The Right Time
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Introduction
Introduction
“After this” — Once again John advances the story of Jesus without giving us a specific period of time. But if we look at what we know of chapter 6 and that we are now approaching the Feast of Tabernacles, approximately six months has passed between the feeding of the 5000 and the events of chapter 7. It is October of 29 AD
Jesus spent about a year ministering around Galilee because the authorities in Judea were out to kill him. The ministry in Galilee is coming to an end with our passage today.
Jesus did not avoid Judea because He was a coward. He did so because He was following the Father’s plan…the Father’s timetable…the Father’s purpose for His life.
Jesus was full of courage and never shrinks back from following the will of the Father…even when it meant going to the cruelty of the Cross.
Up to this very moment the time had not yet been right for Jesus to travel to Jerusalem and Judea so His ministry was maintained in the area of Galilee.
The Feast of Tabernacles was approaching and things were beginning to change. The Father was now beginning the sequence of events which would ultimately lead to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
Feast of Tabernacles — (Also called the Feast of Booths) “In this weeklong festival the Jews remembered God’s provision for the nation during the 40 years in the wilderness, and gave thanks to God for the late summer harvest (of grapes and olives). Tabernacles was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals for which all Israelite men were expected to go to Jerusalem. During this feast the Jews were to live in temporary huts to reenact their ancestors’ interim residence in the wilderness before entry into the Promised Land.”
In this weeklong festival the Jews remembered God’s provision for the nation during the 40 years in the wilderness, and gave thanks to God for the late summer harvest (see ; ). Tabernacles was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals for which all Israelite men were expected to go to Jerusalem (see ). During this feast the Jews were to live in temporary huts to reenact their ancestors’ interim residence in the wilderness before entry into the Promised Land
Jesus brothers — Their names are not mentioned here but Mark’s gospel gives them to us: James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. (A side note here, there is nothing scriptural about the teaching of the perpetual virginity of Mary.) Jesus had brothers born of Mary and Joseph.
Bryant, B. H., & Krause, M. S. (1998). John (). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.
These brothers, as of yet, were not believers. We know later they come to believe in Jesus as Messiah. James even became a leader in the Jerusalem church.
But as of now the brothers are not believers and their thoughts are the same as the unregenerate world around them. They were thinking in human, worldly terms. They are giving Jesus advice and it is unspiritual.
In their way of thinking Jerusalem and the Feast provided perfect opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate His power and claims to be the Messiah. They saw this as an opportunity for Jesus to be before the biggest audience of His life and vindicate Himself…to recover some of the disciples which has left Him in 6:66.
They looked at the situation and believed this a wise, timely profitable course of action. But again…their thoughts were unspiritual and worldly. Jesus does the genuinely wise thing and refuses to walk in the counsel of the wicked
How happy is the man
who does not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path of sinners
or join a group of mockers!
Be careful who you listen to and from whom you take advice! Worldly counsel will not necessarily be in agreement with God’s will. In fact, it rarely will be!
Good advice is what your own kids disregard but save to give to their kids.
1. Never have more children than you have car windows.
2. Never loan your car to someone to whom you have given birth.
4. Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.
5. Know the difference between success and fame. Success is Mother Teresa. Fame is Madonna.
Advice is freely given…Sometimes it is good and other times not. God tells us to be certain any advice we listen to and follow be Spirit led…it needs to be something ultimately acquired from the Lord…from His Word and prayer with Him.
Never take advice from someone you know is lost, a saved person who doesn’t pray, or a someone claiming to be a believer who denies the reliability of God’s Word.
God’s will is a matter of His heart…and only those who know His heart, pursue His heart, have any hope of knowing the wisdom and will contained therein.
The Right Time
The Right Time
The Right Time — Following God is a matter of substance and timing. An even seemingly right thing at the wrong time can be a disaster; failing to accomplish what might have been done with greater sensitivity and discretion.
A man was praying to God. He said, "God!?" God responded, "Yes?" And the guy said, "Can I ask a question?" "Go right ahead," God said. "God, what is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years to me is only a second." "Hmmm," the man wondered. Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny." So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?" And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
God responded, "Yes?"
And the guy said, "Can I ask a question?" "Go right ahead," God said. "God, what is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years to me is only a second." "Hmmm," the man wondered. Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny." So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?" And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
"Go right ahead," God said.
"God, what is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years to me is only a second." "Hmmm," the man wondered. Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny." So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?" And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
God said, "A million years to me is only a second." "Hmmm," the man wondered. Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny." So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?" And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
"Hmmm," the man wondered. Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?" God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny." So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?" And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
God said, "A million dollars to me is as a penny."
