12-02-2022 How Delightful Is a Timely Word!

Title: How Delightful Is a Timely Word!

If we look at Pro 15:23, it says “How delightful (lovely) is a timely word!” Also, in Pro 25:11, it says “A word spoken in right circumstances is like apples of gold.” These scriptures tell us that we should speak a word according to the time appropriately. To do so, we should know the time first.

Today’s main scripture, Mrk 1:14-15 is Jesus’ first public preaching. Here, Jesus taught 4 things: Time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and Believe in the gospel.

If we see Jesus’ preaching through Pro 15:23, what it means is that a time is changed. Therefore, you all should do things according to the new time.

How is the time changed? Before Jesus the Messiah appears, it was the time of prophets and Law. However, these prophets and Laws introduced Jesus and guide people to come to Jesus. Therefore, during the time of prophets and Laws, the people should have hold on to them and trained under them and be guided to meet Jesus. Yet, when Jesus comes as the substance of prophecies and Laws, the people should move from prophets and Laws and start holding on to Jesus. Mat 11:13 says that all the prophets and the Law prophesied are until John the Baptist. John the Baptist is the end of prophets and Law; therefore, Jesus is the beginning of the new time.

Who is John the Baptist? (Mal 4:5-6)

Malachi is the prophet who lived 400 years before Jesus. And he prophesied that before Jesus, Elijah will come first and restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and vice versa.

So, after the incident of the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples came to Jesus asking “The scribes told us that Elijah must come first before the Messiah. They asked Jesus, if you are the Messiah, where is Elijah?” (Mat 17:10-13)

Jesus explained that John the Baptist came as Elijah, but His people didn’t understand He was him. So, by believing all the words of the prophets and observing the law, they should come to John the Baptist. Then, baptism is kind of a graduation certificate for them. After the graduation, they should move to believe and follow Jesus.  This is what Jesus meant as the time is fulfilled, the time has come, and the time is changed. God works according to His set time; we also should work according to God’s time.

What kind of times are there?

• Kairos

Mrk 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

This is known as God’s time or a decisive moment or an appointed time. Kairos is related to God’s great redemptive plan that is to send Jesus to save His people (Gal 4:4). This is a kind of God’s strategy and a bigger plan which never changes but fulfills accordingly.

• Kronos

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

This is known as a natural time and human time. This is the time flows with mankind.

• Hora (Jhn 12:23; Jhn 13:1; Jhn 17:1)

This is the kind of God’s tactics which changes according to the situation and doesn’t have a specific time. So, when God’s tactic and our faith meet to bring glory to God is Hora.

­­­­In Jhn 11:43-44 and Jhn 11:4, when Jesus said ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ He resurrected. This was to bring glory to God. Thus, it is the example of Hora.

­Jhn 2:1-5 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; ² and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus *said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”

Here, once again, Jesus said my hour (hora) hasn’t come with means if you don’t believe me as the Messiah, there will be no salvation. That’s why Jesus called His mother ‘woman’ here. Yet, Mary responded with faith “Do whatever He says to you.” Therefore, Hora came, and the miracle happened there.

Now, let’s think about a timely word once again. It means that we should respond according to the time by faith. When we respond to God’s plan with faith, that’s Hora and the glory of God will be brought about.

Amen.