Matthew 22:31-32 ³¹ But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

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Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

Luke 18:31-33 ³¹ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. ³³ They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

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Matthew 26:34 ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

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Luke 23:21-22

²¹ But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

²² Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”

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John 21:17

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

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Spanning the Old and New testaments, even if one is not into numerology, there’s no escaping that three is a special number to God.

In three days, Christ resurrected. We, being born again of the spirit, were raised with Him (Hosea 6:2)

In other examples, during the transfiguration where Jesus conferred with Elijah and Moses, Peter wanted to build three shelters.

And according to the Catholic faith, Jesus fell three times carrying the cross until Simon was tasked to help him. There were the two criminals besides Jesus, one of whom was justified by Christ for acknowledging Him as the Son of God.

The most important of trinities however, is one that is not a concept of Scripture in and of itself, but it does exist and was therefore taught as such: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s like a musical chord of three notes, all coming under one name even though they sound different, or the legs of a tripod converging to hold up a center platform.

In the image of God, we are soul, body, and spirit. It is the desire of our enemy to possess our souls, because that is what will reconcile and reunite us with Him. We are called to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. If we center those around Him, our physical strength may be added in service.

In the birth process, babies change in three trimesters. We too, are still being birthed in the process of spiritual renewal and bodily repentance. We are advised to sow to our spirits, that we may reap spiritually as the physical realm passes away, because God is spirit ((John 4:24) and the Word of the Lord will not. (Matthew 24:35)

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Therefore I pray:

Lord Jesus,

Align my heart, mind, and body to remain pure by centering on the Gospel You brought to us, showing us what the Father wants, and telling us what He wants us to know.

We are foolish to sin against Him and provoke His wrath, because His thoughts and ways are not ours (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

Forgive us when we look on His commandments as hindrances, not protection for ourselves. Let us stand despite the faithless who mock that God would send us a king who died a criminal, and a savior who would not put on a show to prove to his enemies and doubters that He was legitimate (1st Corinthians 1:18).

So too, let our words be few but sown on good soil, that You might bring the increase as You did in the days of the early church.

In fellowship, let us have discernment and not be so easily broken and deceived. As chords on an instrument play different parts under one name, in fellowship let us be as an orchestra: many instruments playing different parts, but one song.

Today, let us thank You for our lives, however difficult or comfortable at the moment. Let us be of one accord and purpose in serving God with the gifts He gave to us, developed in us, or even changed, in order to fulfill His will for the people of the world and our days on it, for His will is the only thing that will be made manifest in the days to come as the signs Jesus prophesied begin to unfold.

Hold us in the palms of Your hands, that we might not go astray in the world’s darkness, unable to know Your voice from the thieves and deceivers among us.

Today, we take Your yoke upon us and know Your peace, and we are joyful that in Your obedience to the Father, and in Your resurrection and imparting of the Holy Spirit, You have indeed overcome a sinful world. Therefore we hold fast to our faith, possess our souls in patience, and work out our salvation with reverent and sincere hearts.

We do so in Your Name, that we might be counted among fruitful, good, and faithful servants worthy of attaining the Kingdom in the Father’s rest, even if we are voices crying in the wilderness of our cities, towns, countries, governments, schools, and other fallible man-made systems.

Let us be angry and sin not (Psalm 4:4), speaking the Truth to power, and speaking it in love to the lost, planting in faith knowing You will give the increase. (Acts 2: 29 -41)

Let it be done to us as You have said.

Amen.