Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Devotion

"So the Pharisees said to one another, 'You see that you are
gaining nothing. Look, the whole world has gone after Him'"
(John 12:19).

Read John 12:12-19.

The great Festival of Passover is near. Huge crowds make their
way across the countryside toward Jerusalem, and our Lord
Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph, riding on a donkey.

The Pharisees throw up their hands in fear and frustration. They
say to each other "You see that you are gaining nothing." The
situation is totally out of control. But again they will not stop to
consider Jesus' claims. They only react in frustration and fear
of what Jesus might do with the huge Passover crowds
gathering around Him in Jerusalem.

It is fascinating to compare their reaction to that of the crowds.
The crowds cry out to Jesus, "Hosanna," which means "help"
or "save." And they are right. The Lord Jesus is the mighty
Son of God, who has come to battle Satan, sin, death and hell.
He alone can save us from our bitter enemies.

As we begin this week of Jesus' suffering and death for our sins,
we notice He is completely in control. We will notice He is in
control through this entire week-clear up to and including His
arrest, trials and crucifixion.

That's important to remember when we look at our own lives.
Often we are as fearful and frustrated as the Pharisees,
realizing situations in our lives are totally out of control. We
can throw up our hands like the Pharisees, or call upon Jesus
as the crowds do, remembering that Jesus is still in control,
sitting at the right hand of the Father and guiding all things for
our good.

THE PRAYER:

Lord, please help and save us, especially when circumstances
are at their worst and totally out of our control. Remind us that
they are never beyond Your control. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer