stuff i think

John 7:1-6
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews were there waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus brothers said to him "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe him.
Therefore, Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right."

Jesus' relationship with his brothers had to be one of the more awkward connections he had. Once you suspect your brother is divine, it sort of changes things. For instance...you get into a fight over who used the hair gel and blurt out "Who made you God?!?". Awkward moment.

John 7 touches one of those moments. Brotherly comments that appear at first to be encouraging quickly turn and bite. "No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." C'mon, Jesus. You're the one walking on water. You pulled the wine trick at the wedding. If you're running for office, it's time to appear on Nightline. The passage goes on to disclose that his own brothers didn't believe him.

Jesus does one of the most brave, difficult things for anyone trapped in human flesh. He does nothing. He refuses to sieze position or platform. Goaded to mount the stage for all to see, he refuses. It is the beginning of a lifestyle of delayed gratification - refusing to trade short term fame for long term impact. Even though it might have been a good time to launch a larger public ministry - perhaps even do a mass mailing - he resisted, even going so far as to point out that they had nothing to lose by going public, while He had everything.

"The right time for me has not come. For you, any time is right."

They had nothing to lose. He had everything to gain by waiting. It's the difference between living for the moment and living for the mission. Jesus knew what they did not - that for people without a purpose in life, one day is like any other...but for people of destiny, each day holds a purpose of it's own.

What, specifically, is your today for?