Happy Sabbath!! Jesus is coming SOON! But before He comes, there will be a time of trouble such as never was (Daniel 12:1), and how Jesus was prepared for His trial at the cross can encourage us as to how we can be ready for what is coming upon this earth as a great surprise for most of the world. We can strengthen our faith by dwelling upon the promises of God; by surrendering fully to Christ now, He can teach us His precious lessons of trust and obedience. As we abide in Him in complete surrender, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives without one missing so we can gladly obey God even when such obedience becomes against the laws of this earth (amid the coming Sunday law crisis). Christ remained faithful through His trial to give us the strength and grace we would also need to remain faithful in our trials!! Yoke up with Him for complete and constant victory!!
But before the crown must come the cross. Not the inauguration of Christ as king, but the decease to be accomplished at Jerusalem, is the subject of their conference with Jesus. Bearing the weakness of humanity, and burdened with its sorrow and sin, Jesus walked alone in the midst of men. As the darkness of the coming trial pressed upon Him, He was in loneliness of spirit, in a world that knew Him not. Even His loved disciples, absorbed in their own doubt and sorrow and ambitious hopes, had not comprehended the mystery of His mission. He had dwelt amid the love and fellowship of heaven; but in the world that He had created, He was in solitude. Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.” Exodus 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview.
Look above your trial to your Savior. He will keep us if we keep choosing Him who first loved and chose us!
