LAID IN THE DUST

Read Psalm 44.

TEXT: You lay me in the dust of death
(see Psalm 22:15).

A clay water pot strikes the ground and shatters. The
precious water pours out in every direction, seeps into
the dust and disappears, leaving only the broken
potsherds behind. In this image King David prophecies
the crucifixion of his great descendent, the Lord Jesus
Christ. We see His very life pour out of His wounds
and disappear into the dust beneath the cross.

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden He
strongly warned him against eating the fruit of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil, saying, "for in the
day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (see
Genesis 2:16-17). When Adam and Eve ate that fruit,
God pronounced their-and our-punishment: "By the
sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return
to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are
dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19).

Because of our sinful nature each of us has forfeited
our lives. We too must die and our bodies be buried in
the ground to return to the dust from which we were
taken. But God provided a substitute sacrifice-the
Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. Jesus
laid down His life in the dust. His lifeless body, the
broken potsherd, was buried in a borrowed tomb. But
three days later He rose in triumphant victory. Because
He lives forever, all those who trust in Him will live forever
with Him. One day we will die, be buried and return to
the dust (unless Jesus returns first). But Jesus will return
in glory to raise our lowly bodies and make them glorious
like His own.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You took on Yourself the punishment
for my sin, being laid in the dust of death that I might live
in Your presence forever. Receive my thanks and praise
now and forever. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

EXTREME THIRST

Read Psalm 143.

TEXT: And my tongue sticks to my jaws (see Psalm 22:15).

Jesus has used powerful imagery to describe His thirst:
poured out like water, heart melted like wax, strength dried
up. Now His tongue sticks to His jaws.

He has had nothing to drink since the Last Supper, unless
perhaps the angel that ministered to Him during His prayer in
the Garden of Gethsemane gave him some liquid refreshment.
But even in that intense prayer in the Garden, Jesus began
pouring Himself out for us. Luke tells us His sweat "became
like great drops of blood falling down to the ground"
(see Luke 22:44). From that moment on no water or other
drink was permitted Him.

Hanging naked on the cross, under the blazing sun, Jesus
grows more and more dehydrated. He is so thirsty His tongue
sticks to His jaws. The Roman soldiers fill a sponge with wine
vinegar and hold it in front of His lips, but just beyond His reach,
it's part of their cruel mockery (see Luke 23:36). Only in the
moments before His death-after Jesus has finished paying for
our sins-will He actually receive a drink.

Jesus gave us a similar description of hell in His account of the
rich man and Lazarus. Here, the rich man "in Hades, being in
torment ... called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my
tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said,
'Child, ... between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in
order that those who would pass from here to you may not be
able, and none may cross from there to us'" (see Luke 16:23-26).

Jesus suffered the fires of hell and great thirst on the cross so
you and I need never go thirsty.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You endured the pangs of hell in my place.
Guard me in this faith as You bring me through this life to Your
glorious home. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

SHATTERED POTS

Read Psalm 75.

TEXT: My strength is dried up like a potsherd
(see Psalm 22:15).

Jews commonly used clay pots to store water. When a
jar broke into shards or pieces (called potsherds) it was
utterly useless. No longer able to hold water the shards
that once made up that pot dried up and grew brittle
under the blazing sun.

The image of a broken pot fits in well with the previous
verse where Jesus says He is poured out like water, and
His heart has melted within His breast. Jesus' body has
been lashed, beaten, pierced and stretched out of joint.
Like a broken pot, His lifeblood pours out from His head,
His hands, His feet, His battered shoulders, back and legs.
His life and strength slowly ebbs away.

If you stop a moment and think of Judas, the disciple that
betrayed Jesus, you see another shattered pot. After he
learned Jesus was condemned, Judas felt great regret for
his sin. But instead of trusting Jesus' promise to forgive
and restore him, Judas went out and hanged himself. The
priests took the betrayal money and bought the field where
Judas killed himself as a burial ground for strangers. That
field was a potter's field, a field strewn with broken
potsherds. Through his lack of faith and subsequent
suicide Judas became another broken pot, good for
nothing but destruction.

All of us are cracked clay pots, if not broken and shattered.
Yet in mercy Jesus comes to repair His broken pots, to
make us useful for God's purposes again. As we live out
our vocations we serve God by serving one another. As we
share the news of Jesus' sacrifice, the Spirit is at work,
repairing other broken pots.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You were like a shattered pot on the
cross, pouring out Your lifeblood for our salvation. Repair
my shattered life, and work through me to fulfill Your
purpose for my life. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

MELTED HEART

Read Ezekiel 11: 14-21. TEXT: My heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast (see Psalm 22:14).

Sin hardens our hearts, turning them to stone. We will
never see that more clearly than in the case of Jesus'
enemies who coldly and callously abused, ridiculed,
taunted and tormented Him in His agony. We have that
same stone-cold heart when we see our neighbor
suffering and in need and feel no pity, no concern for his
or her plight.

