John 17 - The Hour Has Come

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John 17

​​Roughly three years prior to our scene in John 17, Jesus, around age 30, begins to emerge as someone to keep an eye on. No longer just an ordinary Jewish boy/man in an ordinary Jewish community who was obedient, kind, respectful, but nothing special in the eyes of most. Things changed one day along the Jordan River when He was baptized by the one ordained to pave the way...the voice of God spoke while the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. It was the start of something, though not yet “the hour” the heavens have been eagerly anticipating.

Jesus began to call disciples; students to follow, fellowship, and learn from Him. Several days into His public ministry, Jesus and some of His disciples attend a wedding in Cana. The celebration is joyful… until the wine runs out. The mother of Jesus looks His direction…I picture that “do something” mom look. Jesus responds, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.” Nevertheless, Jesus performs His first miracle…turning water set aside for ceremonial cleansing into wine. And not just any wine, the BEST wine. A “sign” as John tells us. A hint about who He is and a foreshadowing of something even more significant to come.

Fast forward three years and Jesus is with many of those same disciples.  The time that had not yet come at the wedding was upon them.

Lifting His EYES UP, Jesus prays, “Father, THE HOUR HAS COME; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…”

The hour has come. The cross and bloodshed will become the vehicle to glorify Jesus.

The hour has come. The intersection of two pieces of wood will become the intersection of grace, mercy, love, and justice.

The hour has come. What was set apart for cruelty, suffering and humiliation will be set apart for restoration.

The hour has come. The water – the outward temporary cleansing – is about to be turned into wine – the perfect blood of the only spotless lamb of God. The final, FINISHED sacrifice for our salvation and redemption.

“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’ …I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb… And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,  and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’” Revelation 5:2-10

Jesus, may I never forget the hour you willingly submitted to. YOU ALONE ARE WORTHY. Worthy of my worship, love, surrender, praise. Thank you for turning the water into wine and pouring yourself out for me.

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