Did you know that the crucifixion happened early in the morning? The trial itself was held all night long, with Jesus standing before Pilate at around 3 am. That’s pretty early. And he hadn’t slept a wink since the previous night, because he was arrested at dark while he was in the garden praying.
And we all have a pretty good idea of when roosters crow. Jesus was probably hung on the cross around 6 or 7 am. That’s an early start on redemption.
But let’s not forget how many times our savior had predicted his death. Sure, he revealed it to his disciples beforehand, (like when he told them the temple would be destroyed and then rebuilt in three days) but God gave the word to the prophets even hundreds of years before the Christ was born.
Did you know?
Jesus’ birth, crucifixion, and resurrection fulfills more than 200 Old Testament prophecies?
Jesus himself reminded them of the prophecy of Jonah, saying in Luke 11:29, “the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah.” Because Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, to calm the raging storm of God’s wrath from Jonah having run from God (And Jesus took on our sins of running from God), before he was spit out of the whale.
So, Jesus believed in prophecy, cited prophecy, but also gave prophecy. So maybe we should pay close attention to all of the parables he told about keeping watch for the time that he would return.
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” –Matthew 25:13 (After telling the parable of the Bridesmaids)
The kingdom is coming soon! Indeed, we are in the very last age. Any day he could come on the clouds and all of mankind will either mourn or rejoice.
Will you be one who will rejoice at his return?
The Final Judgment (Matthew 25:31-40)
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Look forward to his coming!
Today’s worship song is “Weary Traveler,” by Jordan St. Cyr
and “Is He Worthy?” by Chris Tomlin
I love that Weary Traveler song 🥺
Happy Good Friday! Remember his sacrifice and what it means for you. He did it out of perfect love for you. He suffered a sacrificial death so that you could taste life. That is the ultimate sacrifice! The perfect love of God! Praise him!!
-A
Do you mirror his perfect love? Do you serve Christ in the least among you?
Popp!nTalk 