Jesus' tender heart, His inmost soul, is melting under
the fiery wrath of God. That same tender heart had taken
pity and moved Jesus to cleanse lepers, heal the deaf,
blind, mute and paralyzed, cast out demons, and offer
compassion to lost and wandering crowds. This heart
which has never turned hard or calloused now bleeds as
it is blasted by the fiery wrath of God for our hard-
heartedness.

Jesus was heartbroken by friends who betrayed, denied
and fled from Him. He had to deal with enemies who
persecuted Him and dogged His every step; chief priests
and Jewish leaders who sought His death; a Roman
governor who abandoned Him to their will; and crowds
that mocked and taunted His agony on the cross. But
more than anything, His heart was broken by His Father's
turning His back on Him, and unleashing His fury on His
only begotten Son -- the Lamb of God who was taking
away the sin of the world.

What heart can see such love in action and not soften in
response? Who can see all his or her sins laid on Jesus,
see the great agony and sacrifice He endured for them,
and not be moved to tears of repentance, thankfulness
and faith by our Savior's great heart and sacrifice?


THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You sacrificed Your body, heart, mind
and soul to win our salvation. Melt our hearts in
repentance and faith. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

POURED OUT

Read Psalm 102.

TEXT: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are
out of joint (see Psalm 22:14).

Jesus is exhausted. He spent the previous night in
prayer, pleading with His Father to take away the cup-the
suffering that was about to befall Him. Jesus didn't fear
death, but He struggled with being forsaken by His Father
and being lashed with His fiery wrath at our sins. Three
hours later He came out of the garden composed and
ready-but physically drained.

That was only the beginnings of His sufferings. After
condemning Him, the Jewish high court punched, slapped
and struck Him. Pilate's soldiers savagely flogged Him,
drove a crown of thorns down over His head, and struck
Him over the head repeatedly with a reed. The heavy cross
bar was placed on His bloody shoulders, and He was forced
to carry it to the place of execution. He was a strong man,
a carpenter, but the abuse He suffered for our sins was so
great He collapsed under the weight. Too weak and weary to
carry it all the way Himself, the Roman soldiers finally
ordered a bystander in the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, to carry
it the rest of the way.

Psalm 22 masterfully describes this exhaustion, "I am
poured out like water."

Then King David adds an incredible prophetic detail, "All my
bones are out of joint." In this grisly form of execution, the
weight of the body hangs on the arms, putting tremendous
strain on the joints in the arms and shoulders. It's as though
He was stretched on the rack. What makes this passage so
remarkable is that King David was completely unfamiliar with
crucifixion, yet he describes it in incredible detail. And those
details will become even more striking in the verses to follow.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, what sufferings You endured to free me of
my sins and God's wrath. Receive my heartfelt gratitude and
praise forever. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE LION'S ROAR

Read Psalm 109.

TEXT: They open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening
and roaring lion (Psalm 22:13).

In yesterday's devotion Jesus compared His enemies to
animals -- powerful, aggressive, ferocious bulls. Now He
compares them to another terrifying, wild beast-mighty
lions with their mouths wide open, advancing on their prey
with loud, frightening roars.

The Jewish leaders had long plotted Jesus' destruction.
They roared loudly as they threatened to remove anyone
from the synagogue who confessed Jesus as the promised
Messiah (see John 9:22). When Judas betrayed Jesus they
sprang into action. They arrested, tried, condemned and
abused Him. There was only one man left standing in their
way: the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.

Pilate examined Jesus in their presence, and found there
was no evidence to support their charges against Him. He
was going to free the Christ until they started roaring. They
bullied and intimidated Pilate, pressuring him to give in to
their will and have Jesus executed. Pilate stood strong at first,
affirming Jesus' innocence. But like the thunderous roar of
 lions, their loud threats and chants of "Crucify Him! Crucify
Him!" overwhelmed Pilate who finally stepped aside, washed
his hands of the whole affair, and ordered the execution of
 God's Son.

Jesus has described His enemies as bulls or lions. They have
the characteristics of wild animals, but they are all too human.
Behind them stands Jesus' great arch-enemy Satan. In the
beginning the devil worked through an animal, a serpent, to
destroy mankind (see Genesis 3). Now he worked through
these ferocious people to destroy the Savior of mankind.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You stood all alone before such vicious
people, yet You pleaded with Your Father to forgive them,
"for they know not what they do." Forgive me my sins and
give me strength to stand and tell others of Your great
salvation. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

SURROUNDED BY BULLS

Read Psalm 68:28-35. 

TEXT: Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan
surround me (Psalm 22:12).

Jesus looks squarely into the face of His persecutors who
are many and powerful-like a herd of bulls surrounding Him.
They are strong bulls, the kind that grow in the rich
meadows of Bashan, a region northeast of Gilead, the land
of Israel to the east of the Jordan River. These bulls were
well known for their strength, size and fierceness. It is an
apt description for the chief priests and elders; they are
fierce, savage and violent men who prosecuted Jesus to
His death.

What a force for good these leaders could have been had
they turned from their sin and trusted Jesus as their Savior.
Imagine if they had used their energy, wisdom and influence
to lead the Jews to follow God's mighty Son. Instead, they
charge against Him. They conduct an illegal night trial; they
call for false witnesses and force Pilate to condemn an
innocent man through threats. Like bulls they line up with
their sharp horns and tell Pilate-we are charging and
attacking someone. Shall it be Jesus or you?

We face strong enemies as well: "For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present
darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places" (Ephesians 6:12).

Without a doubt Jesus' greatest enemy was the devil who
stood behind these Jewish leaders and spurred them on
their murderous path. But through His innocent suffering
and death, Jesus crushed the serpent's head and set us
free forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You faced the brunt of Satan's power
and were victorious. Protect us from all our enemies and
bring us safely to our heavenly home. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

HELPLESS

Read Psalm 62. 

TEXT: Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is
none to help (Psalm 22:11).

Does God ever seem so far away He doesn't see your struggles 
or hear your prayers? Do you ever feel tempted to give up on
Him? Satan and the enemies of Jesus tried to shake His
confidence in His Father; they tried to make Him feel abandoned:

"He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, for
He delights in him!" (Psalm 22:8).

The direst of troubles are upon Jesus, but wherever He might turn
He can find no help in this world. The Jewish leaders should have
welcomed and honored Him as the coming Messiah-but they
rejected Him and forced Pilate to sentence Him to execution.

He could have expected protection from the Roman governor who
declared Him innocent-but he had Him flogged and washed his
hands of Him.

The Roman soldiers should have treated Him with professional
detachment-but they heaped their cruel abuse and mockery on Him.

Even the passersby turned against Him in childish taunting and
mockery.

His friends were gone-each deserted Him-except for John who alone
stood by His cross. But even John was helpless to do anything to
help Him.

In quiet confidence Jesus turns to the only One who can help Him,
"Be not far from Me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
" With His Father forsaking Him, Jesus was truly alone with our
sins and guilt, and God's crushing wrath. But Jesus persistently
lays His desperate situation before His Father and pleads for help.
"In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications,
with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death,
and He was heard because of His reverence" (Hebrews 5:7).

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, as the song beautifully says, "When other helpers
fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me." Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Read Psalm 139. 

TEXT: Yet You are He who took me from the womb; You
made me trust You at my mother's breasts. On You was
I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb You
have been my God (Psalm 22:9-10).

Jesus has shared His pain and sufferings a second time.
Now it's time to listen to God's answer to that prayer,
and gain firm confidence in His Father's faithfulness and
love.

Earlier in the Psalm Jesus took comfort by recalling His
Fathers' faithful deliverance when the Israelites cried out
in sore distress. "In You our fathers trusted; they trusted,
and You delivered them. To You they cried and were
rescued; in You they trusted and were not put to shame"
(Psalm 22:4-5). Now Jesus looks back on His own life,
and recalls the tender care His Father provided from the
beginning.

"You are He who took me from the womb." Miraculously
conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Father granted Jesus a
safe birth that first Christmas, provided a warm, dry manger,
fed Him and met all His needs. When King Herod sought to
destroy Him, the Father sent an angel to warn Joseph in a
dream to take the Christ Child and Mary and flee to Egypt
(see Matthew 2:13). From His earliest human days Jesus'
Father had proven reliable and trustworthy. Surely, in this
time God the Father will remember and deliver Him as well.

Like Jesus we can look back on God's faithful care
throughout our lives, and be confident He will always
provide our needs and protect us, especially since Jesus
has paid the full price for our sins in His suffering and death
on the cross.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for remembering Your Father's
faithful protection and care. Remind me to look back at His
faithfulness in my life that I may always live in faith,
confidence and peace. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

PROPHETIC WORDS

Read Psalm 37. 

TEXT: He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him
rescue him, for He delights in him! (Psalm 22:8).

We saw the childish mockery of the Jewish crowds
yesterday. But surely we can expect a more dignified
response from the Jewish leaders. As it turns out, their
mockery may be more sophisticated, but it is no less
childish. They urge Jesus to throw His concerns on His
Father, to plead with Him to deliver Him from His suffering,
"Let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him."

They laugh to each other, knowing God had said, "If a man
has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put
to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not
remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the
same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God" (see
Deuteronomy 21:22-23). To their minds God would never
permit an innocent man to be crucified, so Jesus could
hardly be God's Son. God could not possibly delight in a
man He has cursed and forsaken!

Now step back and compare their words with those written
by the prophet David: "He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver
him; let Him rescue him, for He delights in him!"

"He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires
Him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God'" (Matthew 27:43).

It is striking that the very words they say match this
prophecy of the Messiah so closely. Their own thoughtless
mockery testifies that Jesus is indeed the Messiah they
have rejected-just as He was predicted through David. Yet
He has become a curse by being crucified to free them from
God's curse.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for becoming a curse for me
that I may live under Your eternal blessings. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

PLAYGROUND STUNTS

Read Psalm 89:38-52. 

