October 26 There is a Time

John 4:1-3 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
 
IN these first readings from John, we have watched John the Baptist point to Jesus to affirm it is time for Jesus to become more and his own ministry to become less. We can rejoice that John was a true prophet of God. Not only did he faithfully speak and minister to the Jews as God had directed him, John humbly stood back as Jesus began to stand out. John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.  John was living into the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
   Jesus, too, lived in obedience to this wisdom. The gospels repeatedly describe how Jesus worked within the Father’s timeframe to do God’s will on earth. When, for example, he was 12 years old, Jesus met with the temple officials and proclaimed to his mother in Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” This indicates he was preparing for the time of his ministry. The Lord Jesus lived within his purpose.
   Also, Jesus’ revelation to his hometown in the Nazareth synagogue occurred at the set time: Luke 4:21b “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” And several times we his words: John 7:6b “The right time for me has not yet come.” And then he prayed with submission: John 17:1b “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” 
   For our Lord Jesus, Son of God, there was a time for every season, every purpose under heaven. He spoke of judgment and salvation. Healing and cursing, death and resurrection, hope and sorrow, rebuke and encouragement – all of heaven and earth was under his watchful eyes. That’s why he left Judea to return to Galilee. He had gone to Jerusalem to make his ministry known. The Lord used John the Baptist to introduce him to the Jews. John’s work for that time was nearing its fulfillment. It was time now for Jesus to go to his home territory to call more disciples, to heal his own, to proclaim the gospel, to denounce sin and self-righteousness and to uphold God’s grace.
   Preaching, healing, compassion, mercy, sorrow and joy would fill his time remaining on earth. He was the complete minister of God, come to care for his people. He loved “the world” so much, God became flesh in God’s time to awaken his creation to the time of God’s Kingdom come.
   Jesus could have stayed to argue with the Pharisees. But he had better things to do with his time. His time to announce the Kingdom of God had come.
 
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to know what time it is. In Jesu’ name, amen.