by Eron Henry | Mar 21, 2024 | Lent 2024
In Mark 8:31, Jesus “began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.”
This is a shocking statement for the disciples. Peter had just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God, the one who will restore Israel’s glory and deliverance. They have seen His miracles, His authority, His popularity. They have followed Him with excitement, hope, and anticipation. They have expected Him to be a powerful, victorious, and triumphant leader.
But now, Jesus tells them that He must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise again. He tells them that He is not only the Messiah, but also the Son of Man, a title that refers to His humanity, His humility, and His destiny. He tells them that He is fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah and Daniel, that He is the suffering servant who will bear the sins of the world, and the glorious king who will rule over the nations. He tells them that He is following God’s will, God’s plan, and God’s purpose for His life.
But Peter does not understand this. He does not accept this. He does not agree with this. Verse 32 says, “He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” Peter thinks that Jesus is making a mistake, that He is being deceived, that He is discouraged. Peter thinks that he knows better than Jesus, that he can correct Him, that he can advise Him. Peter thinks that Jesus is the Messiah who will restore Israel’s glory, not the suffering servant who will die for the sins of the world.
But Jesus does not tolerate this. He does not appreciate this. He does not listen to this. Verse 33 says, “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'” Jesus rebukes Peter and exposes his human perspective. He calls him Satan, a name that means adversary, enemy, or accuser. He tells him that he is not helping Him, but hindering Him, that he is not supporting Him, but opposing Him, that he is not speaking for God, but for the world. He tells him that he is not setting his mind on divine things, but on human things.
Following Jesus involves a cost, a cost that we may not understand, a cost that we may not like, a cost that we may not want. Following Jesus means following His example, His mission, His will, even if it means suffering, rejection, death. Following Jesus means setting our mind on divine things, not on human things, even if it means going against our own desires, plans, and ambitions.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we come before You today, humbled and contrite, recognizing the cost of true discipleship. We acknowledge that following You is not about seeking earthly glory or success, but about embracing a life of humility, suffering, and ultimately, resurrection. We confess that our human desires and ambitions often clash with Your divine will, leading us astray.
We pray for the strength to follow Your example, to take up our cross daily, and to deny ourselves in the pursuit of righteousness. We ask for the wisdom to understand that our sacrifices and sufferings are not in vain, but are part of Your divine plan to redeem the world.
Lord, we are not afraid of the cost of discipleship. We are willing to be rejected, to be misunderstood, and even to be called by names that might hurt us. For we know that in Your eyes, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
We pray for the courage to embrace the suffering servant role You have called us to, to bear the sins of the world, and to be a beacon of hope and redemption. We ask for the grace to fulfill our mission with integrity and passion, trusting in Your promise that those who lose their lives for Your sake will find them.
We commit ourselves to Your service, to live out the paradox of gaining and losing life for Your sake. We pray for the eternal significance of following You faithfully, trusting that our faithfulness will not be in vain.
May Your grace be with us, Lord, as we set our minds on divine things, not on human things. May we be faithful to Your call, even when it means walking a path that is difficult and fraught with challenges.
In Your name, we pray. Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 20, 2024 | Lent 2024
We acknowledge the power of the cross, the victory of Christ over sin and death, and the freedom we have in Him. Paul tells us in Colossians 2:15 that by His death on the cross, Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities that opposed Him and His people. He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Paul refers to both the human and the spiritual forces that were hostile to God and God’s purposes. The human rulers, such as Herod, Caesar, Pilate, and the Jewish leaders, who conspired to crucify Jesus, thinking they could silence Him and His message. The spiritual rulers of the dark world who influenced the human rulers and tried to thwart God’s plan of salvation. These powers and authorities were enemies of God and God’s people, and they seemed to have the upper hand.
But Paul reveals the hidden truth: by the cross, Jesus exposed their weakness and defeated their schemes. He stripped them of their power and authority and shamed them publicly. He triumphed over them by the cross, not by the sword. He conquered them by His love, not by force. He liberated us from their bondage, not by might, but by His grace.
We can live in the freedom and joy of Christ, knowing that He has overcome the world and its rulers. We can resist the temptation and deception of the evil one, knowing that he has been disarmed and disgraced. It means that we can trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God, knowing that God has the final say over all things.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your amazing love and grace that led You to the cross. We praise You for Your victory over sin and death, and for Your power over the powers and authorities that opposed You and Your people. You have disarmed them and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Help us to live in the freedom and joy that You have purchased for us. Help us to resist the temptation and deception of the evil one, who has been defeated and disgraced. Help us to trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God, who has the final say over all things.
We pray that You would fill us with Your Spirit and enable us to follow You in obedience and faithfulness. We pray that You would use us to share Your gospel and Your love with others, and to advance Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray all this in Your name, amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 19, 2024 | Lent 2024
The crucifixion of Jesus was not only a physical torture, but also a psychological torment. He had to endure the sight of His own bleeding body, the sound of His own gasping breath, the feeling of His own failing strength. He had to face the reality of being forsaken. He had to hear the mockery of his enemies, the silence of His friends, the cry of His mother. He had to bear the sin of the world amid the perceived wrath of God.
