Christian Reflection and Prayer

Holy Wednesday

Scripture:

Read Luke 23:32-34.
TEXT: And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do"
(see Luke 23:34).

Jesus is not going to die alone. Pilate ordered two
criminals to die with Him. When they finally reach the
execution site we read that Jesus is crucified
between the two. In that one word "crucified," the
Scriptures spare us the horrible details, and carry
forward Jesus' charge: "Do not weep for Me."

Now, as the climax of His suffering is reached and
incredible pain racks His body, the soldiers are casting
lots to divide His clothing. Jesus turns to His Father in
prayer. But once again He is not praying for Himself,
not seeking divine retribution on His foes, or even
justice for Himself-He is pleading with His Father to
forgive those who have put Him on this cross. They do
not know what they are doing.

But Jesus is not only praying for the Roman soldiers,
Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas, the Jewish leaders, the
temple guard, Peter and Judas-He is praying for all the
people whose sins He is carrying, including you and me.
So often we commit our sins without giving a second
thought to the wrath we are incurring, or the sufferings
Jesus must endure to save us from them. We don't
know what we are doing either.

But God the Father can't simply ignore His wrath at our
sins. Nor can He pretend they never took place. His
holiness demands that sinners be punished. For the
Father to be able to forgive us, Jesus knows He must
suffer the torment of hell in our place. He asks His
Father to pour His fiery wrath on Him instead.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in our sin we don't know what we are doing.
Yet You willingly took on Yourself our guilt and Your
Father's punishment. Make us aware of our guilt that we
may repent and trust You alone as our Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Holy Tuesday

Read Luke 23:26-31.
TEXT: And there followed Him a great multitude of
the people and of women who were mourning and
lamenting for Him (Luke 23:27).

Jesus is carrying His cross to the place of execution.
But the severe flogging and other mistreatment has
sapped His strength so that He can no longer carry
His cross. The Roman soldiers force a man named
Simon, who was coming into Jerusalem from the
country, to carry it for Him.

A great crowd of people follow Jesus, including
women from Jerusalem, weeping and wailing for Him.
In the midst of His agony, sorrow and pain, Jesus
turns and tells them to stop sobbing for Him. Like
Peter, they need to weep for their sins and for the
wrath of God, which those sins have stirred.

Earlier, Jesus had wept for Jerusalem, knowing that
in 70 A.D. God's wrath will fall on that city, as the
legions of Rome surround it. Watching their children
suffering and dying in the unspeakable terror of that
siege, Jewish women will wish something no Jew
would have otherwise thought: they will wish they
had been childless! At that dreadful time those living
in Jerusalem will wish for a sudden, cataclysmic
death, instead of the slow starvation they
experienced, as the Roman legions slowly choke off
Jerusalem and grind its people into the dust.

What a vivid, horrible picture of hell, where people will
long to be exterminated in one rapid moment. Instead,
they will suffer the slow, burning terror of hell, knowing
it will never, ever end. Today is the time for each of us
to weep, mourn and seek God's forgiveness in Jesus
the Savior of the world.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son carried my guilt and sin, as
He went out to die in my place. Fill my heart with
sorrow and regret over my sins, so I may flee to Him
for salvation. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 23:13-25.
TEXT: Then, arraying Him in splendid clothing, he sent
Him back to Pilate
(see Luke 23:11).

Pilate has examined Jesus and found no crime based
on the charges made against Him. This was also the
case with Herod, or he would have condemned Him.
Again, Jesus should be set free immediately. Instead,
however, Pilate proposes a solution, "I will therefore
punish and release Him."

Perhaps Pilate thinks he is offering the Jewish leaders
a way to save face before their people. They surely
wouldn't want him to release Jesus and publicly
humiliate them, would they? But seeing Pilate back
down from his verdict, the priests know they need to
stand their ground, and Pilate will eventually surrender
Jesus.

Pilate's punishment was the brutal Roman scourging,
which used whips with pieces of bone or lead fastened
to the tips. After the scourging Pilate honors a custom,
giving the crowds their choice of two criminals. He
offers a violently abused Jesus up against the most
dangerous criminal in prison: Barabbas. Pilate may
not realize it, but he has lowered Jesus to the status
of a criminal, thus making it easier for the Jewish
leaders and the crowds to call for His death. The
Jewish leaders convince the Jews to demand Barabbas'
release and Jesus' crucifixion.

For a third time Pilate asks what terrible thing this
man has done? The judge is now pleading with the
people; he has totally lost control of this trial. The
crowds more loudly demand Jesus' crucifixion. Their
voices prevail over Pilate's sense of justice. He orders
Barabbas released, and Jesus is to be handed over to
their will. Jesus' prophecy about His passion has
completely been accomplished. Judas handed
Jesus over to His Jewish enemies. The Jews handed
Jesus over to Pilate, and now Pilate hands Jesus over
to the crowds that are demanding His crucifixion.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, Pilate watched Your trial spiral out of
control. Help me see that You were in complete control,
winning my salvation by Your innocent suffering and
death. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministrie)