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John 7:1–9 Pastor Rob Kimsey November 3, 2024 https://laurelbiblechurch.net/
The perfect timing of the Messiah Just imagine being surrounded by people who don't just Misunderstand you they actively resent you
Jesus experienced this firsthand facing not only skepticism, but really outright hostility from many of the people who rejected his message and his identity in John 7 as Jesus moves among his own people he doesn't act on human urgency or popular demands, but operates according to the perfect timing of his
Heavenly Father We see a deep truth unfold here. God's purposes are never delayed.
They're never rushed regardless of human opposition Though the world may deny and even despise the one who came to save The unfolding of Christ's mission was and still is perfectly aligned with God's providential plan
We witnessed Jesus navigating intense hostility with quiet divine purpose
Moving in sync with the Father's will This passage not only reveals the unbelieving world's rejection of Christ But also shines a light on the patience and wisdom of God who knows the right moment for everything
As we reflect on this Let us be reminded of the assurance we have in God's sovereign
Timing in his plan as his plans unfold in ways that we might understand.
We might not understand But we can still trust that it's unfailing perfect because it's
God's plan. We may or may not understand this this particular passage emphasizes the theme of timing and Providence in Jesus's ministry showing how
God's purpose isn't shaken by disbelief in the context of chapter 7 and chapter 8 the
Apostle John is reflecting on the themes of hostility toward Jesus divine timing and the feast of tabernacles or the feast of booths as We look at John 7 and 8 we find
Jesus entering a period of intensified opposition What began as quiet skepticism in earlier chapters has now ignited into open hostility this high intensity hatred against Jesus Fueled by the religious leaders and many of the people was leading toward a deadly outcome
One that would eventually culminate in a plot to kill him Yet even in the face of this fierce animosity
Jesus moves with deliberate purpose aligned perfectly with his father's will in these two chapters
Jesus attends the feast of booths a festival marked by themes of water and light
Symbols that come alive through his words and actions here both and in both chapters Later in this chapter in verses 37 through 39
This is recorded now on the last day the the great day of the feast
Jesus stood and cried out saying If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink
He who believes in me as the scriptures said from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water
But this he spoke of the spirit Whom those who believed in him were going to receive for the spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified in Chapter 8 verse 12.
We see this Then Jesus again spoke to them saying I am the light of the world
He who follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life
He proclaims himself the source of living water and the light of the world
Revealing truths that are both hope filled and challenging His timing is intentional every moment synchronized with God's divine plan and each step drawing nearer to the cross
At the first Passover that we saw in this section. It's it's really moved on from this
So we have the next Passover after this event Jesus will indeed lay down his life in these passages.
We see the steady hand of God's providence at work Despite the world's rejection and hatred
Jesus lives according to a sovereign timeline It's a powerful reminder
No human force can derail the purposes of God and his timing is always perfect May we trust in this same
God may we look to God's sovereign timing who even in the face of human
Rejection orchestrates every detail of his plan with unfailing precision this section highlights
God's providence and timing while acknowledging the world's hostility towards Christ in John 7 we see
Jesus moving purposefully within the tensions of God's sovereign plan and human hostility
From the outset he faces fierce opposition and rejection from those around him
Yet rather than yielding to pressure or reacting hastily
Jesus displays unwavering commitment to the father's timing Jesus refrains from acting outside of God's schedule
Carefully avoiding a premature step in his mission. That's really what we see in these first nine verses
Then in obedience he steps forward But only when the right time arrives fully aligned with the divine purpose of the
Heavenly Father We'll see that starting in verse 10 and moving on Lord willing next Sunday This narrative reminds us that while the world may deny and even resist
God Nothing can disrupt his perfect plan Jesus his life exemplifies a flawless obedience to God's timetable
Revealing a patience and wisdom that transcends human urgency as We study this passage may we find encouragement to trust in God's precise timing for our own lives
Even when faced with challenges or resistance God's purposes just like in the life of Jesus are never delayed.
