Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

"He will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare
it there" (Luke 22:12).

Read Luke 22:11-12.

As Jesus directed, the two disciples enter the city gate and
find the man carrying the water jar. He will guide Peter and
John to the house where they will prepare the Passover for
Jesus. But for these disciples the strangest thing may not
be the man carrying water.

The strangest thing may well be that a room large enough
to accommodate at least 13 men is still available in
Jerusalem. The city is bursting with Jewish pilgrims
gathered together from all over the Roman Empire to
celebrate the Passover. But as Jesus predicts, they won't
just find a large empty room, it will be fully furnished, with
all the furniture and utensils they will need.

Thirty-some years ago a Jewish carpenter diligently
searched for just such a room in the little town of Bethlehem,
a few miles southwest of here. In fact, Luke uses the exact
same Greek word for "guest room" here as he uses for "inn"
there (see Luke 2:7). But no such room was available that
first Christmas, so Jesus had been born in a humble shelter
for cattle.

But this time it is different. A room has been held back and
reserved. In this space Jesus will celebrate His Last Supper
and institute Holy Communion. The owner of this house
knows the Teacher, and will be deeply honored to lend Him
this room. He is the second man in recent days who has been
privileged to loan his property to the Savior of mankind. Just
the previous Sunday a man had loaned Him his young donkey,
which had never been ridden before. And before the sun sets
again, a prominent Jewish ruler will lend Jesus his unused tomb.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for choosing to honor us with Your
presence. Use our time, treasure, talents and lives to spread
Your Kingdom and glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)