Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Devotion

"Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward
and said to them, 'Whom do you seek?'" (John 18:4).

Read John 18:1-12.

Jesus has led His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. Out of
the darkness we see lanterns and torches winding their way across
the Mount of Olives toward the Garden. Judas leads Roman soldiers
and Jewish officers. Jesus knows what is about to happen. But He
doesn't cower in the corner; He goes out to them and asks whom
they are seeking. They reply, "Jesus of Nazareth."

Jesus answers with three short words, "I am He," and the power of
His words knock Judas, the soldiers and the officers backward.
Firmly in control of the situation, Jesus orders the guards to let His
disciples go. The soldiers obey, and they flee away into the dark.

Not only did Jesus protect His disciples, He also made one last
attempt to reach Judas. In the dark hour to come, when Judas
would be overwhelmed with guilt, Jesus wanted him to remember
this moment. Jesus was not a helpless victim swept away by Judas'
kiss. Jesus was in complete control. He permitted Himself to be
arrested, tried, condemned and crucified. He could have stopped it
at any time. But because of His love for the Father and for each of
us, He will not end it but carry it through to its completion-and our
ultimate salvation.

Because He loves us so much when those powers of darkness
were trying their worst, so He also loves us when those powers of
darkness come after you in your life.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for stepping forward to suffer death for our
sins, even death by crucifixion. Give us courage and confidence in
the dark hours of our lives to remember that You are still completely
in control. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer

"The High Priestly Prayer"

Lenten Devotion

"When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes
to heaven, and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify Your
Son that the Son may glorify You'" (John 17:1).

Read John 17.

Jesus has finished His Last Supper and offers a special prayer
before leading His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. We
call it the High Priestly Prayer because Jesus our great High
Priest offers prayers for Himself, His apostles, and all who
believe in Him.

Jesus first prays that God the Father would glorify Himself
through Jesus' coming death. The Roman cross was never
connected with glory; it was a symbol of shame and dishonor.
St. Paul would call it a "stumbling block to the Jews" and
"foolishness to the Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 1:22). The Jews
stumbled over the idea that God would let His own Son suffer
and die on a cross, rather than sit in glory on a throne. The
Gentiles thought it foolishness that you could receive salvation
through someone else's execution.

Jesus prays to His Father to keep His eleven disciples in His
Name. He is about to leave this world, so He asks the Father to
keep them in faith, that believing they may share the one true
Gospel, which brings salvation by God's grace through faith for
Jesus' sake.

The final part of Jesus' prayer touches us, and all who have
heard and believed the words of the apostles. May we glorify Him
by trusting in Jesus as our only Savior from our sin and death,
and tell others of His great and incomparable love.

THE PRAYER:

Lord God, as You glorified Your Son Jesus Christ through His
death and resurrection, keep us in Your Name through this true
faith, and bless us to share it with all those around us. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer

"The Light at the End of the Tunnel"

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "... 'You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn
into joy'" (John 16:20b).

Read John 16:16-24.

The disciples' heads are spinning at everything Jesus has said
to them at His Last Supper. Now He tells them, "A little while,
and you will see Me no longer; and again a little while, and you
will see Me." They want to know what He means, but are afraid
to ask; maybe they're more afraid to hear the answer He would
give.

But it shouldn't be a mystery. For months Jesus has told them
what will happen in Jerusalem. He warned them He would be
handed over, beaten, scourged and crucified. He told them He
would die and on the third day rise again. Now all His predictions
are about to come true. They will be sorrowful, but their sorrow
will turn to joy.

The disciples aren't all that different from us. All of us would
prefer to see joy and happiness all through our earthly lives, and
none of us is too happy when sorrow, grief, weeping and
lamenting come around. We try so hard to deny those things
will happen to us, that we miss the tremendous comfort in Jesus'
promise of the resurrection.

Jesus has died and risen again. He promises to come again to
restore this fallen creation, and to change our mortal bodies so
they will be glorious, immortal and eternally perfect. That fact of
Jesus' resurrection coupled with His promise to give us new
eternal life at His return can give us a lasting joy that no one can
take away-no matter what sorrow and loss we suffer in this our
earthly life.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your victory over our sin, death and
hell. Thank You for the promise Your resurrection brings-eternal l
ife with You. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer