Jesus' Time

John 7:1-13 (NIV)

¹ After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. ² But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, ³ Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. ⁴ No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." ⁵ For even his own brothers did not believe in him. ⁶ Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. ⁸ You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." ⁹ Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. ¹⁰ However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. ¹¹ Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" ¹² Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." ¹³ But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

Four times in John’s gospel we read Jesus’ time has not yet come. In John 2:4 Jesus at the wedding of Cana tells His mother “my time has not yet come” and He says the same thing here with His brothers (v. 6). It would seem that Jesus mother and brothers were looking for Jesus to show His “glory” through a demonstration of power, but Jesus in His response indicates that a demonstration of power is not how his glory is going to be shown. In John 7:30 and 8:20 when the people were going to seize Him, John records that they (the people) were unable to do so because Jesus’ time had not yet come. In these two passages the Jesus’ time or hour seems to point us to the time of His crucifixion. This understanding is reinforced in John 12:23-33 where John tells us that Jesus says "the hour," Jesus' time now has come. John writes: ^“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…’” and then Jesus goes on to talk about His death (see particularly verse 33). Jesus understands His glory best expressed not in term His power (Easter Sunday), as IMPORTANT as that is. Jesus understands His glory in terms of His love (best demonstrated on Good Friday in His crucifixion). Without His love Jesus’ power would not be glorious, but scary (while without His power, Jesus love would be ineffectual or meaningless). We best see, understand and experience Jesus’ glory in His sacrificial love. May we each of us also so reflect His love in our relationships with others and in our service to others. Jesus make Your love and glory known and experienced through me today. Amen!

Mark 10:42-45 (NIV)

⁴² Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 13:13-17 (NIV)

¹³ "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.