TEXT: All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me;
they wag their head (Psalm 22:7).

Yesterday we saw how the enemies gathered before Jesus'
cross acted like children around an injured worm. Today we
see them doing another thing children do: they mock, make
mouths at Him, and wag their heads. Note how closely this
prophecy matches Matthew's description: "And those who
passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying,
'You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three
days, save Yourself!'" (See Matthew 27:39-40).

None of us went through childhood without encountering
mockery. You can hear that insulting, imitative voice as one
child takes another's words and turns it back against him.
Most of us manage to outgrow it though. Maybe that's why
it's so shocking to see the Jewish crowds turning Jesus' own
words against Him in mockery: "You who would destroy the
temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are
the Son of God, come down from the cross."

These Jews are making their way into Jerusalem to
celebrate the Jewish Feast of Passover. But far from pitying
Jesus or feeling any compassion for Him they make faces
at the Lord, as they pass Him on their way to town. Like
cruel children they mockingly imitate the uncontrollable
grimaces covering His face as His body is racked with pain.
They shoot out their lips in contempt, then open their mouths
wide, staring at Him in shock and disgust. They wag their
heads from side to side, doubting He is in His right mind
when He claims to be God's Son, the King of the Jews.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You endured such childish mockery
and cruelty to save us from our sin. Thank You for winning
our full and free forgiveness. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

SCORNED AND DESPISED

Read Psalm 119: 137-144.

TEXT: But I am ... scorned by mankind and despised by
the people (see Psalm 22:6).

Jesus' enemies surround His cross like cruel children who
have stepped on a worm and now laugh as they watch it
wriggling and writhing in pain.

The Roman soldiers standing watch over Him treat Him with
shame and contempt. They stripped and flogged Him,
crowned Him with thorns, and mocked and ridiculed His
claim to be King of the Jews. They forced Him to carry His
cross and nailed His hands and feet to it. On the cross they
mock Him, holding their sour wine just outside His reach
and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
(See Luke 23:36-37.)

It's not surprising the Romans would scorn Him, but what
about His own people? Wouldn't they recognize Him as their
God, their Messiah? No. They despised Him. Months before
His neighbors in His home town of Nazareth tried to throw
Him off a cliff to His death (see Luke 4:28-30). Later, Jews
in Jerusalem tried to stone Him (see John 8:59). Just a few 
hours earlier His own High Priest Caiaphas summoned false
witnesses against Him. Then when He was taken before
Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas acted as prosecutor to pressure the
Roman governor to condemn Him to death.

When they finally got their way and Jesus was hanging from
the cross you might think they'd have the decency to leave
Him be. But no, they stand before Him scoffing and saying,
"He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of
God, His Chosen One!" (See Luke 23:35.)

He can't save Himself. He's bleeding and dying on the cross
to save them -- and us.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, while the Romans and Jews stood beneath
You, mocking and ridiculing, You were shedding Your precious
blood to pay for their sins. Forgive my sins and strengthen my
faith in You. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A LOWLY WORM

Read Psalm 69.

TEXT: But I am a worm and not a man (see Psalm 22:6).

Psalm 22 is a fascinating prayer. Our Lord Jesus Christ
keeps going back and forth in His prayer. First, He's
sharing His troubles with God; then He's listening as God
speak to Him through His word, the Bible. First, Jesus
spoke about being forsaken and God not listening; then
He recalled the times God faithfully delivered the people
of Israel who called upon Him in their need. Now Jesus
goes back to sharing His pain and sufferings with His God.

In these verses we see the incredible accuracy of this
psalm as detail after detail of Jesus' crucifixion unfolds,
beginning with Jesus calling Himself a worm and not a man.
If you were to stand and watch a person hanging from a
cross you would be reminded of a worm wriggling and
writhing in pain. The crucified victim twists and turns His
body seeking some relief from the excruciating agony.

Yet the prophecy goes far deeper than Jesus' physical
sufferings. It speaks how His enemies think of Him. They
refuse to treat Him with the common decency and dignity
any human deserves, treating Him instead as though He
was a contemptible worm to be crushed underfoot.

When the mighty Son of God became man He was already
taking an incredible step down. But when He surrendered
Himself to arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He stepped
even lower-exposing Himself to mockery, scorn, torment,
torture, even crucifixion itself.

He humbled Himself in loving obedience to His Father's will,
and in an undying concern for your salvation.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You are Lord and God of all. Yet, You
humbled Yourself as though You were a worm, not even a
man. Receive my humble gratitude and praise. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

TRUST THAT IS NEVER PUT TO SHAME

Read Psalm 106.

TEXT: To You they cried and were rescued; in You they
trusted and were not put to shame (Psalm 22:5).

The overwhelming wrath of God for our sins has fallen on
Jesus as He hangs on the cross. Though His Father has
forsaken Him, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us,
"Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud
 cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him
from death. And He was heard because of His reverence"
(see Hebrews 5:7). Jesus firmly clings to His Father,
trusting Him to rescue and deliver Him from death and hell.