So the man said, "God, can I have a penny?" And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
And God cheerfully said, "Sure!! Just a second."
The Father has a plan...Step by step Jesus was living His life according to the Father’s plan. His was a life of purpose and each moment came at the direction of the Father. He simply obeyed what the Father said to do at the precise time He said to do it.
The brothers of Jesus were not believers. Their life was without a divine purpose until they came to believe in Jesus. So all times are alike to the brothers…It really didn’t matter what they did or when…their life was utterly without significance as far as God is concerned.
As followers of Christ our lives are of eternal significance. From the moment we are saved God begins to unfold His plans and purposes in our life. We become a part of His story, His work and everything we do, and when we do everything…matters!
This is an incredible point that we cannot allow to pass by easily. Our life matters to God. We are saved for a purpose…called to play a part in the story God is writing concerning creation. Everything we do matters.
The timing of everything in our life has purpose as much as the things we do themselves!
The Brother’s Timing — Their life was without a divine purpose until they came to believe in Jesus. So all times are alike to the brothers…It really didn’t matter what they did or when…their life was utterly without significance as far as God is concerned. Not so with us!
The world cannot hate you — Now Jesus addresses a second difference between Himself and His brothers and in so doing a difference believer and unbeliever. The brothers are of the world. They are not believers, are not righteous and therefore do not contest the evil, wicked ways of it.
Their life was without a divine purpose until they came to believe in Jesus. So all times are alike to the brothers…It really didn’t matter what they did or when…their life was utterly without significance as far as God is concerned.
Jesus is the Messiah and confronts the world with its sin and lostness. Unrepentant, sinful people never enjoy being confronted with their sinfulness. In fact, they hate anyone who calls sin what it is…sin. They hate and want to destroy anyone who dares to oppose their wickedness.
So Jesus is hated by the world in general and hated in particular by the Jewish authorities on account of His testimony against their hypocrisy, pride and general sinfulness. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem wanted to kill Him.
When we get onboard with God’s plans and timing…don’t expect the world to cheer!
Jesus wasn’t afraid to die and He knew there was a cross in His future. If He went to the feast during its opening moments He would have been arrested and, likely, stoned to death at the behest of the leaders of the feast…they wanted Him dead for breaking the Sabbath and claiming to be equal with God. This was not the Father’s plan.
The Father had a plan and a time for its unfolding…Jesus simply waited and obeyed…when the time was right He went to the feast. He went covertly, secretly and stayed that way until at just the right time He revealed Himself and preached to the crowds.
This was not the Father’s plan.
Nothing can subvert the plan of God
These crowds were being gathered the entire time Jesus was in hiding. They were discussing His identity and debating His ministry. The build up was part of the Father’s plan…hearts were being prepared to hear the message of their long awaited Messiah.
G. Campbell Morgan once said “waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.”
God is at work even when it seems nothing is going on at all…He is moving us to Him and His purposes…moving events, people and things in place to accomplish His will. Be determined to obey and to do so at just the right time!
Conclusion
Conclusion
How do you see yourself? When you look at yourself in the mirror what are the things you think and say about yourself? Wrinkles, pounds and grey hair dominate your thoughts? Muscles, beauty or hairstyle? What about on the inside? Who do you see yourself to be? How often do you think, really think about the question of Why am I here?
George Harrison was one of the Beatles, one of the greatest and most influential pop bands of all time. Harrison knew fame, adulation, the pleasure of mastering his craft, the sense that his was a formative influence on music. So his comment in the Beatles Anthology is instructive: “When you’ve had all the experiences – met all the famous people, made some money, toured the world and got all the acclaim – you still think ‘is that it?’. Some people might be satisfied with that, but I wasn’t and I’m still not.”
Just as Jesus had a purpose and a mission given Him by the Father…His followers likewise have a purpose and a mission...
Look at the lives of Moses, Peter and Andrew, Matthew, Mary Magdalen, Virgin Mary ;
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.
Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Here in the 21st century the stories being written include me and you. There is a divine purpose involved with your existence. As a follower of Christ your life is not your own. The timing of your life is not your own either. How Jesus lived His life in this passage of scripture is an example for us…He shows us how to live our life in light of God’s divine initiative and timing in our life.
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For some here today there is a realization coming over you…Your life isn’t your own…your life is of infinite value because it is connected to God’s life and purposes…Our life is unfolding in such a way that we might be in the right place at the right time to be a part of God’s plan for us. Our part to play…listen, believe, trust and obey
Our part to play in all of this…listen, believe, trust and obey
Quote
“When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, what a glory He shed on our way. We must do His good will, He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey…trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”