He Was Never In A Hurry
Urgency was not one of his tools.
On pace, and the difference between urgent and important.
The big idea
Jesus had the shortest possible window and never once rushed.
Opening scripture
“So when he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”
What does “He Was Never In A Hurry” walk through?
He Stayed Two More Days
John 11:6 · KJV
When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
In plain English
So when he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
The Most Uncomfortable Delay
He loved Lazarus, heard he was dying, and stayed put. Whatever that means, it rules out urgency as Jesus' default setting.
Tired, And Sitting Down
John 4:6 · KJV
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
In plain English
Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired from the journey, sat down beside it. It was about the sixth hour.
“Hurry is not a schedule problem. It is usually a trust problem wearing a schedule's clothes.”
A Time For Everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1 · KJV
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
In plain English
There is a season for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Three Years, Walking
He covered his whole ministry on foot, in one small region, mostly with twelve people. By any modern measure of reach he was inefficient — and it worked.
Rest And Wait
Psalms 37:7 · KJV
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
In plain English
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him. Don't get worked up over people who succeed at doing wrong.
Pray
Jesus, take the hurry out of me. Amen.
Write it down
What are you rushing that would be better slow?
Walking pace
He had less time than you and moved slower.
Which passages does this journey use?
4 passages, drawn from John 11:6, John 4:6, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Psalms 37:7. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 7 minutes for the whole thing, or 8 short sittings.
- John 11:6
- John 4:6
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
- Psalms 37:7
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in The Habits of Jesus
All The Habits of Jesus →He Withdrew To Lonely Places
The habit underneath everything Jesus did.
Before Dawn
What Jesus did before the day could ask anything of him.
He Slept In The Storm
Rest that does not wait for calm.
Interruptible
Jesus kept getting stopped, and kept stopping.
He Asked Questions
Jesus asked far more than he answered.
He Touched People
Presence you could feel.