THAT MOST SACRED WEEK

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

THAT MOST SACRED WEEK

 

PALM SUNDAY

Right after Jesus' Transfiguration on Mount Tabor (Where He showed his disciples a glimpse of His Glorious Resurrection as well as the Declaration of Moses and Elijah that HE is the Fulfillment OF GOD'S PROMISE, HE IS THE LONG AWAITED SAVIOR), He bid His disciples to go to the Holy City of Jerusalem... For His Disciples, they are going there to celebrate the Jewish Feast of the Passover... Passing from Slavery to Egypt to Being in a new Land filled with GOD's Blessing... But for Jesus, this is a New Passover... LEADING US TO A PASSOVER FROM SLAVERY TO SIN, DEATH, HELL, AND THE ENEMY!

He entered The Gates riding on a colt, a declaration to us that He is the Long awaited Messiah! The KING OF PEACE! As Declared by the Prophet Zachariah of old...

The People took some Olive and Palm Branches, even spreading their cloaks like a carpet to honor their KING... "HOSHANA! (that is"SAVE US NOW!") BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! BLESSINGS TO THE SON OF DAVID! ...

But like them... After Praising Jesus with our Palm Branches and our spontaneous words of Worship, on Good Friday, we are in union with them in shouting and making the demand to Governor Pontius Pilate: "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"...

Yet, in spite of this... He is patient with us, teaching us not only to worship God in words... But most especially, we ought to worship HIM with our whole lives!

FOR OUR LIVES IS A LIVING SACRIFICE UNTO GOD BECAUSE OF CHRIST! 

HOLY MONDAY

Jesus and his Disciples went to the Temple Mount in the Heart of the City of Jerusalem to pray...

When He arrived at the courtyard where the Jews are gathered to say there Prayers... To Commune with GOD... He was enraged and even scandalize to see the TEMPLE OF GOD being turned into a MARKET PLACE...

The LORD GOD required through the Law given to the Prophet Moses that the Nation of Israel should offer up acceptable animal sacrifices in atonement for their sins as well as a means of thanksgiving for HIS Graces and Blessings given to their nation...

But instead of getting from there herd of animals the choicest offering (say a spotless lamb) to be presented to GOD, the Leadership of the Temple devised a plan for the worshipers to have a sort of a one-stop shop where they can conveniently buy there offerings...

But this place of 'convenience' is also a breeding place for corruption...

Some animals that they sell are NOT THE CHOICEST, AND NOT FIT NOR AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE...

Again the sin of Cain was 're-incarnated' in this Holy Place that is suppose to be dedicated to GOD!

But the LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD, THE PERFECT SACRIFICE, NOT ONLY FOR THE SIN OF ISRAEL BUT OF THE WHOLE WORLD came to cleanse the FATHER'S HOUSE OF PRAYER... We Hear Him say, with a thunderous voice:

 "IT IS WRITTEN: MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER"...

We may have the same sin that Cain and the Israelites have committed... We tend to CHEAT GOD...

We usually think that we can "worship" God in anywhere we like, in any place and/or time  that is convenient for us...

There is a spark of reality in that...

BUT THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH! We learn from Jesus that WORSHIP IS NOT AN ACT OF OBLIGATION, BUT RATHER IT IS AN ACT OF SELFLESS LOVE...

Worship should not just stay within the confines of the Church on Sundays and special days... 

It should be a LIVING, VIVID, EVERYDAY ACTION... 

Worship should not just incorporate our Sunday Experience, we receive Jesus in the Table of the Word and the Bread and Wine in order for us to be HIS WITNESSES AND HIS LIVING ICONS OF SERVICE TO GOD OUR FATHER FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD...

Our lives should be and must be a LIVING SACRIFICE! 

Suscipe

HOLY TUESDAY

There are times that we tend to question GOD'S Authority over our lives... 

We tend to do this when we do our own selfish motives... 

 

Our "own" will instead of the MOST HOLY WILL OF OUR FATHER...

Yet, Jesus invites us to have a child-like confidence in God our Father, Trusting in His Love, Guidance, Grace and Truth... Made manifest in the person of JESUS CHRIST! ... 

When we recite Jesus' Prayer (The Our Father), may we be sincere and wholehearted in declaring the words: "THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN"...

Child-like confidence in GOD OUR FATHER ALMIGHTY... That is Jesus' answer to our childish ways... 

It is only through this that we can attain and be mature in the FULLNESS OF THE STATURE CHRIST! 

HOLY WEDNESDAY

 

What would you feel if your best friend will betray you with 30 pieces of silver coins (which is equivalent to 30 days wages for workers in the time of Jesus)  to those who would want to kill you? 

I'm sure it will cost you so much pain and you would not even dare to forgive that friend of yours, right? 

But that is not the case with Jesus... He would still love that friend of His, Judas Iscariot that He is willing to die even for this treacherous friend of His... 

Most of the time, we are like Judas, we tend to replace Jesus, who is the WELLSPRING OF LIFE with something worthless... with the lures of this world... as long as it gives us pleasure... such is our selfishness...

BUT JESUS LOVES US, AND HE IS WILLING TO DIE FOR US, TO SAVE US, EVEN IF WE DON'T WANT HIM TO... EVEN AMIDST OF OUR UNFAITHFULNESS, GOD IS ALWAYS AND FOREVER WILL BE FAITHFUL TO YOU AND I! SUCH IS GOD'S LOVE FOR US!

MAUNDY THURSDAY

It was already night time in Jerusalem and Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples... He took the Bread, blessed it, gave thanks and broke it, giving it to His friends: "TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND EAT IT, THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN FOR YOU"...

After the supper, He took the chalice filled with wine, having given thanks and blessing it, He gave it to His friends, saying: "THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT AND EVERLASTING COVENANT WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN... DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME!" 

After Instituting the SACRAMENT OF THE GREAT FEAST, THE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE MOST SUBLIME SACRIFICE OF HIS SALVIFIC LOVE  He took off His outer garments, took an apron and He washed the feet of His friends... JESUS CAME TO SERVE, NOT TO BE SERVED... This is our King... Our Lord... SERVANT OF ALL...

After singing the Psalms of the Passover (Psalms 113-118) they went in haste to Gethsemane to pray... 

In the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem, Jesus began to pray... "FATHER, IF IT IS YOUR WILL, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME... YET NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE!" ... 

Seeing His Disciples, His Friends asleep, He said: "Can you not spend just one hour with me?... Pray that You will not Enter into Temptation!"...

We are guilty of this... We are not willing just to spend an Hour with God... Yet God still wants to speak to us... And He is there inviting us... In silence... 

Then, the temple-guards, accompanied by Judas Iscariot went in haste to capture Jesus... Judas betrayed Him with a kiss... 

Simon Peter's sword cut-off the ear of one of those guards... Jesus admonishes Peter: "Those who live by the sword will also die by the sword!" ... Jesus picked up the ear of that guard injured by Peter and He miraculously restored and healed it... 

such is Jesus' awesome love for both His friends, and His enemies...

And the disciples, in utter cowardliness, just run off, leaving Jesus to be taken to the Temple to be tried by the Council of Jewish Priests, called the Sanhedrin (According to Bible scholars, this trial was null and void because a criminal, according to Jewish law should be tried by the elders of Israel in the Morning, in the presence of the citizens of the city)...

Jesus has no one to stand by His side to defend Him... He was mocked, accused falsely, spit upon, his face was slapped... HE WAS LABELED AS A BLASPHEMER... 

Peter secretly followed Jesus, but in the country-yard of the Temple, He denied Him who loved him dearly and treated Him as His own Brother...

He denied Him before the servant-girl and others who recognized Him... 

JOHN 15

GOOD FRIDAY

Jesus was sent by the Sanhedrin before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate in the Antonian Fortress for Him to be Crucified... After personally scrutinizing Jesus, Pilate found no crime against Him deserving death, save for the so-called "blasphemy" that is used against Him by the Sanhedrin... 