They're never hurried They unfold in ways that are perfectly appointed as we start chapter 7
We will see God's timing and Jesus is obedience amid opposition Setting the stage for a deeper look at the events and discourse of the feast in chapter 8 in today's passage the
Apostle John recorded a brief conversation between Jesus and his brothers
So that you can see how Jesus refrains from acting outside of God's schedule and do the same in your life following the events of the feeding of the 5 ,000 and walking on water
John records the aftermath of many of Jesus's so -called disciples rejecting him and leaving
Then we see the attitude of Jesus's brothers toward him. It's an attitude of unbelief and Finally John records the answer
Jesus gives to his unbelieving brothers Explaining God's providence and the perfect timing of the
Messiah Let's let's think about the biblical background before we jump into these verses in verses 1 through 9 we encounter
Jesus preparing to go up to Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Tabernacles, this is one of the most important festivals a time of of celebration in Jewish life this feast established in passages from Leviticus Deuteronomy later in Zechariah was both a
Historical celebration and a prophetic pointer to God's unfolding redemptive plan together these passages revealed the background and meaning behind Jesus's Decision to wait for the right time before revealing himself publicly during this festival
The Feast of Booths also known as Sukkot or Tabernacles was one of the three major pilgrimage
Festivals in Israel. It was held in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, which would be mid -september to mid -october
As seen in Leviticus 23 this week -long festival was a time of joy and celebration for Israel It was marking the end of the agricultural season
It involved living in temporary shelters or booths to commemorate the
Israelites wilderness journey as they were Taken out of bondage from from Egypt It commemorates
God's provision for them. This is a special festival Every festival ordained by God and commanded to his people is special but this feast reminded the people of God's sustaining presence of his sustaining guidance and care during their time in the wilderness wanderings
Deuteronomy 16 adds that this feast was a time for all Israel including families servants the poor
Foreigners didn't matter to gather and worship with joy and gratitude for God's blessings
We see this description in Deuteronomy 16 You shall celebrate the
Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor
Because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands
So that you will be altogether glad Three times in a year all your mails shall appear before Yahweh your
God in the place Which he chooses at the feast of unleavened bread and at the feast of weeks and at the feast of booths
And they shall not appear before Yahweh empty -handed Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of Yahweh your
God, which he has given you By requiring all males to appear before the
Lord at the the central Sanctuary this passage underscores the importance of Israel's unity before God The Feast of Booths wasn't only a memorial of the past.
It carried a prophetic element as well We see this in in the Prophet Zechariah in Zechariah 14 we see a future vision where all nations will come to worship the
Lord during this feast Yet not fulfilled. This is what
Zechariah prophesied chapter 14 verses 16 through 19 Then it will be that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem Will go up from year to year to worship the king
Yahweh of hosts and to celebrate the feast of booths and It will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the king
Yahweh of hosts there will be no rain on them And if the family of Egypt does not go up or enter there then no rain will fall on them
It will be the plague with which Yahweh plagues the nations who do not go up to celebrate the feast of booths this will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the feast of booths this prophecy envisions a time when
God's rule and blessings extend to all people and those who do not come to honor him will face his judgment
The Feast of Booths thus points forward to the day when God will establish his kingdom
Universally on the face of the earth inviting all nations to worship him as king to worship
King Jesus in John 7 Jesus's brothers urge him to go up to Jerusalem to make a public display of his miracles
Essentially, they're advising him to seek popularity and acceptance However, Jesus declined saying my time has not yet fully come
His response reveals his commitment to God's timing over human expectations
Jesus knew that every aspect of his ministry was perfectly planned by the father and that his ultimate mission his death and resurrection was not to be accelerated by human pressures or Ambition the
Feast of Booths provided a profound backdrop for Jesus's message his message really and his mission
While this feast celebrated God's historical provision Jesus himself was now the embodiment of God's ultimate provision the true living water and the light of the world as he would declare later in this chapter and in chapter 8 same event
He's waiting for the right time to reveal himself Jesus fulfilled the role of the
Messiah who operated entirely according to Divine timing in a broader sense.
