Now is the Time

John 7: 5-7
“For not even His brothers were believing in Him. So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.”

It can certainly be frustrating for us when people hear the truth and do not believe it to be so. Before we form a pity party when people reject our Christian message, we should look at this passage. Jesus’ own brothers (yes, Mary and Joseph had other children, OK, so they are half-brothers) did not believe in Him. Tradition tends to hold their unbelief until after the resurrection.

The reality is that often people need to see something before they will believe it. This may be stretching the context a bit, so I will admit that up front. I just noticed in this text so much parallel to our world today and what we face. Scripture clearly points to people being sinful by nature. This is not really a very popular message, in case that is a shock to anyone. The Bible clearly points to our need for a Savior. And with the bad news of sin comes the good news of salvation. Yet, so few are willing to accept and believe that good news, or at least believe it according to how God demands we do so.

Salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, personally, is THE only way of salvation, and that is the truth. To accept that truth means to also accept what Jesus says in this passage, that its (the world’s) deeds are evil. And the world, for the most part, hates Jesus because he states that fact rather plainly.

In this passage, His brothers are trying to coax Him into making a big public display of His teaching, if in fact it is true, and if in fact He wants the world to know Him. But His timing is not their timing. Yet He challenges them to believe, stating that their time is always opportune, meaning that they could, at any time n their life, believe in Him.

We look forward to Christ’s return, and His timing is perfect. He’ll return on His time, not ours. So in the meantime, our time is also always opportune. Our time is now to accept Him personally. Our time is now to tell others about Him. Our time is now to live for Him. Not everyone will embrace us for this message. Many will even openly ridicule us for our belief. It’s not us they hate, but Jesus. Just as the apostles in Acts 1:8, we, too, are witnesses for Him. He - His truth - is on trial, and He calls on us as key witnesses to His defense. Let’s take advantage of our own opportune time.