Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

And there appeared to Him (Jesus) an angel from heaven,
strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more
earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood
falling down to the ground (Luke 22:43-44).

Read Luke 22:43-44.

At some point in our lives, many of us will face a moment
when the doctor says, "There's nothing more I can do." You
get word that a loved one has died unexpectedly. As the
realization sinks in so does hopelessness, shock, and the
unrelenting pain of reality. Like Jesus, all we can do is
come to our Father on our knees, and pour out our hearts.

The Father has laid a burden on His Son that no human
can bear, and even Jesus' perfect human nature becomes
faint under the burden. In tender love and compassion the
Father sends an angel from heaven to His dear Son.
Through that angel He provides the strength Jesus' body
requires to fulfill its part in accomplishing God's gracious
plan of salvation. Later we will see Jesus' physical strength
give out again as He attempts to carry the cross and
collapses under its weight. But for now, strengthened by
the angel, Jesus can fully face the dread welling up inside
Him.

In agony, He prays even more earnestly, deeply,
emotionally than before, and the inner turmoil in His soul
pours itself out through His body. Doctors tell us severe
mental stress can cause small blood vessels in the skin
to burst, mingling blood into the sweat. The physician Luke
tells us, "His sweat became like great drops of blood falling
down to the ground." This was the intense struggle our Savior
wrestled through, working to accept as His own His Father's
will to suffer and die for our salvation.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, help me never to shrink back from life's troubles,
but to always bring them to You in prayer; as You brought
Your needs to Your Father in heaven. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

And He (Jesus) withdrew from them about a stone's throw,
and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if You are
willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will,
but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:41-42).

Read Luke 22:41-42.

Jesus doesn't go far from His disciples, about as far as one
can throw a stone. Matthew and Mark tell us He brings along
three disciples: Peter, James, and John. After strongly
encouraging them to keep watch with Him and pray, He
withdraws a few paces. This is a burden they cannot share.
He has to face it alone with His Father, but still it comforts
Him to know they are listening and praying for Him.

Jews normally stood in prayer, but Jesus kneels down,
showing tremendous humility, coupled with the weight of the
grief bearing down on Him. Immediately, He cries out in pain
and distress. Surely, His three closest disciples hear and join
in fervent prayer. He pleads with His Father to remove the
cup-the physical suffering, the abuse, the pain-but more than
anything, the prospect of coming under the wrath of God for
the sins of the world. Yet He immediately surrenders His will
to His Father, "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."

He isn't afraid of death-but dreads the thought of being cut
off, forsaken by His Father, and suffering the terrible wrath of
God. Yet He casts aside His own desire, His own will, and in
genuine love for His Father, accepts God's perfect plan as His
own.

In our hours of greatest need our prayers often focus on
ourselves-but notice how Jesus focuses instead on His Father
and what He wants. Again, Jesus casts His own needs and
interests aside, embracing His Father's will-and our desperate
need.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in awe and holy fear we listen as You lay Your heart
bare before Your Father. Teach us so to pray. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

"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)