# 19 LENTEN MEDITATION ~ 2023 ~ for the Preparation of the GREAT PASSOVER ~~~ The Morning Sacrifice in the Temple ~ The MYRRH , the BITTER HERB

 

 

 

 

Myrrh, that bitter herb, was present in His+ Life three times .

 

 

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.

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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.

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And they gave HIM+ to drink 

wine mingled with myrrh:

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

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Myrrh, that bitter herb, was present in His+ Life three times:

·        at His+ birth,

·        at His+ crucifixion, and

·        at His+ burial.

HIS+ Birth:

And when they were come into the house, they saw the Young CHILD+ with Mary His+ mother, and fell down, and worshipped HIM+: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto HIM+ gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. ^{Matthew 2:11}

His+ Crucifixion:

And they gave HIM+  to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but HE+ received it not. ^{Mark 15:23}

 

It is said that the women of old prepared wine mixed with myrrh to give to provide to the victims of crucifixion, to help numb their pain.

His+ Burial:

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to JESUS by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. ^{John 19:39}

Then took they the BODY of JESUS, and wound  IT  in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. ^{John 19:40}

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The LORD JESUS refused the myrrh and wine because 

HE+ had already received that BITTER CUP.

Yet . . .  HE+ kept a clear eye upon that NEW WINE coming that had not a drop of bitterness in it . . . just pure JOY !

FURTHERMORE,

 that NEW WINE  HE+  would drink

with His+ Followers

who were in His+ FATHER’S Kingdom  . . .

Those who were filled

with that NEW WINE of the HOLY SPIRIT

when they yielded their lives

to JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOR+ .

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And no man putteth NEW WINE into old bottles:

else the NEW WINE doth burst the bottles,

and the WINE is spilled, 

and the bottles will be marred:

but NEW WINE must be put into

.  .  .  NEW BOTTLES ! 

^{Mark 2:22}

Are you an old bottle , trying hard to follow JESUS in your own strength, but still struggling through life ?

Or have you forsaken your old “bottle” --- your old Adamic self-nature --- in order to be that New Bottle, fit to contain the New Wine with which JESUS fills you ?

 

But NEW WINE   MUST  be put into New Bottles;

and both are preserved. ^{Luke 5:38}

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