The Hour Has Not Yet Come (John 7:1-36)

[Sung Psalm: 25]

What does Jesus mean when he says, "My time has not yet come"? Or later, his "hour had not yet come"? What is Jesus' hour?

Children, have you ever been expecting something really great? Maybe you waited for it for a long time, eagerly expecting that wonderful thing! You spent days, weeks, maybe even months hoping for it. And then it happened. And it was over just like that.

Jesus' whole life was focused on his "hour". But Jesus' hour was not merely an important event in his life; It was the most important event in all of history. All of the ages--past and future--would be centered on this hour.

We have already seen in John 6:15 that Jesus wants to avoid the crowds who wish to make him king. He is indeed the Prophet of whom Moses had spoken, but his hour has not yet come.

John is beginning to move his narrative toward the cross. John 5:18 says that the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus because he made himself equal with God. Now chapter 7 reminds us of this.

The rest of John's gospel is going to keep us focused on this. In every passage from John 7-11 there will be an emphasis on the attempt to arrest and kill Jesus...