PREPARE YOURSELVES

"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)

THE WORLD IS CHANGING

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)

A SURE PREDICTION

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)

POWERFUL PRAYER

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to
have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have
prayed for you that your faith may not fail. ..." (Luke 22:31).

Read Luke 22:31-32.

Already in this meal Jesus has foretold His coming suffering
and death, established a new Sacrament to give us His own
body and blood in bread and wine, and exposed the betrayer
who will set it all into motion. Now He turns to the leader of
His disciples, bold and impetuous Peter. His words seem
totally at odds with the Peter we meet in the Gospels-confident,
strong, impulsive. But Jesus knows.

With deep concern and tender care He speaks Peter's given
name twice, "Simon, Simon." Back when this disciple
expressed his faith that Jesus was God's Son, the promised
Savior, the Lord had given him the name Peter, which means "
rock." But this night Peter will be the furthest thing from a rock
as he crumbles before servant girls and soldiers.

Confident in his foolish pride, Peter will put himself in great
danger. Satan will seek to use that bitter moment of denial to
shake Peter with deep guilt and regret in an attempt to crush
his faith. Peter's leadership will be severely hampered as he
asks how he could possibly remain one of Jesus' chosen apostles.

But Jesus steps in to reassure Peter. "I have prayed for you.
" The gracious voice of God's Son will overpower the tempter's
foul accusation. By Jesus' power, Peter will turn from his denial,
and follow his Savior yet again. Then a restored Peter will
strengthen his brothers and sisters. As we recall the depth of
Peter's fall and see Jesus' gracious restoration, Peter's
experience encourages us to leave behind our guilt and regret
and boldly trust in Jesus' full and complete forgiveness for all
our sins and failings.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You plead for me before Your Father in heaven.
Reassure me of Your complete and free forgiveness every time
I fall. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

IT'S EMBARRASSING

It's Embarrassing to Be an Evangelical This Election

 I find myself saying in the face of the fact that Donald
Trump has now captured the votes of more “evangelicals”
in the Republican primaries than any other candidate.

First, I point out that when the media says “evangelicals”
they really mean “white evangelicals” and virtually never
measure the opinions and voting practices of black, brown,
or even young evangelicals.

So I have to define the word evangelical. I find it’s best to
use the words of Jesus himself, words white evangelicals
need to listen to if they are, as they claim, believers in Jesus.

Jesus announced his mission in the little town of Nazareth,
as recorded in Luke chapter 4, verse 18.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free.”

Does that sound like anything you have heard from the
“evangelicals” the media is covering in this election?

When Jesus chose this text from Isaiah 61 to read in the temple,
he was proclaiming his mission, as recorded in the Luke 4 text.
These were the first public words out of his mouth, his first
sermon, his first public appearance, his opening gig, and his
mission statement. I've always called it his "Nazareth manifesto.
" Very clearly, justice would be at the center of his mission. He
came to "bring good news to the poor." The root of the Greek
verb Jesus uses there for "good news" is evangel, from which
we get the words "evangelize" and "evangelical." Jesus' movement
was to be based on proclaiming the good news. Without a doubt,
Jesus' gospel was always to be good news for the poor. Therefore,
any of our gospels that are not good news to poor and vulnerable
people clearly fall short of what Jesus proclaimed in his opening
statement about why he came. In other words, any gospel that
is not good news to the poor is simply not the gospel of Jesus
Christ.

White evangelicals should have to explain, on the basis of their
biblical faith, how they find themselves among these statistics,
how they can feel comfortable with Trump’s proposed policies of
rounding up, deporting, and destroying the families of 11 million
immigrants; killing the families of terrorists; restricting the religious
liberty of Muslim citizens; banning Muslim refugees; and appealing
to the worst and most dangerous instincts of white Americans.

It’s time to put “evangelical” ahead of “white” and to revisit
Galatians 3:28, “There is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or
female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus.”

( Excerpts from Jim Wallis)

A GLORIOUS PROMISE

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "You are those who have stayed with Me
in My trials, and I assign to you, as My Father
assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and
drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:28-30).

Read Luke 22:28-30.

Though Jesus was generally well-received by the crowds
throughout His ministry, He faced ever stiffening
opposition and hostility from the Jewish religious leaders.
But the disciples faithfully stood by Him through it all.
Peter said it well: "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"
(John 6:68b-69).

Jesus looks around the table at them. A moment ago
they disputed which of them was greatest, but He knows
in the future they will suffer as He will-beatings,
imprisonment, exile, even death. So Jesus points them
beyond those sufferings to the glorious reward that waits
for them at the end. When their earthly lives are
completed, they will receive a greater honor, privilege
and glory than anything they could have sought on earth.
Here they will serve in humility and suffering, but in
heaven they will find true glory and honor. The promise
is true for you and me as well.

Though our daily work for the Lord often seems to go
unappreciated and unrecognized, Jesus assures us that
God marks it well and will faithfully reward it in eternity.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us a new way to
think about ourselves and our place in Your world. Help
me grasp the beauty and grandeur of it all, that I may
live as You did, in humble service and self-sacrifice.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

TRUE GREATNESS

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "Who is the greater, one who reclines at table
or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table?
But I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27).

Read Luke 22:24-27.

With infinite patience Jesus responds to His disciples' strife
about which of them will be considered the greatest. He
reminds them they are thinking the way worldly people
do-striving for recognition and self-promotion. His followers
will follow a different path.

The greatest among His people will regard themselves as
though they were the youngest, the lowest people who have
absolutely no claim over anyone else. Christian leaders will
be humble people who pour themselves out in lowly service.
And these apostles, when they go out to share the good
news about what Jesus accomplished for all people, will go
out as equals, serving the same cause, sharing the same
Gospel.

That is why pastors are called ministers. That title reminds
us of Jesus' humble, lowly service to us. Like Him, pastors
don't do their work for their own glory or recognition, but for
the benefit of those around them, and for the glory of their
Savior Jesus Christ.

As He lays aside the water basin and towel and resumes
His place at the table, He brings their focus back to Himself.
He is the glorious Son of God, yet He set aside that glory
and became human. He reminds them that He has come to
serve, and not to be served. He will soon show them the
greatest example of lowly, self-sacrifice as He offers
Himself unto death to remove our guilt and sin.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, my world seeks fame, honor, glory and
distinction. But You alone deserve this attention. Give me
joy in humbly serving, just as You stooped down to serve
each of us. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE SERVING KING

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

TEXT: A dispute arose among them as to which of them
was to be regarded as the greatest (Luke 22:24).

Read John 13:1-19.

Here in the upper room is an amazing contrast. Jesus is
totally focused on His followers, but all they can think
about is themselves. While He is busy reaching out to
Judas, teaching each of them about His coming suffering
and death for our salvation, and giving them His own
body and blood in a new and wonderful testament, all
they can think about is their own honor, and which of
them should be considered greatest by others.

How often are we so preoccupied with our own honor
and glory, our reputation and well-being that we pass by
hurting people all around us?

In tomorrow's devotion we will read what Jesus said
about this dispute. But today we focus on the action He
took in response. As we just read in John's Gospel, Jesus
rose from the table without a word. He silently removed
His outer garment, wrapped Himself in a towel, then
stooped down and began to wash each of their feet like
the lowliest household servant. Peter almost prevented
Jesus from washing His feet because it seemed so
beneath Him.

But Jesus insists. And He teaches them this is not the time
for quarreling and arguing about our importance and our
fame. It's time to focus on the people around us who need
our encouragement, support and attention. More
importantly, it's time to focus on Jesus: to contemplate His
astonishing love and the tremendous sacrifice He is freely
making for us and all people.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, whenever I start to compare myself to others
and promote my own recognition and glory, please stop
me in my tracks. Remind me that You came as our Servant,
submitting like a slave, and now that You have saved me,
may I truly serve others in Your Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

TURNING THE TABLES

By Rev. Wayne Palmer


Lenten Devotion

And they began to question one another, which of them it
could be who was going to do this (Luke 22:23).

Read John 13:21-30.

Jesus isn't done with Judas yet. He's going to use the reaction
of the other disciples to help Judas understand the full nature
of the act he is plotting.

The disciples clearly understand Jesus' prediction that one of
them will betray Him, but they are utterly dumbfounded. The
thought had never crossed their minds that one of their number
could be capable of such a hideous act. So they begin to
question each other and ask who it is.

It is hard to imagine Judas being completely unaffected as the
reactions spread around him. He has to be asking himself,
"How does Jesus know? What is He going to do?" He can't
possibly fail to realize the great danger he now faces. Jesus
has completely turned the tables, and Judas is completely at
His mercy. What if Jesus chooses to save Himself by
betraying Judas to the other 11?

Jesus wants His traitorous disciple to know how it feels to be
betrayed. He walks Judas right to the brink of betrayal. It
should be enough to send a shudder through Judas, and a
stab of remorse and regret in his heart.

But tragically, Judas refuses to allow the Holy Spirit to bring
repentance; instead, he opens his heart wide for Satan. He
quickly takes the morsel of bread, and goes off into the night
to perform his foul deed. Every Gospel makes it clear that
during the meal none of the disciples realized Judas was the
one. Jesus was careful to shield and protect him from them,
just as Judas should have protected Jesus.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, guard my heart from such cold indifference and
unbelief. Move me to sincere repentance and faith that I may
always cling to You, my only Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

REACHING OUT TO A HARDENED HEART

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined,
but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" (Luke 22:22).

Read Mark 15:17-21.

The sin Judas is plotting is not unforgiveable, but he has spent
days plotting his betrayal. With each passing hour he pushes
Jesus further and further out of his heart.

But Jesus clings to Judas. He strives now, before the act, to stir
Judas' conscience; to help him see the horror of what he is about to
do. Better to bring him to repentance here and now, where Jesus
can assure him that he is forgiven and at peace, than wait until after
the fact when the chief priests turn a deaf ear to him
(see Matthew 27:3-4).

If Judas repents and turns from this sin, he will in no way jeopardize
God's plan of salvation. Once Jesus has prayed in the Garden of
Gethsemane, He will be willing to turn Himself over to those who
seek His life. Jesus will go to the cross and death as the Father has
determined.

The Lord can give no stronger warning than His words, "Woe to that
man by whom He is betrayed." Woe is a word that foreshadows the
agony and desolation of hell. Jesus clearly points out Judas' guilt in
choosing this course-and reveals the end of this sad road if Judas will
not repent and seek his Lord's forgiveness.

Our Savior's unfailing love is incredible. Even at the moment of the
betrayal in the garden, He will try once more to bring Judas to
repentance and faith. But in love God never forces us to repent and
believe. He holds out the free offer of grace, forgiveness and eternal
life, but He gives Judas, you and me the freedom to walk away, even
to our own eternal destruction.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, forgive my stubborn waywardness, and bring me to
repentance, faith and salvation. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

MAKING IT PERSONAL

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "But behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is
with Me on the table" (Luke 22:21).

Read Matthew 26:20-25.

From the beginning Jesus knew Judas would choose to betray
Him. For long months He has tried to break through the
betrayer's selfish greed, speaking of the dangers of the
overpowering love of money, and teaching the need to seek
first the kingdom of heaven.

But Judas' love for money has been too strong; Jesus' words
have fallen on deaf ears.

So Jesus chooses this very moment, while He sits in the upper
room surrounded by faithful disciples, to reveal His knowledge.
He chooses words which strike hard at Judas' conscience.
They are stark and chilling because they are so intensely
personal: at the very table where Jesus dined was His betrayer.
And even more He says, "His hand is with Me on the table."

Jesus appeals to this friendship even while exposing the hideous
nature of this act. Perhaps the shock of the moment will break
 through and stir Judas to repentance and faith. After all, he has
shared Jesus' food, His ministry, His prayers, and His confession
of faith. How can he be plotting to commit this-the greatest of
hypocrisies?

It is shocking that this man who had spent so much time eating,
drinking, travelling and sleeping with Jesus could turn against
Him so completely-and for such a small price. Even more
shocking is the fact that Judas is unmoved by Jesus' words.
Absorbed in his own selfish greed, he continues in his reckless
course.

How often do we ignore Jesus' loving warnings and follow our
own twisted, self-destructive desires?

