Jesus & Timing

How does one know when to or when not to?

The time is always right to do what is right. - Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr.

Things like truth, righteousness, faith, and hope - these are always right. But strategies may change depending on the situation.

Jesus often avoided trouble. In today’s passage, John tells us he didn’t want to travel in a particular place because the authorities were looking to kill him. (The other gospels have similar moments when Jesus avoids persecution.)

But then later, we see that Jesus knew the time was right for him to die. And you know the rest of the story.

Of interest is the interaction we see today between Jesus and his brothers. It’s rare for us to be privy to interaction between him and his family in the gospels. Note their advice - they tell Jesus that if he wants to be known, he should demonstrate what he can do in public.

But yet again, Jesus has a different sense of timing. Of course, we know that Jesus came to be known to the whole world. But apparently, in his wisdom, he discerned that some times were good for being on display and other times were not. How does he distinguish between when to step forward and when to wait?

It certainly comes out of patience, wisdom, and seeking the Father’s counsel.

What Jesus didn’t do was seek the spotlight for the sake of his own glory. It’s easy for us to want to be seen and sometimes we may even describe this as “for the glory of the Lord” or some other seemingly right purpose.

But Jesus is more measured than that. He will help us, through his Spirit, to act when the time is right.

John 7:1-10

After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him. When it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Booths, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee. Go to Judea so that your disciples can see the amazing works that you do. Those who want to be known publicly don’t do things secretly. Since you can do these things, show yourself to the world.” His brothers said this because even they didn’t believe in him.

Jesus replied, “For you, anytime is fine. But my time hasn’t come yet. The world can’t hate you. It hates me, though, because I testify that its works are evil. You go up to the festival. I’m not going to this one because my time hasn’t yet come.” Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers left for the festival, he went too—not openly but in secret.

Psalm 31:15-16

But me? I trust you, Lord!
I affirm, “You are my God.”
My future is in your hands.
Don’t hand me over to my enemies,
to all who are out to get me!

Prayer

God,

I confess that I am often slow to act because of whatever fear or trepidation enters my mind. And other times, I rush headlong into decisions for the wrong reasons.

Help me by your wisdom to have more discernment in making decisions. Move me by the pace of your spirit to do well with time, responses to people, and making decisions. Give me the determination of Jesus on the way to Jerusalem when it’s right. Or give me the pause of Jesus on the way to Lazarus when it’s right.

I guess all-in-all, I’m asking for wisdom.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.