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Even Christ
The Task-Filled Life Bible Study — Week 3, Day 5
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (John 13:1).
Time and again Christ revealed a need for delay. He delayed in visiting Jairus’ ailing daughter only to raise her from the dead (Luke 8:41-56). He delayed in responding to the heartbreaking plea of His dear friends Mary and Martha when their beloved brother was dying, only to reveal the glory of God by raising him from the dead (John 11:17-44). He also knew that His need to turn the world upside down would be delayed, awaiting the Father’s timing. Specifically organized for the salvation of the world, His details needed to fall into place (John 7:6, 8, 30), and when the time was right for His suffering and death, Jesus did not flinch in moving forward.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father” (Galatians 4:4)!
The eternal King came into “our time” to become known by us through “His time” spent on earth – to suffer, to die, and to rise again into eternity. All time, His and ours, has an eternal outcome: that we might glorify the Father even in the delays of our lives. All delays, even Christ’s delays, can bring us comfort and strength as we rest in Him knowing that His desire and purpose is to enable us to grow in the realization that He is all we need and He is enough.
At just the right time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given to him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3).
Closing Prayer: Dear Father, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory…But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works (Psalm 73:23-24, 28). Amen and Amen.
