And Who+ ,
at that 3rd Hour of the Ancient Day,
bore the wood of the Cross through Jerusalem to Golgotha and was nailed . . .
This series of Lenten / Passover Meditations will reflect the 3rd 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 3rd 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 Who+ ,
at that 3rd Hour of the Ancient Day,
bore the wood of the Cross through Jerusalem to Golgotha and was nailed to the wood of the Cross and lifted up from the earth, as HE+ had foretold, that HE+ might draw all unto HIMSELF+.
+ + +
And I+,
if I + be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto ME+.
John 12:32
+ + +
John 12:27 - 33
Now is My+ soul troubled; and what shall I+ say? FATHER, save ME+ from this hour: but for this cause came I+ unto this hour. John 12:27
FATHER, glorify THY Name.
Then came there a voice from heaven, saying,
I HAVE BOTH GLORIFIED IT,
AND WILL GLORIFY IT AGAIN.
John 12:28
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to HIM+. John 12:29
JESUS answered and said,
This voice came not because of ME+, but for your sakes. John 12:30
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31
And I+, if I+ be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto ME+. John 12:32
This HE+ said, signifying what death HE+ should die. John 12:33
+ + +
How is it that The LORD JESUS is being lifted up in our lives ?
What does it mean when we so easily proclaim and sing:
“ Lift JESUS higher . Lift JESUS higher . Lift HIM+ up for the world to see. HE+ said , “If I+ be lifted up from the earth, I+ will draw all men unto ME+.”
GOD FORBID that we should crucify The LORD afresh before the world ! Hebrews 6:6 So we KNOW it does not mean that.
Instead, we should crucify the world unto us.
Instead, we should deny SELF instead of denying CHRIST JESUS.
+ + +
GOD forbid that I should glory,
save in the Cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST,
by Whom+ the world is crucified unto me,
and I unto the world.
Galatians 6:14
When we dress in a sober and purposeful difference from the world, when our speech differs from worldly talk --- both in manner and in topic --- and when we treat our enemies as CHRIST treated His+ enemies . . .
. . . we are LIFTING UP the CRUCIFIED CHRIST.
And here is the promise HE+ gives of what will happen:
HE+ will
gain the direct attention of the unsaved worldlings.
Yes, they will look at us . . . but they will see HIM+.
Mission ACCOMPLISHED !
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