IN GOD’S TIME OR OUR OWN?
#503 IN GOD’S TIME OR OUR OWN?
Scripture John 7:1-17 Orig. Date 10/16/1990
Rewr. Dates none
Passage: After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works 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, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” 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 leaders.
Jesus Teaches at the Festival
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
Purpose: Calling attention to Jesus’ return to Jerusalem, and the struggles that were a part of it.
Keywords: Messiah Providence Opportunity
Timeline/Series: John
Introduction
We could become permanently confused by all of the discussion in scripture relative to feasts and festivals. There are several, and they are spoken of under various names.
Two of the major feasts act as a time span for us in relation to where we are in the span of Jesus’ time. Chapter 6 (4) opens with Jesus in the midst of His Galilean ministry, and it is the time of Passover, which was in the Spring. Our present chapter (v2) acknowledges that Jesus is still in Galilee, but the season of the year is in the Fall. The feast mentioned is the feast of tabernacles, also called booths, sukkot, in-gathering.
So, from chapter six to seven, a period of six months has passed. From the approximate middle of April, we have arrived at the middle of October. As one of the three major festivals, or feasts, every adult male within twenty miles of Jerusalem was expected to participate. Many others did, and many women and children. It was only required, however, of the men.
I do not find it necessary to define what a festival is, or for that matter, what it was then. The Hebrew word is hag and means “to dance in a circle.” It was a time of joyous celebration.
But wait a minute! It was different then, too. Halley says (B20p152) [festivals] “were designed to keep God in the thought of the people, and to promote national unity.” Contemporary festivals have no such designations, and when they keep us out of the gathering of God’s people, then we are clearly out of God’s will.
The passage this morning centers around the decision to go up to Jerusalem for the feast.
I. We Need to Lend a Couple of Minutes of Our Time to Setting. V1 “Jesus walked in Galilee . . . His brethren therefore said unto Him.”
He has spent the major portion of his active ministry in Galilee. No doubt, Jerusalem is the center of everything Jewish, Judaic, Hebrew, religious. No doubt, Jesus viewed Jerusalem thusly: (a) John’s ministry began nearby; (b) Jesus early derived hatred (John 2:13); (c) there were some miracles (John 2:23); (d) only one identified (John 5:6, important). His early ministry was in Galilee: (a) Passover, John 2:13; (b) Feast of the Jews, John 5:1; (c) Tabernacles, John 7:10.
The people who knew Him kept tabs with what was going on. By the way, “Jewry” means only Judea. The disciples were surely with Him though they will not be mentioned until John 9:2, still in Jerusalem. The “brethren” have sarcastically mentioned His disciples (John 7:3). Two possibilities for who they were: Younger sons of Mary (Matthew 13:55) or older sons of Joseph (step-brothers). The allusion of these “brethren” is to John 6:66 “many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”
Do you see their trickery? Go on up to Judea, and let these nobodies see you for what you are. John tells us (7:5) that they did not believe.
There is a lesson to be learned here in regard to criticism. Some of us know people with sharp, destructive tongues: (a) in kind, (b) ignore, (c) respond. Such language says more about the speaker than about his subject. Bitterness is a mark on character; vindictiveness is a sign that one has not learned forgiveness. If it’s aimed at us, ignore: in time we can lay it to rest. If aimed at those dear to us, we need positive affirmation.
II. The Major Teaching of this Passage May be in Regard to the Way We Look at Time. V6 “My time is not yet come, but your time is always ready.”
This is Jesus’ response to a rude remark. “You are always ready to lambast a person or a principle. . . . The time to do the right thing is not always right now.” The issue is living one’s life on the basis of right principles. It is right to go up to Jerusalem for the feast. It is not right to do right for the wrong reasons.
Some have accused Jesus of a falsehood. V8 “I go not up . . . for my time is not . . . come.” G47p240: “Jesus Christ did of set purpose utter a falsehood.” Four times 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:27, John records this expression. In each instance it is hora, destiny. Here kairor, meaning opportunity. So as not to do what the brother accuses Him of doing (v4), Jesus awaits opportunity.
In our own lives, how do we use time? There is, first of all, the limitation of imposed time. What others expect of us. Jobs, family, family-related options. Secondly, there is discretionary time: How do I decide to use the time THAT IS my own? Do I impose a selfish set of values around that time? Do I see time as a gift, and learn to use it rather than to be used?
Lastly, time, imposed or discretionary, is best set to the rhythm of goals. Jesus is going, but appropriately. Spend time to spiritual advantage. More enjoyable social activities should not be allowed to conflict with spiritual needs.
What of lost people who observe your lifestyle in regard to time? Does it lift? Lighten? Liberate? Or limit? Is it a liability?
Of Charles Schwab, you have heard (President of Bethlehem Steel). Ivy Lee, public relations expert? Lee was asked “Show me a way to get more things done with my time.” Schwab agreed to pay anything within reason for a workable plan. “Write down the most important tasks you need to do tomorrow. Number in order of importance. Begin the day with #1, stay on it until completed. Go to #2 . . . then #3. Make this a habit for every working day. Pass it only to those under you. Try it for as long as you like, and send me a check for what you think it is worth.”
After a few months Schwab declared that it was the most profitable lesson he had ever learned. He included a check for $25,000. Within 5 years, Bethlehem Steel was largest in world.
III. It is God’s Time in Our Lives for Jesus. V17, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” Jesus knew that there was a good time and a best time for God’s will. He is available, opportunistic. There were detractors, supporters.
He knew also that their problem was a sin problem. They measure Jesus in relation to law. He healed on sabbath. John 5:9 “the same day was the sabbath.” They choose to quibble over Jesus rather than quicken their hearts in relation to Him. “He is good; no, He deceives.” There is a difference in being “a good man” (KJ) and being “good.” Agathos—innately, thoroughly good.
I have known good men, women. None of us is good, and therefore the need of Jesus covers every corner of this room, town, world.
It is God’s time for Jesus to be Lord.
Conclusion
Barnard Baruch, advisor to Franklin Roosevelt, one said “Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private or public life, have been the consequences of action without thought.”
See Ephesians 5:15f (Amp.) “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully, and worthily, and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise—sensible, intelligent people; making the way most of the time—buying up each opportunity—because the days are evil.”