God Has His Timing

(Gleanings from Home of Christ, Taipei devotional booklet and picture is by Amy Rylander)

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. John‬ ‭7:1-10‬ ‭

Is Jesus being contradicting? First He tells His brothers He is not yet going to the feast, then He also goes, in secret. His brothers have suggested He go to the feast to show Himself to the world through His miraculous works. But that's not the way Jesus glorifies Himself.

We love to show off our abilities and how efficient and effective we are. But the moment Jesus wants all to see is not the moment when He performs a miracle but the moment He is nailed on the cross. It may seem a moment of defeat but it is actually the moment when God's will to defeat death is accomplished. In Jesus' heart is the single-minded mission to do the Father's will.

Hence, only when our heart is like Jesus can we not be influenced by the world, but instead follow God's timing and fulfill His will.

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

‭‭John‬ ‭7:17‬ ‭

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. ""For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah‬ ‭55:8-9‬ ‭