Christian Reflection and Prayer

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)

Scripture:

Read Luke 4:14-30.
TEXT: And they rose up and drove Him out of
town and brought Him to the brow of the hill on
which their town was built, so that they could
throw Him down the cliff (Luke 4:29).


Having defeated Satan's temptations, Jesus
travels from village to village in Galilee sharing
God's plan of salvation and working many wondrous
miracles. Months later He returns to His hometown
Nazareth. Entering the synagogue Jesus reads from
Isaiah, the Old Testament book which most clearly
talks about His work as Messiah. He tells His
neighbors of the forgiveness, peace and freedom He
has come to bring.

At first they are amazed at His gracious words, but
then they remember all the years He lived among
them, and they had never seen anything remarkable
about Joseph's Son before. Having heard about all His
miracles in the neighboring towns, they want Him to
heal them too.

Jesus wants to help them, but He will not reward
their unbelief. He reminds them in the past that God
withheld healing miracles from the people of Israel,
when they refused to believe.

Filled with fury they rise as an angry mob to drive
Him to the cliff to throw Him to His death. In one
blind moment they foreshadow the rejection and
violent death He will suffer at His own people's hands.
But God has chosen a different time, and a different
place.

Jesus gives them one last miracle to consider. They
have Him firmly in their grasp ready to fling Him off
their cliff, then Jesus suddenly turns and calmly goes
His way through their midst-never to return. He leaves
this final warning to His neighbors: if they stubbornly
refuse to repent, they will have to stand before Him
on Judgment Day.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, today Jesus comes to me offering to
forgive, restore and save me. Give me faith to trust
Him, so I may escape Your wrath and live in Your
loving, glorious presence forever. I pray in Jesus'
Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 4:1-13.
TEXT: And Jesus was led by the Spirit in the
wilderness for forty days, being
tempted by the devil (see Luke 4:1-2).

When Satan first squared off against humanity,
he tripped up our parents in the Garden of Eden with
his cunningly twisted words. They disobeyed God's
Word, ate the forbidden fruit, and plunged our world
into death and destruction. Now Satan squares off
against our Savior.

For 40 days Jesus ate no food, while our enemy
unleashed a devastating torrent of deceitful temptations.
Luke records three final deceitful traps Satan set
for Jesus.

First, he appeals to Jesus' great hunger: "If You are
the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
It sounds innocent enough, but Jesus sees the trap.
Following Satan's advice will show He doesn't trust God
to provide His needs.Jesus answers, "It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone.'"

The tempter next offers to give Jesus all the kingdoms
of the world if He will worship him. Jesus answers, "It is
written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only
shall you serve.'" He came to walk His Father's difficult
saving path-not Satan's shortcut.

In one final temptation Jesus is placed on the pinnacle
of the temple. Satan challenges Him to jump, appealing
to God's promise in the Psalm, "He will command His angels
to guard you ... lest you strike your foot against a stone"
(Psalm 91:11a, 12b).

If Jesus won't jump, it looks like He doesn't trust God's
promise. But Jesus sees through it. He doesn't have to prove
His faith to Satan. He replies, "It is written, 'You shall not put
the Lord your God to the test.'"

Having ended every temptation unsuccessfully Satan
departs from Jesus, awaiting a more opportune moment.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, where Adam and Eve fell to Satan's lies,
Your Son stood firm. Thank You for His salvation. Help
me trust You as He did and cling to Your Word alone.
I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)