning to the region of Galilee, but not to His local hometown of Nazareth. Verse 46 says that Jesus returned to the town of Cana, where He had performed His first miracle (John 2:11). Nazareth, however, is closer to Sychar than Cana—Jesus would have passed right by it. Once Jesus arrived in Cana, He was there long enough for a local official to hear about His arrival, and make a journey to see Him (John 4:47). Cana and Capernaum are about 25 miles apart, so this was not a short time.

This would put John's remark about a prophet's honor in context. Jesus is going to Galilee, the region, but bypasses His hometown of Nazareth, since the people there have no particular interest in His message.

John 4:27–45 is an object lesson for the disciples. Jesus has just finished a conversation with a Samaritan woman, while the disciples were in town buying food. As it turns out, this supposedly unclean woman will soon bring back many people to meet Christ, while the disciples have brought no one. Jesus explains that some work to plant spiritual seeds, while others might be the ones collecting the harvest. Both are valuable and we should be ready for opportunities in either case.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. Jesus both confronts her about her sin, and comforts her with the truth of the gospel. In particular, He explains that even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, have to be reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point. The gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.