So He asked them to take Jesus to Herod Antipas... After being mocked by Herod and even calling Jesus a mad man, He was sent backed to Pilate... 

As the custom of that time, a prisoner is given freedom by the people's choice for the Feast of the Passover... Pilate asked the crowd: "Who do you want me to release to you... Barabbas, the Criminal, or Jesus, who is called the King of the Jews?" ... 

The people, instigated by the chief priests shouted: "BARABBAS! GIVE US BARABBAS!" Pilate answered them: "What shall i do then with Jesus, who is called the Christ?"...

"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!" ...

Pilate thought that if he will have Jesus flogged, the people will take pity on Him... 

But, to no avail, after presenting Jesus to them, mocked by the Roman soldiers, filled with wounds, crowned with thorns, and draped in purple rags... 

The people shouted all the more: "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"

The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." ...

When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,  and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

Pilate washed his hands... "I am innocent of this man's blood, see to that yourselves..."

The People answered:

"BE HIS BLOOD ON US AND ON OUR CHILDREN!"...

It was already nine in the morning... Jesus is led, carrying His heavy cross to Calvary... 

He even collapsed because of exhaustion, lack of sleep, and because of massive blood loss that he has endured due to the endless beatings that He has endured... 

All of this He suffered because of His Great Love for us!

Mary, that lovely Maiden of Nazareth who was willing to accept Her LORD AND SAVIOR, not only in her heart, but also in her Virginal Womb, becoming the Blessed Mother of her LORD, was willing to follow Him in this Via Dolorosa, this Journey of Grief... Even if it breaks her heart... Even if she doesn't understand why is this happening to her BELOVED SON, LORD AND SAVIOR... She, together with John, Jesus' Beloved Friend, and with His Mother, Mary Salome (who is also the Mother of James, called "the Greater", one of the 12 closest friends of Jesus, and the Wife of Zebedee) Mary of Magdala and Mary of Cleopas (The Mother of James and Joseph-Matthew 13:55, 27:56 and Mark 15:40, who is also called Joses in Mark 6:3 and Mark 15:47), were willing to follow Jesus no matter how hard or confusing the circumstances are.

A stranger, Simon by name, a Jew from the town of Cyrene, Libya, was forced by the Soldiers to carry Jesus' Cross for He was already very weak and they fear that He will not be able to reach Calvary alive... 

That encounter with the CRUSHED AND PIERCED MESSIAH made an impact in Simon's life that he even followed Jesus later in life... His two sons, Alexander and Rufus were great missionaries to the Romans... 

Veronica Bernice, the woman healed of her hemorrhage by touching the hem of Jesus' cloak , was also present... as a sign of great gratitude, and perhaps of great love for her MESSIAH, she offered to wipe the bloodied face of Jesus with her veil, and in return, as a token of HIS SELFLESS LOVE, Jesus left the Image of His Face... HIS LOVING COUNTENANCE on Her Veil... She in turn received this Precious Image not only on her Veil... 

This Image of HER SAVIOR was also left imprinted in her heart...

The Daughters of Jerusalem, most probably followers of Jesus, were weeping bitterly for their Beloved Rabbi... Jesus turned to them and said:

"Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US. For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Jesus, GOD WHO IS LOVE ALONE WHO TOOK FORM OUR HUMAN, SINFUL NATURE, is still concerned about his enemies... Even amidst of the injustices that was done to Him by the Jewish Elders and Priests, He is still willing to LOVE THEM... EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT HIM TO... 

Finally, they reached the Hill of Calvary... 

They stripped Jesus of His garments... 

His Dried wounds began to bleed again because of the forceful stripping of the Roman Soldiers... 

The Roman Soldiers even used Jesus' seamless Cloak for gambling... They gave Him wine mixed with gall, a sort of anesthesia... But Jesus refused, He was willing to endure everything Just to GIVE US HIS AWESOME AND SELFLESS LOVE...

