Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 109.

TEXT: They open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening
and roaring lion (Psalm 22:13).

In yesterday's devotion Jesus compared His enemies to
animals -- powerful, aggressive, ferocious bulls. Now He
compares them to another terrifying, wild beast-mighty
lions with their mouths wide open, advancing on their prey
with loud, frightening roars.
 
The Jewish leaders had long plotted Jesus' destruction.
They roared loudly as they threatened to remove anyone
from the synagogue who confessed Jesus as the promised
Messiah (see John 9:22). When Judas betrayed Jesus they
sprang into action. They arrested, tried, condemned and
abused Him. There was only one man left standing in their
way: the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.

Pilate examined Jesus in their presence, and found there
was no evidence to support their charges against Him. He
was going to free the Christ until they started roaring. They
bullied and intimidated Pilate, pressuring him to give in to
their will and have Jesus executed. Pilate stood strong at first,
affirming Jesus' innocence. But like the thunderous roar of
 lions, their loud threats and chants of "Crucify Him! Crucify
Him!" overwhelmed Pilate who finally stepped aside, washed
his hands of the whole affair, and ordered the execution of
 God's Son.

Jesus has described His enemies as bulls or lions. They have
the characteristics of wild animals, but they are all too human.
Behind them stands Jesus' great arch-enemy Satan. In the
beginning the devil worked through an animal, a serpent, to
destroy mankind (see Genesis 3). Now he worked through
these ferocious people to destroy the Savior of mankind.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You stood all alone before such vicious
people, yet You pleaded with Your Father to forgive them,
"for they know not what they do." Forgive me my sins and
give me strength to stand and tell others of Your great
salvation. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 68:28-35. 

TEXT: Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan
surround me (Psalm 22:12).

Jesus looks squarely into the face of His persecutors who
are many and powerful-like a herd of bulls surrounding Him.
They are strong bulls, the kind that grow in the rich
meadows of Bashan, a region northeast of Gilead, the land
of Israel to the east of the Jordan River. These bulls were
well known for their strength, size and fierceness. It is an
apt description for the chief priests and elders; they are
fierce, savage and violent men who prosecuted Jesus to
His death.

What a force for good these leaders could have been had
they turned from their sin and trusted Jesus as their Savior.
Imagine if they had used their energy, wisdom and influence
to lead the Jews to follow God's mighty Son. Instead, they
charge against Him. They conduct an illegal night trial; they
call for false witnesses and force Pilate to condemn an
innocent man through threats. Like bulls they line up with
their sharp horns and tell Pilate-we are charging and
attacking someone. Shall it be Jesus or you?

We face strong enemies as well: "For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present
darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places" (Ephesians 6:12).

Without a doubt Jesus' greatest enemy was the devil who
stood behind these Jewish leaders and spurred them on
their murderous path. But through His innocent suffering
and death, Jesus crushed the serpent's head and set us
free forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You faced the brunt of Satan's power
and were victorious. Protect us from all our enemies and
bring us safely to our heavenly home. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 62. 

TEXT: Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is
none to help (Psalm 22:11).

Does God ever seem so far away He doesn't see your struggles 
or hear your prayers? Do you ever feel tempted to give up on
Him? Satan and the enemies of Jesus tried to shake His
confidence in His Father; they tried to make Him feel abandoned:

"He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, for
He delights in him!" (Psalm 22:8).

The direst of troubles are upon Jesus, but wherever He might turn
He can find no help in this world. The Jewish leaders should have
welcomed and honored Him as the coming Messiah-but they
rejected Him and forced Pilate to sentence Him to execution.

He could have expected protection from the Roman governor who
declared Him innocent-but he had Him flogged and washed his
hands of Him.

The Roman soldiers should have treated Him with professional
detachment-but they heaped their cruel abuse and mockery on Him.

Even the passersby turned against Him in childish taunting and
mockery.

His friends were gone-each deserted Him-except for John who alone
stood by His cross. But even John was helpless to do anything to
help Him.

In quiet confidence Jesus turns to the only One who can help Him,
"Be not far from Me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
" With His Father forsaking Him, Jesus was truly alone with our
sins and guilt, and God's crushing wrath. But Jesus persistently
lays His desperate situation before His Father and pleads for help.
"In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications,
with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death,
and He was heard because of His reverence" (Hebrews 5:7).

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, as the song beautifully says, "When other helpers
fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me." Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)