The Timeliness of Timing

“Does anybody really know what time it is?  Does anybody really care?”  These familiar questions are part of one of the many songs performed by the music group, Chicago.  This song was introduced around 1970.

“I’m late.  I’m late; for a very important date.”  Back in 1951, we were introduced to this reference to time, as shouted out by our rabbit friend in Alice in Wonderland.  

And, of course, many of us can truly appreciate Dr. Seuss’ perspective on time:  “How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” 

Interestingly, God is not bound in any way by time.  Yet, He chose to create time for humanity to live within.  Since He also created time, He is Lord of time.  All that has taken place over the centuries has all been part of God’s timetable; part of His perfect plan.  There is nothing we can do to speed up time, nor slow it down.  We are to live faithfully for God within this framework of time, utilizing it for His honor and glory.

I can recall the concepts taught to me about the wise use of time.  One which stands out is that one needs to take the time to do it right the first time, for there may not be time enough to do it a second time.  This was a focus on using time wisely and properly.

In addition, we think of time as having a rightness or wrongness to it.  There is a right time to do certain things and a wrong time to do certain things.  There is good timing and bad timing.  We are going to be looking at these particular extremes in the context of time as we dig into this passage today.

It is time for us, as Christians, to seek to follow God's time and not our own.

The Wrong Time - 7.1-9

After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.  Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.  Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.  For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”  For not even His brothers were believing in Him.  So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.  Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.”  Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.

As we discuss time, we are immediately greeted with the words “after these things.” John is referring to all that had taken place in chapter 6, which was around the time of Passover, which took place in the spring.  Now, it is helpful to understand that this particular feast, here in chapter 7, took place about 6 months later, around the time of fall harvest.  Since John was not keeping a daily journal for our benefit, we need to assume that Jesus was continuing to teach and preach as the Father had commanded Him to do.  As we look at this time period from the other Gospels, we observe that Jesus was continuing to equip and disciple the twelve; performing many more miracles; in addition to spending some focused time with those closest to Him, the three (Peter, James & John).  

Several commentators point out something which I believe to be quite significant.  You will recall the earlier crowd of 5,000 men, plus women and children.  Interestingly, Jesus spent only a few days with them.  The majority of Jesus’ time on this earth was spent investing in a select group of a few people.  Though you and I might feel that our best efforts would be maximized with the larger crowds, we can be encouraged that Jesus’ pattern was focusing on a small group that was totally committed to Him.  Even then, one of the twelve rebelled and turned traitor against Jesus. 

As much as we might like huge crowds and see that as a sign of success, we have to remember that the church’s commission is to “go and make disciples.”  I have commented many times that I am more concerned that our church go deeper in its spiritual walk rather than go wider in its building and numbers.  I’m not against that; but only if it’s part of God’s plan and not ours.  

Something else which I find fascinating is that Jesus knew of the right time and the wrong time to be certain places.  Already, Judea had become unsafe for Him to do ministry.  Understand that Jesus didn’t fear going there.  Rather, it was simply not the time for Him to be in harm’s way. John Calvin gave a wonderful explanation: Although Christ avoided dangers, he did not turn aside a hair’s breadth from the course of his duty.

As we look further into verses 2 and following, we run into the Feast of Booths.  This was really during the harvest season, as some call it the Feast of Ingathering.  During this time, the people actually built shelters made from branches in remembrance of what their ancestors had done in their pilgrimage, when they didn’t have a permanent location or home.  This could be seen on the roofs of many of the houses.  This was a major time of celebration and was probably the most popular of the feasts.  It usually lasted about 8 days.  

The passage says that this feast was near, so it wasn’t quite yet.  This Feast is also one of the three feasts that all Jewish males are required to attend.  

As we look at this, trying to understand who the characters are, we need to realize some basic truths. A little background should be helpful. There are those who suggest that Mary gave birth only to Jesus.  That is not true.  The language is quite clear showing that these were indeed brothers to Jesus.  In addition, other passages state that Jesus is Mary’s first-born, which implies that she had other children.  The difference is that Joseph was simply the Daddy to Jesus.  Whereas, He was the father to Jesus’ brothers and sisters.  

We read how the brothers were trying to get Jesus to do something which was not part of the Father’s plan.  His half-brothers were goading Him to go for the purpose of performing and showing off His power.  We need to understand that they were not suggesting this for Jesus’ benefit.  When you look at these verses, it is clear that they did not even believe in Him yet.  Even by their comment about going public sounds like they were more like political advisers.  Even their use of the word “if” shows they were casting doubt and challenging Him to perform.  

Interestingly, Jesus’ response in verse 6 lets us know that Jesus would not even let family members change the timetable which the Father had set into motion. Jesus lets them know that their time frame was truly their own.  It would seem that God’s time frame was never part of their thinking at this time.   

