Right On Time
We don’t like to wait. There is no better time than the present. If I can have it in the future, why can’t I have it now?
The season of Advent is a time of waiting, calling for us to discipline ourselves in patience. We practice this in small ways as we put presents under the tree and leave them there for weeks while the children (and some adults!) shake, rattle, and roll the boxes trying to figure out what’s in them. They want to know if they can start opening the presents now. If they can open them at Christmas, why not open them now? Now, you can tell them, “This is an Advent discipline.”
One way to characterize the first sin of man is impatience. God promised in Genesis 1 that every tree would be given to them for food, but he held back one tree for a time because they weren’t ready for the responsibility that came with eating that fruit. That food was for the mature (cf. e.g. Heb 5:13-14). They grasped for the fruit before the proper time, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The sin of Adam is recapitulated in each one of us throughout history. When we are toddlers, we grasp for legitimate privileges without being ready for the responsibilities that come with the privileges. People want the privileges of the marriage bed without the responsibilities of marriage, so they hook up. People want fame, but instead of patiently developing character and skills, they become provocative and destroy their reputations. Some who want to become rich compromise themselves morally to do so. Impatiently grasping will ruin you.
Jesus was tempted on a number of occasions to grasp for kingship. He was tempted to take shortcuts by the devil and those who shared the devil’s worldview. In John 7, the devil’s emissaries happened to be Jesus’ younger brothers. (Yes, born from the same womb as Jesus. Joseph and Mary had a fruitful marriage.) The Feast of Tabernacles was about to take place. Jews, as well as God-fearing Gentiles, would be attending, building their leafy booths/tabernacles all around the city. Jesus’ brothers certainly heard the story surrounding his birth from Mary and Joseph. They had seen his signs and knew his claim to be the Son of God, the King of Israel. All the best religious marketers and influencers would say, “If you’re going to be a public figure, you should go into Jerusalem when you have the biggest crowds, do your tricks, amaze the crowds, and increase your following.” (Jesus had just lost a great number of disciples at the end of chapter 6, so he really does need to work on his image and increase his religious market share.)
Jesus refused. It wasn’t time. His hour had not yet come. His time was coming, but it wasn’t at this time. He would stay hidden (a theme throughout John 7:1-13) at the Feast of Tabernacles. As God had remained hidden in the Tabernacle in years past, so the Word made flesh who tabernacles among them will remain hidden in their midst.
There is nothing wrong with being aggressive. Indeed, we are to be aggressive, but aggression must run in its God-given lane. Grasping by being provocative without a good purpose will not only destroy you, but it will hurt others as well. Look what happened with Adam. Run as hard and fast as you can, but, as the old adage goes, make haste slowly. Don’t be reckless. Always stay within God’s boundaries. Be patient. Wait on the Lord. He will exalt you at the proper time.
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