Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Luke 5:15-16 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
PASSIONATE PRAYERS OF OUR SAVIOR -- ALONE IN A CROWD
Jesus, pitying the sighs, Of the thief who near Thee dies,
Promising him Paradise: Hear us, holy Jesus.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 181:1)
Pity, mercy, and compassion are all very good descriptions of our Savior Jesus. In the verses preceding the ones above from Luke, Jesus had just healed a man full of leprosy. As a result, crowds of people came and swarmed Him for His help and healing.
Jesus had the disciples with Him, of course, but as far as helping the people who came to Him He was on His own. That didn't stop Him from showing the same pity and comfort to them as He would to the thief on the cross next to Him. Even when dying, Jesus continued to show love and comfort to guilt-ridden sinners! What a lesson of love for us!
May we in our guilt and shame, Still Thy love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on Thy name: Hear us, holy Jesus.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 181:2)
Evidence of Jesus' humanity is shown again in His needing time to recover from the intense time with all the crowds. During that time of recovery He prayed. We too may feel all alone in this wicked world in which we live. In fact, we too take time away from it all with daily breaks and annual vacations. But may we ever see the example of our Savior, and on our breaks take time to pray and be refreshed by His Word! So that when we are strengthened, we may continue to show that same pity, mercy, and compassion of the Gospel that Jesus showed -- even when dying -- to those who desperately need it, like me.
May our hearts to Thee incline, Looking from our cross to Thine,
Cheer our souls with hope divine: Hear us, holy Jesus.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 181:3)
