We have reached the six weeks of what we call Advent. Some say , “It’s time to think about some spring outfits and some toy bunnies and candy eggs for the children”. The season of Advent is the six weeks before Easter, a time for meditating on what Jesus did for us, not on the beginning of spring, Let’s talk about those six hours, from 9am to 3 pm that Friday. It won’t hurt those of you who know the story, and it will be wonderful for you who have heard the story but have never paid any attention to it. What happened is for you too.

Jesus , is the same person who was born in a stable with many animals around him, but there were Shepherds, Wise men, Angels and a star around Him too. He grew up playing with His pals and helping his earthly dad in his carpenter’s shop. Even though he is the Son of God, he lived like any other boy in the neighborhood.

He was thirty years old when he entered his ministry. Now I think I would have gone to the Temple, but Jesus went to the people, and did he ever find a lot of people! He went walking around the whole country, healing and teaching. The lame walked, the blind could see, the deaf could hear and he healed many diseases.He talked to them about how much God loves them and how much he wants them to love him back. He loved little children too. And every person he met was his friend. The Bible tells us he talked to groups as large as 5000 men. The women were there too, but they were never counted in that day.

The day came when the men in Government and the priests in religion decided to somehow kill Jesus. A man named Judas, who was one of Jesus’ deciples, but a turncoat, came to the men of the temple and offered to lead them to Jesus at night for thirty pieces of silver. That settled, Judas took several soldiers out to get him where he and his trusted men were spending the night. Jesus didn’t fight with the soldiers, but came with them to the temple. Right away, the torture began. He was flogged with a leather rope which had iron pins on the end. The soldiers put a crown of thorns on his head. And those thorns aren’t at all like the ones growing around here. They continually flogged Him! The people standing nearby said they couldn’t even recognize him when the men took him into the court room where his trial was held. Once there, everyone yelled “crucify Him”. And He is the Son of God! Then they took Him and His cross out to the Hill, called ‘Calvary to crucify Him.

That’s when the six hours began. The soldiers made him carry his own cross! They nailed Jesus to the cross. Two other men who were criminals were hung, one on each side of him. He did try to talk. Once he said “I thirst,” but all they gave him was vinegar. One of the criminals said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said ” You will be with me in my Kingdom.” And He is the Son of God!

He said,”It is finished!” He died and the six hours were done.He was placed in a borrowed tomb and He arose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

He did this for you. All the sins that should take you to heaven, are gone, providing you know Him and His Father and ask Him for forgiveness. The life you live after that will be wonderful. You will see rough days but you will face them with Jesus. Now, will you think about his sufferings during the Advent season? It is two weeks gone now But you can use the next four weeks remembering all that happened those six hours.

It’s funny, but When I think of Valentine’s Day I think of school. Here I am, age 94, and I am thinking of school days! You would think I would have my thoughts on boy friends or husbands (I’ve had two of them). I guess there’s something about that colored box standing in front of our desks that intrigued me. I wondered if I would get many valentines and will I get one from Dale? He was the boy I really liked in third grade. There have been many boxes like that over the years. There has been boxes of candy, boxes of jewelry and cards colored by little hands. All of them have been precious to us.

But there is one big red heart that stands high above them all. and that is God. God loves each of us, even the most evil of people, and He wants us to love Him too. Many of us are busy with so many things, and we worry about what is going on here in America, like this horrible Coronovirus covering the whole world. We Just don’t take the time to read our scriptures or even to pray, but He still waits and loves us no matter what.

He looked down and saw the mess we have made of the world He made. It made Him sad, so sad he sent His only son down to us . And why? to die for our sins! That was the only way we could come back to Him. Even the worst person on earth can come back to him if he or she believes and repents. so, this Valentine’s day, why don’t you love Him the best of all, and go tell someone else about the big red heart?