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The Hour for Which Jesus Came

MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way·Apr 2, 2026·2:54

About this Episode

By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.

Read John 13:1-17.

The cross wasn’t a last-minute tragedy—it was the central purpose of Jesus’ earthly life.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef shows how Jesus lived with unwavering clarity about His mission: to finish the work the Father gave Him. From the wedding at Cana to His final meal with the disciples, Christ repeatedly referred to the coming “hour”—the hour of His sacrifice, when He would finally declare, “It is finished.”

You’ll see this focus unfold in three powerful moments:

Cana (John 2): Even at His first miracle, Jesus points beyond the celebration to the cross—“My hour has not yet come.”
Feast of Tabernacles (John 7): In the face of rising opposition and threats, Jesus remains steady because His time is under the Father’s control.
The Upper Room (John 13): On the eve of betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, modeling humble love because He knows the hour has arrived.

Dr. Youssef reminds us that Jesus embraced the cross as the Father’s will—and as His joy—so that sinners could be saved. As you listen, you’ll be invited to marvel again at the wonder of God’s love: He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your incredible love that led You to the cross in obedience to the Father. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father” (John 13:1).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon It Is Finished: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW

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Hosts & Guests

Dr. Michael Youssef

Host

Transcript

This is Michael Yusuf, and you're listening to today's My Devotional From Leading the Way.

Uncompromising Truth for Everyday Faith.

The second of April 2026, the hour for which Jesus came.

The cross was central to Jesus' earthly life at every stage.

From his virgin birth to his public ministry, the cry of his life was to finish the work the Father had given him to do.

A short time after his baptism, Jesus went to a wedding in the small Galilee and town of Cana.

He was not yet well known. The crowds weren't yet following him wherever he went, and yet he was already looking ahead to the cross.

We know this because when his mother came to him with a crisis, the bride and groom had run out of wine.

Jesus replied, My hour has not yet come.

What hour was Jesus talking about? The hour of his death, the hour of his sacrifice, the hour when he could finally say it is finished.

Later, at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus again demonstrated his understanding of who he was and the purpose for which he walked this earth.

His brothers, who did not yet believe that he was the Messiah, taunted him, saying, No one who wants to become a public figure, acts in secret.

This was no kind comment. The Jewish leaders in Judea were already looking for a way to kill Jesus.

Yet he responded, My time is not yet here. Jesus was thinking about his death.

Then, in John chapter 13, Jesus gathered with his disciples for what would be his last meal before his betrayal, a rest and crucifixion.

He got up in the middle of dinner, grabbed a basin and a towel, and began washing his disciples' feet.

Our Lord set this poignant example for his disciples, including us to follow, because he knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.

Jesus was always thinking about the hour of his death. He knew it was the Father's will for him to bear our sins on the cross.

It was his joy to obey the Father and save sinners.

May we grasp the wonder that God did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all.

Pray with me, precious Lord Jesus.

Thank you for your incredible love that led you to the cross in obedience to the Father.

I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.

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