Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 22. TEXT: And about the ninth hour,
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama
sabacthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46).

For three excruciating hours Jesus hangs in darkness,
cut off from any comfort, any hope. He is battered and
ravaged as His Father unleashes wave after wave of His
furious wrath at our sins, which Jesus has taken upon
Himself. As the hour slowly approaches three in the
afternoon Jesus raises His voice in a heart-rending cry,
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

For the first time in His life, Jesus does not address God
as His Father. He has been cut off and disowned because
of our sin which He bears. In His place many of us would
turn our backs on God, but not Jesus. He knows the God
of Israel alone can save Him from this torment, this
endless death. With the use of a single letter in the
Aramaic, translated as our simple English word "my,"
Jesus clings to His God with a faith that will not crack, will
not fail-even while being crushed under the fiery justice of
the Almighty. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

To those Jews standing around Jesus these words are
familiar. They recognize the opening verse of Psalm 22.
Though Jesus speaks only the first half of the first verse, the
remainder of the psalm echoes through the silence that follows.

In the coming days we will study the entire psalm and see
ever more clearly the depth of Christ's loving sacrifice for us-
and the faith and devotion that kept Him reaching out to His
God. 

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, to save me and all people, You were
forsaken by Your Father, and suffered the punishment for all
of our sins. Deepen my gratitude for Your tremendous sacrifice,
and my confidence in Your complete victory. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Matthew 8: 5-13.

TEXT: It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness
over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light
failed (see Luke 23:44-45).

Three long, dreadful hours have passed since Jesus was
crucified. Around noon a dramatic change takes place. Suddenly,
Jesus, the criminals, the Roman guards, the Jewish leaders, and
the crowds are cast into an eerie, unnatural darkness because
the sun fails to shine. Jesus had spoken of such darkness before.
 
In the reading above, Jesus was asked to heal the servant of a
Roman centurion. Contrasting the faith of this non-Jew with the
doubt and disbelief many of His fellow Jews felt toward Him, Jesus
warned the crowds, "Many will come from east and west and
recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer
darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Now this outer darkness envelopes Jesus. Though He has been
absolutely flawless and perfect throughout his entire life and has
committed no crime great or small, He is cut off from the glory of
heaven. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity, the sin, the guilt of
us all.

We are the ones who deserve this darkness because of our
disobedience to God's perfect will. We should be shackled in the
everlasting night of hell to suffer excruciating, endless agony. But
our King suffers through the darkness of the cross that we might
be forgiven and inherit His glorious home in heaven.
 
Cut off from any comfort of created light, our Savior Jesus Christ
bears the brunt of His Father's furious judgment at the sins of the
world.

THE PRAYER: 

Lord Jesus, who can fathom the depths of Your love in taking our
place under Your Father's wrath, being forsaken and punished in our
stead? Thank You for Your gracious salvation and accept our loving
praise, worship and service. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read John 19: 25-27.

TEXT: "Woman, behold, your son!" ... "Behold, your
mother!" (See John 19:26-27.)

The staggering burden of the world's sins crushes
Jesus as He bears the punishment we deserve. Beneath
that overwhelming pain, grief and sorrow, Jesus has every
reason to tune out the bitter enemies who surround Him
and turn within Himself. But instead His eyes scan the
hostile crowd, pleading with His Father to forgive them,
"for they know not what they do." He offers forgiveness
and the promise of Paradise to the repentant criminal at
His side.

Now He scans the crowd again, and His eyes behold two
figures standing before Him in shock and grief. One is His
mother Mary, her heart pierced by the sword of grief and
sorrow (see Luke 2:35). Who will care for her after He has
fulfilled His earthly mission and returned to heaven?

Mary's husband Joseph has died already. If not, he would
have charge of Mary and Jesus would not have the
responsibility of providing someone to care for her after
His death. Jesus could entrust her to one of His four
brothers or His unknown number of sisters (see Matthew
13:55). Several of these will become prominent leaders in
the church, but at this time none of them believe He is the
promised Christ and Savior (see John 7:5).
 
He sees the second figure-the lone disciple of the Twelve to
have the courage to stand at Mary's side under the cross.
Who better to entrust with His mother's keeping than His
closest, most loyal disciple John? And from this very hour
John lovingly takes her into his own house and faithfully
provides for her the rest of her life.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in the midst of Your bitter suffering and
agonizing death You loved Your mother enough to provide
John to care for her. Move us in joyful thanksgiving for Your
salvation to love and care for one another. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)