Christian Reflection and Prayer

We don't always get what we pray for. But we always
get what we need, and that makes all the difference.
When we pray for one thing and we don't get what we
asked for, it feels as though one of two things has
happened: Either God didn't hear our prayers, or He
has denied us a gift. But neither is true. God hears
every one of our prayers. Sometimes He says "yes"
and other times He says "no." But when God says
"no," it's not because He doesn't want us to have
good things. When God says "no" to what we asked
for, it's because He has something even greater to
give us!

Thank God for your unanswered prayers because
those are often the greatest gifts of all.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

"Father, forgive them; they do not know what they
are doing" (Luke 23:34).

In a Sunday school class, the teacher was working
with her young students on the subject of the Crucifixion.
As they were going through the Event, the teacher
asked, "Do you understand? Do you understand this
Crucifixion?" They all nodded yes. But she wanted
more, so the teacher asked, "Do you really understand
the meaning of the Cross for you and for me?" To
which one of the youngsters replied, "Why are you
trying to make it so hard? It just means that God will
do almost anything for us."

That is a beautiful answer. "God will do almost
anything for us" -- even the death of His own Son. We
would be hard put to come up with a better
interpretation of the Crucifixion.

HE WILL DO ANYTHING FOR US!

Easter Tuesday

Scripture:

Read Luke 24:36-49.
TEXT: As they were talking about these things,
Jesus Himself stood among them
(see Luke 24:36).

On Sunday evening the disciples are hiding behind
locked doors. But their fear and grief has been
replaced with joy, as they discuss Jesus' afternoon
appearances to Simon and on the road to Emmaus.
Suddenly, Jesus is standing right in their midst,
saying, "Peace be with you."

They should be overjoyed, but instead they are
terrified. He didn't come through an open door or
window. He simply appeared out of thin air. They
think they are looking upon a ghost. Immediately,
Jesus asks why they are so agitated. He stretches
out His hands and tells them to feel and know He
has flesh and bones.

Still the disciples cannot believe because their
hearts and minds are unable to grasp the magnitude
of the wonderful thing they are seeing. So Jesus
asks for some food. By eating before them He can
impress upon them that they are actually looking at
His risen body and not a ghost.

Just as Jesus unrolled the Old Testament references
about His suffering, death and resurrection to the two
walking to Emmaus, He unfolds the prophets to the
11 and those with them. He reminds them what He
had said to them when He was with them before His
death-that He would suffer, die and rise again on the
third day. Now they remember His mighty words of
prophecy. Finally, Jesus reveals their work. The
disciples are witnesses of Jesus' fulfillment of the Old
Testament prophecies, so they are to be the witnesses
who proclaim what they have seen to all nations,
beginning with Jerusalem. First, they must wait until
Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to equip them with power
from on high.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for completing all the work
required for our salvation. Help me to faithfully believe
the words You shared with Your witnesses in the
New Testament. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)