What Did Jesus Mean When He Said His Time Had Not Yet Come?

In John 2:4, when the mother of Jesus shares with Him her concern that the hosts at Cana had run out of the wedding wine, Jesus replies to her that His time had not yet come. But, then He goes ahead and turns water into wine. So, why did He say that His time had not yet come? What did He mean by it?

Again in John 7:6, when His unbelieving brothers suggest to Him to go to Jerusalem and show His works there so that people could see and believe, He answers that His time had not yet come but their time was always ready. Then, He tells them to go up to the feast and that He wasn't coming because His time had not fully yet come. However, when after they go, He secretly does go up to Jerusalem. So, what did He really mean when He said His time hadn't fully come? Did it mean that the time when He went up to Jerusalem was time He was actually talking about? Or did it mean something else?

The Gospel of John has strong purposes in highlighting certain phrases and "time has not come" and "time has come" are important motif phrases. Thus, later on, the Gospel doesn't forget to tell us what this "time" was all about:

John 12:23 – Hour Has Come for the Son to Be Glorified
John 13:1 – Hour Has Come to Depart To the Father
John 17:1 – Hour Has Come to Glorify Son, so That Son Will Glorify Father

Evidently, the hour and time that Jesus was talking about was His time to be glorified by the Father.

In contrast, Mary was more concerned about the earthly glory and respect of the wedding and the brothers were also thinking in terms of earthly honor and glory, which was what Christ came against... To destroy the old world of sin and sinful self-respect and bring in a new order of submission to the Father and His will.

No matter what He did, "this world" could never accept Him, for "this world" or "this worldly order (cosmos)" was characterized by open rebellion to God and His Son. It could only crucify Him and put Him to shame.

But, the glory of the Father was in this, that what the world considered to be the dishonoring and defacing of the Son of God, He turned it into the hour of glory of Him.....

Jesus didn't perform the miracle at Cana because of the concern of Mary or go to Jerusalem because of the concern of His brothers--their concerns belonged to this worldly order and framework of honor, recognition, and respect; He worked in a different framework of time, the time-framework of His Father's cosmic arrangement of things. In Him, the end of the old and the beginning of the new are cosmically fulfilled; for those who accept Him, new life, and for those who reject Him, eternal alienation from the life of God.

Read More

Does Perfectionism Help?

Nothing better answers this question than the ancient adage:

[Imagine a rider fall off a horse that stumbles because it loses its shoe]

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

The moral is evident: Never undermine even a little, seemingly insignificant, nail.

However, we can put this proverb a bit differently to gain another valuable lesson:

[Imagine a farrier who refuses to shoe a horse because he can't find his perfect nail]

For want of a perfect nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a perfect horseshoe nail.

In this second version, the problem is not a want/lack of nails, but a non-acceptance of anything considered to be less than perfect. There are two problems with this form of want:

1. The Absolute Version: One may define "perfect" as the best of all or the most excellent of all, the ideal one. However, let's ask who determines which is the perfect nail? Again, is the shoe or the horse or the rider as perfect as this desire for the perfect nail?

2. The Relative Version: One may define "perfect" as that which best suits its object; in this case, the nail that best suits/fits the shoe. The farrier has the option of using other nails and achieve the same results; however, he refuses to compromise.

But, why should a helpful nail that is available at the right time be considered a substitute? A nail in need is a nail indeed.


PS:
Q. Is this being utilitarian in definitions?
A. Jesus, in His Parable of the Good Samaritan, defined a neighbor as not someone defined by society (i.e. caste-community-intrinsic definition) but someone who acts as a neighbor in time of need (function-intrinsic definition), even if he was unacceptable in the person's immediate society. Also, He called as His mother and brethren those who heard God's word and obeyed it (Luke 8:21)

Read More

Two Faces of Anger

In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. (Exod 15:7)

The Bible differentiates between two kinds of anger: one that has a diabolical, evil, and ugly face; and the other that has a holy, righteous, and majestic face.

Ugly anger is based on selfishness, lust, and pride.
Majestic anger is based on love, purity, and truth.

Ugly anger works evil.
Righteous anger works good.

