Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Devotion

"Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, that those
who do not see may see, and those who see may become
blind'" (John 9:39).

Read John 9:24-41.

Over and over again Jesus' light shone over the people around
Him through His words and His countless miracles. But the
Jewish leaders refused to see. Despite a thorough investigation
into Jesus' healing of the man born blind, they can find no way
to disprove the miracle. Still, they refuse to believe the evidence
right before them.

But Jesus isn't ready to give up on them yet. If they won't accept
the evidence, maybe they will listen to the man who had been
healed. In eloquent testimony the man told them, "If this man
were not from God, He could do nothing." But again, they
stubbornly refuse to see the light and answer, "You were born
in utter sin, and would you teach us?" Then they threw out the
man born blind.

Hearing that he had been thrown out, Jesus found him and
revealed Himself to him. Jesus told those around Him that He
came to give sight to the blind, and blindness to those who see.
Some Pharisees heard Him say this and asked if they were blind.
Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now
that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains."

That is a terrifying thought. These Jewish leaders had seen
overwhelming evidence time and again that Jesus is the promised
Savior, God's Son, yet they refused to believe. How much evidence
have we seen? How many Bible readings have we heard in services?
How many times have we received Holy Communion? Do we believe?

THE PRAYER:

Lord, You know the darkness within each of us, take away my
blindness and help me see Jesus clearly through the eyes of faith.
Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

"... For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should
confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the
synagogue" (John 9:22b).

Read John 9:13, 18-23.

"We don't know!" What a puzzling response! Have these
parents forgotten their disappointment when they first
learned their son could not see? Now he stands before
them seeing perfectly! But when they are asked to testify
they refuse. It seems they would have preferred for their son
to have remained blind than for Jesus to have given him sight.

What caused this silence? Mom and dad felt more fear of the
threats of the Jewish leaders than gratitude for what Jesus
had given their son. They wanted to keep their place in the
synagogue and knew they risked being thrown out if they
spoke up about Jesus. So they pushed their son back into
the witness stand and refused to speak up.

How often are we ruled by fear-fear of the condemnation of
our enemies, of the judgment of acquaintances, of the
rejection of our friends or family members? How often do we
fear being excluded, ridiculed or worse?

How can we stand up to those fears? It is possible only by
the power of the Holy Spirit strengthening us and shoring us
up against these pressures. That is why God has given you
a church family, to encourage and strengthen you, to build
you up in His Word and Sacrament.

The opposition we face is just as real as that which they
faced. Jesus would continue to stand up to that opposition
and hatred-all the way to the cross and the empty tomb. He
suffered and died at the hands of His enemies and rose again
in victory that we might live with Him forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, give me courage and strength to stand up against
Your enemies and boldly declare my faith in a hostile world.
Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

"Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not from God,
for He does not keep the Sabbath.' But others said, 'How
can a man who is a sinner do such things?' And there was
a division among them" (John 9:16).

Read John 9:1-16.

Leaving the temple grounds Jesus passes through
Jerusalem. Along the way His disciples point out a man
born blind. They ask if his blindness is a result of his
parents' sin or his own. Jesus rejects both claims, and says
this man was born blind so the works of God may be
displayed in him. Then Jesus gave the man sight.

When word reaches the Pharisees there is a sharp division
among them. Some immediately reject Jesus because He
healed on the Sabbath day. Blinded by their tradition they are
unable to see God's great purpose for the Sabbath-to let
people rest from their labors and let God work in their lives.
Others realize the magnitude of the work Jesus has done.
Like Nicodemus before (see John 3), they know no sinful man
could perform such a mighty miracle. So a division arises
among the Pharisees.

Jesus continues to divide people today. Some listen to His
words, consider His miracles and are led by the Holy Spirit
to the certain faith that He is God's Son, the Savior of the
world. Others ignore the plain truth and take issue with the way
Jesus taught and the demands they think He makes on their
lives. They doubt His relevance and prefer to live their lives their
own way.

God grant us His Holy Spirit to know Jesus as God's Son, our
only Savior and Lord, and to follow Him through all.

THE PRAYER:

Spirit of God, strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ my Lord, and
give me firm confidence when others are divided over Him. In
Jesus' Name. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer