Second Tuesday in Lent Devotion

Second Tuesday in Lent - March 2, 2021

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:1-10)

LSB 430 – My Song Is Love Unknown

(Verse 3 of this week’s hymn served as inspiration for today’s devotion.)

On a dime. It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? How could the crowds turn so quickly on the one they heralded as the Son of David, the one who came in the name of the Lord? You would never do that . . . would you? Jesus disappointed the crowd. They had goals. Jesus was supposed to help them achieve those goals. They had plans. Jesus was supposed to implement them. They had dreams. Jesus was supposed to fulfill them. But what did Jesus do after He arrived in Jerusalem? He walked around the temple . . . and retired with His disciples to Bethany. Hardly the fireworks the crowds had expected. Jesus was a disappointment.

And can we turn on Jesus so quickly? Can you turn on a dime? Well, yes, as a matter of fact. It’s very easy. Jesus had no interest in fulfilling the crowd’s desires that day. Jesus has no interest in fulfilling your desires this day. He hasn’t come to give you your heart’s desires. He hasn’t come to make your life easy or pleasant.  Maybe you won’t get that promotion. Maybe your spouse won’t try to save your marriage with you. Maybe you won’t be healed. He demands that you do with your time, with your money, with your relationships what God wants and not what you want. When God doesn’t give us what we desire, when Jesus disappoints . . . it can be so easy to turn on a dime.  We sometimes give voice to the “crucify”, not with our words but with our disgruntled thoughts and our willful actions.

But it wasn’t the crowd only crying for the crucifixion. Another voice joined the chorus, the voice of God the Father. He too cried out for the crucifixion and precisely for the sake of those who desired the death of His Son, precisely for the sake of those whom Jesus disappointed. And for you. This Lent, don’t be part of that crowd. Don’t be “disappointed” by the Savior God gave. He may not be the one you wanted. But He is precisely the one you need.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me for turning on You, for rejecting You when I do not want to do what You call me to do. Strengthen my faith to obey You as my Lord, no matter what it might mean for my life. Amen.

Rev. Martin Dressler – Salem Lutheran Church