The Romans' Hora Prima - the first hour

Christianity is different from other world religions because of the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The power of death has been defeated. It's interesting how other religions claim eternal life in some form or another but their prophet or leader was never documented as having risen from the dead. That topic is for another day. The point of this post is to contemplate : "What is the stone in your life that needs to be rolled away and do you trust Jesus to do that for you?"

Matthew 28: "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men."

The Romans divided the day into twelve hours. The first hour, hora prima, began at sunrise, approximately 6 a.m. The twelfth hour, hora duodecima, ended at sunset, approximately 6 p.m.

Roman hours of the Day

Hora Prima = 1st hour - 6 - 7 a.m.

Hora Secunda = 2nd hour - 7 - 8 a.m.

Hora Tertiana = 3rd hour - 8 - 9 a.m.

Hora Quarta = 4th hour - 9 - 10 a.m.

Hora Quinta = 5th hour - 10 - 11 a.m.

Hora Sexta = 6th hour - 11 - 12 p.m.

Hora Septina = 7th hour - 12 - 1 p.m.

Hora Octava = 8th hour - 1 - 2 p.m.

Hora Nonana = 9th hour - 2 - 3 p.m.

Hora Decima = 10th hour - 3 - 4 p.m.

Hora Undecima = 11th hour - 4 - 5 p.m.

Hora Duodecima = 12th hour - 5 - 6 p.m.

There were eight nightwatches:

Watches before midnight -

1. vespera
2. prima fax
3. concubia
4. intempesta

Watches after midnight:

1. inclanatio
2. gallicinium
3. contininium
4. diluculum

I have many good things in my life...quotes from Tim Keller

"I have many good things in my life - family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have [replacing Jesus], so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost."

"My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can't look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I've no inner need to win arguments."

"My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am simul iustus et peccator- simultaneously sinful and lost yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper  humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering or sniveling."

God is most glorified when...

"God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him." - John Piper