But when all He sees is the Father's wrath, how can He
still cling to this trust? He thinks back to the experience of
His Jewish ancestors. Time and time again they fell into
great distress and trouble because of their sins. Then as
they were suffering they recognized their sins, turned to
God, and cried out to Him. And time and time again, God
heard their prayers, had mercy on them, forgave them, and
faithfully rescued them. They trusted in God's deliverance,
and that trust was not put to shame; God came through
and delivered them.

Though Jesus committed no sins, He is in sore distress
because He carries all of ours. But He knows His Father.
Once this payment has been made in full Jesus will give up
His spirit and God will give Him rest and peace in His
presence.

When we face times of sore distress we can call upon our
Heavenly Father for Jesus' sake. We can then rest in the
sure confidence our trust in our Heavenly Father will not be
put to shame either.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, help me cling to You in faith, just as You
clung to Your Father in Your time of sore distress. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THEY TRUSTED AND HE DELIVERED

Read Psalm 105.

TEXT: In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You
delivered them (Psalm 22:4).

In the midst of incredible injustice and suffering horribly
for sins He never committed, Jesus acknowledges the
holiness of God His Father and the justice of His verdict.
Jesus knows it is only through His sufferings that God can
forgive our sins and our rebellion. Jesus willingly took this
burden on Himself so that through His suffering God's
holiness could be satisfied, that in His love and mercy He
could save unworthy sinners like us.

Now, beset with the pangs of hell Jesus recalls His
Father's faithfulness. Throughout the Old Testament, God's
people Israel found themselves in dire situations. They
knew they could not put their trust in their own strength,
nor in their friends, nor in their possessions, nor in their
military might-only God could save them. Only He could
deliver them. They cried out to Him day and night, trusting
in His deliverance, and God came through for them time
and time again.

Jesus seeks that deliverance too. He yearns for God's
wrath to be spent, His rage stilled, for the pangs of hell to
be finished. Like His fathers before Him, Jesus trusts His
God to deliver Him, to bring Him home to Paradise.

What can you do when you are at your wit's end? When
everything looks as though God has abandoned and
forsaken you? Remember Jesus Christ. Trust that His
sacrifice was sufficient, perfectly satisfying God's wrath at
your sins, and winning His full and free forgiveness. Put
your trust in your Father's love and mercy, knowing He will
never let you down.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, give me firm confidence in Your care
and protection, and Your deliverance from all my troubles.
Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

YET YOU ARE HOLY

Read Psalm 80.
TEXT: Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of
Israel (Psalm 22:3).

Jesus is suffering greatly from the people around Him:
the mocking and jeers of the crowds, one of the
criminals, the Jewish religious leaders, and the
taunting of the Roman soldiers. In His place, we
would likely lash out at them, but not just at them.
After all, the greatest pain He suffers is from His own
Father, who has laid on Him the sins of the world, and
unleashed His fiery wrath on Jesus. But Jesus pleads
for their forgiveness, and turning to His Father, He
confesses, "Yet You are holy."

There is nothing just and right about Jesus' sufferings.
During His entire earthly life He has been perfect in
thought, word and deed. He has loved God with all His
heart, soul, mind and strength. He has loved His
neighbor as Himself. Each of us deserves this
punishment for we have failed miserably.

But innocent and pure, Jesus lies under the crushing
burden of our sins and God's wrath. Yet Jesus finds no
fault in His Father for this. God is holy, completely right
and true in all He does, without a hint of wrong or sin.
That is the reason God is King over Israel, and rightly
receives their praises.

We too go through times of great trial and struggle in life.
But even on our darkest days God is pure, loving and holy.
He is not the cause of our suffering, nor does He delight
in seeing us suffer. Though the world may weigh us down
with suffering and distress, God can use these
circumstances to draw us closer to Him, so we may cling
to Him alone through faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, give me faith to see the holiness of my
God and give Him praises, no matter how badly I may suffer.
Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

BY DAY AND BY NIGHT

Read Psalm 88.

TEXT: O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and
by night, but I find no rest (Psalm 22:2).

Jesus was crucified around nine in the morning. He speaks
briefly three times in those early daylight hours, but most of
the time He hangs silently. But even in His silence He is
crying out to His Father through His groans and tears. Three
hours later the world is plunged into unnatural night as the
sun stops shining. Crushed beneath the load of our sins and
the fiery wrath of our God it must have felt like eternity for
Him. In the unnatural darkness His moans cry out to heaven.
But His Father gives Him no rest, no relief- just the bitter
pangs of hell striking Him in wave after wave.

Sometimes sickness or pain, troubles and fears, guilt or
 torment grip us. No matter what we try we can't escape the
pain night or day. We plead to God to give us relief and help,
but we find little or no change, whether it's daytime or
nighttime.

Perhaps today is such a time for you.

It is in these times that Jesus encourages us to follow His
example, to keep crying out day and night. He promises,
"Will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day
and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will
give justice to them speedily" (see Luke 18:7-8).

Very soon Jesus will complete His payment for our sins.
His suffering will cease and He will be in Paradise forever.
Soon God will relieve your burden, and give you times of
rest and peace. In the meantime, keep crying out to Him
in faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your indescribable pain and agony
You cried out to Your Father from the cross. Give me grace
to keep praying night and day. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

UNANSWERED PRAYER

Read Matthew 8:5-13.

TEXT: Why are You so far from saving me, from the
words of my groaning? (See Psalm 22:1.)

On the cross Jesus quotes the beginning of Psalm 22,
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Each
verse of Psalm 22 is made up of couplets-two phrases
linked together to make the meaning more clear and
powerful. Jesus' first spoken phrase (described in
yesterday's devotion) speaks of being cut off, abandoned,
and forsaken by His Father on account of our sins. At the
same time, however, it shows Him tightly holding to His
Father in faith: "My God, My God." The unspoken
second phrase of that couplet describes that
forsakenness. "Why are You so far from saving me, from
the words of My groaning?"

For hours Jesus has been groaning in pain on the cross.
And like the words of a prayer, those bitter groans have
been continually rising to His Father's throne. Yet those
silent prayers went unanswered, the pain and torment
continued. His back turned, the Father ignores His Son's
groaning, refusing to step in and bring an end to the bitter
pangs.

Often we find ourselves under heavy burdens in life, crying
out to God through our groaning and our tears. Yet, we do
not get the relief we so desperately seek. God seems far,
far away. He seems not to care, or He seems angry at us
for sins we have committed and the times we have been
unfaithful. But that is only how it appears to us. God
removed all our sins and laid them on Jesus in our place.
Jesus was truly cut off and forsaken so our Father would
never have to do that to us. Our sins are forgiven for His
sake. Thanks be to God for the Spirit's work in leading us
to repentance-and to faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, sometimes we call upon You to save
us, to hear the words of our groaning, and You seem far
away. Remind us that You are our ever-present help in
times of trouble. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE CRY OF ONE FORSAKEN

Read Psalm 22. TEXT: And about the ninth hour,
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama
sabacthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46).

For three excruciating hours Jesus hangs in darkness,
cut off from any comfort, any hope. He is battered and
ravaged as His Father unleashes wave after wave of His
furious wrath at our sins, which Jesus has taken upon
Himself. As the hour slowly approaches three in the
afternoon Jesus raises His voice in a heart-rending cry,
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

For the first time in His life, Jesus does not address God
as His Father. He has been cut off and disowned because
of our sin which He bears. In His place many of us would
turn our backs on God, but not Jesus. He knows the God
of Israel alone can save Him from this torment, this
endless death. With the use of a single letter in the
Aramaic, translated as our simple English word "my,"
Jesus clings to His God with a faith that will not crack, will
not fail-even while being crushed under the fiery justice of
the Almighty. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

To those Jews standing around Jesus these words are
familiar. They recognize the opening verse of Psalm 22.
Though Jesus speaks only the first half of the first verse, the
remainder of the psalm echoes through the silence that follows.

In the coming days we will study the entire psalm and see
ever more clearly the depth of Christ's loving sacrifice for us-
and the faith and devotion that kept Him reaching out to His
God. 

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, to save me and all people, You were
forsaken by Your Father, and suffered the punishment for all
of our sins. Deepen my gratitude for Your tremendous sacrifice,
and my confidence in Your complete victory. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

OUTER DARKNESS

Read Matthew 8: 5-13.

TEXT: It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness
over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light
failed (see Luke 23:44-45).

Three long, dreadful hours have passed since Jesus was
crucified. Around noon a dramatic change takes place. Suddenly,
Jesus, the criminals, the Roman guards, the Jewish leaders, and
the crowds are cast into an eerie, unnatural darkness because
the sun fails to shine. Jesus had spoken of such darkness before.

In the reading above, Jesus was asked to heal the servant of a
Roman centurion. Contrasting the faith of this non-Jew with the
doubt and disbelief many of His fellow Jews felt toward Him, Jesus
warned the crowds, "Many will come from east and west and
recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer
darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Now this outer darkness envelopes Jesus. Though He has been
absolutely flawless and perfect throughout his entire life and has
committed no crime great or small, He is cut off from the glory of
heaven. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity, the sin, the guilt of
us all.

We are the ones who deserve this darkness because of our
disobedience to God's perfect will. We should be shackled in the
everlasting night of hell to suffer excruciating, endless agony. But
our King suffers through the darkness of the cross that we might
be forgiven and inherit His glorious home in heaven.

Cut off from any comfort of created light, our Savior Jesus Christ
bears the brunt of His Father's furious judgment at the sins of the
world.

THE PRAYER: 

Lord Jesus, who can fathom the depths of Your love in taking our
place under Your Father's wrath, being forsaken and punished in our
stead? Thank You for Your gracious salvation and accept our loving
praise, worship and service. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A DESOLATE MOTHER

Read John 19: 25-27.

TEXT: "Woman, behold, your son!" ... "Behold, your
mother!" (See John 19:26-27.)

The staggering burden of the world's sins crushes
Jesus as He bears the punishment we deserve. Beneath
that overwhelming pain, grief and sorrow, Jesus has every
reason to tune out the bitter enemies who surround Him
and turn within Himself. But instead His eyes scan the
hostile crowd, pleading with His Father to forgive them,
"for they know not what they do." He offers forgiveness
and the promise of Paradise to the repentant criminal at
His side.

Now He scans the crowd again, and His eyes behold two
figures standing before Him in shock and grief. One is His
mother Mary, her heart pierced by the sword of grief and
sorrow (see Luke 2:35). Who will care for her after He has
fulfilled His earthly mission and returned to heaven?

Mary's husband Joseph has died already. If not, he would
have charge of Mary and Jesus would not have the
responsibility of providing someone to care for her after
His death. Jesus could entrust her to one of His four
brothers or His unknown number of sisters (see Matthew
13:55). Several of these will become prominent leaders in
the church, but at this time none of them believe He is the
promised Christ and Savior (see John 7:5).

He sees the second figure-the lone disciple of the Twelve to
have the courage to stand at Mary's side under the cross.
Who better to entrust with His mother's keeping than His
closest, most loyal disciple John? And from this very hour
John lovingly takes her into his own house and faithfully
provides for her the rest of her life.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in the midst of Your bitter suffering and
agonizing death You loved Your mother enough to provide
John to care for her. Move us in joyful thanksgiving for Your
salvation to love and care for one another. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A CHANGED MIND

Read Luke 23: 39-43.

TEXT: "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your
kingdom" (see Luke 23:42).

As Jesus hangs on the bitter cross, cruel laughter,
mockery and ridicule are flung at Him from all sides: from
the crowds, the Jewish leaders, the Roman soldiers, and
even the criminals hanging to His right and left. One
criminal shouts, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself
and us!"

That taunt brings a surprising response-a lone voice
speaking up in Jesus' defense. "Do you not fear God,
since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward
of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

What changed this condemned criminal from mocker to
defender? Has he realized he will not come off this cross
alive-but in a few hours must stand before God his Judge?
Did the quiet, kingly dignity of Jesus' prayer, "Father,
forgiven them" change his mind? One thing is clear; the
Holy Spirit has convinced him of his guilt and given him
faith that Jesus is the innocent Son of God, who alone
can save him from the eternal torments of hell.

Through the eyes of faith the criminal looks beneath the
bloody crown of thorns and sees the King of kings, the
Savior of the world. Turning to Jesus he pleads, "Jesus,
remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

Our Lord replies "Truly, I say to you, today you will be
with Me in Paradise." In the midst of His bitter sufferings
Jesus receives the reassurance His bloody sacrifice is
not in vain. This repentant criminal is just one of a
countless multitude who will turn from their sins, trust in
Him, and spend eternity with Him in Paradise.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for assuring the repentant criminal
and me of Your gracious forgiveness and for promising us
eternal life with You in Paradise. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

FATHER, FORGIVE THEM

Read Luke 23: 32-38.

TEXT: And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do" (see Luke 23:34).

In agony Jesus looks upon the Roman soldiers who
savagely flogged Him, crowned Him with thorns, spat
upon Him, and mocked Him as King. They don't realize
they nailed their God and Creator to the cross.

He looks at the Jewish crowds that had hailed Him as
the Messiah when He entered Jerusalem on Sunday.
Now, passing by on their way into the city, they deride
Him as a fraud and fake. They have no idea they are
mocking God's only Son, their Promised Savior and
King.

He looks at the Jewish leaders who vehemently opposed
Him throughout His ministry, who dogged His steps,
twisting and distorting His teachings. They condemned
Him to death, and then pressured the Roman governor to
crucify Him. They do not know they have driven their High
Priest to His death. He looks upon the criminals hanging
at His side, railing at Him out of their pain and anger. At
first, neither of them is aware they are spurning the
innocent Son of God, their King.

He looks at you and me, who quickly forget the price He
paid for our sins and repeatedly offend Him by our thoughts
and desires, and harm our neighbor by our words and deeds.

He thinks of all we deserve for what we have done. Yet,
rather than seek revenge, Jesus prays, "Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do." What prayer was
ever so gracious-or so difficult to ask? For Jesus knows there
is only one way His holy Father can turn His fiery wrath away
from us-and that is by unleashing it on Him.

THE PRAYER:

Jesus, my Savior, You have every right to lash out at me for
my sins. Thank You for taking my guilt on Yourself and
suffering and dying in my place. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

SHAPER THAN A KNIFE

Read Matthew 27:38-45.

TEXT: And those who passed by derided Him, wagging
their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the
temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself!"
(See Matthew 27:39-40)

The physical pain Jesus endures from crucifixion is
unimaginable and surely compounded by the scorn and
ridicule hurled at Him from all sides. Out of boundless
love for these people He left His throne in heaven and
became human. In deep compassion He takes their
place suffering the Father's wrath to forgive their sins.
He sacrifices Himself in love, but His own people heap
abuse and shame on Him.

