Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 7:14-24.
(Jesus said) "... 'Why do you seek to kill Me?'" (John 7:19b)

Lenten Devotion- The darkness of unbelief hangs like a thick
blanket over the temple grounds. For the first half of the
festival it looks as though the darkness has driven away the
Light -- Jesus is nowhere to be seen. But midway through
the festival He steps into the temple courts and begins
shining His light for all to see. Jesus immediately addresses
the reason He stayed away for the first half of the festival. He
asks the religious leaders why they want to kill Him for doing
a good deed.

Unaware that Jesus is talking to the Jewish leaders, the
crowd thinks He is talking to them. Since they aren't seeking
His death and are unaware of their leaders' thoughts, they
reach a false conclusion: they accuse Him of being demon
possessed!

When He hangs from the cross they will reach another false
conclusion: Jesus was a fake and God is using the cross to
show the world Jesus of Nazareth is not His Son. They will
have no idea God is giving His only-begotten Son to die for
the sins of the whole world.

Judging by appearances and jumping to conclusions is
something we often do too. We are offended by our neighbor,
so we condemn him before we even learn his reasons. Jesus
warns, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right
judgment."

Stop a moment and reconsider Jesus Christ. Did you start
this Lenten season thinking of Jesus as only being meek and
humble? Have you begun to see His strength, commitment
and courage? Stick around, because as Jesus once told
Nathanael,"... You will see greater things than these"
(John 1:50b).

THE PRAYER:
 Father, forgive me for judging by appearances. Open my eyes
to see Your Son as He is -- my powerful Lord and Savior. In
Jesus' Name. Amen.

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 7:1-13.
"After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about
in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him" (John 7:1). 

Lenten Devotion- Even though the crowds thin around Jesus,
He won't stop preaching and sharing the Gospel. He remains in
the north in Galilee, avoiding the southern region and Jerusalem
where the Jewish leaders are waiting to kill Him.

But His brothers notice this and think He is being unwise. If He
wants to make a name for Himself He needs to go to Jerusalem
where He will actually have an audience. At first glance it sounds
like they are really interested in His ministry and want Him to
succeed. But then we read John's comment, "Not even His
brothers believed in Him."

Jesus remains behind when they leave for the festival. It must be
surprising to the crowds when Jesus doesn't show up at the Feast
of Tabernacles. Each day they come to the temple expecting Him,
but He is nowhere to be seen. The people wonder and whisper
about Him. Some say He is a good man; others think He is
misleading the people. But no one speaks openly for fear of the
Jewish religious authorities.

Do you have the courage to speak of Jesus in your family and
among your friends and coworkers? As we will see, many of the
people who saw Jesus' great miracles and heard His powerful
words were more afraid of losing their place in society than of
displeasing the God who will be their Judge on the Last Day.
For this sin, too, Jesus is on His way to the cross for our
salvation.

THE PRAYER:

Lord, help me to see You with new eyes this Lent so that Your
light may shine through the darkness of my mind. Give me
courage to speak of Your great salvation with boldness, joy and
confidence. Amen.

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 6:66-71.
"Jesus answered them, 'Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet
one of you is a devil'" (John 6:70). 

Lenten Devotion- In sadness Jesus watched the crowds turn and
walk away. Now He turns to His twelve chosen disciples and asks
if they want to leave too. The Lord won't force them to stay at His
side; He won't force you and me to stay either.

Peter answers, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of
eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You
are the Holy One of God." The Holy Spirit led Peter to this great
confession.

But Jesus knew Peter wasn't speaking for every one of the disciples.
He knew all too well that one of them had turned away, even though
he was still standing by Jesus' side. None of the other disciples was
aware, but Judas had secretly rejected Jesus' Kingdom of light and
allied himself with the prince of darkness. The darkness had so
deceived Judas he thought Jesus would never know what was in his
heart.

Judas' darkness is in each of us too and can deceive us as
thoroughly as it deceived him. On the outside we can be active in
our churches. Yet deep in our hearts we may have grown cold to
Jesus. It's so easy to go through the motions of faith, while our
hearts turn away to the darkness like Judas.

Jesus calls us to stop and examine the depths of our soul. Are we
sincere in our faith, or are we servants of darkness going through
the motions? It's a matter of life and death and heaven and hell for
us just as it was for Judas.

THE PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, remove all that is false and impure from my heart, and fill
me with the fire of faith in Jesus Christ my Savior. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.