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, when I travel along paths of disobedience and
defiance, turn my heart to repentance and faith that I may return
and glorify You, rather than follow Satan's road to eternal
destruction. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

GIVING US HIS VERY SELF

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

And He (Jesus) took bread, and when He had given thanks,
He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body,
which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. And
likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that
is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood"
(Luke 22:19-20).

Read Matthew 26:26-29.

During this Passover feast, Jesus and His disciples ate the
lamb's meat. In doing so they remembered those lambs whose
blood had been spread on the doorposts and lintels in Egypt to
cause the angel of death to pass over the houses of Israel's
firstborn.

Now Jesus takes unleavened bread from the Passover table,
and makes it a new memorial. The Son of God-God's own
Passover Lamb-miraculously joins His own body to the bread
and His own blood to the wine. As we eat the bread and wine
we receive that same body and blood that was nailed to the
cross and poured out of His wounds.

Jesus Christ gives us a very vivid reminder that He has taken
away the sins of the world through His suffering and death.
Sealed by His body and blood, we are safe and secure,
assured the angel of death will pass over us on Judgment Day.

It is a new covenant, a new binding agreement by which God
our Father promises to accept Christ's sacrifice in our place,
and to give us full forgiveness and peace for Jesus' sake. And
it is Jesus' new testament-His will which is in full force ever
since His death-giving to us forgiveness, peace and everlasting
life in God's presence.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in the wondrous meal of Holy Communion, You
give us Your very body and blood to forgive our sins, and
reassure us of Your complete and free forgiveness. Help me
treasure this precious meal always, and to remember Your
death until You come again. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

FULFILLING THE PASSOVER

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

(Jesus said) "For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in
the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16).

Read Luke 22:16-18.

First, Jesus shocks His disciples by saying He will soon
suffer. Then He tells them He will not eat the Passover again
until it is fulfilled in God's kingdom. They knew that the first
Passover occurred long ago when the angel of death had
struck down the firstborn in Egypt, but passed over all those
houses marked with the blood of the Passover lamb. The
act was completed more than 1,400 years before, but Jesus
tells them it still isn't fulfilled.

In the original Passover only the firstborn were in danger.
But all of us are slaves of sin and under the curse of hell.
Not even the blood of all those Passover lambs could save
us from eternal death. Only the blood of the Lamb of God,
shed on the cross, can do that. Whoever is shielded by
Christ's blood on Judgment Day, will watch the angel of
death pass over and will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

The next time Jesus will eat the Passover it will be a
memorial feast in heaven, looking back on His completed
sacrifice. Each time we receive Holy Communion, we
partake of that meal, celebrating the new Passover,
remembering His sacrifice for us, and eating the body and
blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, keep me firm in this faith until You bring me to
heaven to share Your great Passover feast. And throughout
my days on this earth, work through me to bring many others
to saving faith that they too may share this eternal feast with
You in heaven. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

TREASURING TIME TOGETHER

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

And He (Jesus) said to them, "I have earnestly desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer" (Luke 22:15).

Read Luke 22:14-15.

According to the Bible's reckoning, the day began at sunset
rather than midnight. So as Jesus sits down in the upper
room to eat, He is well aware the final day of His earthly life
has begun. Much lies before Him: three grueling hours of
prayer, His arrest, three trials, mistreatment and mockery,
bitter suffering, abuse, torture, six hours of agony on the
cross and, finally, His death.

These great Passion events could easily dominate His
thoughts, but instead He pushes them aside and focuses
on the moment. He wants His disciples to know how
important they are to Him. His literal words make that clear:
"With great desire I have desired to eat this Passover with
you."

What was so important about this meal for Jesus? It was the
people who surrounded Him-the people He loved and for
whom He would soon lay down His life. Jesus feels the same
about you and me. He treasures the time we spend reading
His Word, gathering with our brothers and sisters in worship,
praying to Him. He promises, "For where two or three are
gathered in My Name, there am I among them"
(Matthew 18:20).

