“Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was winning and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), he left Judea and set out once more for Galilee”
—John 4:1-3
The Pharisees were irritated over Jesus’ growing ministry, and He was well aware of their propaganda spreading against Him. These leaders had finally had rid themselves of John the Baptist and now Jesus arrived on the scene stirring the hearts of the people. The fact that Jesus was making many disciples grieved them and they hoped to soon be rid of Him as well. However, Jesus never concerned Himself with man’s opinions–whether good or bad. We find earlier in John:
“Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover, many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people. He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.”
—John 2:23-25
Jesus knew very well the fickleness of the human heart and was also clearly aware of what His future held. Yet, He knew the time for his true purpose to be accomplished had not yet come and so He returns to Galilee to escape His exasperated enemies. His focus was always fixed, carefully living in regards to God’s timing and purpose. This is evident in the response he gave to His own family members who asked why He was not seeking to do His miracles more publically:
“So Jesus replied, “My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity! The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil. You go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because my time has not yet fully arrived.”
—John 7:6-8
Always pleasing the Father, Jesus’ timing was always precisely what the Father desired. Those who follow after the desires of their own heart find any time right to do whatever they please. Conversely, those seeking to do God’s will, wait on God’s timing. King David, a man after God’s own heart, tells us:
“Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the
LORD'sfavor in the land of the living? Rely on theLORD! Be strong and confident! Rely on theLORD!”
—Psalm 27:13-14Let’s face it; waiting is never easy. In our microwave society, we want everything instantaneously–no waiting in lines at the bank or the grocery store; no waiting at the doctor’s office or on the phone for a human voice; no waiting for a husband or a wife or a child; no waiting for a vacation or a home or a car–we humans simply do like to wait! Yet the Bible is filled with phrases indicating “wait time”: “in the fullness of time;” “after a long time;” “at the appointed time;” “during that long period;” “when the time had fully come.” Our times are in His hands whether we acknowledge that fact or not. The Bible tells us:
“But I trust in you, O
LORD! I declare, “You are my God!” You determine my destiny! Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.”
—Psalm 31:14-15
Let me be perfectly clear here–waiting always has a purpose! God is in the process of and building our characters and working in the lives of those around us with each minute that passes! He wants us to “grow up” in Him in order that we may be vessels used by Him. Believe me, that takes time! Abraham was 100 when his promised son was born; God took thirteen years grooming Joseph before he was elevated to the second highest in command under Pharaoh; Moses was years tending his father-in-law’s sheep before leading the Israelites out of Egypt; and the list goes on and on. To prepare a vessel for use takes time, and the end result is more than worth the wait.It often takes years to prepare a saint for the works God has planned in advance for them to do.
Take It to Heart
Rather than whining, or complaining, or simply doing nothing during our prolonged periods of waiting, might it not be a better use of our time to earnestly seek God through prayer, through His Word, and by the counsel of godly friends and family? Why not identify those areas in our lives that God is working on and be willing participants with Him while living in joyful and hopeful expectation!
“For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.”
—Ephesians 2:10
“Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.” -Oswald Chambers
Further Reflections
Jesus was all about His Father’s purpose and timing–that was His total reason for walking the dusty earth: “ For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
—-John 6:38
“Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.”
—Psalm 37:34