“Father, the hour has come” (John 17:1)
Christ exchanged the divine throne of heaven for a lowly manger on earth, a feeding trough in the insignificant town of Bethlehem. That is, God came to dwell with us!
The Bible tells us that as a child, Jesus "grew and became strong in spirit" and "filled with wisdom." He learned, prepared, and grew into his divine mission. At 12, He came of age to enter the magnificent Jerusalem temple. Within its grandeur was something brazen: an altar of sacrifice whence the slaying of lambs took place daily. What did the twelve-year-old Christ see? Himself, His mission! He was to be the true lamb of God to take "away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). The brazen altar cast the cross’ shadow upon the path Christ would hence travel.
At about 30, he, the Messiah, began proclaiming the kingdom of God (Luke 3:23; 4:43). In his three and a half years of ministry, Christ expounded the Scriptures and their prophecies, healed the sick, repaired the broken-hearted, gave the forsaken hope, forgave the guilt-laden and freed the captives of sin (Luke 4:16-18).
Yet, each step also moved him closer to that horrid cross. Yet, for this purpose, he did come. Until, at last, the prophetic clock struck its hour. Some Greeks came to worship at the Passover feast in Jerusalem. These Gentiles' arrival signaled the time had arrived (John 12:20-23). It portended the spiritual harvest his death would yield.
Soon, Jesus's last meal with his apostles arrived, and they became much troubled. Jesus washed their feet, which challenged their pride. Christ said one would betray him, and another would deny him. Then, the unsettling news that Jesus would leave them (John 13:33).
In the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord agonized in prayer over his fate. Meanwhile, His disciples slept, unprepared for the dramatic event unfolding. Judas came from the darkness with a detachment of troops and officers to arrest Jesus (John 18:3), although he was, without sin, entirely innocent. Still, they treated Christ as a vile criminal! The soldiers beat and mocked Him, crowning Him with thorns. The crowd’s fervor cry of "Crucify him, crucify him" rang loud. And so, the deed was done.
Jesus was nailed to the cursed cross in which He bore our sin, guilt, and condemnation. Why? That we need not. The Messiah experienced the pains of the second death, feeling forsaken by God, but was He? Was not the Father in the darkness that enveloped the cross? In faith and peace, he declared, “It is finished”. Jesus met his prophetic destiny as he bowed His head and relinquished his last breath. But was it the end? No! Praise God! The angel proclaimed to the two women, who came to anoint the Lord’s body on the third day: "He is not here; for He is risen" (Matt. 28:6).
The prophetic hour is upon us, and Christ will return to retrieve his children. Fear not, for Jesus is the victor. So will you be if you put your faith in him!
