# 18 LENTEN MEDITATION ~ 2023 ~ for the Preparation of the GREAT PASSOVER ~~~ The Morning Sacrifice in the Temple ~ Refusing the Myrrh and Wine

We remember His+ refusal of the mixture of the myrrh and wine .. .. ..

This series of Lenten / Passover Meditations will reflect the 3^rd Hour Prayer ( 9 a.m. ) Station observed by the Early Christians.  Today, many liturgical churches continue to observe these ancient prayer hours.  They were based upon the prayer hours in the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Morning Prayer came at the time of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple, the very time that The LORD JESUS was nailed to the Cross. 

3RD HOUR MORNING PRAYER

Heavenly FATHER, we come before YOU at this 3^rd hour of the ancient day, the hour of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple . . . that same hour that Your Beloved SON+, the LAMB+ of GOD that taketh away the sin of the world, was offered up on the Cross for our sakes.

We thank YOU for the Great Drops of BLOOD HE+ shed in the garden of Gethsemane, after praying all through the night . . . then facing the men who had come with swords and clubs to violently take HIM+.

Thank YOU, O Holy FATHER, that Your Beloved SON+, as the perfect  SON+ of GOD, revealed Your power,  saying  “ I AM,”  causing the armed band of men to go backward and fall to the ground .

Yet, HE+ did not use this great power for HIMSELF+, revealing HIMSELF+ to be the obedient and perfect SON+ of Man . . . still loving His+ disciples to the uttermost, HE+ requested the armed men to “Let them go,” and thus, His+ frightened disciples could flee away.

For the humiliation HE+ endured for our sakes, we give YOU thanks . . . and also, for the answers that HE+ gave to those who accused HIM+ wrongfully.

Heavenly FATHER, we thank YOU for the times HE+ gave no answer at all to His+ accusers, as a Lamb led to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is silent.

We remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from Pilate’s hand . . . after being mocked, slapped, and beaten by the Temple guard . . . and then Herod’s men . . . and then by the Roman soldiers, giving His+ back to the smiters  and His+ cheeks to them that plucked out the hair.

Recalling that HE+ hid not His+ Face from shame and spitting, we thank YOU that by HIS+ Wounds we are healed.  We remember the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+.

HOLY FATHER, thank YOU for Your Beloved SON+ Whose+ most noble Head bore the Crown of Thorns  and which same sacred Head was struck with a reed, His+ Face with hands and fists.

+  +  +

We remember His+ refusal of the mixture of the myrrh and wine, fulfilling His+ Word to His+ disciples that HE+ would no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until HE+ drank it new with them, in His+ FATHER’S KINGDOM.

+  +  +

And they gave HIM+ to drink wine

mingled with myrrh:

 but HE+ received it not. ^{Mark 15:23}

+  +  +

Was it because of the WINE , Gk = οινον, that HE+ would not receive this drink ?

Let us remember what HE+ said earlier:

But I+ say unto you,

I+ will not drink henceforth

of this fruit of the vine,

until that day when

I+  drink it new with you

in My+ FATHER'S Kingdom. 

^{Matthew 26:29}

+  +  +

What KIND of Wine will that be ?

The LORD JESUS said HE+ would no longer drink  it  “ … until that day when I+ drink it new with you in My+ FATHER'S Kingdom.”

 

The Greek word for NEW may give us a clue to the meaning of this last clause.  This particular word for “new” is kainos.  From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon* we find kainos  to mean a substance of a new kind, unprecedented, novel.

 In contrast,  the other Greek word for “new” is NEOS  νέος  , like in a new moon. The moon’s substance has not changed, but the occurrence of the moon’s cycle has begun once again.

 

*Thayer's Greek Lexicon   https://biblehub.com/greek/2537.htm

STRONGS NT 2537: καινός

KAINOS  b. as respects substance; of a new kind; unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of   Galatians 6:15; καινά τά πάντα, all things are new, previously non-existent, begin to be far different from what they were before…

 NEOS = νέος denotes the new primarily in reference to time, the young, recent; like a new moon

This new wine will be of a DIFFERENT substance  . . . and in a different place: in His+ FATHER’S Kingdom.

 HE+ will drink that NEW wine there with us !    When will that occur ? The LORD JESUS told us:

 

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ^{Luke 12:37}

 

And he saith unto me,

Write, Blessed are they which are called

unto the marriage supper of the LAMB+.

And he saith unto me,

These are the true sayings of GOD. ^{Revelation 19:9}

 

As our LORD CHRIST prepared His+ heart to die for our sins, HE+ also determined  in every step of the way to the Cross  to focus on the out-come of His+ Sacrifice.

 

NEVER did HE+ forget that His+ Sacrifice was VERY purposeful:

 to bring us to Heaven with HIM+.