Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "You are those who have stayed with Me
in My trials, and I assign to you, as My Father
assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and
drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:28-30).

Read Luke 22:28-30.

Though Jesus was generally well-received by the crowds
throughout His ministry, He faced ever stiffening
opposition and hostility from the Jewish religious leaders.
But the disciples faithfully stood by Him through it all.
Peter said it well: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have
come to know, that You are the Holy One of God"
(John 6:68b-69).

Jesus looks around the table at them. A moment ago
they disputed which of them was greatest, but He knows
in the future they will suffer as He will-beatings,
imprisonment, exile, even death. So Jesus points them
beyond those sufferings to the glorious reward that waits
for them at the end. When their earthly lives are
completed, they will receive a greater honor, privilege
and glory than anything they could have sought on earth.
Here they will serve in humility and suffering, but in
heaven they will find true glory and honor. The promise
is true for you and me as well.

Though our daily work for the Lord often seems to go
unappreciated and unrecognized, Jesus assures us that
God marks it well and will faithfully reward it in eternity.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us a new way to
think about ourselves and our place in Your world. Help
me grasp the beauty and grandeur of it all, that I may
live as You did, in humble service and self-sacrifice.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "Who is the greater, one who reclines at table
or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table?
But I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27).

Read Luke 22:24-27.

With infinite patience Jesus responds to His disciples' strife
about which of them will be considered the greatest. He
reminds them they are thinking the way worldly people
do-striving for recognition and self-promotion. His followers
will follow a different path.

The greatest among His people will regard themselves as
though they were the youngest, the lowest people who have
absolutely no claim over anyone else. Christian leaders will
be humble people who pour themselves out in lowly service.
And these apostles, when they go out to share the good
news about what Jesus accomplished for all people, will go
out as equals, serving the same cause, sharing the same
Gospel.

That is why pastors are called ministers. That title reminds
us of Jesus' humble, lowly service to us. Like Him, pastors
don't do their work for their own glory or recognition, but for
the benefit of those around them, and for the glory of their
Savior Jesus Christ.

As He lays aside the water basin and towel and resumes
His place at the table, He brings their focus back to Himself.
He is the glorious Son of God, yet He set aside that glory
and became human. He reminds them that He has come to
serve, and not to be served. He will soon show them the
greatest example of lowly, self-sacrifice as He offers
Himself unto death to remove our guilt and sin.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, my world seeks fame, honor, glory and
distinction. But You alone deserve this attention. Give me
joy in humbly serving, just as You stooped down to serve
each of us. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

TEXT: A dispute arose among them as to which of them
was to be regarded as the greatest (Luke 22:24).

Read John 13:1-19.

Here in the upper room is an amazing contrast. Jesus is
totally focused on His followers, but all they can think
about is themselves. While He is busy reaching out to
Judas, teaching each of them about His coming suffering
and death for our salvation, and giving them His own
body and blood in a new and wonderful testament, all
they can think about is their own honor, and which of
them should be considered greatest by others.

How often are we so preoccupied with our own honor
and glory, our reputation and well-being that we pass by
hurting people all around us?

In tomorrow's devotion we will read what Jesus said
about this dispute. But today we focus on the action He
took in response. As we just read in John's Gospel, Jesus
rose from the table without a word. He silently removed
His outer garment, wrapped Himself in a towel, then
stooped down and began to wash each of their feet like
the lowliest household servant. Peter almost prevented
Jesus from washing His feet because it seemed so
beneath Him.

But Jesus insists. And He teaches them this is not the time
for quarreling and arguing about our importance and our
fame. It's time to focus on the people around us who need
our encouragement, support and attention. More
importantly, it's time to focus on Jesus: to contemplate His
astonishing love and the tremendous sacrifice He is freely
making for us and all people.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, whenever I start to compare myself to others
and promote my own recognition and glory, please stop
me in my tracks. Remind me that You came as our Servant,
submitting like a slave, and now that You have saved me,
may I truly serve others in Your Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)