Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Comforting His Mourners"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion 2016

 

And there followed Him a great multitude of the people and of
women who were mourning and lamenting for Him (Luke 23:27).

 

Palm Sunday

 

Read Luke 23:26-31.

 

Today is Palm Sunday. We remember the great crowds of
Jewish pilgrims who filled the streets of Jerusalem and cheered
Jesus as their victorious King. Now, barely five days later, they
line the streets to jeer and heckle Him on His way to execution.

 

Jesus is too weak and weary to carry the crossbeam to the place
of execution. He tries with all His might, but keeps falling beneath
it. The flogging and the beatings have taken their toll. Finally, the
Roman soldiers enlist a man named Simon to carry it for Him.
But not everyone in the crowd taunts Jesus. Many still believe in
Him, and are greatly perplexed and grief-stricken to see Him going
to His death. In shock and horror they mourn and lament for Him.

 

Jesus could have joined them in self-pity, but instead He turns
aside their weeping and lamenting. He warns of the future when
they and their children will suffer at the hands of the Romans
because the Jewish leaders will not humble themselves, confess
their sins, and believe He is their Savior.

 

As we enter this Holy Week and remember Jesus' sufferings and
passion, He doesn't want us weeping for Him. He wants us to weep
for ourselves-for our sins-just as Peter did when the rooster crowed,
and he saw Jesus' face. We are to weep for our sins that deserve
God's judgment; then look in faith to Jesus' cross where that payment
was made in full. There we see God's mercy and forgiveness.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, You carried my sins to that place of execution, a load I
could never carry. At the foot of Your cross help me see my sin rightly,
 and turn from it in bitter tears, that I may find in You full forgiveness
and peace. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

"Taking the Responsibility for Us"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion 2016

 

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He
released the man who had been thrown into prison for
insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he
delivered Jesus over to their will (Luke 23:24-25).

 

Read Luke 23:24-25.

 

Pilate weighs out his options. He could defy the Jewish leaders
and the crowd, which grows more and more agitated every
moment. He could bring in his Roman troops to quell the rising
protest, but what would that mean for his career?
Then he looks at Jesus, standing silently by his side. No one
steps forward to defend Him and Jesus doesn't do anything to
defend Himself. If Pilate wants to save his career, he has to
sacrifice Jesus.

 

Luke tells us that Pilate "delivered Jesus over," using the exact
words he used of Judas' action. Both betrayed Jesus to those
Jewish authorities who sought His life. According to
Matthew 27:24, Pilate takes water, and in the sight of all the
court washes his hands and says, "I am innocent of this man's
blood. See to it yourselves."

 

But Pilate can't simply hand over his responsibility and shift the
blame for this miscarriage of justice. He will go down in history
as the one under whose authority God's innocent Son was
crucified.

 

But Jesus was no helpless victim in this whole process. He didn't
need Pilate's troops to protect Him. If He wanted, He could have
called upon His Father and He would have had vast angel armies
at His disposal (see Matthew 26:53). But He permitted this to
happen-even taking Pilate's guilt upon Himself and suffering God's
wrath in His place-as well as yours and mine.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, like Pilate I often try to shift the blame for my sins to
someone else, or find excuses for what I've done. Through Your
sacrifice I can stop and confess my guilt-knowing You already
paid the full price in my place. Receive my heartfelt thanks. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

A third time he (Pilate) said to them, "Why, what evil has
He done? I have found in Him no guilt deserving death. I
will therefore punish and release Him." But they were
urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be
crucified. And their voices prevailed. (Luke 23:22-23).

 

Read Luke 23:18-23.

 

Pilate offers his compromise. Instead of condemning Jesus
to death, he will have Him scourged. But Jesus' bloody,
battered body isn't enough for the Jewish leaders. They
demand His death.

 

So Pilate tries another tactic, he offers the Jewish people
the choice of one of two prisoners he will release in honor
of the Passover: Jesus or Barabbas-the worst criminal he
has in custody. Matthew, Mark and John record that
Barabbas was a notorious prisoner who was guilty of
murder in an insurrection. To Pilate's astonishment the
Jewish leaders convince the crowds to call for Barabbas'
release and Jesus' execution. Ironically, Barabbas' crime
was insurrection and leading the people in revolt against
Rome-the very charge these Jewish leaders had falsely
leveled against Jesus. But now they demand the release
of the true insurrectionist, and the execution of the
Innocent One.

 

Desperately, Pilate addresses the crowd two more times,
demanding they give a valid reason Jesus should die. They
ignore him and keep shouting for Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate
knew Jesus was innocent and had said it over and over
again. Still, he let the crowds drown it out. Luke ends
today's reading with the chilling words, "And their voices
prevailed."

 

And what was Jesus doing this whole time? He was
standing by silently, accepting His Father's will that He be
crucified so that by His death He could give us life, pardon
and forgiveness.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, You willingly suffered such injustice and hate
from the creatures You came to save. Thank You for bearing
the punishment for my disobedience. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)