Christian Reflection and Prayer

NOT YET - BUT SOON

Scripture:

Read Luke 19:11-27.
TEXT: "But his citizens hated him and sent a
delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want
this man to reign over us'" (Luke 19:14).

Jesus' choice to stay with the chief tax collector
Zacchaeus divides the crowd. Some are upset
Jesus is associating with such an open sinner.
Others think God's Kingdom will appear at once
when He reaches the Jewish capital Jerusalem.
Jesus tells a parable that answers both ideas.

The people have no trouble picturing His story of
a nobleman traveling to a distant country to have
himself proclaimed king. That was the way the
Roman Empire worked. Herod the Great left the
land of Palestine and travelled to Rome before
Emperor Augustus proclaimed him king. Only
then could he return to rule.

Jesus pictures Himself as that nobleman-the
great Son of David and Son of God. Instead of
beginning His reign when He enters Jerusalem,
He will be murdered by His enemies. But after
His resurrection He will leave the earth, ascending
into heaven where the Father will proclaim Him
King. Then on the Last Day-and not until that
moment-Jesus will return to reward His faithful
servants and establish His Kingdom on the new
earth.

Now Jesus turns to His enemies. He has shown
great patience, humility, grace, mercy and love
toward them, but they have hated Him without
cause. He warns that the time of judgment is
coming. He will return with His angel armies to
capture His enemies and slaughter them.

To our ears that judgment sounds harsh. But Christ
your King has given you fair warning. If you will not
bow your knee to Him in faith, you will forfeit your
life and suffer eternally in hell.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, You have established Your Son as
the Ruler of all things in heaven and on earth. Break
through my rebellious heart that I may love Him and
serve Him now and through all eternity. I pray in
Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministires)

Scripture:

Read Luke 19:1-10.
TEXT: "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I
must stay at your house today"
(see Luke 19:5).


Jesus' final week is just a few days away. He has
come to Jericho to spend the night, but His host is
not home. So Jesus passes through town to find him.

Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector and extremely
wealthy. But he left his tax office when he heard Jesus
had come to town. He knew Jesus' reputation-while
the Jews and their leaders despised tax collectors
as traitors and thieves-Jesus was known as a friend to
tax collectors. Rushing to the far edge of town, he
climbed a tree to see the Lord.

Jesus comes right up to that spot, stops, and looks
up into the tree. Calling Zacchaeus by name He tells
him to come down quickly. Jesus wants to spend this
night in his house.

Zacchaeus scurries down and receives Jesus with
great joy. The crowd hears this and is terribly
scandalized. How could Jesus choose to stay in the
home of a notorious sinner? What they didn't know is
that Jesus had already begun to change Zacchaeus'
heart. The chief tax collector was repenting of his sins
and planning to make amends for his past wrongdoings.

Jesus points out that Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham
just as are those in the crowd. True children of
Abraham share Abraham's faith in God's promise to
send the Christ or Messiah. Zacchaeus knew Jesus
had given him a great honor by staying in his house.
But did he know His Lord had chosen to spend one
of the last precious nights He had on earth with him?

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, with amazing grace You sought
out the despised chief tax collector Zacchaeus and
honored him by staying at His house that night. Help
us appreciate the honor You give us by promising to
remain with us always. Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries).

Scripture:

Read Luke 18:35-43.
TEXT: And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!" And those who were in front
rebuked him, telling him to be silent
(see Luke 18:38-39).


Jesus is approaching Jericho. It's one of His last
stops before Jerusalem. Along the road sits a
blind man begging. Hearing a loud commotion
passing by, he asks what's going on. Someone
from the crowd answers, "Jesus of Nazareth is
passing by."

Immediately, the beggar begins shouting at the
top of his lungs. He knows Jesus is somewhere
in that crowd, which is shuffling past him. But
unlike the stranger from the crowd he doesn't
call Him "Jesus the Nazarene." Instead, he calls
him, "Jesus, Son of David." He is convinced that
Jesus is the promised Messiah, David's Son.

Jesus indeed is the King marching on to save His
people from their enemies. Some in the crowd try
to silence the blind man, but he shouts all the
louder to get Jesus' attention. That is the character
of faith: the more people and circumstances rise
up to silence us, the louder we cry for our Lord to
be merciful to us.

We might expect Jesus to be so preoccupied with
His approaching death that He wouldn't notice a
lone voice, crying out to Him in the midst of the
clamor of the crowd. But His ears are attuned to
cries for mercy from His faithful ones. Now that He
has accomplished His mission and won complete
forgiveness, we can be confident He hears our cries
for mercy and pity too.

The man is blind no longer. He rises and follows
Jesus on His way.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, even as You were journeying
toward Your bitter death, Your ears were wide open
to the pleas of the blind man. Give me confidence that
You hear my prayers for mercy too. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Minstries)