two days in Samaria… and after that

The history in brief In John 4 we read that Jesus is in transit to Galilee. He travels through the country of Samaria, where he meets with a woman at Jacob’s well. The story of her encounter spreads quickly and many Samaritans come into contact with Jesus’ words. At their request, Jesus remains for two days in Samaria. After these two days, he leaves again and arrives at Cana, the village where He earlier had changed water into wine. The Galileans receive Him, because they had seen what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover. Prophetic significance The above is much more than just history. It is prophetic. It’s a wonderful ‘picture’ of current interruption in God’s dealings with the Jewish people and of what is to follows. “Two days” is, in prophecy, referring to the time when Israel would be ‘dead’. It is the time that salvation has come to the nations. Paul writes:

For if their casting away is the conciliation of the world, what will the taking back be if not life from among the dead? Romans 11:15

Both we see depicted in John 4, the rejection as well as the adoption. Ecstatically, the Samaritans say to the woman:

…No longer because of your speaking are we believing, for we ourselves have heard Him, and we are aware that this truly is the Saviour of the world, the Christ. John 4:42 

The Saviour of the world! Unlimited! It agrees with the message which Paul presented to the world. It speaks of God’s undiluted grace and boundless love. After these “two days” dawns “the third. Israel’s Messiah will yet arrive there, towards which He was going. He finds recognition for what he did during the Passover. Prophetically, this speaks of the acceptance He will receive due to the fact that He once, as the Passover lamb, died and rose again. After two days (of one thousand years; 2 Peter 3:8), He will finally be ‘coming home’ to His people. And then this statement:

Jesus came again, then, into Cana of Galilee, where He makes the water wine. John 4:46

In other words, Jesus arrives, “after two days”, in the place where he earlier (at a wedding) had changed water into wine. And on what day was that? Indeed, also “on the third day”! The double meaning is crystal clear. The third day speaks of the day the Lord will take His people, Israel, to be His bride, as well as arrange a great feast for all the nations. After two days. On the third day. ——————————— translation: Peter Feddema

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