Crowds of Jews are streaming into the city to celebrate
the Passover. They pass by the cross, shaking their
heads and expressing contempt for Him. The Jewish
religious leaders who condemned Him throw away any
trace of honor and decorum and stand opposite Him,
mocking His Name, Jesus, which means "The Lord saves.
" They exclaim, "He saved others; He cannot save
Himself." Even the two criminals lash out at Him in their
pain and misery.

As a child I used a popular rhyme to protect myself from
bullies, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but
words can never hurt me." But their words, laughter and
ridicule cut deeper than any knife. Their laughter and
ridicule twisted that knife all the more.

The more you love someone and care about them, the
more it hurts when they rise up against you. The sting is
greater when you are sacrificing yourself for someone
who mocks and ridicules you for it. That is the emotional
pain Jesus endures on the cross as He pays the ultimate
price for your sins and mine.

THE PRAYER:

Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, You sought pardon and
forgiveness for those who nailed You to the cross and
heaped scorn and ridicule on You. Forgive our sins and fill
our hearts with faith and gratitude to You, and sincere love
for one another. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

KING OF THE JEWS

Read Matthew 27:27-31, 37.

TEXT: And over His head they put the charge against
Him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews"
(Matthew 27:37).

Finally, the crucifixion detail reaches Golgotha: the
place of execution. Jesus is nailed to the cross. The
Roman governor has ordered a placard placed above
His head. It proclaims the name and hometown of the
condemned, notifying all passersby of the crime for
which He is being executed.

It reads, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

It recalls the savage treatment He already received at
the hands of the Romans. First, He was brutally flogged-
a whipping that often brought a man to the brink of death.
Then the soldiers mocked the King of the Jews, crowning
His brow with thorns, draping a robe over His torn and
bloody shoulders, placing a reed in His hand as a scepter,
kneeling before Him, spitting on Him and, finally,
snatching the reed from His hand and beating Him over
the head with it.

The Romans had absolutely no pity or mercy toward their
prisoners, and Jesus was certainly no exception. But
again that is what each of us deserves. We have all
disobeyed God's laws and brought harm on our neighbors.
Each of us ought to be punished mercilessly for the things
we have done and the good we have left undone. But Jesus
takes our place.

It is you and I who should be bound hand and foot;
instead, Jesus' hands and feet are nailed to the cross. We
should be cast into the outer darkness. But according to
the Father's will, Jesus hangs from the cross, soon to be
plunged into an eerie, unnatural darkness when the sun
should be at its zenith. Our King takes our place, suffering
and dying that we might be set free.

THE PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, I deserve nothing but the suffering and torments
of hell, but You suffered them in my place that I might live in
perfect peace and joy with You in heaven. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

DEATH ROW PARDON

Ash Wednesday --

Read Matthew 27:15-26.

TEXT: "Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas,
or Jesus who is called Christ?" (Matthew 27:17).

The insurgent brooded as he watched the sky slowly lighten
in the East. For the thousandth time he inspected the bars
in his cell and the chains on his wrists; there was no escape.
He knew this would likely be the last sunrise he'd ever see.
Soon the soldiers would come to take him to Skull Hill.

The commanding officer ordered the cell door opened, and
his two partners in crime were led off by guards. The
condemned man stepped forward to take his turn. But the
centurion unlocked his chains instead. "Today's your lucky
day, Barabbas. You're free to go-Governor Pilate's orders.
Some Galilean's taking your place."

Could you imagine being on death row, ready to march to
your execution and getting a last-second reprieve? That's
what happened on Good Friday nearly 2,000 years ago.
The crowds demanded Barabbas be released and Jesus
be crucified. The innocent man was condemned to death,
the guilty man set free.

Actually, you and I are a lot like Barabbas. We are all
guilty of sins against God and against humanity, and we
rightly deserve the sentence of physical death and eternal
torment in hell. But Jesus of Nazareth, God's Son, steps
forward to suffer the penalty and punishment we deserve.
He will go to the cross to take our place, suffering the hell
we deserve, so God's holiness and justice can be satisfied
and we can be set free.

THE PRAYER: 

Lord Jesus, I deserve punishment and death, yet You have
freely taken my place. Give me true regret and sorrow over
my sins, that I may receive the forgiveness and peace You
won on the cross for all of us. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

RACISM A SIN

The fight for racial justice in our communities and
nation isn’t over, and we need to keep it going.
Unjust laws that create a culture of fear and
continuing attacks on voter rights cannot be
tolerated,

Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians that we
are all one in Christ Jesus. When one part of the
body of Christ is oppressed, the entire body is
affected. When one part of the body of Christ is
told they cannot exercise their full rights as citizens,
the entire body feels pain. As members of the body
of Christ, we cannot be inactive while part of this
body suffers.

Please contact "Stand Your Ground" govenors and
all members of Congress, the need for just
laws.

Always ask yourself the question WWJD (What
Would Jesus Do"