Jesus also comments quite boldly that they are just like the world and are part of the world.  As a result, they have nothing to fear since they fit into it so well.  This animosity and hatred of the world towards the things of God are pointed out here by Jesus to His brothers.  I believe that we can learn a great deal from this, as well.  When we present the things of God by how we live, plus speak as to what we believe, refusing to deny the truths of God, the world will hate us. 

Many of you watched David A.R. White’s movie, God’s Not Dead.  You observed this type of thinking quite clearly in this movie.  I have heard and read some reviews stating that this type of thing was exaggerated to make a movie in order to make a point.  My friends, it was not exaggerated.  Even at the end of the movie, there was a multitude of court cases cited, where this type of activity is currently taking place all the time in the U.S. Since that movie, the animosity and hatred have increased. 

I can also praise God that the salvation miracles that occurred in the movie, do really happen, as well.  It may have seemed contrived; yet I tell you that I and others have participated in situations where someone comes to faith in Christ in similar ways that seem beyond anything that could be scripted.  So, brothers and sisters, we must realize that we will be hated beyond measure for simply living and speaking for Jesus.  Yet, when we do so, it allows the Spirit of God the opportunity to do His life-transforming work in hearts all around us.  

Also, for clarification, when Jesus eventually did go to the feast, was not a contradiction, nor did He lie.  The Greek wording in the present tense could be understood, “I am not going right now.”  This also ties into the idea that He would not go to the Feast for the purpose his half-brothers were suggesting.  

So far, we’ve seen that Jesus fully understood timing.  He understood that other people’s ideas about timing were not usually based upon God’s purposes and plans. 

So, we want to look ahead and get an idea as to Christ’s understanding of what the right time would be.

The Right Time - 7.10-13

But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.  So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?”  There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.”  Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

It seems that Jesus was choosing to go to the feast in a covert manner.  He was not going there with the idea that His brothers were setting up a stage for Him.  Plus, it seems as though the 12 were not even with Him at this moment.  If they were, we can assume questions would have been asked or comments would have been made; at least, by Peter. 

According to verse 14, which we’ll look at more in the next sermon, Jesus got to the Feast around the middle of it.  From the way in which John wrote this, it seems obvious that Jesus was quite wise in His delay in coming.  You will recall that whenever John uses the phrase “the Jews,” he is always referring to the religious leaders who were set against Jesus, even wanting to kill Him.  From what we read here, they were looking for Him during this time.  Previously, we know they were wanting to kill Him.  

But it wasn’t just the leaders who were looking for Jesus.  It appears that many at the feast were talking about Him.  Now on first glance, we might be tempted to think that there was a crowd that had a good understanding of Him versus a crowd that was totally opposed to Him.  Actually, both groups didn’t get it.  My friends, Jesus could not simply be a good man and claim to be God.  Neither could He be a deceiver and still be able to do the things which only God could do.  Now, if I were to rate which view was the worst, it would obviously be the latter.  The first group was simply ignorant.  The second group was belligerent and rebellious and hateful.  

Interestingly, we see that they were “grumbling” again.  The Greek word for grumbling in this instance, is simply talk that was taking place that could have been positive or negative, but was not for all ears to hear.  We might wonder why they were muttering under their breath, as it were.  Why is it that “no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews”?  It seems that the Sanhedrin had not yet given an official opinion on the situation yet.  And if one expressed an opinion that might have been contrary to that religious group of leaders, they could actually have been excommunicated out of the synagogue.  And if that happened, you were basically a person without a country and a people.  

Reflections

So what do we learn from this today? Timing can be everything.  The writer of Ecclesiastes stated, “to everything there is a season.”  We cannot plant vegetables in an outdoor garden in October and expect produce in January in this climate.  Neither can we place our agendas or our timetables in front of God’s.  We may have magnificent visions and dreams. We may have ideas and projects that we really feel would be great for God's kingdom. However, it must be God's plans, done in God's ways, done in God's time.

Jesus knew exactly the time in which He needed to do whatever God called Him to do, at that moment.  For many of us, as Christians, we are not exactly patient.  We struggle with knowing when to do certain things we feel God may be calling us to do.  Brothers and sisters, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us who gives us guidance and direction.  We have the Word of God which helps us to know what to do.  And when the Bible gives instructions to do certain things, the Spirit of God will not only remind us, but also give us the power and ability to do it for God’s glory.

Whenever God is leading you to do something or to say something for His honor and glory, do not hesitate. Today is indeed the day of salvation. For many people, tomorrow may never come.

In order to know what God's voice may be saying, you and I must be in the Word, by reading and studying; we must be continually in prayer; and we must be seeking God all the time.

It is time for us, as Christians, to seek to follow God's time and not our own.