From the Rector…
“The hour has come…” (John 12:23)
With these words, Jesus signals a turning point—or at least, John does in his telling of Jesus’ story. For the first twelve chapters of John’s Gospel, we read about the signs Jesus performed—healings, exorcisms, miracles, and the raising of Lazarus—often referred to as The Book of Signs. The second half of the Gospel, known as The Book of Glory, shifts focus to Jesus preparing his disciples for what is to come and instructing them on how to carry on his work after he is gone. Together, these two sections form the structure of John’s Gospel and shape much of Christian theology.
The hinge between these two “books” is marked by Jesus’ mention of “the hour” in chapter twelve. At this moment, Jesus is speaking with two of his disciples who are trying to arrange a meeting between him and some Greeks who have heard about him. We never learn whether the meeting happens, but we do learn something pivotal: Jesus realizes that the time has come—his hour is here.
We’ve been waiting for this hour, whether we realized it or not. John subtly foreshadows it at the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. In chapter two, at a wedding feast in Cana, Jesus performs his first miracle—turning water into wine—after some coaxing from his mother. He hesitates at first, not because he doubts his power, but because, as he says, “My hour has not yet come.”
From there, we follow him through Galilee, to Jerusalem three times, up mountains and into valleys. We witness meals of fish and loaves, storms at sea, fear before authority, and hope among the hopeless. Finally, we arrive at this moment: the hour has come. Even Jesus’ final words on the cross are spoken in the context of this “hour.”
They say timing is everything. God exists beyond time, yet uses timing to guide us—to help us grow in knowledge and love of him. God chose the perfect moment for Jesus to be born of a virgin, to enter a world steeped in darkness and empire, to bring light, hope, and Good News. The timing of the cross is no different. It’s understood through the lens of heartbreak and despair among Jesus’ loved ones, the empire’s indifference to the marginalized, and the hope that the worst things are never the last things. This is the hour that has now come.
As you prepare for Easter, don’t let the Passion of this hour pass you by unnoticed or without intention. You don’t need to wear sackcloth and ashes or walk around somber and gloomy. There are many ways to mark this hour.
This year, I’ve discovered a new and meaningful one—through text messages. I signed up last Saturday to receive alerts as the events of Holy Week unfold. Some come labeled as “Urgent Alerts,” others as “Breaking News,” and some as simple “Updates.” It’s been a fun, modern way to stay engaged with this sacred season. But more than that, it’s prompted me to reflect—to see Holy Week through the lens of my own daily life and ask where I am in relation to Jesus and these unfolding events, as if they were happening right now.
If you’d like to follow along with the events of Jesus’ final week, visit www.HolyWeekWithJesus.com or text JESUS to 833-510-5006.
Have a blessed and life-giving Holy Week.