Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Anointed for Burial

Lenten Devotion

"Jesus said, 'Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the
day of My burial. For the poor you always have with you, but
you do not always have Me'" (John 12:7-8).

Read John 12:1-8.

Mary is very grateful to Jesus. She has heard His wonderful
words and received her brother Lazarus back from death. As
her family gathers around the table with Jesus and His
disciples for dinner, she pours an expensive ointment over
Jesus' feet and wipes it with her hair.

Her generosity should be an inspiration for Jesus' disciples.
But it only stirs the darkness in Judas. He complains how the
ointment was worth nearly a year's wages and that the money
should have gone to the poor instead. But Jesus stands up in
her defense. He boldly commands Judas to leave her alone.
She has done this to honor Him, and the scent of that perfume
will linger on His body throughout His trials, crucifixion and
burial in the coming days.

Do we have Mary's tremendous sense of gratitude and love for
our Lord? Do we really appreciate what He has done for us,
what He has given to us, and the promise of a glorious future
because of Him?

How striking to compare Mary's devotion with that of Judas-who
has replaced his devotion to Jesus with a love for money. For,
as John tells us, Judas had no intention of helping the poor with
that money. He only wanted to get his hands on it-as he had
stolen money from the disciples' moneybag many times before.
Sadly, in the next few days he will do far worse for a much
smaller amount of money.

THE PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, stir up in my heart true love, gratitude and
appreciation for all Jesus has done for me. I pray in Jesus'
Name. Amen.

Lenten Devotion

"But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said
to them, 'You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it
is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that
the whole nation should perish.' ... So from that day on they
made plans to put Him to death" (John 11:49-50, 53).

Read John 11:45-57.

In Lazarus' resurrection on the fourth day, Jesus performed an
undeniable miracle greater and more widely known than healing a
man born blind. Since this miracle took place near Jerusalem
word spread quickly, which the Jewish leaders found to be
particularly troubling. But they never stopped to ask if they might
be wrong, if Jesus might possibly be the Christ.

They only knew many people were seeing Lazarus and believing
in Jesus. Gathering their Council together, they searched for some
kind of answer-something they could do to stop the madness.

Finally, the high priest broke through it all. He alone seemed to
realize there was only one solution: Jesus must die. If Jesus
continued living, the entire nation would be destroyed. And from
that moment on, the Jewish leaders sought Jesus' death.

But God had long ago reached that same decision. In fact, John
tells us that Caiaphas did not say this on his own, but the Holy
Spirit inspired him to say it. It was the truth. If Jesus would not
die on the cross for the sins of the world, then the entire Jewish
nation would be destroyed, and with it you and me and all people.
If this one man died, then all of us could live.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, what amazing humility You showed in being willing
to be put to death to save me and all people. Give Your Church
true faith and gratitude that we may tell Your story to all people.
Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer

"Our Resurrection and Life"

Lenten Devotion

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever
believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone
who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe
this?'"(John 11:25-26).

Read John 11:1-44.

Jesus is about to do one of His greatest miraculous signs.
He receives a frantic message to come to Lazarus who is
gravely ill. But Jesus remains where He is. His disciples
think Jesus is avoiding Jerusalem where the crowds had tried
to stone Him a short time ago. But Jesus waits two days
before finally heading out for Bethany, a small village near
Jerusalem. Thomas tells his fellow disciples, "Let us also go,
that we may die with Him."

Jesus finally arrives after Lazarus has been dead four days.
Martha says, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would
not have died." But Jesus had a reason for His delay. Jewish
rabbis believed a person's soul hovered over the body for three
days, and then finally departed when decomposition set in. By
waiting for the fourth day, Jesus would be performing a miracle
none of the Jewish leaders could deny.

Sometimes we get confused by the struggles in our life. Like
Martha we plead with the Lord to help, but when we need Him
most He seems to delay, or not to hear. But Jesus has a
purpose and a plan for everything He does for us.

Jesus told Martha "I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus
proved that by raising Lazarus from the dead-and by His own
resurrection on the third day. When we are discouraged, beaten
down and depressed, we can look to Jesus and know our future
is secure.

THE PRAYER:

Lord, give me confidence in Your victory during the dark days
when I need You the most. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer