John 7:30 At this they tried to seize HIM, but no one laid a hand on HIM, because HIS time had not yet come.
Matthew 26:18 HE replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘THE TEACHER says: MY appointed time is near, I am going to celebrate the Passover with MY disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as JESUS had directed them and prepared the Passover. (See also Luke 22:10-11; Mark 14:13-14) [New International Translation]
Summary
Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic gospels. They are called “synoptic” because they generally contain the same stories, often in the same sequence and sometimes even using the same wording. They parallel each other. There are many similarities, yet there are differences; however, they all seem to take the same point of view. “Synoptic” means “presenting or taking the same point of view.” See, www.freedictionary.com. The term synoptic comes from the Greek “syn” meaning “together,” and “optic,” meaning “seen.” See, www.wikipedia.com.
The passages of John 7:30 and Matthew 26:18 illustrate the fact that JESUS’ death on the cross was part of the Divine plan of GOD. It was not something that was accidental, unplanned or that just happened. Just as JESUS’ birth was foretold and predicted, so was HIS death. It was preordained. HIS life was not taken from HIM but rather HE gave HIS life. As the passage from John 7:30 show, even those who wanted to get rid of HIM, to seize HIM, could not, unless GOD willed it to be so. No one could touch HIM, until HIS appointed time. In Matthew 26:18, Jesus states that HIS “appointed time is near.” HE knew what was to happen. HE knew what was to come. HE chose to do the FATHER’s WILL. HIS life was not taken; rather, HE gave up HIS life freely, out of love.
EATING AT THE RIGHT TIME
Sometimes we find ourselves engaging in unplanned and/or poorly thought through patterns of behavior. Our eating behaviors often fall in this category of behavior. Many of us have no idea how many “meals” we eat a day or how many hours/minutes during the day we spent eating. For example, some people are “conditioned” to start eating or drinking as soon as they turn on the TV or as soon as the movie starts in the theatre. Sometimes we eat “out of habit” and not because we are hungry. We grab a second helping because the food “looks good” or because we are just in the habit of getting two slices and not one. This “binge” type eating often occurs during family holiday gatherings (like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter). We are probably no hungrier of these days than any other day, but because there is so much food that “looks good” we just eat more. Or, because we are so used to everyone around us “going for seconds” we go for seconds too.
Eating at Night
Many researchers believe (and most us know this intuitively) that it is not healthy to eat large meals at night, right before bedtime. Generally, weight gain is eating more calories than you burn. If you consume calories and then exercise then you are more likely to burn up calories that you consume. Eating foods high in calories (such as chips, cookies, cakes, etc.) and then sitting in front of a TV, computer or right before going to sleep, means that the body is at it its lowest calorie burning times:
Metabolically speaking, the calories we eat late at night are getting digested and absorbed into the blood stream several hours later when we are sleeping — burning our lowest amount of calories.
From, “Is Night Time Eating Causing You To Gain Weight,” www.webmd.com.
According to WedMD in the same article:
A couple of studies came out recently to confirm loudly that people (and rats) who have a tendency to consume calories opposite of our awake hours (late at night for humans) gain twice as much weight as those sticking to the regular feeding schedule (three meals a day for humans).
Eating late at night may often lead to indigestion or problems sleeping.
Number and Size of Meals Eaten
Because people are more active during the day than at night and therefore have a tendency to burn more calories during the day, when they are more active, than late at night, one pioneer nutritionist, Adele Davis, suggested that one “eat breakfast like a king (or queen), lunch like a prince (or princess) and dinner like a pauper.” See, “Diet Truth or Myth: Eating at night Causes Weight Gain---Is late eating more likely to pack on the pounds?” by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, www.WebMD.com.
Eating a number of small meals during the day may be more beneficial than eating a large meal at night. Zelman states:
When you’re trying to lose weight, eat regular meals and consume 90% of your calories before 8 p.m. The benefit of eating meals every three to four hours is it helps regulate your blood sugar, and thus control hunger and cravings.
Emphasize added. Id, www.WebMD.com.
As always, if you have a medical condition, you should always consult your personal physician about your eating patterns or about any changes you want to make. Also, if you are on medication, some medications include the recommendation that the medicine be invested with or after meals or at certain times.
A TIMELY EXERCISE
On Wednesday and Thursday
If you have no medical problems/condition:
A. Spend one day determining your eating patterns. Just write down the time and all the foods you eat during the day. (E.g. 7:00 a.m.; ate breakfast, banana, sliced orange, grapes, raw carrots and salad etc.) Note the place you are eating and whether you are engaged in any activity while eating.
B. The next day prepare an eating schedule listing the number of meals you will eat and the time you will them. Avoid scheduling any meals after 8:00 p.m., if you can.
If you have a medical problem/condition,
A. Spend one day determining your eating patterns. Just write down the time and all the food you eat (E.g. 7:00 a.m.; ate breakfast, banana, sliced orange and grapes and raw carrots, etc.) The next day, compare your list the next day with the list of foods recommended by your doctor.
For Everyone
On Friday, Meditate on one or more of the Seven Last Words of JESUS on the Cross and John 11:25:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” Luke 23: 34
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23: 43
Speaking to John (the disciple) and His mother, Mary,
“Woman, behold, your son! …Behold, your mother!” John 19: 26, 27
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46; Mark 15: 34
“I thirst!” John 19: 28
“It is finished.” John 19: 30
“Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” Luke 23: 46
JESUS said…"I AM the resurrection and the life.”
John 11:25
On Sunday- Rejoice! And, BE BLESSED.
