Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Prepare Yourselves by Prayer"

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

And when He (Jesus) came to the place, He said to them,
"Pray that you may not enter into temptation" (Luke 22:40).

Read Luke 22:39-40.

Having left the upper room behind, Jesus leads His disciples
to the Mount of Olives, which rises opposite Jerusalem.
During this Passover Week Jesus has spent the nights out
in the open, sleeping under the stars (see Luke 21:37). John
tells us Judas was familiar with this place (see John 18:2).
Of course, Jesus could easily foil his betrayal plot by
choosing a different, unknown place this night. But He returns
to this familiar ground, voluntarily yielding Himself up to His
Father's plan.

On this mountain is a garden into which Jesus now leads His
disciples. He is greatly troubled, telling them, "My soul is very
sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with Me"
(Matthew 26:38b). He has every reason to think first of Himself
and the heavy burden He is already beginning to carry, but first
He urges His disciples to pray. He feels for them, knowing the
pain and heartache they will soon suffer.

He knows Satan will use the coming events to press them
sorely, to try to pulverize their faith. Already with the Lord's
Supper, the prediction of Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial this
very night should have made it clear to the disciples that a
difficult trial was looming before them. They should have been on
their knees in prayer; instead, the doom and gloom left them
weary, and soon they all drifted off to sleep.

In the hour of His greatest need Jesus is left alone by His friends.
Like them, we frequently sleep when moments of great danger
and temptation are coming toward us. Our Lord also urges us to
stay alert and pray.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak
and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be
fulfilled in Me: 'And he was numbered with the
transgressors.'..." (Luke 22:36-37).

Read Luke 22:35-38.

The meal is complete and Jesus prepares to leave the guest
room. But first He wants to make His disciples aware that
their world will change drastically this day. It will become a
much more violent and dangerous place.

Up to now Jesus has been quite popular. Everywhere He
went with His disciples throughout Galilee they found friends
who welcomed them into their homes and fed them. And it
was that popularity that was frustrating Jewish leaders,
making it impossible for them to lay their hands on Jesus.
 But today that will end.

When Jesus is crucified, many Jews will misjudge the evidence.
They will falsely assume the cross proves the carpenter from
Nazareth is a fake and a fraud.

The coming situation will become desperate. The disciples will
need a cloak because they will no longer be welcomed into
peoples' houses. But the danger of physical violence is so
great they would be wise to sell their cloaks for swords, and
shiver through the night. For Jesus' sake they will soon face
opposition, arrest, mistreatment and martyrdom.

When the disciples report they have two swords, Jesus tells
them it is enough. He doesn't intend to make them a defensive
fighting force; instead, He wants to make them aware of the
deadly hostility the Gospel message will bring. When these
apostles tell Jews and Gentiles that a man crucified as a criminal
is their Savior-they will face great persecution.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, our brother and sister Christians throughout the
world face great opposition and danger, even death. Shield and
defend all those who are being attacked for their faith, and give
them courage and faith to boldly stand and declare Your Name.
And move their persecutors to repentance and faith. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day,
until you deny three times that you know Me" (Luke 22:34).

Read Luke 22:33-34.

Jesus' warning should humble Peter, but the proud disciple will
hear none of it. With characteristic boldness and overbearing
self-reliance he protests his loyalty to his Lord, and promises to
stay by His side-even if it costs his freedom and his life. He
doesn't say, "With God's help," or "With Your help." He is
confident he can stand on the ardor of his own adoration and
commitment to Jesus.

But Jesus knows precisely what Peter will do in a few short hours.
That's when this quiet upper room will be exchanged for a
threatening courtyard filled with menacing soldiers. The Lord
gives a simple, assured answer. Echoing Peter's misplaced
self-confidence, Jesus shifts from "Simon" to "Peter"-the rock. His
words are poignant: the rooster will not crow to mark the coming
of the sunrise before the rock has crumbled and denied knowing
Jesus three times.

From that next morning on, Peter would never hear a rooster
again without being reminded of that dreadful, shameful sunrise.
But at the same time, the sound of that crowing will be a daily
reminder of Jesus' gracious salvation. It was that fateful hour when
the rooster's crow recalled Jesus' words to Peter, and that brief
glance from Jesus' eyes called Peter back, rescuing him from
Satan's grasp, and springing forth the tears of godly repentance
that poured from his eyes and led to his restoration.

We all stumble and fall, disowning our Savior in our silence and in
our disobedience. Yet Jesus prays for us, strengthens us, and
restores us by His constant grace.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in Your still small voice, humble my pride and foolish
self-confidence. Guard and protect me as I flee to You, the Rock
of my salvation. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)