Issue #186, July 27, 2016
Jesus had an amazing sense of timing as John records in the following incident. Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret…. At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come (John 7:6, 8-10, 30).
This account helps us understand that for each person timing may be different. Jesus did not condemn the disciples for their desire to go to Jerusalem; He simply told them that the time was not right for Him. He had a personal sense of timing. We can learn universal principles about timing but every servant leader must also learn from Jesus’ example that timing is personal. His example teaches servant leaders several principles.
Personal timing requires clarity.
The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. Jesus was clear that He operated on His own sense of timing. He was not condemning His disciples or expecting them to operate on the same sense of timing. He knew clearly what His Father wanted Him to do and knew that it was not His time to travel. Servant leaders learn that following God’s plan for them will sometimes mean they have a different sense of timing than another leader. Some leaders see others moving forward and assume that they should do the same. The other leader may be constructing a building or using a new model for growth or training. It is easy to assume that if it works for that leader, it should be good for another. But servant leaders learn that just because someone else is doing it does not mean that it’s time for them. This clarity requires a leader who is secure in who they are and clear about God’s call on their life. This will set them free from the need to be like everyone else, or operate on the timing of another.
Personal timing determines priorities.
Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. The disciples went on ahead but Jesus remained where He was, choosing to do other things at this time. He later went to Jerusalem, so this was not an issue of whether or not the trip was right or wrong. It was rather a question of when it was time to travel and when other things were more important. Jesus’ sense of timing changed His priorities. When He did travel to Jerusalem, He went secretly rather than publically, apparently because He did not want to draw attention to His presence. For the disciples this was not a problem. Servant leaders learn to live by priorities and learn to set their schedule to do the right things at the right time. But they recognize that their priorities may not be the same as other leaders; they are personal.
Personal timing prevents disaster.
No one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. John wants us to understand that Jesus avoided disaster because He was operating in God’s timing for His life. Rather than determining timing by the presence of danger; He avoided danger by focusing on timing. Some leaders assume that if there is high risk ahead they should not move. But Jesus assumed He was safe if He moved at the right time. For Jesus the disaster avoided was personal harm. In our leadership, wrong timing may bring very different disasters such as broken relationships, financial challenges, wasted time or lost opportunities. Servant leaders avoid disaster as they learn to follow God’s personal timing for their lives.
For further reflection and discussion:
- Do I have a clear sense of personal timing for my life or do I look at the timing of others and imitate theirs? How can this sense of timing be developed? (Reflect on how Jesus knew the will of His Father.)
- Can I recall a situation where others were doing something but I sensed it was not the right time for me? If so, what was the result? What can I learn from that experience?
- Has there been a time when I assumed that because someone else was doing something that it was time for me to do the same? If so, what was the result and what can I learn from that experience?
- Is there a current area of risk that I am considering? How should timing influence this decision?