This passage reminds us that God's redemptive plan is precise. It's sovereign Jesus's obedience to the father's timing even when surrounded by hostility
Mirrors the assurance we can have in God's perfect timing and plan It reminds us that while people may attempt to push their own agendas
God's purposes will be fulfilled at just the right moment not a moment sooner or later
The Feast of Booths becomes a symbol not only of God's provision in the wilderness but of his ultimate provision in Christ whose mission would be revealed in the fullness of time and So following the events of the feeding of the 5 ,000 and walking on water
John records the aftermath of many of Jesus's so -called disciples rejecting him and leaving verse 1 the aftermath and After these things
Jesus was walking in Galilee For he was unwilling to walk in Judea because the
Jews were seeking to kill him picture this scene Jesus has just miraculously fed a crowd of over 5 ,000 people he's walked across the water in the night displaying his dominion over creation itself and In the aftermath many who had called themselves his followers
Those who had been close to the miracles the words the signs begin to fall away
They cannot accept his his difficult teachings from a human perspective
His call to a life centered on him alone. And so what do they do?
They leave and then as we move to John 7, there's a gap of months
John doesn't fill in all the details Because his aim is not to give us every day or or even every month of Jesus's ministry
It's to reveal Jesus as the Messiah. That's the purpose for the gospel It's to reveal him as the
Son of God and to show how people responded to him Ultimately that you would respond to him by believing and that you'd have eternal life.
That's the purpose of the gospel and So this time period from April to October six months
Jesus focused on discipling his twelve in Galilee John simply notes that he walked in Galilee Choosing to remain there instead of heading back to Judea where the authorities were already plotting to kill him
We saw that that back in John 5. They are hostile. They want him dead
Now this this wasn't a random choice on Jesus's part he wasn't avoiding
Judea out of fear He was waiting for the exact moment. The father had appointed
Jesus moves only as his father guides him and in this season of waiting he invests deeply in his twelve disciples
Notice what John is showing us here. Jesus is preparing his disciples for their future role as leaders of the church
He's giving them time Walking with them teaching them laying a foundation that will one day change the world
This gap of six months wasn't empty. It was full of growth of instruction of patient investment in the twelve
They had seen the miracles. Yes, but they needed to know more than his power.
They needed to know his heart they needed to be prepared for the mission ahead of them and Here's where it speaks to us
Maybe you're in a season of waiting or perhaps you feel like you're not
Seeing the next step clearly, but remember God's timing is never
Wasted Jesus wasn't idle in Galilee. In other words, he was building his disciples
Preparing them for the challenges and the joys that would come and in the same way
God may be doing a quiet deep work in your heart right now teaching refining preparing and It might feel slow even hidden but it is never without purpose
God's timing is precise and he's leading each of us toward his perfect plan
So let's embrace this truth. God isn't only God of the big miraculous moments he is also present in the waiting in the seasons of preparation and Just as Jesus walked intentionally with his disciples in Galilee.
He walks with us He's leading us according to his wisdom until the right moment to move arrives
Brothers and sisters. Let us consider the weight of this moment in verse 1 Here we are witnessing the aftermath of two mighty miracles the feeding of the 5 ,000 and Jesus walking on water
These signs revealed his power and his authority as the Son of God yet What happened after?
Many who claimed to follow him turned away These so -called disciples saw his works But when his words pierced their hearts when his call demanded surrender they walked away
They wanted a Messiah who served their needs not one who demanded their lives
John tells us that after these events there is a silence six months We move from chapter 6 at Passover in April to chapter 7 at the
Feast of Booths in October In this gap John records nothing.
Why? Not because those months were empty Not not because they're empty but because his purpose was not to catalog every moment of Jesus's life
It was to reveal him as the Messiah and the Son of God John's aim is to expose how men react to the true
Christ Not the Christ they imagine or the Christ they create But the one who confronts sin the one who calls for repentance the one who demands total allegiance
What was Jesus doing in those months? Well, he was walking in Galilee deliberately staying away from Judea where the rebellious leaders already sought his life
Instead of seeking crowds he invested in the twelve He spent days weeks months pouring into them teaching them discipling them
He didn't rush to appease the masses. He was not driven by popularity
No, Jesus was preparing men who would turn the world upside down He focused on those who genuinely believed who were willing to walk the narrow path with him
No matter the cost and here is the message for us dear friends Listen, are we among those who follow
Jesus only when he multiplies the bread? Or are we willing to walk with him to hear his piercing truths to submit our lives entirely?
