A Lenten Devotion for Thursday, March 13
- ontrakk
- Mar 13
- 1 min read
John 18:3
So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
There were so many pieces involved in the betrayal of Jesus, and some involved Judas. Judas certainly went out of his way to ‘help’, and was involved in the final capture of Jesus, but I have to believe it would not have been too hard for the authorities to find Jesus on their own. This helps me to put Judas’ role in better perspective, I think. Jesus would have died on the cross with or without Judas. But Judas was fighting his own battle with Satan, and he lost. Allowing Satan to get the upper hand in our lives can set all kinds of things in motion.
Holy Lord, help me to see Satan’s temptations when they are happening. May I always turn to you with my decisions and resist the offers of Satan. Amen
Becky, transforming
Thursday, March 13th, 2025 (8th day of Lent)
John 18:3
So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Judas is betraying Jesus, but brings along a large group of soldiers with him. The verse may indicate the large amount of solders involved was to protect Judas because of his own bad conscience and fear of Jesus's reputation. He might have thought there would be safety in numbers. Judas's betrayal may be a reminder of the pain of being betrayed by those close to us. As they all approached , Jesus stepped out. Who are you looking for he asked . Jesus of Nazareth the…
John 18:3
As clearly as Satan was present in Gethsemane, so was the fate of Jesus. Satan was the vehicle that hurled Jesus to his destiny but even with Satan present, Jesus words, alone, were enough to cause the soldiers to draw back and fall to the ground, the strong power of God’s voice over satan. Jesus was ready for what was to come and went without resistance, knowing that it was God‘s plan and will.
Dear God, thank you for your power or Satan. Help me to fight hard against temptations and to help me resist when Satan attempts to seep into my life. Please give me strength. Amen
John 18:3
Lucado flips a scene that could be viewed as a humiliating defeat due to treachery and betrayal into one of power, strength and victory. Despite the overwhelming show of Roman force, Jesus remains in control of the circumstances. This and another reading I did this morning remind me of one of Becky’s favorite contemporary Christian songs: “Same Power” by Jeremy Camp. It is at once humbling, frightening and inspiring to think that all who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit carry the same power as our risen Lord.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=thqAXu0rjsY&t=21s&pp=2AEVkAIB
Prayer - Lord Jesus, reading of the arrest at Gesthemane evokes shame and loathing at the power of sin in the lives of humankind. From the treachery of Judas,…