This Is Your Hour

By Dr. Ronnie W. Wolfe

Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

The Lord is in complete control of time, and there are appointed times (hours) for things that God has in his own power. He speaks of the time's being fulfilled in Mark 1:15.  He also speaks of his time's being at hand in Matthew 26:18.  He speaks in John 7:6 and 8 to his brothers that his time is not yet come. He says to his own mother in John 2:4 . . . Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

But when Jesus faces the great multitude at his arrest, he has full understanding, through his communication with his Father, that his hour is come for suffering, bleeding, and dying, drinking his cup given to him by his Father.  He surrendered to this great multitude of priests, elders, etc. on his own accord. They, no doubt, thought that they would have to capture him as a fugitive, but he surprised them by his immediate and complete surrender to them. He had settled this with God the Father in Gethsemane when he feared, but now he is not afraid, for he has complete submission and surrender to his Father's will.

When he surrendered to this company of police, he told the men of the Sanhedrin in Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.  Jesus' hour was spent in Gethsemane. Now it is their hour, their hour to execute their mean plots, their lying plans, and their deceitful justice.

Their hour was a dark hour. Matt. 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.   Did we not all sit in darkness before we met the Light of the world? This evening was physically dark, but it was also in deep spiritual darkness as this wicked plan was executed.

This was their hour, the hour (or time) for these Jewish rebels to execute their plan and purpose for this so-called King of the Jews, this Messiah, this destroyer of the Law and the Temple. This was their hour to fill up their sin to the full. It was their hour to lie, deceive, and connive evil justice and nefarious jurisdiction.

But their hour would not be long, and their victory would be futile. We read in  Acts 3:14-15  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

This is your hour. If you are in the darkness, that hour of darkness is very lonely and gloomy and treacherous. It leads to eternal death in the darkness of hell; but repentance from dead works and faith in Jesus Christ brings one to the Light and eternal life and light in Christ, Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. (1 Tim. 6:16), for . . . now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.