Scripture
Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come. John 8:20
Observation
The Gospel of John develops a number of powerful themes around the life of Jesus. One obvious theme is the timing and seasons of God. It begins in John 2 when Mary asks Jesus to help out with the embarrassing lack of wine at the wedding and Jesus responds, “My time has not yet come.” (vs. 2). In John 7 His family again pressures Jesus to reveal Himself and He makes it clear it’s not the right timing (vs. 6). When the religious leaders tried to seize Jesus because of His offensive comments verse 30 says “no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.” Today’s reading shows a similar instance. Jesus was “untouchable” until the Father’s timing was complete. We see a turn in the timing in John 12:27 when He tells his disciples, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Then, just before Jesus washes the disciples feet John 13:1 writes, “Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.” From here on out in John 16:4 and John 17:1 Jesus knows His time to die for the sins of the world has come. Jesus lived in the certainty of The Father's timing for His life. What would it be like to live on God’s time table instead of our own? To know, that as long is there’s breath in our lungs, God’s mission in us is not done?
Application
When The ER Doctor looked at me and told me I needed to talk to my family while I still could it knocked the wind out of me, literally and emotionally. She told me my lungs “looked like Hell” and many who came in with Covid Double Pneumonia like mine didn’t leave. I was experiencing my “dark night of the soul” as I grappled with her words and tried to find something to hold on to. I hadn’t even had a chance to hug my boys goodbye before being admitted. Then, somewhere in the middle of the despair what I can only describe as a gift of faith rose up in me. I felt the Lord whisper to my heart that He wasn’t done with me and that was all I needed to hear. I asked everyone I knew to pray for a "five day miracle" and that’s exactly what Jesus did. It was His timing, not mine. The doctor didn’t get to determine the number of my days, my Maker does that. I’m a man on a mission and my mission here on this earth is not done. Here’s how I know. I've still got breath in my lungs. When I’ve accomplished what He sent me to do that's when Jesus will take me home. Until that day though, I will not live in fear because Jesus is working in and through me. This is not some immature argument towards living a flagrant or faithless life, but rather a fearless one. This is not some false theology that says I can do whatever I want because I’m untouchable. It’s quite the opposite. I’m here to do whatever He wants because He touched me and filled me and I’m here for a purpose.
Prayer
There’s still breathe in my lungs therefore You’re not done. May I never take another breath, another moment, another day for granted. I’m here to live on Your timetable in Your timing. There is so much fear in the world around us right now. I pray Your people would rise up a with a sense of purpose, casting off fear, walking in faith into all You have for us!
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