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The Work of the Ninth Hour
Let us look at the section in Acts 3 for more light and understanding . . . 
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: (Acts 3:1-9)
Both Peter and John were going into the Temple together, they were going in at the gate that was called ‘Beautiful.’ The Holy Spirit also gave us the time, it was the ninth hour, and this hour was designated as the hour of prayer. The Jews had established this hour of prayer unknowingly to fulfill the purpose of God. At the 9th hour every day men gathered to pray. If we should we examine the 9th hour, we would see its full purpose? This is what happened at the 9th hour: Jesus bowed His head and gave up the ghost.
And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.(Mark 15:33-35)
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:37, 38)
 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)
And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. (Mark 15:33)
 At the 9th hour the Lord’s work on the cross was finished. He proclaimed with a loud powerful voice, although suffering for the transgressions and sin of the whole world, the complete power of heaven was announced in the very words: It is finished.
All this was finalized in the 9th hour. The number nine (9) is also the last single digit showing us not only the end, but the approach or the beginning of a new thing. How great are the mysteries of God tying all things together in one single digit of finality, and giving us everlasting hope in the finished work of Christ Jesus our Lord. Now this was the time of prayer, remember the Lord Himself stated that His house should not be a den of thieves or of merchandise, but a house of prayer. How the Spirit of God draws us deeper into His divine work done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In this 9th hour the Jewish system was broken, their religion became a past tense, this with the renting of the veil in the Temple. Not only do we apply all things to become new (to the new born Christian) at the death of Christ a new hour had begun for all men. For now man was given an object of salvation in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be no more a Jewish system of corruption, but a divine Man in heaven directing and leading His Church through this evil world. As the veil was rent in the 9th hour, (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) the finality had come, for all creation now was under a new order, and that order was the rule and power of a Man in heaven at the right hand of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The religion of the corrupt Jews was over, the last single digit (the number 9) had come in the finished work of Christ when He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. Melchisedec had presented the sacrifice to God, and God had accepted it from the hand of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Also at the 9th hour the world (in the centurion) looked at the Lord Jesus Christ, and declared for all to know that this man, the son of man was the Son of God.
The 9th Hour: Outside The Beautiful Gate
And now we see the work continued on the steps of the Temple by the Spirit of Christ on the 9th hour at the Beautiful Gate making this man whole. Think of this hour in the man’s mind. This 9th hour had to be a wonderful hour for this lame man. He was lame from birth, and in that condition he was denied access to the Temple under the Jewish traditions, but now to show this new beginning in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (which is His full title) this name which is above every name was bestowed upon the anointed man at the right hand of God for us. (Hebrews 1: 9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
The 9th Hour: Inside of The Beautiful Gate
In this wonderful miracle the man was not only made whole, but he was now able to enter into the Temple and enter into the sweet hour of prayer. Many have been drawn to this wonderful name by hours of prayer: a mother for her son, a father for his prodigal, a Samaritan for a stranger, a widow abiding in the Temple, a man waiting for the consolation of Israel, an aunt for a niece, a sister for her brother Lazarus, all praying in that most wonderful fullest name of: the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I add ‘of Nazareth.’ There was no other name given among men that would heal this crippled man, as there is no other name given amongst men where by our crippled hearts can be made whole. We are saved through this divine Person, who bears and holds this wonderful name and title in all righteousness, and in all the glory of God.
The Beautiful Gate
This power came to the lame man, it was the power of God expressed by the Spirit of Christ. Peter reached down and took this man by the right hand, another wonderful similitude: and he lifted him up by the hand of power by the most glorious name: Jesus Christ. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Immediately, not in the course of time, but immediately the man received strength. All those years begging for alms, now he was made whole by no earthly treasure, but by the divine name of God’s dear Son, and he entered into the Temple through the Beautiful Gate. This section of Scripture is so full of divine understanding. God is speaking through each and every movement of the unsearchable riches of Christ. He enters into the Beautiful Gate, now, this is the only time that the name of ‘Beautiful Gate’ is used in the whole word of God. The word ‘gate’ appears approximately 220 times, the word ‘beautiful’ appears approximately 23 times; yet, only one ‘Beautiful Gate;’ is mentioned. Does not this fit the 9th hour? This is the 9th hour of prayer. A lame man from his birth, a citizen of a crippled nation (from its birth) paralyzed by sin, but now he was made whole by the divine name of Jesus Christ.
