Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Meditations

Out from the Darkness Holy Saturday

Scripture:

Read John 19:31-42.

TEXT: "So they (Joseph and Nicodemus)
took the body of Jesus and bound it in
linen cloths with the spices, as is the
burial custom of the Jews" (John 19:40).

Good Friday is drawing to its close. With
the Passover quickly approaching, Pilate
orders the legs of the crucified men to be
broken so they will die quickly. The legs
of the two criminals hanging at Jesus'
side are broken. But since Jesus is
already dead His side is pierced with a
spear instead and out flows blood and
water-proof that the King of the Jews
is truly dead.

That's when a secret disciple of Jesus
steps forward. Joseph of Arimathea is a
prominent member of the Jewish high
court who did not agree with their
decision to put Jesus to death. He
boldly steps out of the darkness and
asks Pilate for permission to bury Jesus'
body. Pilate grants it.

Another secret disciple joins him. The
Pharisee Nicodemus who had snuck
through the darkness of night to talk to
Jesus now steps into the light and helps
Joseph lay our Lord's body to rest in
Joseph's new tomb.

But it is only a rest. Death has no hold
over Jesus' body. It cannot even touch
His body with the stain of decay. On the
third day He will rise to life and live forever.

One day you and I will be laid in our own
graves. But for all of us who trust in Jesus
Christ as our Savior, our future will be the
same as His. Our bodies will rest in the
grave until He returns; then Jesus will
raise us to share paradise with Him forever.

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank You for hallowing our
graves through Your rest in the grave. Fill
us with joy and confidence-even in the face
of death-so that we will see You with our
own eyes when You come to wake our
bodies from death.         Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries

Paid in Full Good Friday

Scripture:

Read John 19:16-30.

TEXT: "So he delivered Him over to
them to be crucified. So they took
Jesus, and He went out, bearing His
own cross, to the place called The
Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is
called Golgotha" (John 19:16-17).

Jesus shows remarkable strength in
His first three hours on the cross.
Even while He is suffering for our sins,
His focus is not on Himself, but on the
people around Him. Seeing His
enemies He pleads, "Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do
" (Luke 23:34a). He promises the
repentant criminal at His side, "Today
You will be with Me in paradise"
(Luke 23:43b). He provides a disciple
to care for His mother after He is gone
"Woman, behold, your son!" and to the
disciple, "Behold, your mother!"
(John 19:26b, 27b).

Then at noon comes the darkness.
Luke tells us the sun stopped shining.
Jesus hangs alone in the darkness
silently suffering God's wrath at the sins
of the world. Finally, after three hours
He cries out in agony, "My God, My God,
why have You forsaken Me?"
(Matthew 27:46b).

By three in the afternoon, it is over. God
the Father has unleashed His full wrath-
not a single one of our sins has gone
unpunished. John tells us, "Jesus,
knowing that all was now finished, said,
(to fulfill the Scripture) 'I thirst'"
(John 19:28). And "When Jesus had
received the sour wine, He said,
'It is finished,' and He bowed His head
and gave up His spirit" (John 19:30).
There is nothing left for us to pay. We
are free, and the doors of heaven are
open wide to us through Jesus' life,
death and resurrection.

Jesus offers His last confident prayer:
"Father, into Your hands I commit My
spirit" (Luke 23:46b).

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, on the cross You suffered
the wrath of God for all of our sins, and
paid the price in full. Receive our thanks
and gratitude for Your amazing sacrifice
and the life that is ours because of Your
death.        Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries

Lenten Meditation

One Last Card to Play Maundy Thursday

Scripture:

Read John 19:1-16.

TEXT: "Pilate went out again and said to them,
'See, I am bringing Him out to you that you
may know that I find no guilt in Him.' So Jesus
came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the
purple robe. Pilate said to them, 'Behold the
man!'" (John 19:4-5).

Pilate has one last, desperate trick up his
sleeve. It's a long shot, but it's his last chance
to set Jesus free. He orders our Lord to be
flogged. Many died from such a cruel scourging;
others died later from the complications of
those severe injuries. Pilate thought the
scourging might just satisfy the blood lust of
the Jewish authorities.

As Pilate had Jesus brought forward it was a
pitiful sight to behold. Jesus had been beaten
severely. A crown of bloody thorns was on His
head and a blood-soaked, purple robe was
draped around His shoulders. Clearly, the
Jewish authorities could not consider Him a
threat now.

But once they had gotten a taste of Jesus'
blood, the authorities had only one thing to
say, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!"

Tonight we gather in church to celebrate the
Lord's Supper and receive His true body and
blood. We remember Pilate pointing and saying,
"Behold the man!" We remember John the
Baptist pointing and saying, "Behold the Lamb
of God who takes away the sins of the world.
" We remember this body was beaten and
nailed to the cross for us. This blood was
shed by the scourge and nails for us. And
because Jesus offered His body and poured
out His blood in our place-as our Substitute-
WE ARE FORGIVEN AND FREE!.

"Do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19b).

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You freely offered Your body and
blood for our salvation. Move me to receive it
in gratitude and joy, and to serve You
throughout my days.
Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries