Timing is Everything

GETTING STARTED

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Timing is everything.” Well, in the passage today we will find this is true. Jesus had just told the disciples that one of them was “a devil,” referring to Judas, how would later betray him. Now, at the Jews’ Feast of Booths, there is another very interesting interaction between Jesus and his brothers. Watch closely to what is said and how his brothers were trying to provoke Jesus to act in their timing and not his own.

  • How has timing affected events in your own life?

READ THE WORD: JOHN 7:1-9 (ESV) 

7:1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What did the brothers tell Jesus to do and why (vss. 3-4)?
  2. What did Jesus tell the brothers in response to their plea (vss. 6-8)?
  3. Why was it important that Jesus stay in Galilee? What do you think Jesus meant that his “time had not yet come”?
  4. Think of a time you went against God’s plans. What were the results? Why is God’s timing always best?

RESPOND TO GOD

Jesus’ brothers were not taking into consideration that he would be killed if he went publicly into Judea. The brothers wanted Jesus to go and show-off, if he really was the Messiah. Vainglory. But the way of Jesus would be humiliation on the Cross. The brothers’ advice was evidence that they did not believe. Jesus told them his time (to go to the Cross) had not yet come. Many choices Jesus made may seem strange to us because we often are not taking the big picture into account. Remember to obey Jesus at his word and trust that what he is saying is with a purpose, even if his timing doesn’t make sense to you.

  • Pray that you would trust what Christ is telling you to do today.