What Does Jesus Mean by "My Time is Not Yet Come" in John 7:6?

What did Jesus mean when He said "My time is not yet come" in John 7:6?

When Jesus said "My time is not yet come" in John 7:6, He was indicating that He was operating according to a divine timetable. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus was revealing that none of His actions were haphazard or accidental, but rather followed a precise plan established by God before the foundation of the world. Jesus was indicating that the specific timing of His public revelation, and ultimately His death, was predetermined. Unlike His brothers who could go to Jerusalem whenever they pleased, Jesus could only act according to this divine schedule.

What is the difference between Jesus' time and our time according to John 7:6?

The difference between Jesus' time and our time is profound. Lloyd-Jones explains that when Jesus said "your time is always ready," He was highlighting a fundamental contrast. Our human agendas and messages are always acceptable to the world because they operate on the world's wavelength. The world readily understands and receives human philosophies, political ideas, and social reforms. But Christ's message is utterly unique—it comes from heaven, operates on God's timetable, and brings something the world neither expects nor naturally understands. His message of incarnation, redemption, and regeneration stands apart from all human messages.

Why did Jesus seem to contradict Himself about going to the feast in John 7?

The apparent contradiction of Jesus first refusing to go to the feast but then going anyway is resolved by understanding God's timing. Initially, Jesus refused to go up publicly with His brothers because doing so would have led to His premature arrest and execution before His appointed time of death. Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus eventually went "not openly, but as it were, in secret" because He was following the divine timetable. These seemingly contradictory actions were actually consistent with His purpose to fulfill God's redemptive plan at precisely the right moment, not before and not after.

How does unbelief respond to Jesus according to John 7?

According to Lloyd-Jones' analysis of John 7, unbelief responds to Jesus with criticism, self-confidence, and advice-giving. We see this in how Jesus' own brothers, who did not believe in Him, criticized His ministry strategy and presumed to tell Him what He should do. Unbelief is "baffled" by Jesus—unable to understand His person or His actions. The unbeliever tries to judge Jesus by human standards rather than listening to Him. Lloyd-Jones notes that unbelief's fundamental error is that it "tries to understand" from its own perspective rather than humbly receiving revelation.

What is the primary message of Christianity according to Lloyd-Jones' sermon on John 7:6?

Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that the primary message of Christianity is not a social scheme, political program, or ethical system. Rather, it centers on three unique realities: 1) The Incarnation—God's Son entering the world in human flesh; 2) Redemption—Christ taking our sins upon Himself and bearing their punishment on the cross; and 3) Regeneration—giving humans a new birth and nature. These realities are utterly unique and cannot be understood or appreciated by the natural mind. Lloyd-Jones warns against reducing Christianity to merely social or political activism, which he says is a fundamental misunderstanding of its message.

How does Lloyd-Jones explain the cross of Christ in his sermon on John 7:6?

Lloyd-Jones explains that the cross of Christ was not an accident or the result of political machinations, but the fulfillment of God's eternal plan. He states: "The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on that cross on Calvary's hill was not an accident... This wasn't the result of the machinations of the people and the jealousy and bitterness... That is something that was determined in that eternal council and plan of God before the foundation of the world." Christ came specifically to die as "the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world" at precisely the appointed time.

Why do people often misunderstand Christianity according to this sermon?

According to Lloyd-Jones, people misunderstand Christianity because they approach it from a worldly perspective. They try to judge it by human standards rather than listening to Christ's own explanation. Many view Christianity merely as an ethical teaching or social program rather than recognizing its supernatural character. Lloyd-Jones states: "The natural mind receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for it is foolishness unto them." This misunderstanding persists because Christianity belongs to a different order—it's not in series with human philosophies but comes from above with a message of incarnation, redemption, and regeneration.

What is the first step toward salvation according to Lloyd-Jones?

The first step toward salvation, according to Lloyd-Jones, is being silenced and beginning to truly listen to Christ. He states: "The first thing that happens to us when we're on the road to salvation is that we are silenced. And we rarely begin to think and to listen to what is being said for the first time." He contrasts this with the natural human tendency to do all the talking, expressing prejudices, and defending positions without genuinely listening. True salvation begins when we stop trying to fit Christ into our understanding and instead allow Him to explain Himself to us.