“Verily I+ say unto thee,
+ + +
What beautiful MERCY
. . . even though no-one
showed HIM+ mercy !
This series of Lenten / Passover Meditations will reflect the 6th Hour Prayer ( noon ) . Today, many liturgical churches continue to observe these ancient prayer hours. They were based upon the prayer hours in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The 6th Hour Prayer occurred at the same time that the earth was darkened at Noon, on the day The LORD JESUS was Crucified.
6TH HOUR (NOON) PRAYER
Heavenly FATHER, We come before YOU at this 6th hour of the ancient day to honor Your Beloved SON+, our LORD. . . Who+ at this hour remained on the Cross for our sakes, suspended between earth and Heaven, in patient suffering, from the hour of the Morning Sacrifice until this hour . . . to make a perfect sacrifice for us.
We thank YOU that at this hour of His+ patient suffering, YOU sent forth darkness to cover the whole earth . . . as a sign that could not be over-looked nor ignored by anyone.
We praise YOU for sending the LIGHT+ of the world, Your beloved SON+, and for His+ perfect obedience and perfect submission to Your WILL for our sakes, showing us how to come to YOU, through HIM+.
+ + +
We also thank YOU for His+ perfect endurance . . .enduring the Cross, despising the shame . . . yet, while being numbered with the transgressors, HE+ made intercession for them.
We see Your perfect mercy as Your SON+ took the repentant thief into Paradise with HIM+ that very day, granting him life while HE+ Himself+ was dying for our sakes as the PASSOVER LAMB+.
+ + +
The LORD JESUS CHRIST granted the dying thief WHO BELIEVED on HIM+ . . . LIFE !
Yes, LIFE ETERNAL in Heaven with JESUS was whole-heartedly given to the Believing thief who was crucified at the same time as our LORD.
HE+ told him,
“Verily I+ say unto thee,
Today shalt thou be with ME+ in Paradise.”
+ + +
What beautiful MERCY . . . even though no-one showed HIM+ mercy !
What extraordinary focus HE+ maintained on the very purpose of His+ Crucifixion: to save every man . . . whosoever will.
In the midst of His+ hours of suffering, HE+ remained FOCUSED on saving even the most pitiful wretches of humanity; they were dear to HIM+.
+ + +
Betsy Ten Boom** followed His+ Example in the concentration camp during World War 2. She kept her focus upon her purpose in life : to bring people to JESUS for Salvation. All the while, she was in the midst of dying, herself, being worked to death in the merciless concentration camp.
She could only do that BECAUSE bringing people to JESUS was her purpose long before the war developed.
Thus, in those cold , miserable, starving years she spent draining her “retirement” in cruel labor, she poured out her soul to win OTHER souls to CHRIST.
Are we who are NOT cold, NOT miserable, NOT starving, NOT draining our physical body in cruel labor , and NOT “elderly”, pouring out OUR souls to win others for CHRIST ?
Must we be put into persecution before we focus our hearts upon our TRUE purpose in Life ?
** [ Yes, many , many others through all ages went through horrible persecutions doing the same: bringing people to JESUS even though they were dying themselves. The Chinese house churches are full of such testimonies, for one. Glory be to GOD ! ]
O LORD CHRIST, help us all to sharpen our focus upon our sole purpose here upon earth: to bring whosoever will to CHRIST JESUS.
+ + +
Our FATHER Which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done
in earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
Matthew 6:9-10
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