We can now hear Hammer pounding...  Jesus is now Nailed on the Cross... His Arms outstretched as a gesture of an ETERNAL AND LOVING HIGH PRIEST... His Wrists and Feet are now in GREAT PAIN...

But in spite of such Great pain... Jesus said:

"FATHER... FORGIVE THEM... FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DO"

We really don't know the grave consequences of sin... 

How we are separated from the FATHER WHO IS THE FULLNESS OF LIFE... Therefore we don't really live life to its fullest and its FULLNESS! 

And how it breaks OUR FATHER'S HEART when we are FAR AWAY from HIM... 

Two thieves were there, Crucified with Jesus... On His Right, a man named Dismas... On His left... Gesmas...

Gesmas began to mock Jesus, saying: "If you are the MESSIAH... If you are who you say you are... Why not use your Power... Save yourself, and us as well from this cruel, lowest form of Death"

But Dismas replied... Rebuking Gesmas, saying: "Can't you see that we deserve this! ... But look at this Man... I heard Him speak before in Galilee... I even saw His Miracles... The Wonders GOD HAS DONE THROUGH HIM... HE IS RIGHTEOUS... HE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS"...

Jesus looked at Dismas... A look filled with DIVINE LOVE AND MERCY...

And because of this... Dismas asked Jesus: "Rabboni... Good Teacher... Master... MY LORD AND SAVIOR! ... JESUS... REMEMBER ME... WHEN YOU COME TO YOUR KINGDOM" ...

Jesus replied:

"TRULY... I SAY TO YOU... TODAY... YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE!"...

That PROMISE... That GOOD NEWS is not only for Dismas... That is also for Gesmas, for the Roman Soldiers... For the Jewish Elders and Priests... For Pilate... For Judas Iscariot... For you... and for me... All of this... He was willing to suffer and to endure... Because of His GREAT LOVE FOR US... That is why the letter to the Hebrews states that Jesus' Sacrifice is "PERFECT, ONCE FOR ALL!" ... In the Book of Revelations, we read that Jesus, the LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD, was "SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD"... The Salvation of the FATHER is already prepared for us since the very beginning of time...

Jesus then saw, at the foot of His cross His Beloved Mother... 

And even while in great, excruciating Pain, Jesus asks John to Take care of Her:

"WOMAN... BEHOLD... YOUR SON! ... SON! ... BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER..."

But there is more to this... Jesus gives Mary Her Church (represented by John, Mary of Magdala, Mary Cleopas and Mary Salome) as her children... And Jesus, gives us Mary, HIS 1ST DISCIPLE AS OUR LOVING MOTHER... Do you want to just fall much more deeper in love with Jesus? Then let us turn and learn from Mary... OUR MOTHER! ...

The Jewish Priests and Elders who were present even dared to mock Jesus... 

Jesus cried out:

"MY GOD! ... MY GOD! ... WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" ...

In the incarnation, when GOD entered our human history... When He took our wretched Humanity... He acquired everything that we are... except for our sin... He who knew no sin, became sin on that cross of Calvary so that we may become THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM! ... He even took part of our doubts and our fears... But, Jesus is also Reminding us of Psalm 22... That even if we may find ourselves in great difficulties in life... DON'T LOSE HOPE... GOD IS THERE FOR US... HE IS WITH US... NEVER TO LEAVE OR TO FORSAKE US...

Jesus said:

"I THIRST"...

He thirsts for what? ... He thirsts for your love... For my love... For the Love of the whole Human Race... 

"IT IS FINISHED!"

Jesus has already done the work... we are not only cleansed from our sins... We now have a NEW LIFE... BEING RECONCILED WITH OUR LOVING, ALMIGHTY FATHER...

"FATHER... INTO YOUR HANDS... I COMMIT MY SPIRIT!"

