Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Psalm 131:2 KJV
Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. Psalms 131:2 NASB
Mine hour is not yet come. John 2:4 KJV
My hour has not yet come. John 2:4 NASB
Psalm 131, one of the Songs of Degrees, recounts the experience of David who had learned by experience the virtues of patience and contentment with God’s time. The metaphor employed, “as a child weaned of his mother,” depicts the process of moving from instant gratification which an infant demands, to a more contented condition. The infant has learned to wait, confident of the wisdom and care of its mother.
For all of us, there is a learning curve. For some of us, it is a very steep curve. Impatience has at its core, an inflated view of self and of self-importance. The Scriptures, as well as history, are littered with the tragic fruit of those who failed to wait. Even some of the great heroes of the faith such as Moses and Abraham were marked by impatience in their lives at various stages.
There is one glaring exception, an exception so remarkable that it stands as an eternal testimony to what the Eunuch referred to as “some other man.” He is a totally “other man,” distinct from all the sons of Adam. He never had to learn contentment or patience. There was no selfishness or self-centeredness in Him. He was the only truly “humble” Man Who moved here on this globe.
He was never inpatient as He waited His time. It is John the apostle who so often mentions “His hour” to which He moved. With steady and unfaltering gait, the Lord Jesus moved to the appointed hour to which He was destined from eternity. He was never ahead of God’s timetable or behind. He was always in His Father’s will. He was not like the horse or the mule (Ps 32:9), charging ahead and needing restraint, or lagging behind and needing to be prodded.
His mother may try to hurry God’s agenda for His life. But even His filial affection for her could not move Him from the appointed course. His brothers, in their unbelieving mockery, might suggest that he move forward and declare Himself, but He was undeterred (John 7:3-6). Thinking as rational men, they could not reconcile the “waiting” of Christ with His claims. And of course, the Tempter tried to alter God’s timetable by suggesting that He accept the kingdoms from his hand (Luke 4:5-7). Peter, also, may try to deter Him (Matt 16:22). Neither family, friend, nor fiend could move Him from His appointed course.
As a man totally selfless, He never knew a moment’s impatience or a desire to move outside the timetable His Father had plotted. But the moment came when “the hour is come” (John 12:23) fell from His lips. And then again in those final moments with His own, “Father, the hour is come” (John 17:1). What must have been the emotion of His heart as He thought of all that hour portended for Him, for His Father, and for all the purposes of God for all eternity?
With unhurried pace, He went forth to the garden. He is in control of all. He rises to meet the motley crowd who have come to apprehend and subdue Him. He is not only moving toward that hour but is moving everyone else to that hour. No reluctance and no impatience mark this perfect Man as all is under His control. “For this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27).
Consider:
Note all the mentions of the “hour” in John, some referring to His cross and others to His glory. But are they really that distinct?
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