Here in the upper room they will soon eat the Passover lamb
and remember how God had delivered their ancestors from
slavery in Egypt. But they don't realize that among them sits
the Passover Lamb. It is He who will this very day will go to
the cross to deliver them from the slavery of sin, death, Satan
and hell-and open wide for all of us the gates of Paradise.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for living in my heart. Deliver me from
all evil and lead me to Your eternal home. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

CRYPTIC INSTRUCTIONS

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion 2016

And they went and found it just as He had told them, and
they prepared the Passover (Luke 22:13).

Read Deuteronomy 16:1-8.

Jesus' instructions must surely have challenged the faith of
Peter and John. What were the odds they would see a man
carrying a jar of water? That he would lead them to a house
with a large guest room, furnished and available? Yet this is
exactly what they experienced. Surely, it strengthened their
faith when one by one, Jesus' strange instructions worked
out for them.

But was there another reason Jesus gave such cryptic
instructions? He was well aware that one of His 12 disciples
was carefully watching for an opportunity to betray Him in the
absence of the crowds. When Peter and John asked Jesus
where they were to prepare the Passover, it is the moment
Judas was waiting for. What better occasion to find Jesus
away from the crowd, in a house that can be surrounded, with
no way of escape?

If Jesus had identified the house He had in mind, Judas could
have found a way to sneak out and inform the Jewish leaders.
Then there would have been no time to eat with His disciples,
to institute Holy Communion, or to prepare Himself through
prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Each of these things is
essential, and Jesus won't permit Judas to gain that knowledge
until the time is right.

In a similar way, as Jesus guides us through life, He keeps our
enemies in check and thwarts their plans to harm us-unless it
suits His loving, divine purposes for us and for them.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, we are surrounded by spiritual enemies who wish
to destroy our faith and do us eternal harm. As You watch over
us and limit what they can do, give us loving hearts to share
Your Word so that You may bring them to repentance and faith.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

BORROWED THINGS

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

"He will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare
it there" (Luke 22:12).

Read Luke 22:11-12.

As Jesus directed, the two disciples enter the city gate and
find the man carrying the water jar. He will guide Peter and
John to the house where they will prepare the Passover for
Jesus. But for these disciples the strangest thing may not
be the man carrying water.

The strangest thing may well be that a room large enough
to accommodate at least 13 men is still available in
Jerusalem. The city is bursting with Jewish pilgrims
gathered together from all over the Roman Empire to
celebrate the Passover. But as Jesus predicts, they won't
just find a large empty room, it will be fully furnished, with
all the furniture and utensils they will need.

Thirty-some years ago a Jewish carpenter diligently
searched for just such a room in the little town of Bethlehem,
a few miles southwest of here. In fact, Luke uses the exact
same Greek word for "guest room" here as he uses for "inn"
there (see Luke 2:7). But no such room was available that
first Christmas, so Jesus had been born in a humble shelter
for cattle.

But this time it is different. A room has been held back and
reserved. In this space Jesus will celebrate His Last Supper
and institute Holy Communion. The owner of this house
knows the Teacher, and will be deeply honored to lend Him
this room. He is the second man in recent days who has been
privileged to loan his property to the Savior of mankind. Just
the previous Sunday a man had loaned Him his young donkey,
which had never been ridden before. And before the sun sets
again, a prominent Jewish ruler will lend Jesus his unused tomb.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for choosing to honor us with Your
presence. Use our time, treasure, talents and lives to spread
Your Kingdom and glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

NO DETAIL TO SMALL

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

He (Jesus) said to them, "Behold, when you have entered
the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.
 Follow him into the house that he enters ..." (Luke 22:10).

Read Luke 22:8-10.

This momentous day begins with a meal which will be
remembered and rehearsed until the day Jesus returns. It
will be Jesus' last Passover, a beautiful legacy He will leave
for His church. So He sends two disciples to prepare the
meal. Their first task will be to secure a space large enough
to accommodate Jesus, the 12 followers He called, and any
others who are with them.

He instructs Peter and John to follow the man carrying a jar
of water. Maybe this sounds like a rather odd direction. We
might expect them to see a large number of men carrying
jars of water. But these two disciples know women normally
carried the water. It is extremely unusual to see a man
carrying one, so he will be really easy to spot.

