Jesus and His twelve disciples gathered in an upper room ““ away from prying eyes and the threat of arrest. They had gone to this secluded room to partake of the traditional Passover Feast.

Throughout Jesus”™ ministry He had said, “˜My time has not yet come”™ to reveal Himself as Messiah to Israel.

Now”¦on this night and the following day, His time had come. His time had come to fulfill the purpose for which God the Father had sent Him into the world.

[You can find most of the times He had said “˜My time has not yet come”™ in the following verses: (John 2:4; 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20). You are encouraged to use your Bible to check Scriptures that these devotionals use. Your own reading of God”™s word is most important for your information and relationship with God.]

Jesus”™ appointed time had come”¦He said so: Matthew 26:18 “My time is near”¦”

Jesus knew that He would suffer physically, emotionally, socially, mentally and spiritually in the coming hours. However, He also knew that His resurrection and heaven were also waiting for Him

(NASB) John 13:1 “NOW BEFORE the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

A Pastor I know always ends the Sunday service with these words, “˜You are loved.”™ And this is exactly what this verse says to you and to me”¦we are loved by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

You are loved. No matter what your circumstances are, no matter what your emotions are telling you”¦believe what Jesus said and has done for you. You are loved!

There are followers of Christ who have seen their loved ones killed because of their relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ”¦this year, in various countries of the world.

If you are living in one of these countries in which brutality exists”¦know that you are loved”¦by the One Who has been where you are. And He has risen from the tomb and is now seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven. You are loved!

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again because that will be in God”™s perfect timing and it will be because “˜You are loved!”™