Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 9:37-45.
TEXT: (Jesus said) "Let these words sink into your
ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into
the hands of men" (Luke 9:44).

Coming down with His three disciples from the
Mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus encounters a
demon His other disciples are unable to cast out.
With divine might and majesty, Jesus overpowers
the demon and sends him away. The crowd is
completely amazed and stands marveling at what
God has done. Jesus knows His disciples are still
clinging to hopes of an earthly kingdom, and He
doesn't want them to get swept away by the
excitement of the crowds. So He turned to talk
directly to them. To get their attention He could
have easily said, "Listen carefully." Instead, He
says something even more striking: "Let these
words sink into your ears."

And what are the extremely important words
Jesus has to tell them? They are these: "The
Son of Man is about to be delivered into the
hands of men." Despite their dreams, and the
hope of the crowd following them, Jesus' suffering
is close at hand. He is "about to be delivered into
the hands of men."
But Jesus reveals one more painful fact about His
coming suffering He did not reveal the first time:
it will come about through an act of betrayal. Of
course, Jesus knows the identity of His betrayer,
but He withholds that information for now. Not only
will He be rejected and, consequently, subjected
to violent brutalities and death, but treachery will be
connected with these events as well.

The disciples fail to understand and are afraid to
ask Jesus anything about it. The suspense is
building as Jesus' destiny and our salvation draw
near.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son single-mindedly set His
steps to fulfill Your plan to save the world. Give me
an unwavering faith to follow Him all my days. In
Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)