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I've read the Bible already, but now I'm on my second or third time around. As I started moving through John the other day, I noticed something that I never paid attention to before and it started bothering me. Not in the sense that I don't believe--because I totally do indeed believe and accept Jesus, I just...don't understand this.

John 4:43

"Two days later, Jesus left and went to Galilee. (Jesus had said before that a prophet is not respected in His own country.) When Jesus arrived in Galilee, the people there welcomed Him. They had seen all the things He did at the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, because they had been there, too."

Ok...I completely remember the whole scene where Jesus originally made that statement--the people got really ticked off and even tried to throw Him off a cliff if I remember correctly. However, why do they welcome Him now? I mean it's almost like John was TRYING to say "Hey look, Jesus said this, but then opposite happened. UH-OH!"

Now obviously I know that's not true, the purpose of John's writing is to help people to believe, plus I don't see God letting something untrue or messed up make its way into the Bible. However, then what exactly is this about? I don't know if I have any learning diabilities, but I do tend to have a hard time understanding things that most people notice easily, so I probably do. ._. So please forgive me if I'm missing the obvious, but it's really bothering me and I'd really like to hear an answer to put this nagging at rest.

Also sorry about bothering you guys so much with questions, but right now my pastor is in the middle of moving, so I can't even talk to him. ^^; Not to mention even when he's not moving, he's the type with like...ten kids and whatnot, so he's kind of busy.

I think the riot at the cliffs must have been incited by the pharacies and teachers of the law who had "political" beef with Jesus at the time. You know how people can be: they thought this Jesus was an interesting fellow but that it would be more interesting to see how he would handle the pressure of potential death. My guess is that Jesus' coming to Galilee the second time around wasn't welcomed by the pharacies, but by the normal people of the day.

You can cross-reference Matthew 13:57. It could be that John was providing an explanation as to why they went to Galilee instead of Nazareth.

Galilee was still Jesus's home turf. It was likely as full of believers as non-believers. They ones welcoming Him were apparently part of the former, as they had seen His works in Jerusalem and believed.

When anyone gives an account - Biblical or not - and they say the "city is rioting" or "the people recieved them warmly" they are not speaking for the entirety of the population but for the prevailing opinion of the collective as a whole at the given time.

The bit about not being respected in a prophet's own country comes from Jesus's inability to do miracles for the people because they would not believe in Him. It's rather like the friend you've know since you were 5 suddenly shows up and says, "I've got magical powers I can show you if you believe me." Do you believe him? It's a lot harder to believe him than if someone you've never met but have heard he can do great things.

So, that's not to say that the people all wanted Him dead, just they had a hard time believing this guy who's lived a relatively normal life in their midst for 30 years is suddenly claiming to be the Messiah.

Momo-p, "I believe the reason why they wanted to push him off the cliff was because the people thought he was blaphyming the Holy Spirit. See they saw Jesus as a normal man.

He spoke with the power and authority of the word of God." One of my bible teachers was visiting with me on the site and wanted to convey this to you.

I would also like to point out that in the beginning, Jesus was generally well accepted for a while, but then as the time drew close to the crucifiction things started heating up. He began to loose followers. The influence of the pharasee's had alot to do with this. More importantly you also have to remember that no matter what, all of this had to take place so to fullfill the scriptures concerning Jesus. Galalee was not his home town, Nazareth was. And if you think he had a good going in Nazareth, he didn't. He had loads of trouble constantly. He was more accepted in Galalee.

But you also have to remember that Jesus was also speaking to the disciples in a parable you might say. Remember how Jesus constantly said "He who hath an ear. let them hear". Well when I read that, in today's time it means to me that my family and friends who are not saved will not be recieved by me who knew before I got saved. And in the case of the disciples and apostles through out the New Testiment after Christ ascended, you will come to find that most all of them were not recieved in their own country. In fact, most of them faced horrible deaths trying to see people saved.

We hope this helps, if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Paul