Ugly anger is impatient and destructive.
Holy anger is patient and constructive.

Ugly anger makes one's face look ugly.
Righteous anger makes one's face glow with majesty.

The Bible doesn't say "Do not be angry", but it warns against anger that is based on lust, desire for revenge, pride, and every form of sin.

(Eph.4:26; Gal.5:19-21)

Read More

Say the Words...

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (Jn.21:15)

Even Jesus asked Peter to verbalize his love for Him. Certainly, if Peter had at sometime denied Jesus saying "I do not know Him", it was more important to confess now his deep love for the Master. Does God need to hear an "I love you" from us? I strongly believe, yes. Not because He is in need of love as such, but because at the essence of relationship lies communication, and communication involves confession and verbalization of thoughts and feelings. Isn't that the reason why worship is not a rite but an act of truth and spirit?

If it is important for God to hear us express how much we love Him and adore Him, it is also important for us as humans to verbalize love and esteem for each other. The other must hear our deepest appreciation. Of course, we express love and gratitude through acts and gifts, but these cannot take the place of verbal expression.

Peter had never said "I love You, Lord! He may have never. But, Jesus knew him and drew him to where he could confess his faith, love, and commitment to his Master. Words are important; they are integral to any covenant, contract, or agreement. We have vows, oaths, and promises; and, in all this, the foundation is truth, faith, and trust. Jesus said that Yes must be Yes and No be No. May the God of Truth keep our hearts in His faith so that we be fearless and unashamed in the verbalization of our faith, hope, and love.

Read More

The Power of Godly Fear (Hebrews)

1. Christ was Heard Because of His Godly Fear (Heb.5:7)
Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear (Heb.5:7)

2. Noah was Moved by His Godly Fear (Heb.11:7)
By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Heb.11:7)

3. We are Called to Worship in Godly Fear (Heb.12:28)
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Heb.12:28)

Read More

10 Truths About Godliness in 1 Timothy

GODLINESS means devotion to God, reverential fear of God, a life that prioritizes God and His preferential will above all things, commitment to the plan and purpose of God, a life that is in tune with heaven.

1. Godliness is the lifestyle God desires us to live on earth (1Tim.2:2)
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

2. Godliness is coupled with Honesty (reverence) or (1Tim.2:2).

3. Godliness guides the way we dress or behave in public (1Tim.2:10)
in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

4. The Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus are called the Mystery of Godliness (1Tim.3:16)
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

5. One can train oneself in Godliness (1Tim.4:7)
But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

6. Godliness has profit in this life and the life to come (1Tim.4:8)
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

7. Godliness is the measuring rod to know if a theology is right or wrong (1Tim.6:3)
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness

8. Godliness cannot be commercialized (1Tim.6:3-5)
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

9. Godliness needs only Contentment to be fully profitable (1Tim.6:6)
Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

10. Godliness must be pursued (1Tim.6:11)
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Read More

When God Asks for A Favor

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (Joh 4:7)

~This is not the first time when God asks someone for a favor, but actually intends to do great things for that person. We know the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Elijah asked this widow, who was hoping to only die, to bring him some water in a vessel, and then called out to also bring him something to eat (1Kgs.17:9-11). The widow felt this to be too demanding, but only later realized that she had been chosen by God to be saved in the serving of God's purposes. When Jesus approached Peter in his failure of having caught no fish through the night's vigilant toil, He first asked him to move the boat a little away from the shore so that He could teach the crowd; only after that did He do a miracle that completely transformed Peter's life and showed him the purpose he was created for. Do we recognize Jesus when He comes and asks us, "Give me a drink."?

Read More

Three H's of Marriage from Hebrews 13:4

"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Heb 13:4)

1. Marriage is Honourable. Not something to be ashamed of, not a sin, but considered  honorable by God.
2. Marriage is Holy. Bed must be undefiled. Marriage is a sacred and holy relationship between a woman and a man. It must not be violated in any way.
3. Marriage is Heavenly. Whom God joins, let no man put asunder. God is the Judge who is Lord over the marital covenant. He will judge adulterers and whoremongers; those who are unfaithful to the marriage covenant, have carnal lustings and who go after prostitutes.

Read More