Discipleship is costly It requires more than enthusiasm for his miracles.
It demands a life of devotion to his word Obedience to his commands and endurance when the way is hard and the way is hard.
Sometimes is it not It's getting increasingly harder in this world in this culture
Jesus did not come to entertain or to satisfy shallow desires
He came to make disciples men and women transformed by the power of God ready to live and die for his name and It you know you think about it and I don't want to have hyperbole
Are we his disciples? Are you ready to live and die for the name of Jesus that time may yet be upon us?
It is in other parts of the world. We have it. So good here the blessings of freedom
We have brothers and sisters in Christ who are making that decision now who are giving up their lives for the name of Christ If you are in Christ Know that he is not wasting a single moment in your life
Not one single second. He is shaping you. He is teaching you He is leading you through seasons that may seem quiet But are full of his purpose and when the right time comes he will call you to walk in his steps
To proclaim his truth with the same devotion the same fire that he poured into his disciples
So let us examine our hearts Do we follow him for what we can gain?
Or do we walk with him because he alone has the words of eternal life the true disciple does not turn back
No the true disciple no matter No matter how many others fall away does not turn back because Jesus is worth it
He is worthy Let me give you an illustration
Imagine a talented athlete preparing for the biggest game of their career.
They've trained for years perfecting their skills Studying their opponents and adhering to rigorous rigorous practice schedules
And as the game day approaches, there's an enormous buzz in the community with everyone eagerly anticipating the athletes performance
Friends family even strangers urge them to put on a spectacular show
You should go out there and prove yourself they say But the athlete knows that they must wait for the right moment to shine to execute their carefully laid out game plan that has been developed over countless hours of preparation and In a similar vein we find
Jesus in verse 1 Navigating a critical moment in his earthly ministry after the miraculous feeding of the 5 ,000 and the stunning act of walking on water
Jesus faced an unexpected wave of rejection Many who once followed him now turned away demonstrating disbelief here
Jesus's brothers approached him with their Expectations Urging him to showcase his miracles publicly at the
Feast of Tabernacles They wanted him to step into the spotlight to seek glory to win the admiration of the crowds however
Like our disciplined athlete Jesus knew that it was not yet the time for such public displays
His mission was not about gaining fame or validation It was anchored in a divine timetable set by the
Father While his brothers couldn't see it Jesus was committed to fulfilling God's plan in his perfect timing even in the face of their skepticism
He was aware that his actions were governed by a higher purpose that transcended earthly Expectations in this moment.
We're reminded of our own lives We often find ourselves pressured by the world to act to perform to achieve according to society's standards
Yet like Jesus we must learn to hold fast to God's schedule for our lives
We should resist the urge to move ahead of his timing understanding that our waiting and our obedience are vital parts of the divine plan as We reflect on this brief exchange
Let us embrace the truth that in in our moments of doubt and when faced with the expectation of others
We can look to Jesus as our model We too can learn to trust in God's providence and God's timing knowing that true fulfillment comes from walking step in step with his will rather than seeking the approval of the world the aftermath
The aftermath showed that unbelief is not indifferent and it manifests in hatred towards God the aftermath showed that unbelief is not indifferent and Manifest in hatred towards God in verses 1 through 9.