Our lives should manifest this character of Jesus...  In everything that He did... In every Word that proceeds from His mouth... And even in His very Life, it is all for the GREATER GLORY OF THE FATHER... And only through this kind of lifestyle can we have LIFE IN IT'S FULLNESS... IT SHOULD BE FOR, TO AND IN GOD OUR FATHER! THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! ... Into GOD'S HANDS, WE COMMEND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE, EVERY FAILURE OR ACHIEVEMENT WE MAY HAVE IN LIFE, LET US JUST COMMEND IT TO GOD, OUR LOVING FATHER... 

It is now 3:00 in the Afternoon... Jesus expires... 

He is laid on a New tomb given (and owned by) Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin... He, together with Nicodemus protested against the unjust proceedings of the trial of Jesus... He even dared to risk his reputation and even his life just by going to Pilate and asking him for the Body of Jesus... But, because of His great Love for Jesus, he was willing, together with Nicodemus to expose themselves as Followers and Friends of Jesus...

Do we have the same conviction? Are We willing to stand up for JESUS no matter what? JESUS was willing to stand up for us... Are we willing to do the same in spite of the odds?

THIS IS THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S LOVE... REVEALED ON THAT CROSS OF CALVARY... BY HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS CHRIST... AND THAT CROSS, THAT WOOD OF EXECUTION THAT IS FIT FOR THE VILEST CRIMINAL, WAS TRANSFORMED ON THAT 1ST GOOD FRIDAY AS GOD'S THRONE OF DIVINE MERCY, GRACE AND LOVE... 

HOLY SATURDAY

 

While the Body of the LORD was "resting" in that Beautiful  Garden Tomb on that 1st Holy Saturday...  

His spirit is accomplishing the Promise of His ALMIGHTY FATHER spoken through His Holy Prophets...

"You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there." (King David, Psalm 68:10)

"As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit." (Prophet Zachariah, Zachariah 9:11)

"Sheol (Hebrew for the Greek: Hades, the Latin: Infernus, the Aramiac: Gehenna, and the English: HELL) from beneath is embittered over you to meet you when you come" (Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 14:9)

In the Early Christian Profession of Our most Blessed Faith called the Apostle's Creed, we declare: He descended into Hell  (Latin: descendit ad inferos Greek: κατελθόντα εἰς τὰ κατώτατα-katelthonta eis ta katôtata)... What did Jesus do there? Let us look into it in the Epistles of His Blessed Apostles:

Paul of Tarsus writes to the Church in Ephesus:

" Therefore it says ''WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.' Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth (Sheol, Gehenna, Hades, Inferos... Hell!)? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things." (Ephesians 4:8-10)

He even exhorts the Church in Colossae:

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” (Colossians 2:15)

The writer of the Letter to the Church in Jerusalem exhorts us:

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14)

John the Beloved writes to the Churches in Asia Minor:

“…The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” (I John 3:8)

Simon Peter exhorts the Church in Rome (Codename during the persecutions: Babylon):

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison (Sheol), who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.” (I Peter 3:18-19) 

Christ Exhorts us through the Glorious Visions of John the Beloved at the Prison-Island of Patmos:

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys (symbol of authority) of death and of Hades.’” (Revelations  1:17-18)

Let us HEARKEN AND CONTEMPLATE on this BLESSED TRUTH through this SERMON FROM THE EARLY CHURCH

The Lord's descent into hell

"What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: 'My Lord be with you all.' And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

'See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

"The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages."

A reading from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday

Jesus has won the VICTORY! Saving GOD'S CREATION (PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE)  FROM TOTAL DESTRUCTION... Disarming the enemy, satan, of all his power... Even trampling down His "kingdom," sin, death, hell and the grave is brought to nothing! This is the PERFECT SACRIFICE OF JESUS OFFERED ONCE AND FOR ALL! LOVE HAS CONQUERED the enemy!  WE ARE FREE!  IN JESUS WE ARE FREE! LIGHT HAS ENTERED OUR DARKEST HOURS IN ORDER TO DISPEL IT AND FILL US WITH HIS LIGHT!