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
John 7:30 and Matthew 26:18 illustrate the fact that Jesus' death on the cross was part of the GOD's Divine plan. 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. As the passage from John 7:30 shows, even those who wanted to do HIM harm, 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." In other words, HE knew what would happen. He knew what HE would endure. HE knew and still chose to do the FATHER's WILL. HIS life was not taken; but rather, HE gave up HIS life freely, in obedience to the FATHER and out of love (See John 3:16) for all of us. HE kept an appointment on a cross---just for you and for me.
EATING AT THE RIGHT TIME
Sometimes we find ourselves engaging in unplanned or poorly thought through patterns of behavior. We often have no idea how many "meals" we eat or how many hours/minutes during the day we spend 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" regardless of whether 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. Sometimes we overeat during family holiday and gatherings (e.g. Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter). Our need for food is no greater on these days than on any other day, but just because there is more food or because we see more, we eat more. Sometimes because everyone else around us is "going back for seconds," we go for seconds too.
Eating at Night
Many researchers believe (and many of us know this intuitively) that it is not healthy to eat large meals at night, right before bed. Generally, weight gain is eating more calories than you burn. If you consume calories and then exercise, you are more likely to burn up the 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 lying in bed at night, 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 very 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).
Number and Size of Meals Eaten
Because people generally burn more calories during the day than at night and are less active 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. According to this point of view you ingest the most calories in preparation for your most active period of the day and ingest the least number of calories during the least active part of your day.
Other nutritionists suggest eating a number of smaller meals per day---for example, 5-6 meals.
Those advocating the "smaller meal" way of eating might prepare a meal plan like the following:
- 7:00 a.m. - Eat breakfast
- 10:00 a.m. - Eat a light snack (e.g. fruit, nuts)
- 12:00 p.m. - Eat a good lunch
- 3:00 p.m. - Eat another snack (e.g. fruit, nuts, celery, carrots)
- 6:00 p.m. - Eat an optional snack
- 7:00 p.m. - Eat a small dinner
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.
Emphasis 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, you should consult your physician. Some medication labels specifically advise that the medication should be ingested with meals or at a specific time of day.
SOME TIMELY EXERCISES
On Wednesday and Thursday
If you have no medical problems/condition:
- 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 prepare an eating schedule listing the number of meals you will eat and the time you will eat them. Decide if you will "eat breakfast like a king (or queen), lunch like a prince (or princess) and dinner like a pauper" or if you will eat 5-6 small meals during the day or some combination. Avoid scheduling any meals after 8:00 p.m., if you can.
If you have a medical problem/condition,
- 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.)
- Compare/review the nutrition guidelines that you received from your doctor with the list that you prepared. Determine if you are being "obedient" to those guidelines. [You may want to have a discussion with your physician about changes you should make.]
For Everyone
On Good Friday, Meditate on one or more of the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"
Luke 23: 34
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with ME in paradise."
Luke 23: 43
Speaking to Mary and John,
"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
On Resurrection Sunday - REJOICE! And, Be Blessed!
