July 2–The Weight of Us

It is Tuesday, the second day of July. Did anyone think June flew by except me? A friend of mine was lamenting yesterday how the last time he’d seen a friend, his friend’s children were small and when he saw him last weekend, all of a sudden he had grandkids! How fast time seems to just speed by. 


But not all time goes fast. It seems that we have been waiting quite a long time for Jesus to return. But we can rest assured it will happen. That promise made by our Lord is sure. 


On Tuesday of Passion Week, Jesus taught in the temple and told the parables of the two sons, the tenants, and the wedding feast. Afterwards, Jesus declared the seven woes to the Teachers of the law and the Pharisees and then, went back across the Valley of Kidron to the Mount of Olives. It was here that He spoke the famous Olivet Discourse and reveals what is to come to the disciples. 


The prophesy may not have made much sense to them. This was a time of peace, thanks to the Romans and He told them the temple would be destroyed. During this time of plenty, He predicted famine and earthquakes and persecution of the followers. He talked about the age of the church and even the end of that. He explained the prophesies of Daniel 9 and...He foretold His return, something we can cling to. 


“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come...

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:12-14, 30-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬


What a heavy weight the Savior carried—not only for His suffering and death that was coming quickly, but he carried the burden of the entire span of time until His return. Never think that Jesus didn’t know or care about us as He made His way through this week to the cross—He carried each of us for all of time with Him—to pay the price for us to have life eternal with Him. 


Gethsemene literally means the place of the olive press and I have learned that in order to get the oil from an olive, a tremendous amount of pressure much be applied. The presses we saw were massive, round stones that would be difficult to even budge. How ironic that Gethsemene was the place where all the pressures of the world fell on Jesus. What a sacrifice, what a Savior, what a great God! 


Lord of heaven and earth, when I think of your awesome wonder, it is more than I can comprehend. That you would send your Son to the earth to suffer persecution and hatred, to be tortured for hours before He was murdered, all for us. All that we might have life and have it abundantly. The love you demonstrate for us is inconceivable and so beyond our small minds. What a wonder you are, I’m overwhelmed and at a loss for words. Thank you Father; we lift our praise to you Lord. We ask for comfort for our friends today who have lost those they love. Wrap them in your arms and let them know how much you care for them. We love you and worship your Great Name El Elyon an Adonai. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one, 

Pam


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