Beware the Ides of March

Happy Birthday! You were born on a very interesting day in history. According to Wikipedia –   “The Ides of March is the 74th day in the Roman calendar, corresponding to 15 March. It was marked by several religious observances and was a deadline for settling debts in Rome. In 44 BC, it became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar, which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history.  The phrase “beware the Ides of March” is widely known from William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” when a soothsayer warned Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.”

      Other people may have boring birthdays, but you were born on a notorious one. Some would say – ominous. A soothsayer predicted the death of Caesar. In our verses today, Almighty God predicted the death of His Son.

     I love how Scripture is perfectly balanced and shows parallels. Today it just happens to be multiple verses with the same theme (Genesis, John, Acts, Romans & 2 Timothy.) In Genesis 3:15 God is summarizing the rest of human history. He exhorts His enemy, Satan, and reveals to the serpent his eventual fate – his head will be crushed. Amidst the years prior to his demise, the serpent will be enemies with Eve’s offspring even though he will “strike the heel” of HE. We know through the revelation of the rest of Scripture that HE is Jesus of Nazareth.

     In Acts, Peter via the Holy Spirit had just healed a man who had been crippled his whole life. A crowd had gathered in amazement to find out what had happened. A few months prior, Jesus had been rejected by the Jewish leadership in the same place. Acts 3:12-26 Peter preaches about their role in Jesus’ death. Vs 15 – “and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”(ESV) Peter does not come lightly. He lets them know forcefully.

     As predicted in Genesis, God became flesh (Jesus) and fought for the souls of mankind. Even though He was “killed’ by his enemy, he ultimately prevailed as He conquered sin and death by rising from His death and crushing the head of the enemy. The Author of life can NOT be ended. (Please check out more of your Birthday Bible verses as they also attest to this amazing prediction.)

     Your birthday may be known for an ominous event, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Julius Caesar & Jesus died @ 70 years apart, both having fulfilled prophecy. The big difference between them is simple. One is still dead, and the other is very much Alive! One of the other things that happened on March 15^th in Rome was the settlement of debts. Jesus was able to pay all our spiritual debts by being crucified for our sins. This day in history is well known. How cool would it be if this day in your life were well known to the angels in heaven as they rejoice your salvation. There would be perfect balance, as this would be the day in your life “that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.“ John 3:15 becomes your story.  May March 15^th forever be a glorious day in your life. You should no longer have to “beware”.

Dave R

’69 / ’83 Quarryville PA