We should apply Romans 10:15, (And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!) to Peter and see the marvelous work that the Lord Jesus had put into Peter’s hands in John Chapter 21. Let us now compare John Chapter 21:15 through 17.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)
Three times the Lord exhorted Peter to draw out and to feed the children of God. The Lord used the word ‘lambs’ once, and the word ‘sheep’ twice. The lambs is always seen as singular (lamb) wherein ‘sheep’ designates a flock. In Psalm 23, we have an individual lamb, as an individual child of God. In John Chapter 21, verses 16 and 17, we have the care of the whole flock of God, as Paul reminds us as well. This was the work that Peter was given from the Lord Jesus Christ, and we see this in its fullness on the steps of the Temple on the 9th hour at the Beautiful Gate. Peter is truly a messenger with glad tidings of good joy to the lame man. In all the years upon those steps in his condition, his brokenness, and he could only look at the Beautiful Gate, but could not enter in. That Beautiful Gate was open to him by the power and majesty of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was now made whole. He could now enter into the Temple. And he does it with great joy knowing in his heart and soul that Jesus of Nazareth had made him whole.
I write this only in reflection when we consider our own salvation, when we consider the man at the right hand of God who has made us whole. The nation of Israel still has a long way to go before she in her entirety receives this wonderful name. When she comes to realize and looks upon the One who she has pierced and asks the question, What are these wounds in thine hands? (Zechariah 13:6) And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
The 9th Hour: The Temple Steps: The Lame Man:Â
Outside and Inside the Beautiful Gate
Lets again consider this panorama before us. The steps of the Temple, the lame man made whole, the Beautiful Gate, and all within the hour of prayer at the 9th hour. The wounds of Calvary brought forth the glory of the Beautiful Gate, the Spirit of God designates it one time in all of Scripture as the Beautiful Gate. This Beautiful Gate in the end of Jacob’s trouble will bring forth the glory for all of Israel. When the Son of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) will take them into His Temple, and He will be both King and Priest to His redeemed nation.
 (Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13) In Zechariah 6:13 we see the Lord Jesus ruling and sitting upon His throne, the throne of righteousness. We see Him as Priest after the order of Melchizedek drawing the conclusion of Hebrews Chapter 7. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16) In Zechariah 14:16, we have the nation being humbled to the King, the Lord of hosts, in their yearly pilgrimage to worship the Lord of lords, and King of kings. (Psalm 110:4) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.)
 The glory of Israel will sit upon His throne and Jacob will see His face and be healed of his lameness. (Psalm 24) As the gates are lifted up they lead to the everlasting doors, and it is the Lord of glory that shall come in.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:6-10)
I should mention that in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ concerning the heavenly city there are twelve (12) gates. Not one of these gates is mentioned by name, however, each one of these gates is as a pearl most precious. May I remind you of the pearl of great price, would this not give us twelve beautiful gates.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,(Revelation 21:10)
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21)
The Lame Man: Lame Jacob: Lame Israel
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank. (Genesis 32:24-32)
 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; (Hosea 12:3,4)
 This lame man (in Acts 3) is a symbol of Jacob both before and after the work of Christ on the cross. Jacob (after God touched his thigh) limped away into the rising sun leaning upon his staff, but not leaning upon God. So Israel (as a nation) took on the same characteristics as Jacob. They were halt, hobbled, hindered, and crippled in their devotion to God. When Moses returned to Egypt to deliver the Hebrews from slavery, they balked at leaving Egypt. It took forceful divine persuasion to initiate their exodus. Once they crossed the Red Sea, they again balked against entering into the promised land, and would not enter in. It took 40 years of wandering in their halt condition to enter into the promised land. They limped in the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience to Jehovah, and today, Israel is still limping through history. She has refused her Messiah, the Lord of glory the Lord Jesus Christ, but soon her eyes will be opened, and as a nation she will look upon Him whom she has pierced, and will receive Him in all His glory, and will pass through that Beautiful Gate.
On the other side of the Beautiful Gate the man leaped for joy, his burden was gone and he was allowed into the house of God. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, (John Chapter 19) and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5, 6) Israel’s lameness will be healed by the name which is above every name: the name of Jesus Christ.
© Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)