The Apostle recorded a brief conversation Between Jesus and his brothers so that you can see how
Jesus refrains from acting outside of God's schedule Do the same in your life? Following the aftermath of many of Jesus's so -called disciples rejecting him and leaving
We see the attitude of Jesus's brothers toward him and it's an attitude of unbelief verses 2 through 5 the attitude
Now the feast of the Jews the Feast of Booths was near Therefore his brothers said to him
Leave here and go into Judea so that your disciples also may see your works which you are doing
For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known openly If you do these things show yourself publicly to the world
For not even his brothers were believing in him This brief exchange shows us a powerful example of how to align ourselves with God's agenda rather than the world's expectations
In verse 2 John mentions that this encounter happens during the Feast of Booths It's a celebration rich with history and significance
It was a time to remember God's provision and protection people gathered from far and wide dwelling in booths made from branches celebrating the harvest acknowledging
God's faithfulness The people saw this feast as a time of joy and anticipation looking forward to God's deliverance
But they also expected certain signs of the Messiah in Verse 3
Jesus's brothers challenged him saying leave here Go to Judea that your disciples also may see the works you were doing
They urged Jesus to go public to put his miracles on display in Jerusalem They essentially say if you're who you claim to be then go and show the world
But understand this their their challenge is not born out of faith. It's fueled by unbelief and misunderstanding
These men James Joseph Simon and Judas grew up with Jesus the
Gospel of Matthew records this in chapter 13 Is this not the carpenter's son is?
Not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas yet They failed to understand who he truly was
Despite witnessing his miracles hearing his teachings. They could not grasp his divine purpose
They likely saw his rising fame and wondered why he would stay hidden in Galilee But their challenge comes from a worldly perspective not from a recognition of his mission
Here they think the kingdom is just about crowds and popularity But Jesus sees a much higher calling a kingdom beyond this world in Verse 4 his brothers continue for no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly
If you do these things show yourself to the world Essentially they want him to make a name for himself
They're thinking like the world thinks seeing Jesus as a public figure who needs to prove himself through some visible or grandiose acts in their minds
Jesus's work could only have real worth if he displayed it to the biggest possible audience
But what they fail to see is that Jesus's mission isn't about impressing the masses.
It's about obedience to the Father's will Jesus didn't come to seek the world's approval
He came to accomplish the work of salvation to do the Father's will in the
Father's time This pressure from his brothers reflects the world's mindset It's one that seeks affirmation
The worldly mindset seeks affirmation and recognition but Christ's path
Wasn't one of worldly acclaim. In fact, the way of the cross would lead to rejection suffering and ultimately sacrifice
Finally in this section in verse 5 John tells us plainly for not even his brothers believed in him
Not even his brothers believed in him Imagine that his own flesh and blood the people who knew him best did not believe in him
The some belief is not just a casual doubt. It's a profound misunderstanding of who
Jesus is Their lack of faith runs deep and it keeps them from truly seeing him
This verse also points us to a larger truth. The world cannot understand
Jesus on its own terms That's very important for us to understand this world
Misrepresents Jesus Christ It's created a false version that does not match with what
Jesus says in the revealed Word of God No, the world cannot understand
Jesus on its own terms You know, they saw him with natural eyes, but they couldn't see the supernatural reality of his mission they were blinded by their own expectations of what a
Savior should be and Until Jesus's resurrection even these closest to him did not believe but eventually they would after his resurrection his brother
James became a leader in the Jerusalem Church and Judas or Jude would write an epistle that bears his name
Their transformation would come but only after the cross So what does this conversation teach us?
Jesus demonstrates that faithfulness to God's schedule requires patience and discernment
We too face moments where others may push us to prove ourselves
To act on the world's timing or to achieve validation from the wrong sources
But we are called to trust in God's timing Christ's example shows us that we do not need to act outside of God's will to prove our faith
We must stand firm Even when those closest to us don't understand our commitment like Jesus.
We must not let the world dictate our steps Instead we follow God's timing knowing that his planned is perfect Jesus's brothers at this point could not see what he saw
They could not understand that his kingdom was not of this world They were caught up in earthly expectations and concerns while Jesus was fixed on heavenly obedience
Let us take this to heart. May we not seek the to please the world to be to be
Accepting or fleeting of its approval. We don't need to pursue the world's Approval that just is up and down like a like a roaring ocean
But instead let us remain focused on the will of our Father in heaven walking in step with his perfect plan
In verses 2 through 5 we see the unbelief and skepticism of Jesus his own brothers
It's a skepticism that cuts close to the heart They knew Jesus since childhood they saw him day by day yet they doubted him and Here we are only six months after Jesus fed the 5 ,000 and walked on water
But even his own brothers challenged him they urged him go to Judea show yourself to the world
That they wanted him to prove himself to display his power in front of the crowds in Jerusalem But John reveals what lay beneath their words.
