Monday after Cantate
Scripture: St. John 8:12-20 (NKJV)
8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”
Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
Devotion
When we think about the life of Jesus, the time when He walked this earth, one phrase is important to remember: “…for His hour had not yet come.” This phrase reminds us of a very important aspect of our Lord, that He is in control at all times. It was only a few weeks ago that we entered that most holy of weeks when His hour had come, the time appointed by God before the foundation of the world. At no time was Jesus not in control: “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:17-18).
St. Paul wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Therein we find comfort. If Christ was, and is, in complete control of His life, and if you are in Christ, then Christ is in complete control of your life, even to the point of your death. When your hour comes, He will lay down your life and has the “power” to take it again. The Christian’s final words are those of the Lord, “Into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”
Prayer: O Lord, You have given me life; when my hour comes grant me a peaceful end and usher me into Your presence. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
