FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 16
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 47)
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Mark 15: 34, KJV.
From Daniel’s time; “he knelt on his knees and prayed three times a day” (Dan. 6:10) to Christ, the Jews practiced daily three “hours of prayer” as follows: the first at the “third hour” (our 9 AM), Acts 2:15; the second at the “sixth hour” (our 12 noon), Acts 10:9; and the third at the “NINTH HOUR” (our 3 PM), Acts 3:1.
Remember the “ninth hour” of Friday, preparation day, 31 A.D. at Calvary!
“The silence of the grave seemed to have fallen upon Calvary. A nameless terror held the throng that was gathered about cross. The cursing and reviling ceased in the midst of half-uttered sentences. Men, women, and CHILDREN fell prostrate upon the earth. Vivid lightnings occasionally flashed from the CLOUD, and REVEALED the cross and the crucified Redeemer. PRIESTS, RULERS, SCRIBES, EXECUTIONERS, and the MOB [of people, not the ‘Mafia.’], all thought that their time of vengeance had come. After a while some whispered that Jesus would now COME DOWN from the cross. Some attempted to grope their way back to the city [of Jerusalem] beating their breasts and wailing in fear.
“At the NINTH HOUR the darkness lifted from the people, but still enveloped the Savior. It [the darkness] was a SYMBOL of the agony and horror that weighed upon His heart. No eye could pierce the GLOOM that surrounded the cross, and none could penetrate the DEEPER GLOOM that enshrouded the suffering soul of Christ. The angry lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as Hs hung upon the cross.
“Then Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’? ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ And the outer gloom settled upon the Savior, many voices exclaimed: THE VENGEANCE Of HEAVEN IS UPON HIM.
The bolts of God’s wrath are hurled against Him, BECAUSE HE CLAIMED To BE THE SON Of GOD. Many who believed on Him heard His despairing CRY. HOPE LEFT THEM. [They erroneously thought]: If God had forsaken Jesus, in what could His followers trust? “- E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 754.
(To be.continued). Bless all, NMF.