There are several verses in the Bible, especially in the Gospels, that address timing related to Jesus’ mission, including phrases like “the hour has not yet come,” “the time is near,” and others that indicate divine timing in His life and ministry. Here are some key passages:
1. “The Hour Has Not Yet Come”
- John 2:4 – At the wedding in Cana, when Mary tells Jesus about the lack of wine, He replies, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
- John 7:6-8 – When Jesus’ brothers urge Him to go to Judea for the Feast of Tabernacles, He says, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.”
- John 7:30 – After Jesus teaches in the temple, the people try to seize Him, but no one lays a hand on Him, “because his hour had not yet come.”
- John 8:20 – Jesus speaks in the temple treasury, and though His words stir controversy, no one arrests Him, “because his hour had not yet come.”
2. “The Hour Has Come”
- John 12:23-24 – As Jesus nears His crucifixion, He declares, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He then speaks of a grain of wheat that must die to produce fruit, symbolizing His impending death.
- John 13:1 – Before the Passover Festival, it says, “Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.”
- John 17:1 – In His prayer to the Father, Jesus says, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”
3. “The Time is Fulfilled”
- Mark 1:15 – At the start of His ministry, Jesus proclaims, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
- Matthew 26:18 – When Jesus instructs the disciples to prepare for the Passover, He says, “My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”
4. “The Time is Near” or “Coming Soon”
- Revelation 1:3 – “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
- Revelation 22:10 – In the final chapter of Revelation, an angel tells John, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.”
5. Jesus’ Awareness of Timing
- John 12:27 – Jesus says, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.”
- Luke 22:53 – At His arrest, Jesus says, “This is your hour—when darkness reigns,” indicating a significant moment in His mission and the culmination of God’s timing.
6. Other Related Passages on Timing
- Galatians 4:4 – “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.”
- Acts 1:7 – Before His ascension, Jesus tells the disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”
- Romans 5:6 – Paul writes, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
These passages emphasize that Jesus’ ministry followed a divinely appointed timeline. He consistently demonstrates awareness of “the hour” or “the time” set by God for pivotal moments, especially His death, resurrection, and the fulfillment of prophecy.