Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 18:35-43.
TEXT: And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!" And those who were in front
rebuked him, telling him to be silent
(see Luke 18:38-39).


Jesus is approaching Jericho. It's one of His last
stops before Jerusalem. Along the road sits a
blind man begging. Hearing a loud commotion
passing by, he asks what's going on. Someone
from the crowd answers, "Jesus of Nazareth is
passing by."

Immediately, the beggar begins shouting at the
top of his lungs. He knows Jesus is somewhere
in that crowd, which is shuffling past him. But
unlike the stranger from the crowd he doesn't
call Him "Jesus the Nazarene." Instead, he calls
him, "Jesus, Son of David." He is convinced that
Jesus is the promised Messiah, David's Son.

Jesus indeed is the King marching on to save His
people from their enemies. Some in the crowd try
to silence the blind man, but he shouts all the
louder to get Jesus' attention. That is the character
of faith: the more people and circumstances rise
up to silence us, the louder we cry for our Lord to
be merciful to us.

We might expect Jesus to be so preoccupied with
His approaching death that He wouldn't notice a
lone voice, crying out to Him in the midst of the
clamor of the crowd. But His ears are attuned to
cries for mercy from His faithful ones. Now that He
has accomplished His mission and won complete
forgiveness, we can be confident He hears our cries
for mercy and pity too.

The man is blind no longer. He rises and follows
Jesus on His way.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, even as You were journeying
toward Your bitter death, Your ears were wide open
to the pleas of the blind man. Give me confidence that
You hear my prayers for mercy too. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Minstries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 18:31-34.
TEXT: For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles
and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit
upon. And after flogging Him, they will kill Him, and
on the third day He will rise (Luke 18:32-33).

Jesus has left Galilee in the north and is on the road
to Jerusalem with His 12 disciples. The crowds are
excited by everything Jesus is doing, and the
disciples are swept up in their hopes and dreams.
Jesus tells them everything recorded in the Old
Testament prophets concerning Him will be fulfilled in
Jerusalem. They expect Jesus to announce His
glorious earthly kingdom, but Jesus paints a very
different picture.

Twice before, Jesus has announced His coming death
and resurrection. Both times He veiled the details
behind the words, "The Son of Man must suffer many
things." Now, however, He spells it out. He doesn't
disclose Judas' upcoming betrayal, but He does reveal
that the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, will deliver
Him into the hands of the Gentiles, namely, Pontius
Pilate, the Roman governor.

The Roman soldiers will then mock Him, treat Him
shamefully and outrageously, spit upon Him, flog Him,
and then kill Him. The details are stunning. Jesus
knows exactly what He is walking into-and He goes
willingly.

This is not at all what the disciples expect or want to
hear. But when those words are fulfilled, they will have
no doubt that Jesus foresaw it all, and went through
it all, for them and us.


THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son knew all He must suffer to
save us from our sins, and yet He took that path willingly.
Give me a thankful heart that I may joyfully follow
whatever path You choose to set before me. I pray in
Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 13:31-35.
TEXT: "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill
You" (see Luke 13:31).


Each day the danger increases for Jesus. Today some
Pharisees pass along an alleged death threat. If Herod
did make this threat, it was more of a bluff to drive
Jesus out of the region. Later he will have his chance to
kill Jesus in Jerusalem, but instead he will hand Him
back over to Pilate. He doesn't want to anger his Galilean
subjects by killing yet another popular prophet, executing
John the Baptist had already cost him enough.

Jesus refuses to be intimidated. His time in Galilee is
growing extremely short, and He will reach every person
He possibly can before He must move on toward Jerusalem.
Jesus gives them a message to take back to Herod, "Tell
that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures
today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.
'" If demons and diseases cannot stop Jesus from carrying
out the work the Father has set for Him to do, no earthly
ruler will either.

He must go up to Jerusalem. And it is there-like so many
prophets before Him- that Jesus must die. Like a bird that
spreads its wings to gather its chicks and shield them from
danger, Jesus reaches out to His people, but they turn their
backs. On the cross His arms will be stretched out for them
also, but they will pass by with sneers, insults and mockery.

This brings tears to His eyes. But they are not for Him;
rather, they are for the people of Jerusalem He so desperately
wants to save, but they are unwilling. This unwillingness will
lead to their destruction at the hands of the Roman legions in
another 40 years.


THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, so many times You reached out to Your people,
yet they kept turning their backs on You. Heal my stubborn
heart, so I may know Your peace and joy through Jesus Christ
my Lord and Savior. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)