Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Jesus said) "The Son of Man must suffer many
things ..." (Luke 9:22a).

 

Read Luke 9:18-22

 

Jesus' disciples have heard His powerful words
and seen many mighty miracles. They believe He
is the promised Messiah. But as soon as Peter
makes his great confession, Jesus sternly
commands the 12 disciples to keep the news to
themselves. The Jewish crowds have the wrong
idea about the Messiah; they think He will be a
great king, driving out the Romans and
establishing an earthly kingdom. Even the
disciples are swept up in this dream. Now Jesus
begins shattering that illusion and teaching them
that He came to save the world through His death
and resurrection.

 

Jesus is fully aware of all the horrendous things
He will suffer in Jerusalem, but He also knows the
disciples are not ready for all the gory facts. So He
draws a veil over the details and simply says, "The
Son of Man must suffer many things."

But the disciples need to know who will cause His
great suffering. So Jesus teaches them that the
leaders of His own people-the Jewish high court-will
carefully examine Him and reject Him as their
Messiah. They will kill Him through an act of judicial
murder. But Jesus' revelation to the disciples doesn't
end with His death. He clearly states that on the
third day after His death He will be raised.

 

At Christmas when you look at the Baby dozing in
Bethlehem's manger, this may not be the life you
would picture for Him, but it is exactly what God had
planned for Him since the very beginning.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Almighty God, Jesus was careful to shield His
disciples from all the horrors He knew He would suffer
to save us from our sins. Remind me that You know
every detail of my future and give me confidence You
will make all thing work together for my good. For
Jesus' sake I pray. Amen.

 

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

But they were filled with fury and discussed with
one another what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6:11)

 

Read Luke 6:6-11

 

The opposition against Jesus is mounting-neighbors
from Nazareth and the devil with his demonic army.
Now two new enemies join the fray.

 

The scribes have spent centuries copying Old
Testament scrolls, which teach God's Law to show
us why we need His promised Savior. But they have
distorted that word: teaching that heaven can be
earned with less-than-perfect lives. Sitting with the
scribes are their disciples the Pharisees, who
dedicate themselves to live by these teachings and
traditions.

 

In the synagogue sits a man whose right hand is
withered and useless. What will Jesus do? Scribal
traditions forbid any work on the Sabbath, even
healing a man's withered hand. So the scribes and
Pharisees silently watch to see if Jesus will break
their Sabbath rules.

 

Jesus calls the man to stand, dramatically drawing
everyone's attention. Then He turns to the scribes
and asks, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or
to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" He exposes
the hypocrisy of their tradition that would forbid Him
to use His powers to end someone's suffering just
because it is the Sabbath. Looking around at them,
He lets His point sink in. Jesus then tells the man,
"Stretch out your hand," and his hand is completely
restored.

 

The scribes and Pharisees are furious. Jesus clearly
broke the spirit of their Sabbath tradition, but by the
letter of their law they have no charge to bring against
Him. Nobody thought to write a law forbidding a man
to stretch out his hand.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Almighty God, Jesus' enemies grew furious when He
showed concern for a man who was hurting. Forgive
my cold, unfeeling heart toward those suffering around
me, and help me flee to Jesus for forgiveness. I pray
His Name. Amen.

 

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

Verse

 

Little girl, I say to you, arise!
 Mark 5:41

 

Voice

 

I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
-Maya Angelou

 

Prayer

 

Thank you for making each and
every one of us in your image, God.

 

(Sojourners,   sojo.net)