Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Saving Others, Not Himself"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at
Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is
the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" (Luke 23:35).

 

Holy Tuesday

 

Read Luke 23:35.

 

Luke shows us two groups of Jews who have gathered around
the cross-the people and the rulers. The Jewish people stand
by curiously watching the gruesome spectacle. Luke lets them
fade into the background as he turns our attention to the Jewish
rulers.

 

The second group, the rulers, includes the entire Jewish court.
During their trials they had thrown all honor, integrity, dignity
and decorum to the wind as they called for false witnesses
against Jesus (see Matthew 26:59), personally abused and
tormented Him (see Matthew 26:66-68). Then they hounded Him
to Pilate's court, over to Herod's court, and back to Pilate again.
They had stirred up the crowds to demand Jesus' crucifixion,
and when Pilate surrendered Him to their desires, they had
gleefully followed His procession to this place to celebrate their
victory.

 

Now at the place of execution they put on an air of superiority
and scoff at Him. They play on His name, Jesus, which means
"The Lord saves." Speaking of Jesus' many healing miracles,
they mock, "He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He is the
Christ of God, His Chosen One!"

 

They mistake Jesus' choice not to save Himself as proof that He
cannot save Himself. But Jesus is not here to save Himself: He
is here to save each of us-and these Jewish rulers as well. To
do that He must remain on the cross until every last sin is paid
and God's justice is completely satisfied. His death is their only
hope of salvation-and ours.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, You endured mockery and shame to save me and
all people. Let me gladly bear mockery and shame for Your Name.
Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A reminder to all those who identify themselves as
Christians, especially those candidates who are
running for President of the United States.

 

Dear Donald Trump and other Presidential
Candidates. The following is the Biblical
description of "what it means to be a Christian",
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE!!!!!!

 

Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)
Have the Attitude of Christ
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any
comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me
truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,
loving one another, and working together with one mind and
purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be
humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t
look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in
others, too.  5 You must have the same attitude that Christ
Jesus had.  6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality
with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his
divine privileges;  he took the humble position of a slave and
was born as a human being.  When he appeared in human
form,8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a
criminal’s death on a cross.  9 Therefore, God elevated him
to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above
all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
 glory of God the Father.

 

(Please remember these eleven verses when you mix hate,
violence, and racism with belief in Christ!)

 

(The Holy Bible)

"A Plea for Forgiveness"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do." ... (Luke 23:34a).

 

Holy Monday

 

Read Luke 23:32-34.

 

In a procession with two condemned criminals, Jesus is led
to the place of execution. The locals know it as "The Skull"
(see Luke 23:33)-possibly because of its shape, possibly
because it is the grisly place of execution and death.

 

And right away Jesus utters His first words from the cross,
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Of
all the people who should be pleading for forgiveness-Judas,
the high priest, Pontius Pilate, his soldiers-the one who asks
on their behalf is Jesus, the sinless Son of God.

 

How amazing that even in this hour where His agony reaches
its climax Jesus doesn't turn inside Himself. He could pray
for justice-for vindication-for punishment on those who have
done this to Him. Instead, He pleads with His Father to forgive
them.

 

Jesus' prayer is not restricted to Pontius Pilate and the Roman
soldiers who abused and nailed Him to the cross, nor to the
Jewish high priest and high court, or even to Judas, Peter and
the other disciples, who abandoned Him. He prays for you and
me, for all people of all time whose sins He has carried to this
dismal place.

 

But forgiveness isn't easy, or cheap. God the Father can't set
aside His holiness and justice-not when humans are doing this
to His pure and innocent Son. For the Father to be able to forgive
us, Jesus must step into our place and bear the divine punishment
we all deserve. That makes this one of the most incredible
prayers ever uttered in human history. "Father, forgive them"-by
punishing Me instead.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, break through our ignorance and give us knowledge
of our sin. That we may repent of that sin and receive full and free
forgiveness for Your sake. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)