It Was Nine In The Morning

Mark 15: 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

Have you ever suffered through the night worrying about some thing that is going on in your life?  The causes for worry are as many as the blades of grass on a golf course.  Each of us has more than likely endured a restless night or two or many.  In my experience, relief comes with the dawn. When we look back on the Passion Week and see what transpired during the night, the final act takes place after the sun rises.  The long walk to Golgotha takes place after sunrise. The physical, and mental pain and suffering of Jesus took place in the dark of the night.  The morning brings a promised conclusion to His ordeal.  Albeit a cruel and painful experience, but the will of the Father must be followed and Jesus is willing to submit to that supreme will.  How many of us would have the courage and fortitude to endure what Jesus endured?  Not a single one of us.  And that is what we need to remember. None of us could, so He had to.  Jesus shared with the disciples before the Passion Week John 16:33. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  Jesus overcame the world and the suffering so that we would not have to. He endured the trial, the scourging, the humiliation, pain, agony and the crucifixion because we could not.  Jesus has overcome the world. Sin and the death that comes from sin have been banished from the lives of those who believe that Christ is the way, the truth and the light.  No other substitutions meet the demands required for the great reconciliation with the Father.  The grace of God given to you and I and all believers was delivered on the cross.

Many will still try to work out an alternative path to salvation.  That can lead to one end – a bad ending. It just does not work. Through Christ is the path to salvation. To follow another path causes needless suffering and worry.  To have to worry whether or not one is worthy enough for salvation must be awful.  And such a needless worry it is. Jesus overcame death, he beat the world so that no one else would have to bear that terrible burden.  With all the possible sources of worry or anguish we should never have to worry about our salvation. That has been taken care.  And in comparison all our other concerns are temporary in nature and we should look to the Father for the peace in our lives that surpasses all understanding.

Prayer: Father we worry about such trivial things in our lives. We often forget that You are in charge. We often seek our own answers to issues and problems when we should be bringing all things to You in prayer. Forgive us Father. Let Your Holy Spirit fill us with the faith to trust in You always. Help us to be strong when we are weak. This we ask in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.