My time has not yet come ...

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.

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There is an interesting and continuing dialog that takes place in the gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry and we see it in this passage. The first time we saw it was when Satan came to Jesus in the wilderness and tried to force Jesus to reveal himself through the miraculous. We again see it here as the brothers of Jesus tell him to reveal himself in a dangerous place. Such is the way that unbelievers put God on trial - they love to taunt Him and challenge Him to act in a way that is not in accord with His will.

As he speaks of waiting Jesus teaches them, and us, about timing and the will of God. I struggle, as I suspect many do, with this idea of timing. In truth I do not want to wait for God's timing but prefer that He act in accord with my schedule. Such impatience disregards the importance of patience and endurance in our lives. Interesting how it was Jesus' plan all along to go to the dangerous place. I love how his courage was not foolhardy but wise. Perhaps courage is mostly an issue of wisdom, patience, endurance and timing?

Help me to wait Lord. You make all things beautiful in your time.