Life-spark: God’s timing is always perfect. (John 2:1-4)
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!”
I showed up too early, and I’ve been doing the same all my life.
The Apostle John chose seven different miracles, seven signs of life, as the framework for his book. The first sign was the miracle of turning water to wine. That miracle was almost too early.
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 wedding ceremony that had run out of wine. Weddings without wine didn’t work in that culture. A wedding without wine was legal grounds for suing the groom’s parents. Mary asked her son Jesus to fix the situation. “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 before God’s designated time.
Timing is important in life. It’s important in pregnancy, birth, poetry, sports, cooking, and sky-diving. Timing is important to God. Timing is where obedience is fine-tuned.
I wonder what Mary would have done if Jesus had said “Not now” or “Not yet?” Jesus must have got the green light because He went ahead and made some miracle wine.
“Not yet” is not easy for me. I tend to run ahead. 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. Are you?
Life-challenge: Write down on thing you’re looking forward to for which it might be hard to hear God say, “Not yet.”