Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 9:18-22.
TEXT: The Son of Man must suffer many things
(see Luke 9:22).

Jesus' disciples have heard His powerful words and
seen many mighty miracles.They believe He is the
promised Messiah. But as soon as Peter makes
his great confession, Jesus sternly commands the
12 disciples to keep the news to themselves. The
Jewish crowds have the wrong idea about the
Messiah; they think He will be a great king driving
out the Romans and establishing an earthly
kingdom. Even the disciples are swept up in this
dream. Now Jesus begins shattering that illusion
and teaching them that He came to save the world
through His death and resurrection.

Jesus is fully aware of all the horrendous things He
will suffer in Jerusalem, but He also knows the
disciples are not ready for all the gory facts. So He
draws a veil over the details and simply says, "The
Son of Man must suffer many things."

But the disciples need to know who will cause His
great suffering. So Jesus teaches them that the
leaders of His own people-the Jewish high court-will
carefully examine Him and reject Him as their
Messiah. They will kill Him through an act of judicial
murder. But Jesus' revelation to the disciples doesn't
end with His death. He clearly states that on the
third day after His death He will be raised.

At Christmas when you look at the Baby dozing in
Bethlehem's manger, this may not be the life you
would picture for Him, but it is exactly what God
had planned for Him since the very beginning.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Jesus was careful to shield His
disciples from all the horrors He knew He would suffer
to save us from our sins. Remind me that You know
every detail of my future, and give me confidence You
will make all things work together for my good. For
Jesus' sake I pray. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 6:6-11.
TEXT: But they were filled with fury and discussed
with one another what they might do to Jesus
(Luke 6:11).

The opposition against Jesus is mounting-neighbors
from Nazareth and the devil with his demonic army.
Now two new enemies join the fray.

The scribes have spent centuries copying Old
Testament scrolls, which teach God's Law to show
us why we need His promised Savior. But they have
distorted that word, teaching that heaven can be
earned with less-than-perfect lives. Sitting with the
scribes are their disciples the Pharisees who
dedicate themselves to live by these teachings
and traditions.

In the synagogue sits a man whose right hand is
withered and useless. What will Jesus do? Scribal
traditions forbid any work on the Sabbath, even
healing a man's withered hand. So the scribes and
Pharisees silently watch to see if Jesus will break
their Sabbath rules.

Jesus calls the man to stand, dramatically drawing
everyone's attention.Then He turns to the scribes and
asks, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do
harm, to save life or to destroy it?" He exposes the
hypocrisy of their tradition that would forbid Him to use
His powers to end someone's suffering just because it
is the Sabbath. Looking around at them to let His point
sink in, Jesus tells the man, "Stretch out your hand,"
and his hand is completely restored.

The scribes and Pharisees are furious. Jesus clearly
broke the spirit of their Sabbath tradition, but by the
letter of their law they have no charge to bring against
Him. Nobody thought to write a law forbidding a man to
stretch out his hand.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Jesus' enemies grew furious when He
showed concern for a man who was hurting. Forgive my
cold, unfeeling heart toward those suffering around me,
and help me flee to Jesus for forgiveness. I pray this in
His Name Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 4:31-37.
TEXT: And in the synagogue there was a man who
had the spirit of an uncleandemon, and he cried out
with a loud voice (Luke 4:33).

After being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth,
Jesus sets up His headquarters in the town of
Capernaum. On the Sabbath He begins teaching in
the synagogue. Once again the people are amazed at
His powerful words. But sitting in their midst is a man
possessed by a demon.

Demons are fallen angels. In the beginning God
created them pure and holy, but following their
rebellious leader Satan they rose up against their
Creator. Jesus would later tell His disciples, "I saw
Satan fall like lightning" (Luke 10:18b). Cast out
of heaven, Satan and his demonic angels turned their
rage and hatred against the humans God had created.

Here in the synagogue this ancient enemy cries out
in a loud voice, "Ha! What have You to do with us,
Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us?"
Since their fall all the demons have known and
dreaded the coming of God's Son in judgment.

In terror the demon blurts out, "I know who You are-
the Holy One of God!"

Jesus gives the first of two short commands:
"Be silent." Standing before God's mighty Son the
demon immediately falls silent.

Then Jesus commands, "Come out of Him!" In
obedience the demon immediately comes out,
throwing the man down in the process. But under
Jesus' protecting eye the man is left completely
unharmed.

In the wilderness Satan had tempted Jesus to bow
down and worship him. But on the Last Day Satan
and all his evil host will bow down and worship their
Creator and Judge-and be cast into hell forever.


THE PRAYER:
Almighty God, like Satan and his demons, I have
sinned against You. Forgive me for Jesus' sake and
free me from Satan's power that I may serve You
now and forever. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)