But even so, Jesus has to know exactly when that one male
servant will be at that place, and coordinate His disciples'
arrival so they will be passing into the city gates exactly
when he walks by. For the Son of God, no detail is too small
as He makes sure everything will be on hand for His disciples
to complete the preparations for this great feast.

In the same way no detail is too small as Jesus coordinates
all the events in your life to best serve His loving purpose for
you. Don't ignore those little details-the seemingly unimportant
situations or people He brings near. Those are opportunities to
experience His loving care, and to share the love of Christ in
your attitude, your humility and kindness, your words and your
deeds.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for taking note of every detail of my life.
Give me confidence that You will guide all things for my eternal
good. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A PIVOTAL DAY

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the
Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. (Luke 22:7)

Read Hebrews 9:1-15.

The day has come. The Jewish leaders and all the people
see this as just another remembrance pointing back to
that first great Passover in Egypt. But Jesus is aware that
all human history hangs on this pivotal day. For this is the
day when God's own Passover Lamb will be sacrificed.
His blood will not save the Israelites from slavery, or the
firstborn from physical death. His death will deliver every
man, woman and child who has ever lived, or will ever live,
from slavery to sin, and from everlasting death in hell.

He makes that sacrifice for all people-freely offering
forgiveness to all people, to you and to me. But on
Judgment Day the angel of death will only pass over those
of us who, by faith, are marked in the blood of God's Son.
Jesus' holy angels will separate believers from unbelievers,
and cast all unbelievers into the eternal fire of hell.

Our reading from Hebrews today speaks about what Jesus
will accomplish through His suffering and death on the cross.
Jesus will bring His own blood into His Father's presence in
heaven, and by that blood cleanse us from all our sins.

That is the depth of Jesus' love for you and me. That is why
He was willing to become human, to be born in Bethlehem's
lowly manger. It's why He will allow Himself to be betrayed,
beaten, slapped, punched, flogged and crucified. By His
sacrifice and His shed blood we are forever forgiven and we
are free.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You came to take our sins upon Yourself and
bear the punishment of God in our place. Thank You for that
great sacrifice. Now give us courage and true concern for
those dying around us so that we may share Your victory with
everyone You bring into our lives. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

WAITING FOR THE PERFECT MOMENT

Lenten Devotion

And (the chief priests and officers) were glad, and
agreed to give (Judas) money. So he consented and
sought an opportunity to betray Him to them in the
absence of a crowd (Luke 22:5-6).

Read Mark 14:1-11.

The priests were glad to have the possibility of
eliminating Jesus before the Passover-before He could
start a revolt against Rome. Who better than an insider
to spy on Jesus and find the perfect opportunity to
spring their trap? They agreed to the price of thirty
pieces of silver and considered it a bargain. The Jewish
leaders would no doubt have been willing to spend far
more to remove Jesus from the picture.

So Judas began watching and waiting. He needed an
opportunity to betray Jesus when He was separated from
the crowd, and thus vulnerable. Judas held his secret
close in his heart. None of the other disciples had a clue.
He went on acting the part of a friend-and none were the
wiser.

But Jesus knew. He'd known it from the day He first chose
Judas. He'd even dropped hints here and there (see
John 6:63-64, 70-71), along the way. He could easily use
this knowledge to avoid the situation for which Judas was
watching. He could even use it against Judas, turn the
tables, and betray him to the other 11. But Jesus will only
use it for Judas' benefit. He is waiting for that moment when
He can make the biggest impact, reveal the devilish nature
of this sin, and hopefully turn Judas back and save him.

In the meantime, He lets Judas keeps watching for his
opportunity. The betrayer quickly learns it is not as easy to
hand Jesus over as he had first thought.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, nothing takes You by surprise. Thank You for
working so hard to call us to repentance and salvation.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Mininistries)

FULLY AWARE

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of
the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with
the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to
them (Luke 22:3-4).

Read Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16.

The religious authorities desperately want to get rid of Jesus,
but the huge swell of Passover pilgrims that fill the temple
courts are hanging on His every word. If they take any action
against Jesus, the crowds will rally to His defense. So they
concede they will have to wait until the Passover is finished
and the crowds return to their homes (see Matthew 26:5).

