John 7: After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jew’s feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
What an instruction for us. My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
Here and a few other places we get a glimpse of Jesus’ earthly family. We know of his half-brothers James and Jude who wrote books in the Bible. Jude refers to himself as a servant of the Lord. Half-brothers Joses and Simon are mentioned. His sisters are mentioned but not by name. Jesus was the eldest. When the others came along, they grew up knowing he was human yet divine. They had their doubts from time to time. Knowing he was the Messiah but that it couldn’t be revealed until it was time would not have been easy.
Jesus allowed himself to be taught things he already divinely knew. His neighbors knew him as the carpenter. His family was used to him and anxious for him to reveal himself. Imagine growing up in a household with Jesus! He would save their souls as well as others making them all the children of God, the larger family to which he belonged.
Growing up in Nazareth under Roman occupation they saw many people who were confused about the Messiah. The people had forgotten Isaiah 53 and writings in the Psalms. He was not a political Messiah but a spiritual one. Even his family forgot this. It was the Feast of the Tabernacles and time to go to Jerusalem. His brothers told Jesus it was time to let Israel know who he was. They tried to teach Jesus. They told him to show himself to the world. If he was the Messiah he shouldn’t keep it a secret. They wanted him to take control politically and save them from the Romans.
Before we think too harshly of his brothers for doing this, think about how many times we’ve been guilty of telling Jesus what to do. Instead of asking the Lord, we tell him. We give him our 1, 2, 3, 4 agenda. Do this. Do that. We’re as guilty as they were. Jesus isn’t to be told anything to do. He is in charge, not you or me. We must let him be Lord and Master. If he says it will be done a certain way at a certain time, we must be satisfied and say “not my will but thine.” When Jesus was tempted, he didn’t pull out his divine hammer and slam the devil. He used the Word of God to overcome. The Word silenced the devil. It’s not what we say. It’s what thus sayest the Word of the Lord.
His brothers had moments of doubt and conflict with Jesus. Have you found yourself doubting when the Lord doesn’t do as you think he should? Remember the Lord sets his own watch and ours must match his. Jesus told his brothers his time was not yet come but their time was always ready. Jesus has always been on time. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha accused Jesus of being late, but he needed to demonstrate something to them. The people told Jairus not to bother Jesus because his daughter was already dead, but Jesus told him to believe and she would be made whole. Jesus wasn’t too late in either situation.
The reason we’ve not seen Jesus come is that it’s not his time. He is doing what needs to be done. What he needs from us is repentance. II Chronicles 7:14 tells us if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. We want him to do it all and not do anything ourselves. We may have to suffer before Jesus comes. As soon as the Father sees it’s time, he will send Jesus. In the meantime, those who need to be saved can be saved. We need to be a witness. Salvation won’t always be around. Because the Lord hasn’t come yet means he’s still saving. When his time comes, the door will shut and judgment will come.
Our time is always ready. We need to be in a state of readiness now. If Jesus had gone to Jerusalem at this time it would have been a mess. His brothers probably would have tried to push him to the forefront. They could have been killed in the process. He was looking out for his family. They needed to go onto Jerusalem according to the Word and worship. We need to worship now, tomorrow, and how ever long we have.
His time will come. Ours is always here. How ready are you to worship? How ready are you to believe? How ready are you to endure and trust the Lord? How ready are you to live for him no matter the cost? No matter how many stripes Jesus received, he still carried the cross all the way. Our little suffering here will be well worth what is ahead for us.
Jesus is ready to save. We need to be ready to live right and witness to others. If we’re ready to serve the Lord and stick with him, he’ll be ready to save those we contact. How ready are you to serve?
Jesus’ brothers needed to follow the will of God and go to Jerusalem. When the time was right, Jesus went. There he died for our sins. When the time is right, he’ll come again. How ready are you right now?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 