They did not believe in him even Jesus his own family had had yet to see the fullness of who he was and This doubt it's not unusual
This is a familiar tale The people closest to Jesus struggled to believe just as the religious the religious leaders and crowds did
Here at the Feast of Booths the time when Israel remembered God's provision in the wilderness
They had the writing from Zechariah and here their king was was right before them
You know, this this is a festival that celebrates this time of provision for the wilderness wandering
When the people lived in booths as their ancestors had done before Jesus his brothers couldn't see him as the one who would fulfill
God's promises They saw a family member. They saw a man from their own home.
They doubted They wanted a Messiah who would make a show of power Who would draw attention in the
Holy City who would confirm their assumptions, but their understanding was shallow
They could not yet see the true purpose of his coming and How does Jesus respond?
He doesn't rush to prove himself He doesn't fall into their demands. He simply states my time has not yet come
My time is not yet come Jesus knew that every moment of his ministry was guided by his father
He wasn't there to fulfill human expectations, but to accomplish the father's plan
No No matter how many doubted no matter how many misunderstood he moved in step with God's timing not human pressures and here lies a message for us even if the if even the brothers of Jesus struggled to believe
How easy is it for for any of us to misunderstand or to challenge
God's work in our lives? We want signs We want visible proof we want immediate answers, but look at Jesus he waits on the father's timing
He knew that even when misunderstood or doubted he was exactly where he needed to be
Friends are we walking by faith in God's timing or are we demanding that he move on our schedule?
Jesus calls us to trust and to wait upon the father's perfect timing The world may challenge us skeptics may surround us but like Jesus we are called to walk faithfully
Not giving in to the pressure to prove to rush or to force
God's hand The brothers unbelief would eventually turn to faith They would come to see after his resurrection that he truly was the
Messiah But until then Jesus continued on committed to his father's will
So let's commit ourselves to that same practice that same faith God's plan unfolds in his timing and it is always worth the wait
Whether we face doubt from others or from our own hearts, let's walk in obedience Trusting that our
Lord knows the right moment for everything. He has planned for our lives the attitude
Demonstrated that openly challenging Jesus and his teaching reveals a secret heart of unbelief the attitude demonstrated that Openly challenging
Jesus and his teaching reveals a secret heart of unbelief the conversation between Jesus and his brothers
The Apostle John recorded the answer Jesus gives to his unbelieving brothers
Explaining God's providence and the perfect timing of the Messiah Verses 6 through 9 the answer
So Jesus said to them My time is not yet here But your time is always here
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I bear witness about it that its deeds are evil
Go up to the feast yourselves. I am NOT yet going up to this feast because my time has not yet been fulfilled
Having said these things to them. He stayed in Galilee We see
Jesus responding to his brothers they don't know yet who he is and so they don't yet believe in him and Really?
They're urging him to prove himself This passage is not just a story of family tension
It reveals a profound lesson about staying aligned with God's timetable Jesus shows us that it's not enough to do the right thing
The timing must also be right according to God's sovereign plan Jesus answers his brothers in verse 6.
My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune This echoes his earlier words to Mary and John chapter 2 verse 4 at the wedding in Cana Where he reminds her that his actions are governed by God's timing not human desires
Here Jesus his words reveal his dependence on the father's schedule He's not just moving at random.
He's on a divine timetable set by God himself Jesus makes a clear distinction between his timing and theirs for his brothers who were of the world
Any moment could be an opportunity They were not waiting on God. They acted out of human desire seeking validation and recognition
But Jesus was bound to the father's timing aware that every moment had eternal significance as Believers, we too need to understand that God's timing governs our steps
We are not driven by the world's urgency But by the pace and purposes of our sovereign
God in Verse 7 Jesus tells them the world cannot hate you
But it hates me because I testify that its deeds are evil His brothers didn't yet believe in him.
So they fit in easily with the world's values They weren't challenging the world's sinful patterns
So they weren't facing opposition but Jesus came to expose sin to call out the evil and hypocrisy in people's hearts and The world hated him for it.
