Jesus Waited

What Did Jesus Do?

My hour has not yet come.
John 2.4

When Jesus replied to His mother’s report of the shortage of wine at a wedding feast in Cana He was not being disrespectful; and it certainly was not a case of “putting off to tomorrow what could be done today.” Rather, as much as Jesus loved and respected His mother, He had a higher duty to His Father, and in particular to honoring His Father’s sovereignty over the timing of all things.

The Lord was not going to get ahead of the Father’s schedule. Neither was Jesus going to lag behind God’s plans. The Son knew full well that the Father had appointed a perfect Kairos moment for all things. Just as He had arrived in the “fullness of time” (See Galatians 4.4), so Jesus rested, so to speak, in the knowledge that, with God there is “a time for every matter under heaven.” (See Ecclesiastes 3.1-8) Jesus, knowing well all that His Father would accomplish through Him, was not about to take one step outside of the will of God by taking anything into His own hands; He would not “jump the gun” or “hold up the works,” but in the Father’s perfect timing fulfill all the tasks ordained for Him, even the terrifying work of the cross.

When word came that His good friend Lazarus was dying, the Lord did not jump up and rush to Bethany, as no doubt Martha and Mary had hoped, but waited two days. Hurt and bitterly disappointed, both sisters reproved Jesus for His delay, believing that if He had only come in time their beloved brother would still have been alive. Jesus too was grieved, and His tears fell along with those of the other mourners. But Jesus had waited those two days so that the Father’s glory would be revealed, and that many who observed what happened would see and believe that Jesus had been sent by the Father to do the Father’s works, including the calling back of Lazarus from death. (See John 11.1-44)

Even a “king,” though Herod was not much of a king, could not move Jesus to alter in the slightest the timetable that had been established for His life and ministry. When Herod sought for the Lord Jesus sent word to the “foxy” ruler that He would come to Jerusalem at the time appointed, and not a day sooner nor a day later. (See Luke 13.31-35)

If Jesus waited upon the Father’s timing in all things, it hardly seems wise for we who follow Him to presume to establish our own timetable. Abiding in God’s will requires our walking neither ahead or behind Him, but faithfully waiting for, and acting in, the appointed moment on the appointed day. This can hardly be accomplished without disciplining ourselves, and diligently seeking the Father’s will, daily. In fact, this perfect pace is to be found only when one daily takes up one’s cross and follows Jesus. It is a mistake to think that Jesus only bore the cross when He carried it on His back to Golgotha, for the obedience of the cross was something Jesus bore every step He took every day He lived.

Waiting is not an easy thing for people who like to fill up Day-Timers to do. Waiting is difficult for fast-lane, high-speed connection, instant messaging people. Waiting seems far less satisfying than constantly doing, but waiting is exactly what Jesus needed His disciples to do, until THE time came when they would receive power from the Holy Spirit. God’s Word promises that those who wait upon Him will “mount up” up as on eagles’ wings (Isaiah 40.31). Only by waiting on the Father, and His perfect timing, can we be lifted into His perfect will now and for eternity. That’s what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4