Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 15

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:1-36

We have some foreshadowing going on today but also some flashback as well.  We open with Jesus preparing his disciples to do the work that he has come to do.  It will be but a blip in history if others will not continue the work.  In essence, if others will not take up the cross.

While we don't face physical crucifixion today, there are plenty of things we may be called to do that go against our natures.

As they minister to the crowds in both teaching and healing (and sometimes healing comes with the right teaching, doesn't it?), Jesus has welcomed them just as he expected the towns to welcome his disciples.  When the disciples mention that "we are here in a deserted place", this is a flashback to when Jesus was in the wilderness and was fasting.  He is willing to do for the crowds what he is unwilling to do for himself with the miraculous feeding.

We see foreshadowing as Jesus speaks about his coming suffering, death and resurrection.  And if the reader is confused about this, we have the transfiguration which is also a foreshadowing to the resurrection.  This also includes a flashback to his baptism as we hear the voice of God once again identifying Jesus as "my Son."  The difference between the two is that this time, God adds the instruction, "Listen to him!"

We have a need to be together
but may not be very good at it today.

As we listen to Jesus today, how are we to go into the world?  It is not for our sake or even the sake of the church.  We go because we the world needs us in a variety of ways.  We trust that God will help us along our way to bring good news and to cure dis-ease as we go.

And for when we are tempted to send them away, we might just find that we have enough to go around.

Prayer for the day:

Bountiful God, we confess that we often put our faith in the things we store up for ourselves.  Resources on hand go far in providing security for us.  Help us to see past these things so that we can open our hearts to people we encounter.  Let us take joy in bringing joy.  We pray these things in the name of the one who fed the multitudes.  Amen.

Photo by waldopepper via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.