This is a critical truth for us to grasp When we follow Christ we take on his mission to stand against the sinfulness of the world
If we're truly committed to living in line with God's Word, we should expect resistance
Jesus warns us that following him will invite the world's hatred He says this later in the
Gospel of John John chapter 15 If the world hates, you know that it has hated me before it hated you
If you were of the world the world would love its own But because you are not of the world
But I chose you out of the world because of this the world hates you
If we're facing no opposition It might be worth asking ourselves if we are really confronting sin and standing for truth as Christ did
Are we are we standing for the truth? Are we confronting? sin and evil
Is there any zeal or honor for God's holiness as you claim to be a follower of Christ In verse 8
Jesus continues go up to the feast yourselves I do not go up to this feast because my time has not yet fully come
Jesus would would not go to the Feast of Booths in the way his brothers wanted Because he was not going to be swayed or pressured by unbelief
He was steadfastly committed to his mission and that mission was bound by the father's timing
This response shows us the importance of waiting on God How often are we tempted to just rush ahead?
Thinking we know the right path or we have the best timing Jesus teaches us that obedience to God sometimes means waiting
Sometimes it means waiting even when those around us urge us to act Waiting on God's timing is an act of faith.
It says God. I trust your plan above my own and Finally in verse 9 having having said these things to them.
He stayed in Galilee This verse might seem simple, but it's significant Jesus could have gone with them.
He could have done as they suggested and shown the people his power But instead he chooses to wait in Galilee until the time is right
This shows us that obedience to God's timing requires resolve It means resisting the pressure to prove ourselves on the world's terms
Jesus wasn't swayed by the disbelief of his brothers. He wasn't tempted by the desire for recognition or popularity
He was focused on fulfilling God's will in God's way and at God's time in This passage
Jesus teaches us to avoid acting outside of God's appointed timing the world will urge us to prove ourselves to Chase validation or to make things happen in our own strength
But like Jesus we must commit to God's timing and purposes above all else
Jesus's response to his brothers reminds us that the timing as well as the action matters to God May we seek his will move at his pace?
Trust in his perfect plan knowing that every moment he ordains is one that he will use for his glory in This section we see
Jesus confronted by his unbelieving brothers Urging him to go to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem and to show himself to the world
They don't understand who he truly is nor do they grasp the purpose and timing of his mission?
Jesus his response to them is both profound and Unwavering revealing his complete commitment to the father's perfect schedule a
Schedule he would not depart from even under the pressure of family Jesus tells his brothers my time has not yet come
Very interesting the Greek word for time here is Kairos meaning the appointed divinely orchestrated moment
Jesus lived every moment in obedience to God's sovereign plan Unlike his brothers who were free to come and go as they pleased
Jesus is every action was tied to the divine will Then Jesus makes a pointed statement your time is always here
Why? Because his brothers were of the world they were of the world the
Greek term for world here cosmos Doesn't just mean people it means the organized system of society that exists in rebellion against God His brothers were of this world and as such any time was convenient for them
They did not recognize the father's will nor did they submit to his purposes because of their unbelief
They had no understanding of God's timing or his plans The world doesn't hate those who are of it
But Jesus the light of the world was sent to expose its darkness and for that the world despised him
Jesus goes on to explain the world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil and Here we see a key truth the world hated
Jesus because he confronted it his life his message his mission were in direct opposition to the sin and hypocrisy that ruled human hearts and Because of that he stood as a target of the world's hatred
His brothers didn't understand this because they shared in the world's mindset. They were part of the very system
He came to redeem and rebuke Jesus underscores his commitment to God's timing go up to the feast yourselves
I do not go up to this feast because my time has not yet fully come Jesus would not allow himself to be pressured to be persuaded or to be manipulated into acting before the appointed time
He knew that God's perfect will could not be rushed and God's perfect will could not be delayed
The Apostle Paul writes this in his letter to the church in Galatia Galatians chapter 4 Reminds us when the fullness of time had come
God sent forth his son Everything in Jesus's life from his public ministry to his death
Unfolded exactly as God had determined and so what does this mean for us?