For the chief priests this is extremely frustrating-and
dangerous. Jesus is completely beyond their control. If He
steps forward during the Passover, claims Himself King, and
begins a rebellion, they will be powerless to stop it, or to
control the Roman military response to it.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a possible solution appears.
One member of Jesus' inner circle of disciples, Judas, comes
to them offering to deliver Jesus to them. Judas' faith and love
for Jesus has dried up, choked out by his lust for money
(see John 12:4-6).
The Jewish leaders are overjoyed, but cautious. They describe
the conditions they are looking for: a time when Jesus is in
the city, yet separated from the crowds.

But even while they conspire together behind closed doors,
Judas and the chief priests have no idea that Jesus is well
aware of everything; He knew it from the start. We might expect
Jesus to be furious and vindictive; instead, He loves Judas. He
prepares to reach out to this lost disciple in every way He can,
trying to touch his heart, prick his conscience, and bring him
back to faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, Your love is amazing. Where most of us would
have been furious at Judas' plotting, Your chief concern was
bringing him back. Give me a heart that loves my enemy and
seeks to share Your salvation. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

HARD BUT LOVING WORDS

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Lenten Devotion 2016

And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to
put Him to death, for they feared the people (Luke 22:2).

Read John 12:12-19.

People don't take too kindly to being told they are wrong-not
today and not in Jesus' day either. When someone confronts
our decisions-or even worse, challenges the way we have
chosen to live our lives-we are tempted to write him off as
narrow-minded and intolerant. It's fine for him to believe what
he thinks is right, but he should leave me free to believe and
live the way I think is right. The only trouble with that is we
don't get to decide what's right and wrong: God does.

For many months Jesus has been confronting the Jewish
religious authorities. They cling to a religion of works: human
rules and traditions by which they believe they earn blessings
in this life and eternal life with God afterward.

But Jesus knows better. He knows His Father in heaven is
holy and perfect. God cannot simply overlook the wrongs we
do. That would make Him unjust. But even though the Father
is just and holy, He is also filled with grace, love and mercy.
That is why He sent His own Son, Jesus, to save us.

But the Jewish leaders have rejected Jesus-and they are
pushing back hard against Him. Even so, Jesus won't go
away. He keeps coming back again and again when all they
want is to be left alone.

So now this huge confrontation is looming. Jesus cares too
much to leave the Jewish authorities in darkness. So He
shows them their error by teaching them God's truth. But His
words don't sit well with them. They reach the conclusion that
He must be silenced.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for caring enough about me to show
me my failings and how to be right with my God by confessing
my sins and trusting in You as my Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A NEW PASSOVER

Lent

By Rev. Wayne Palmer
Ash Wednesday:


Read Exodus 12:21-24. TEXT: Now the Feast of Unleavened
Bread drew near, which is called the Passover (Luke 22:1).


The backdrop for our Lenten journey is the Jewish Passover.
Long before Jesus' day this Jewish festival enjoyed a rich, long
history, dating back to the time of the Exodus when God
delivered His people from slavery in Egypt.

The Passover was the tenth and final plague God brought upon
Egypt. Since Egypt's leader, Pharaoh, had stubbornly refused
to obey His command to free the Israelites, at midnight God
would send a destroying angel to pass throughout the land of
Egypt and kill all the firstborn children, including Pharaoh's own
heir.

But in love, God provided a way to escape this devastating
plague. A lamb could be slain in place of the firstborn and its
blood spread over the door frame of the house. When the angel
of death reached a blood-marked house, God would command
it to pass over and leave the firstborn unharmed.

Now we join Jesus as He prepares to celebrate His last Passover
festival. While reminding His followers of that first great
deliverance, He prepares to accomplish an even greater
deliverance by sacrificing Himself and shedding His own blood on
the cross of Calvary. All who believe on Him are marked by His
blood.

Then on the Last Day when Jesus Christ returns to raise the dead,
He will command the angel of death to pass over all believers who
are marked in His blood by faith.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, Passover Lamb of God, thank You for offering Your
own body and blood to deliver us from the angel of death. During
this Lenten season deepen my appreciation for Your great sacrifice
that I may be so thankful I won't be able keep the glorious news to
myself. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)