Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of
the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with
the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to
them (Luke 22:3-4).

Read Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16.

The religious authorities desperately want to get rid of Jesus,
but the huge swell of Passover pilgrims that fill the temple
courts are hanging on His every word. If they take any action
against Jesus, the crowds will rally to His defense. So they
concede they will have to wait until the Passover is finished
and the crowds return to their homes (see Matthew 26:5).

For the chief priests this is extremely frustrating-and
dangerous. Jesus is completely beyond their control. If He
steps forward during the Passover, claims Himself King, and
begins a rebellion, they will be powerless to stop it, or to
control the Roman military response to it.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a possible solution appears.
One member of Jesus' inner circle of disciples, Judas, comes
to them offering to deliver Jesus to them. Judas' faith and love
for Jesus has dried up, choked out by his lust for money
(see John 12:4-6).
The Jewish leaders are overjoyed, but cautious. They describe
the conditions they are looking for: a time when Jesus is in
the city, yet separated from the crowds.

But even while they conspire together behind closed doors,
Judas and the chief priests have no idea that Jesus is well
aware of everything; He knew it from the start. We might expect
Jesus to be furious and vindictive; instead, He loves Judas. He
prepares to reach out to this lost disciple in every way He can,
trying to touch his heart, prick his conscience, and bring him
back to faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, Your love is amazing. Where most of us would
have been furious at Judas' plotting, Your chief concern was
bringing him back. Give me a heart that loves my enemy and
seeks to share Your salvation. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion 2016

And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to
put Him to death, for they feared the people (Luke 22:2).

Read John 12:12-19.

People don't take too kindly to being told they are wrong-not
today and not in Jesus' day either. When someone confronts
our decisions-or even worse, challenges the way we have
chosen to live our lives-we are tempted to write him off as
narrow-minded and intolerant. It's fine for him to believe what
he thinks is right, but he should leave me free to believe and
live the way I think is right. The only trouble with that is we
don't get to decide what's right and wrong: God does.

For many months Jesus has been confronting the Jewish
religious authorities. They cling to a religion of works: human
rules and traditions by which they believe they earn blessings
in this life and eternal life with God afterward.

But Jesus knows better. He knows His Father in heaven is
holy and perfect. God cannot simply overlook the wrongs we
do. That would make Him unjust. But even though the Father
is just and holy, He is also filled with grace, love and mercy.
That is why He sent His own Son, Jesus, to save us.

But the Jewish leaders have rejected Jesus-and they are
pushing back hard against Him. Even so, Jesus won't go
away. He keeps coming back again and again when all they
want is to be left alone.

So now this huge confrontation is looming. Jesus cares too
much to leave the Jewish authorities in darkness. So He
shows them their error by teaching them God's truth. But His
words don't sit well with them. They reach the conclusion that
He must be silenced.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for caring enough about me to show
me my failings and how to be right with my God by confessing
my sins and trusting in You as my Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Lent

By Rev. Wayne Palmer
Ash Wednesday:


Read Exodus 12:21-24. TEXT: Now the Feast of Unleavened
Bread drew near, which is called the Passover (Luke 22:1).


The backdrop for our Lenten journey is the Jewish Passover.
Long before Jesus' day this Jewish festival enjoyed a rich, long
history, dating back to the time of the Exodus when God
delivered His people from slavery in Egypt.

The Passover was the tenth and final plague God brought upon
Egypt. Since Egypt's leader, Pharaoh, had stubbornly refused
to obey His command to free the Israelites, at midnight God
would send a destroying angel to pass throughout the land of
Egypt and kill all the firstborn children, including Pharaoh's own
heir.

But in love, God provided a way to escape this devastating
plague. A lamb could be slain in place of the firstborn and its
blood spread over the door frame of the house. When the angel
of death reached a blood-marked house, God would command
it to pass over and leave the firstborn unharmed.

Now we join Jesus as He prepares to celebrate His last Passover
festival. While reminding His followers of that first great
deliverance, He prepares to accomplish an even greater
deliverance by sacrificing Himself and shedding His own blood on
the cross of Calvary. All who believe on Him are marked by His
blood.

Then on the Last Day when Jesus Christ returns to raise the dead,
He will command the angel of death to pass over all believers who
are marked in His blood by faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, Passover Lamb of God, thank You for offering Your
own body and blood to deliver us from the angel of death. During
this Lenten season deepen my appreciation for Your great sacrifice
that I may be so thankful I won't be able keep the glorious news to
myself. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)