Morning Devotion for the day: Needing Christ

Morning Devotion for the day: Needing Christ | We hope this word of God will nourish your ould and get you inspired with good reasons why we all need Christ.

 Scripture (NIV)

³¹ Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

³² He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him;

³³ they will flog him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”

³⁴ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

³⁵ As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

³⁶ When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

³⁸ He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

⁴² Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

⁴³ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

 Reflection

Jesus in Scripture (18:31–34)

The disciples are at a loss to understand what Jesus means about His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection. Even as believers today, we sometimes struggle to see how, where, and when Jesus is mentioned in the Old Testament scriptures. But He is there! One passage that Jesus would no doubt have had in mind is Isaiah 53, which speaks of the rejection of the sin-bearing Servant of the Lord. The Old Testament tells us about a lot more than the creation of the world or the ancient history of the nation of Israel. Its main purpose is to tell us about the Messiah who will lead the world to its glorious triumph over sin, death, and the devil.

What is your attitude toward the Old Testament? Where in Old Testament writings have you found glimpses of the gospel?

Have Mercy (18:35–43)

The phrase, “Have mercy on me!” is perhaps the most concise and essential prayer anyone can utter. It was the prayer of a tax collector in one of Jesus’ parables, who was reconciled to God. Here, it is the cry of a man who expresses the faith needed to restore his sight. At the center of this prayer is the acknowledgment that God has every right to do what He wants with His creatures, including the fact that, on account of our sin, we fully deserve God’s wrath. But this prayer also acknowledges God’s heart that looks beyond what we deserve and gives us the good we do not deserve. And this, Jesus is very willing to bestow on those who ask.

When did you last ask the Lord to have mercy on You? Take some time to contemplate the mercy God has shown you.

 Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the answer this world so desperately needs! Empower me by Your Spirit to proclaim Your gospel without fear while walking in obedience to You with great fear. In Your name, amen.