I was born almost two months premature. My dad, who has a good sense of humor, saw me, skin and bones, and said to the nurse, “Put him back in. He’s not done yet!”
The Apostle John chose seven different miracles, seven signs of life, as the framework for his book about abundant aliveness. The first sign was the miracle of turning water to wine. This miracle was within whiskers of being a divine “not yet.”
Jesus had chosen four or five disciples. He was in the blocks waiting for the starting gun of His public ministry to sound. His mother asked Him to do something special to resupply a wine-less wedding. That was a totally taboo situation in Jewish social life. A wedding without wine was legal grounds for suing the groom’s parents. “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.” (John 2:4, NIV)
Jesus didn’t just snap His finger and make a miracle whenever He wanted to. Later in His ministry He said, “I do only what I see the Father doing.” And He acted only when He saw the Father acting. Jesus mentioned the importance of correct timing over and over in three years of public ministry. Too many miracles too soon would mean He would die on the wrong day.
Timing is important in life. It’s important in pregnancy. In birth. In poetry. In sports. In cooking. In sky diving. In partnering with God.
Jesus must have got the green light because He went ahead and made some miracle wine. Timing is important in making wine.
“Not yet” is not easy for me. I tend to run ahead rather than stay abreast or fall behind. How about you? If you missed the mark would it tend to be too late or too early? One important thing about being a student/follower of Jesus is getting synchronized with God’s schedule.
One minute life-challenge: Write down on thing you’re looking forward to for which it might be hard to hear God say, “Not yet.” Determine to do your best to obey yellow lights and red lights.