What Jesus Did! 'It Is Time!' — Luke 22:35-38

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Blessed Christmas!

Our prayer is that the presence of Jesus be with you and fill you with hope, peace, and love!

 Read More
[After predicting Peter's denial of him,] Jesus asked [the disciples], "When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?"

"No," they replied.

"But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: 'He was counted among the rebels.' Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true."

"Look, Lord," they replied, "we have two swords among us."

"That's enough," he said.

— Luke 22:35-38 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus knew it was now time for him to face the path of rejection, suffering, and death. The disciples didn't have a clue about what was going to happen to him, even though he had repeatedly warned them. In other words, Jesus knew he must face his rejection, suffering, and death alone and abandoned. For us today, this story can be a great comfort for two reasons:
  1. Jesus understands what it means to be abandoned by friends and left to face suffering and rejection all alone. When we face that kind of challenge, we can trust that he understands our pain, and we can know that he will never abandon us.
  2. The Lord remade and reclaimed the disciples so they were useful to the Kingdom even though they had blown it - they didn't keep their promises and they forsook him when they were threatened. We can know that our own lapses do not disqualify us from being useful to him. If we are genuinely penitent, he can remake and reclaim us as well.

Today's Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am deeply grieved that Jesus had to die for my sins and to do it facing his horrors all alone, without his friends to support him. Yet, dear God, I am comforted in those times when I feel alone to face my problems because I know he cares, understands, and stands with me in those moments of trial. In addition, dear God, I thank you that, just as he remade his disciples after their time of weakness, he has remade me and continues to transform me to be more like him. I praise you for your plan of grace, and I praise your Son and my Savior for his sacrificial and steadfast love. In his name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Beyond Failure
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, Over the next several days, I will take you on a journey with My apostle, Simon Peter. Before his denial of even knowing Me, I warned....."

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 22:35-38 NLT — "That's enough,"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, December 9, 2023

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Moved by the Spirit' (Lk. 2:27-32)
"Moved by the Spirit, [Simeon] went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Friend, If you listened carefully to My servants, the prophets found in your Old Testament, you heard strong hints and amazing promises of grace..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Glory to God' (Lk. 2:13-14)
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Do Good: Be Joyful, Prayerful, and Thankful'
"See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful...."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!