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GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME
By Pastor Mark Taylor
“MY HOUR HAS COME” (Mark 14:41)
God does everything with perfect timing. There were many times that people threatened Jesus and tried to harm Him, but they could not because He would say “Mine hour is not yet come” (John 7:6). Notice how things were in perfect timing for Jesus to come to Jerusalem for God’s great plan of redemption. We celebrate this day in Church History as Palm Sunday. In less than a week the people would crucify Jesus after welcoming him as the Messiah. Calvary was not God’s afterthought, it was His plan from the beginning: “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). One day everyone will worship the Lord Jesus regardless of what they feel right now: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).
God had prepared a colt for Jesus to ride on as He entered into Jerusalem. Jesus told his disciples “Saying, Go you into the village over against you; in the which at your entering you shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do you loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them” (Luke 19:30-32).
The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and of victory, in Jewish tradition, and is treated in other parts of the bible as such - Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9. Zechariah saw centuries before, that people would welcome Him with joy and shouts of praise would fill the air. He saw that the Messiah would be riding an unbroken colt: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
The very next week He would be crucified. Jesus knew it was the right time to fulfill the Scriptures: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6).
God had planned Jesus’ entry to be a picture of His Second Coming:
“On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:12-13).
“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:37-38).
There was a multitude that witnessed His entry, His death, His burial, and Resurrection. This was planned by God so that there would be no question in History how and when this event would happen. This record was given so you and I could be assured of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming to get those who have accepted Him.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).
God is right on time with His schedule in History. He came on a donkey the first time and was coming to give His life for us. He came to give His life for you and I. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11).
In the Second Coming He will be riding a white horse and will come down on Earth to rule and reign over it. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:11-14).
He has perfect timing for your life, if you will allow Him to work in you and for you. This might include a relationship, a job or career, a healing, or some other spiritual blessing from Heaven. Do your best no to get ahead of God as He arranges opportunities and people to bring about His will for your life.