But in the midst of His agony, He did not lose His faith, His love, or His purpose. He trusted in His Father, who would raise Him from the dead. He prayed for His persecutors, who did not know what they were doing. He fulfilled His mission, which was to save the lost. He uttered final words of forgiveness, surrender, and victory.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross. You endured the worst pain and suffering imaginable, yet You did not give up on us. You showed us the depth of Your love and the power of Your grace. You accomplished what we could never do: You paid the price for our sins and opened the way to eternal life.
We ask You to help us remember Your agony whenever we face our own trials and temptations. Help us to trust in Your Father, who loves us and has a plan for us. Help us to pray for those who hurt us and forgive them as You forgave. Help us to fulfill Your purpose for our lives and share Your gospel with others. Help us to declare with You: “It is finished!”
We praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your victory over death and sin. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You are the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. You are our Savior and our Lord. Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 18, 2024 | Lent 2024
God’s revelation is not a static doctrine, but a dynamic event. God’s revelation is not a clear proposition, but a paradoxical mystery. God’s revelation is not a comfortable affirmation, but a radical challenge. God’s revelation is the cross of Jesus, who showed us the truth of God’s love and justice in the midst of suffering and evil.
The cross of Jesus invites us to rethink our ways of knowing and living. The cross exposes our false assumptions, biases, and prejudices that distort our perception of reality. The cross calls us to “call the thing what it actually is,” to name and confront the injustice, oppression, and violence that afflict our world. It empowers us to know ethically, to seek and practice God’s will for the common good of all creation. The cross connects us with others, especially those who are marginalized, excluded, and silenced by the dominant systems of power. It inspires us to be in solidarity with the liberation movements that share the same vision and values of God’s reign.
The cross of Jesus challenges us to be faithful and responsible disciples of Christ. It reveals God’s grace, which forgives us and frees us from our sin and guilt; God’s mission, which commissions us and sends us to be God’s agents of change and transformation; and God’s hope, which sustains us and assures us of God’s presence and power in our lives.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in the light of Your cross, I come before You today, seeking Your guidance and strength. Your sacrifice on the cross is not just a historical event, but a living reality that shapes and transforms our lives. It reveals Your love for us in the most profound and sacrificial way, challenging us to embrace the truth of Your grace and justice.
Inspired by the mystery and paradox of Your revelation, I ask for a deeper understanding of Your will for my life. Help me to see beyond the surface of things, to discern the truth hidden beneath the appearances of the world. Let me learn to name the injustices and oppressions that afflict our world, to confront them with the power of Your truth and love.
May Your cross empower me to live in solidarity with those who are marginalized and silenced, to stand with them in the struggle for justice and equality. Grant me the courage to be a voice for the voiceless, to advocate for the common good of all creation.
Lord, as I reflect on Your words from the cross, “It is finished,” I am reminded of Your mission accomplished and Your promise of eternal life. In the midst of my struggles and uncertainties, I find comfort in Your assurance that You have completed Your work for me. Forgive me for any doubt I may have, and help me to accept Your grace and mercy with humility and gratitude.
Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to You, trusting in Your promise that You will give me strength for the challenges ahead. May I live each day for Your glory, embodying Your love and justice in all I do. Amen.
by Eron Henry | Mar 17, 2024 | Lent 2024
The cross of Christ is the mystery of our faith and the paradox of our world. It reveals to us the true nature of God, who died and lives, who suffers and saves, who hides and shows. It also challenges us to interpret the cross in our own context, and to recognize the limitations of our knowledge and the possibilities of God’s grace.
Vitor Westhelle helps us to understand this by using the analogy of the Shabbat, the Jewish-Christian tradition of resting on the seventh day. He says that the Shabbat is a sign of God’s work of creation and redemption, which is both finished and ongoing, both revealed and concealed. He also says that the Shabbat is a time of faith desiring, which is a way of seeking God’s presence and purpose in the midst of the world, which is both broken and beautiful, both fallen and redeemed.
Like Westhelle, we should recognize that God is both hidden and revealed in the cross, and that we can only know God by faith, not by reason. We are to resist the temptation of reducing the cross to a single meaning or a simple formula, and to explore the multiple dimensions and implications of the cross for our lives and our world. We are to live as interpreters of the cross, and to share the mystery of God’s love and suffering with others.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
In the depths of Your sacrifice, You reveal the profound mystery of Your faith. Your cross, the paradox of our world, is a testament to Your divine love and sacrifice. It is the symbol of Your death and resurrection, Your suffering and salvation, Your hiddenness and revelation.
We acknowledge the challenge to interpret the cross in our own context, recognizing the limitations of our understanding and the boundless possibilities of God’s grace. Like Vitor Westhelle, we see in the Shabbat a reflection of God’s work of creation and redemption, both finished and ongoing, both revealed and concealed. It is a time of faith, a yearning for Your presence and purpose in the midst of the world, both broken and beautiful, both fallen and redeemed.
We understand that in the cross, God is both hidden and revealed, known only by faith, not by reason. We resist the temptation to reduce the cross to a single meaning or a simple formula, choosing instead to explore its multiple dimensions and implications for our lives and our world. We live as interpreters of the cross, sharing the mystery of Your love and suffering with others.
Grant us the wisdom to understand the mystery of the cross, to unite our suffering with Your suffering, and to seek Your presence and purpose in the midst of our world. May we live in faith, yearning for Your grace, and sharing Your love with all.
In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Recent Comments