Third Monday in Lent Devotion

Make Me See                                                        Third Monday in Lent - March 8, 2021

Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:5)

LSB 440 – Jesus, Will I Ponder Now

(Verse 2 of this week’s hymn served as inspiration for today’s devotion.)

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Early in Jesus’ earthly ministry, he went up on a mountain, sat, and began to preach.  This ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ as it has come to be known, contains the ‘Beatitudes.’ (Matthew 5.1-12) Right in the middle of this list of blessings, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5.5) Today we contemplate the words, “Make me see,” from our hymn, in the context of Jesus’ blessing for the pure in the heart.  The blessing that we shall see God!

Lord Jesus, make me see your great distress. Make me see your anguish and affliction. Make me see your bonds, stripes, and wretchedness. Make me see your crucifixion. Make me see how scourge, rod, spear. and nails wounded you. Make me see how you died for those who mocked and maimed you with a crown of thorns.

Make me see YOU Lord, in all your crucified humiliation. Make me see YOU Lord, as your blood flows down from your head, hands, feet and side. Make me see YOU Lord, as you bear the weight of the sin of the world upon your back and upon your soul. Make me see YOU Lord, as you endure what my sins deserve. Make me see YOU Lord, as you struggle to take every breath as you slowly die. Make me see YOU Lord, in all your naked, horrifying, terrifying, forsaken misery, torture and torment.

Make me see you Jesus—my God and my Lord—and make me see what you are truly accomplishing on the cross. Make me see that you are covering me with your holy, precious blood—that you are bearing Adam’s curse, my curse, and the curse of all humanity to its necessary conclusion—and setting me free from the wrath of God that you are washing away my sins as the blood and water pour out from your side.

Make me see that YOU ARE GOD—DYING IN MY PLACE—TO SAVE ME FROM ETERNAL DEATH AND DAMNATION TO HELL. Make me see, Jesus. Make me see you on the cross. Make me see you saving my body and soul. Make me see my sins that put you there. Make me see your forgiveness as I confess them to you and repent of them this holy season.

Make me see your holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death—make me see in your forgiveness

the heavenly purification of my body and soul for everlasting life. Make me see that YOUR suffering covers the impurities of my heart—and welcomes me into the communion of the blessed who will see you—face to face forever in all Your holy glory—in the New Jerusalem. 

Make me see, Lord Jesus. Make me see YOU— these holy days of Lent and all my days on this earth. Make me see, Lord Jesus. Make me see. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious Lord Jesus, grant me grace this Lent to see you crucified, that I may recall your suffering, repent of my sins, rejoice in your salvation and at The Last, revel in the blessedness of everlasting life as I see you face to face forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Rev. Keith R. Weise – Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd/The Good Shepherd Community – Sauk Rapids, Minnesota