The Test of Time John 11:7-10 Time Matters Who Controls Time? Sufficient Time Jesus’ Comments

Time Matters  John is preoccupied in his Gospel with time  Opening chapters show first week of Jesus’ ministry  John 2:13 – first Passover  John 5:1 – a feast of the Jews  John 6:4 – Jewish Passover was near  John 7:2 – The Feast of Tabernacles  John 10:22 – The Feast of Dedication  John 12:1 – Jesus’ last week and last Passover The Test of Time John 11:7-10

Time Matters  Exact time really matters and is ordained  John 2:4 – “My time has not yet come”  John 7:30, 8:20 – “His time had not yet come”  John 12:23 – “The hour has come”  John 13:1 – “Jesus knew that the time had come”  John 16:32 – “The time is coming and has come”  John 17:1 – “Father, the time has come” The Test of Time John 11:7-10

Time Matters  We should find ourselves asking:  What do I do with my time?  Is my time used wisely?  Who controls my time?  Do I really trust God to give me the time needed to do the work that needs to be done? The Test of Time John 11:7-10

Who Controls Time?  Our questions about time become a test of our trust in God  Jesus shows this by asking the disciples to go with Him “back to Judea.”  Was this wise? Were the disciples willing to go?  This question was to show if the disciples really trusted Jesus.  Whatever the danger, it is better to be with Jesus.  Whatever the outcome, it is comforting to know that our times are controlled by God. The Test of Time John 11:7-10

Sufficient Time  The disciples did not fully understand what they were about to do.  Jesus teaches them about time. 1. God gives each of us a certain amount of time and nothing can shorten it. Luke 13:32 2. If #1 is true, then there is time enough for everything that needs to be done. 3. God has given us sufficient time; nevertheless, we have only that time and it should not be wasted. The Test of Time John 11:7-10

Jesus’ Comments  Jesus wraps up the question and draws some conclusions.  On the physical level, this refers to the sun, which is significant in Jesus’ day.  This is also a spiritual reference to Jesus being the light of the world. John 8:12, 9:5  Is your life illuminated by Jesus or are you stumbling in the dark? Proverbs 4:18; 1 Peter 2:8; Jude 24 The Test of Time John 11:7-10

Application Are you stumbling in the dark or is your path being illuminated by the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you live in darkness or light? When you do stumble, do you know that He is there to hold you up and keep you from falling? The Test of Time John 11:7-10