On this day!

On this day, 3 October in 1929, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was renamed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The term "Yugoslavia" was used as a colloquial name since the kingdom’s origin in 1918 meaning “Land of the South Slavs”.

On this day, 3 October in 1835, the Staedtler Company was founded in Nuremberg, Germany. Staedtler claims to be the largest European manufacturer of wood-cased pencils, OHP pens, mechanical pencil leads, erasers, and modelling clays with over twenty global subsidiaries and seven manufacturing facilities. Over 85% of production takes place in the headquarters, still located in Nuremberg.

Looking back at events that happened long ago can be quite fascinating. As a Christian, I find it fascinating to think about what the Lord Jesus did in his life. We know for instance that as a boy of 12 He visited the Jewish Temple and as a result Mary and Joseph lost Him. Three days later they were shocked to find Him with the Jewish Rabbi's and teachers of the law, asking and answering questions. I would like to have witnessed that scene!

If I understand Jewish tradition and practice correctly I am pretty sure that the night before Jesus died outside the ancient of city of Jerusalem that He sang a Psalm with his disciples. The particular Psalm He was most likely to have sung was Psalm 118. We know this from Jewish tradition. When pilgrims were travelling to Jerusalem for Passover they always sang the Psalms of Degrees. The particular Psalm they would have sung at this stage was Psalm 118. The words are very poignant when you consider the sufferings that the Lord would endure the next day. They sang - 'this is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it'. Imagine rejoicing when facing death within 24 hours. The Lord Jesus knew a deep joy in doing what was pleasing to His Father.

I am so glad that I can say that Jesus is 'the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me' - 

Can you?