Well first we must ask ourselves if we are living by God's timing or are we living by our own desires?
Jesus shows us that faithfulness to God requires patience Requires humility it requires a willingness to submit to his timing to his schedule
Even when others pressure us to act differently We are called not to be people who follow the world's impulses
But to walk in step with God's Spirit Jesus's response to his brothers also reminds us that following Christ will put us at odds with the world as Jesus bore witness against the world's sin
So must we if we walk in his light we too will face opposition a
Christian whose whose life aligns too Comfortably with the world may need to examine themselves
Whether they are truly walking as Jesus did Let us learn from Jesus's unwavering obedience to the father's timing.
May we trust in God's providence? The answer teaches Believers that refraining from acting in haste or succumbing to worldly pressure is a result of entrusting ourselves to God the answer teaches believers that refraining from acting in haste or Succumbing to worldly pressure is a result of entrusting ourselves to God may we find courage to stand firm even when the world stands against us as Jesus stayed true to his mission.
May we also follow God's call faithfully knowing that his timing is always perfect in Today's passage the
Apostle recorded this brief conversation between Jesus and his brothers So that you see how
Jesus refrains from acting outside of God's schedule. You'll do the same in your life Following the events of the feeding of the 5 ,000 and walking on water
John recorded the aftermath of many of Jesus's so -called disciples rejecting him and leaving him
The aftermath showed that unbelief is not indifferent. It actually manifests in hatred towards God Then we saw the attitude of Jesus's brothers toward him an attitude of unbelief
The attitude demonstrated that openly challenging Jesus and his teaching actually reveals a secret heart of unbelief and Finally John recorded the answer
Jesus gave to his unbelieving brothers Explaining God's providence and the perfect timing of the
Messiah the answer teaches believers that refraining from acting in haste or Succumbing to worldly pressure is a result of entrusting ourselves to God So this morning as we draw our time together to a close let us reflect on the profound truths in verses 1 through 9 this passage provides insight into really into the dynamics between Jesus and his brothers and The broader context of his earthly ministry during a time filled with hostility and plotting against him
Initially, we observed Jesus acutely aware of the animosity that surrounded him John notes this tension as a crucial reason for Jesus's delay in attending the
Feast of Booths the feast was a vibrant celebration drawing throngs to Jerusalem a prime opportunity for anyone looking to garner attention and influence however
The misguided reasoning of Jesus's brothers reveals their lack of understanding of his mission
They did not recognize that the object that really the objective of Jesus the object of his mission
Was not to gain public acclaim No, it was to it was not to play to the whims of the crowd
No Their their words displayed an attitude of skepticism and a failure to grasp the depth of his purpose
We see Jesus respond to their pleas with remarkable clarity He acknowledges the difference
He acknowledges the different understanding of time and purpose between himself and his brothers
While they perceived any moment as an opportunity Jesus understood that his movements were dictated by a divine timetable
That was often in crop like really incomprehensible to the people around him, especially his brothers here
For them the world was a place of acceptance and relevance But for Jesus it represented antagonism
Against the very message he came to proclaim We must recognize that unbelief breeds hostility
Jesus's brothers caught up in their earthly expectations reflected a broader attitude of the world a
World that does not embrace the truth of God's Word and as a result often stands in opposition to his mission
They could not see that their very desire for Jesus to conform to the worldly standards
Place them in direct conflict with the purpose of the Messiah Yet in the midst of this we witnessed the beauty of God's perfect timing in Providence Despite the pressure to conform and act according to the desire of others
Jesus remained steadfast committed to his father's schedule
His response to his brothers serves as a reminder That we too are called to refrain from acting outside of God's appointed time in our lives
Ultimately as John records this brief conversation He highlights the necessity for us to understand that God's Providence is woven into the very fabric of our existence
Jesus's timing was impeccable and his purpose was unfaltering in our own lives
We must hold fast to the truth that God is sovereign that his timing is perfect and that we can trust him even when circumstances are contrary as We navigate the complexities of our own journeys.
We need to remind ourselves of that We can trust him even when the situation seems contrary
We are called to adhere to God's timing to trust in his overarching plan