To read: Luke 18:31-34
New Revised Standard Version Bible,Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again." But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
As
the time drew near for Jesus to enter Jerusalem, he looked forward to what would happen there. Jesus told his followers about what would happen there, and each time he got more explicit. This time he laid out the events which would come to pass. He clearly stated the involvement of Gentiles in his trial and death. This was important because Luke did not want his readers to think that the Gentiles were guiltless in Jesus' death. The whole world was guilty of the death of the Savior.
Luke tells us that Jesus was handed over to the Gentiles - to you and to me. We are guilty - guilty of leading him to the cross. We mock him by our actions. We deny him with our words. We drive the nails into his hands and feet by our very thoughts, and, like the disciples, we do not grasp how we do this. We are guilty.
Guilty! Each week I share a Bible study with inmate members of the Community of St. Dysmas, an ELCA congregation located within the walls of the Maryland Correctional System at Jessup. As new men enter the group they share with us some of their background, including the offense which brought them to this place. They have been found guilty of some crime or another and are serving out their sentence.
Guilty! By my sins I have caused the death of my Savior. I am convicted by my sins which led my Lord and Savior to the cross. The penalty for causing the death of another is death, and by my own actions I have merited only that. Yet my gracious and loving God has seen fit to show mercy on me. My sentence is not the death which I deserve. Jesus "did my time" and was executed for my sins. Now, by God's grace, I am free to inherit eternal life. Thanks be to God.
To pray:
Loving and merciful God, we thank you for your constant love and forgiveness. We know that, by our own actions we are convicted, but that by your grace we are given the gift of eternal life. Forgive us when we reject your patient kindness, and help us to understand the depth of the great gift you have given us. Wash away our sins today, and strengthen us by your Holy Spirit that we may share your forgiveness with others. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Annapolis, Md.