Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Meditation:

Scripture

Read John 12:1-8.

TEXT: "Jesus said, 'Leave
her alone, so that she may keep it
for the day of My burial. For the
poor you always have with you,
but you do not always have Me'"
(John 12:7-8).

Mary is very grateful to Jesus. She
has heard His wonderful words and
received her brother Lazarus back
from death. As her family gathers
around the table with Jesus and His
disciples for dinner, she pours an
expensive ointment over Jesus' feet
and wipes it with her hair.

Her generosity should be an
inspiration for Jesus' disciples. But
it only stirs the darkness in Judas.
He complains how the ointment was
worth nearly a year's wages and that
the money should have gone to the
poor instead. But Jesus stands up in
her defense. He boldly commands
Judas to leave her alone. She has
done this to honor Him, and the
scent of that perfume will linger on
His body throughout His trials,
crucifixion and burial in the coming
days.

Do we have Mary's tremendous
sense of gratitude and love for our
Lord? Do we really appreciate what
He has done for us, what He has
given to us, and the promise of a
glorious future because of Him?

How striking to compare Mary's
devotion with that of Judas-who has
replaced his devotion to Jesus with
a love for money. For, as John tells
us, Judas had no intention of helping
the poor with that money. He only
wanted to get his hands on it-as he
had stolen money from the disciples'
moneybag many times before. Sadly,
in the next few days he will do far
worse for a much smaller amount of
money.

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, stir up in my heart true
love, gratitude and appreciation for
all Jesus has done for me. I pray in
Jesus' Name. Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries

Scripture:

Read John 11:1-44.

TEXT: "Jesus said to her,
'I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in Me, though
he die, yet shall he live, and
everyone who lives and believes
in Me shall never die. Do you
believe this?'"(John 11:25-26).

Lenten Meditation:

Jesus is about to do one of His
greatest miraculous signs. He
receives a frantic message to
come to Lazarus who is gravely
ill. But Jesus remains where He
is. His disciples think Jesus is
avoiding Jerusalem where the
crowds had tried to stone Him
a short time ago. But Jesus
waits two days before finally
heading out for Bethany, a small
village near Jerusalem. Thomas
tells his fellow disciples, "Let us
also go, that we may die with
Him."

Jesus finally arrives after Lazarus
has been dead four days. Martha
says, "Lord, if You had been here,
my brother would not have died.
" But Jesus had a reason for His
delay. Jewish rabbis believed a
person's soul hovered over the
body for three days, and then
finally departed when
decomposition set in. By waiting
for the fourth day, Jesus would be
performing a miracle none of the
Jewish leaders could deny.

Sometimes we get confused
by the struggles in our life. Like
Martha we plead with the Lord to
help, but when we need Him most
He seems to delay, or not to hear.
But Jesus has a purpose and a
plan for everything He does for us.

Jesus told Martha "I am the
resurrection and the life." Jesus
proved that by raising Lazarus from
the dead-and by His own resurrection
on the third day. When we are
discouraged, beaten down and
depressed, we can look to Jesus and
know our future is secure.

PRAYER:

Lord, give me confidence in Your
victory during the dark days when
I need You the most. Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries

(Lenten Meditation)

Read John 10:11-39.

TEXT: (Jesus said) "I am the
Good Shepherd. I know My own
and My own know Me." ... "and
I lay down My life for the sheep"
(John 10:14, 15b).

In today's reading Jesus identifies
Himself as our Good Shepherd.
This, of course, means that we
are like sheep. That automatically
says two things about us: we are
helpless creatures, and we have
powerful enemies against which
we are defenseless. But are the
crowds willing to admit this-that
they need Jesus to be their shepherd?

Jesus tells them He will freely lay
down His life to save them from their
enemies. He will lay it down on Good
Friday when He is nailed to the cross
and gives up His life for the sins of the
world. But He will take it up again on
the third day when He rises in glorious
victory.

The crowds hear this great news, and
find themselves divided yet again! Some
say He has a demon, or He is insane.
But others, thinking how Jesus healed
the man born blind, ask, "Can a demon
open the eyes of the blind?"

Jesus made some very bold statements
about Himself and the work He came to do.
Few are as powerful or as comforting as
these words. Jesus Christ has been
pleased to take us as His very own sheep,
and will guard us, protect us, lead us to
good pasture, care for us in body and
soul and finally lead us through death
to life everlasting.

Jesus stretches out His hand to you today.
If you are His sheep, listen to His voice,
He will protect you from all enemies and
guide you safely home to paradise. He
promises that nothing can snatch you
out of His hands.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for
offering to hold me firmly and safely in Your
hands. Let me never wander away in unbelief.
Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries