THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF HISTORY

THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF HISTORY
Part One
By John Steiner

The most important hour of all history was the hour when the Lord Jesus
Christ died on Calvary's cross for the sins of mankind. Often in
scripture, the hour of our Lord's death is called simply "the hour," "My
hour" or "His hour."

To fulfill prophecy He could not have died one hour earlier, or one
later. Until that hour arrived, His enemies were somehow restrained from
doing Him bodily harm, so that we read in John 7:30, "Then they sought
to take Him; but no man laid hands on Him, because HIS HOUR WAS NOT YET
COME" (See also John 8:20).

This hour was to be for Him a time of unspeakable agony and shame.
Referring to this, He said to Andrew and Philip, "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).

He had come to die for the sins of the world and would not now turn away
from the sufferings involved. But this hour of suffering and shame was
also an hour of glory, for there the Son of God paid a debt which would
have sunk a world to hell. This is why, at this same time, in the very
shadow of the cross, He said, "THE HOUR IS COME THAT THE SON OF MAN
SHOULD BE GLORIFIED. Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a grain of
wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it
bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:23,24. See Also John 17:1,2).

Little wonder we read in John 3:35,36; "The Father loveth the Son, and
hath given all things into His hand. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH
EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LlFE
BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM"

These thoughts are taken from one of my favorite daily devotionals
called: TWO MINUTES WITH THE BIBLE by C.R. Stam. I think these comments
are fitting this time of the year when many are hopefully turning their
thoughts to the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

*
*THE DEATH OF THE CROSS*
*
There are four words which everyone of us should consider in connection
with Christ's death at Calvary if we would fully appreciate what our
Savior did for us there.

*
*CRUCIFIXION *
*
It is doubtful whether man has ever conceived a more cruel and
humiliating way to execute even the vilest criminals. The physical agony
alone must have been horrible beyond comprehension. The criminal was
nailed to a tree and left to hang there, writhing in the most intense
pain until, fevers wracking his body, he died. And then think of the
humiliation as he hung there, stripped and naked, to suffer shame and
disgrace before the public gaze. Little wonder Philippians 2:8 says that
Christ humbled Himself to become obedient "unto death even the death of
the cross."