Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Lenten Meditation)

Scripture:

Read John 7:14-24.

TEXT: (Jesus said) "... 'Why do
you seek to kill Me?'" (John 7:19b)

The darkness of unbelief hangs like
a thick blanket over the temple grounds.
For the first half of the festival it looks
as though the darkness has driven away
the Light-Jesus is nowhere to be seen.
But midway through the festival He
steps into the temple courts and begins
shining His light for all to see. Jesus
immediately addresses the reason He
stayed away for the first half of the
festival. He asks the religious leaders
why they want to kill Him for doing a
good deed.

Unaware that Jesus is talking to the
Jewish leaders, the crowd thinks He
is talking to them. Since they aren't
seeking His death and are unaware
of their leaders' thoughts, they reach a
false conclusion: they accuse Him of
being demon possessed!

When He hangs from the cross they
will reach another false conclusion:
Jesus was a fake and God is using
the cross to show the world Jesus of
Nazareth is not His Son. They will
have no idea God is giving His
only-begotten Son to die for the sins
of the whole world.

Judging by appearances and jumping
to conclusions is something we often
do too. We are offended by our
neighbor, so we condemn him before
we even learn his reasons. Jesus
warns, "Do not judge by appearances,
but judge with right judgment."

Stop a moment and reconsider Jesus
Christ. Did you start this Lenten season
thinking of Jesus as only being meek
and humble? Have you begun to see His
strength, commitment and courage?
Stick around, because as Jesus once
told Nathanael, "... You will see greater
things than these" (John 1:50b).

THE PRAYER:

Father, forgive me for judging by
appearances. Open my eyes to see
Your Son as He is-my powerful Lord
and Savior. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Lutheran Ministries

(Lenten Season)

Scripture:

Read John 6:66-71.

TEXT: "Jesus answered them, 'Did I not
choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of
you is a devil'" (John 6:70).



In sadness Jesus watched the crowds
turn and walk away. Now He turns to His
twelve chosen disciples and asks if they
want to leave too. The Lord won't force them
to stay at His side; He won't force you and
me to stay either.

Peter answers, "Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life, and we
have believed, and have come to know, that
You are the Holy One of God." The Holy
Spirit led Peter to this great confession.

But Jesus knew Peter wasn't speaking for
every one of the disciples. He knew all too
well that one of them had turned away, even
though he was still standing by Jesus' side.
None of the other disciples was aware, but
Judas had secretly rejected Jesus' Kingdom
of light and allied himself with the prince of
darkness. The darkness had so deceived
Judas he thought Jesus would never know
what was in his heart.

Judas' darkness is in each of us too and can
deceive us as thoroughly as it deceived him.
On the outside we can be active in our
churches. Yet deep in our hearts we may
have grown cold to Jesus. It's so easy to go
through the motions of faith, while our hearts
turn away to the darkness like Judas.

Jesus calls us to stop and examine the depths
of our soul. Are we sincere in our faith, or are we
servants of darkness going through the motions?
It's a matter of life and death and heaven and hell
for us just as it was for Judas.

THE PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, remove all that is false and impure
from my heart, and fill me with the fire of faith in
Jesus Christ my Savior. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Lutheran Ministries

Lenten Meditation

Scripture:

TEXT: "Jesus answered them, 'Truly,
truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me,
not because you saw signs, but
because you ate your fill of the loaves'"
(John 6:26).


After the festival Jesus returned north to
Galilee. He spent a whole day preaching
and then fed the huge crowd with five
loaves and two fish. That night after He
sent them away, He walked across the
Sea of Galilee. Gathering again the next
day, the crowds walked around the lake
to find Him.

At first those people sound like genuine
followers of Jesus. But our Lord knows
better. They aren't really there for Him;
they are there for themselves. They want
Jesus to be their king-but only on their
terms. They aren't concerned with their
deep eternal needs like He is; they only
want what Jesus can give them in the
present.

We can be just as near-sighted as they.
We are consumed with today's needs
and desires, but we don't see the more
significant eternal gifts Christ comes to
bring. So we ask Him to help us through
our needs and problems, but we don't give
a single thought to His Kingdom and the
part He would have us play in that Kingdom.

That is why coming to Christ in worship is
so vital. Each week in church He shows us
the bigger picture-the unending punishment
we deserve for our selfish, disobedient lives,
as well as the forgiveness and eternal future
He gives us through His life, death and
resurrection. Yes, He knows and cares about
all our earthly needs and will provide for each
of them just as He has provided for our eternal
needs.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, when I get too wrapped up in this
life and my daily needs, lift my eyes to see the
glorious future You have won for all of us by
Your life, death and resurrection. Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries