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TO SEEK AND TO SAVE: Daily Reflections on the Road to the Cross
SINCLAIR FERGUSON
Journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem with these reflections for Lent by Sinclair Ferguson. As you walk through the second half of Luke’s Gospel, you'll meet the people Jesus encountered on the way to the cross—and prepare your heart to appreciate his death and resurrection afresh.
Each day you'll be invited to:
• Read a passage of Luke's Gospel and a short meditation by Sinclair Ferguson
• Reflect on a thought-provoking question
• Respond in prayer and praise as you journal
Pithy yet profound, these devotions will hold up a mirror to your own heart and, more importantly, give you a window into the heart of the Lord Jesus—the one who came to seek and to save the lost at Easter.
This is the perfect follow-up to Sinclair Ferguson's highly popular Advent devotional, Love Came Down at Christmas.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction and the Beginning of Lent 7
1. The First Week of Lent: Conversations on the Way 23
2. The Second Week of Lent: Meeting the Confused 43
3. The Third Week of Lent: The Path of Discipleship 63
4. The Fourth Week of Lent: Friends and Enemies 83
5. The Fifth Week of Lent: Towards the Cross 103
6. Holy Week and Easter Sunday: The Final Destination 123
INTRODUCTION by Ferguson
"We read a lot of poetry at school, but among my favourites were the vivid narratives in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 'The Canterbury Tales.'
There was something fascinating about the characters en route to Canterbury that Chaucer portrayed—pilgrims on their way to visit the shrine of Archbishop Thomas Becket. These included such memorable individuals as the much-married Wife of Bath and the “verray, parfit gentil” Knight. But—no doubt somewhat prejudiced by a sense that I was being called to be a minister—my favourite pilgrim was the poor Parson, who preached the message of Christ but first followed it himself.
But Chaucer was by no means the first author to use a journey as the motif for introducing his readers to a variety of interesting people. He had long been preceded by Luke, the beloved physician and author of the New Testament’s third Gospel. From chapter 9 verse 51 onwards, Luke records all the events in Jesus’ life in the form of a journey to Jerusalem. This travelogue eventually brings us to Calvary and to the empty tomb.
The narrative begins against the background of a major turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Simon Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah (9:18-20). In response Jesus explains that he is going to suffer and be rejected and yet rise again (9:21-22). A week later he is gloriously transfigured in the presence of three of his disciples: Peter, James and John (9:28-36). Again, he tells them about his impending suffering (9:43-45). From virtually that point on, until he enters Jerusalem with the shouts of the people ringing in his ears, everything we learn about Jesus takes place on a journey whose destination is Calvary.
In his travelogue, Luke describes Jesus’ encounters with a wide variety of individuals and groups of people. Each of them is described within the scope of only a few verses; but all of them come alive to us through Luke’s pen.
In this series of reflections for Lent, we will listen in on most of these conversations.
Each encounter will build up a picture of the journey’s real purpose; for, as he tells one man he meets along the way, Jesus is “the Son of Man [who] came to seek and to save the lost” (19:10). We will see Jesus “seeking” out people as he reveals their hearts, perceives their needs and tests their motives. We will see him throwing wide the offer of salvation to those he meets—Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, men and women, all similarly lost. And finally, at the journey’s end, we will see him secure that salvation once and for all, at the cost of his life.
But Jesus also issues a challenge to anyone who would follow him along the road to Jerusalem. At the great turning point he says: 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?' (9:23-25)
The key issues for all of those who encounter Jesus in Luke’s Gospel are these: Do they know why he is on the road in the first place? And, will they follow him as his disciple?
This Lent, Jesus asks those same questions of us."
ENDORSEMENTS
“So many things clamor for our attention during this season when we really do want to put our focus on Christ. Sinclair Ferguson helps us to turn our gaze toward Jesus day by day so that we can take in the wonder of his grace toward sinners.” - NANCY GUTHRIE, Bible teacher and Author
“If, like me, you have been guilty of largely ignoring the 40 days of Lent, prepare to be redirected, challenged and stirred by Sinclair Ferguson’s focus, not on the process but on the person and work of the Lord Jesus.” - ALISTAIR BEGG, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Cleveland; Bible teacher, Truth for Life
“I’ve peppered Sinclair with questions over a lunch table. I’ve read his books. I listen to his sermons. All because he is a precious guide to understanding our Savior’s life and work. And that’s the glorious effect of reading this devotional. Read it during Lent. Read it before Lent. Read it after Lent. It doesn’t matter. Just be sure to read it.” - TONY REINKE, Author
“Sinclair Ferguson’s Lent book is both wonderfully accessible and theologically rich. The daily comments are not too long to intimidate nor too short to be unsatisfying. Both younger and older believers will find much to encourage, challenge and stimulate them in their faith in our Lord Jesus. Some of the insights moved me to tears in deepening my own appreciation of Christ. What a precious resource for God’s people.” - ANGUS MACLEAY, Rector, St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks, UK
“We enter holy ground when we follow our Lord’s road to the cross. There could be no more reliable guide than Sinclair Ferguson. These readings provide warm encouragement and also a challenge to ongoing, daily repentance—helpful for any time of the year.” - DR SHARON JAMES, Social Policy Analyst, The Christian Institute
“These superb reflections on the journey of Jesus to the cross, as recorded by Luke, are the ideal preparation for Easter. Warm, clear and illuminating, they show us ourselves as we see how Jesus dealt with people on the way. But most of all they show us Jesus, the wonder of his love and his call to follow him as his disciples. Read, enjoy and benefit.” - RT REV. WALLACE BENN, Former Bishop of Lewes
“These Lent devotions describe familiar encounters with Jesus in a fresh and challenging way. The reader is encouraged throughout to ask themselves, ‘How will I respond to Jesus’ words?’ Each day’s read is short enough to be manageable but deep enough to get to the heart of who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.” - CELIA REYNOLDS, Women’s Ministry Co-ordinator, Christchurch Market Harborough
"My general rule is this; if Ferguson writes it, you should read it! The Gospel of Luke is full of Jesus’ encounters with a wide range of people; from the rich to the poor and from religious leaders to beggars. In this devotional Ferguson walks you through many of those encounters to help you grasp a fuller picture of the significance of his journey to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). At the end of each short devotional, lasting no more than 3 pages, you’ll find a wee note to reflect on and a short section for you to take notes. I highly recommend that you read this, even if you don’t use it for lent this year. It is a wonderful book full of helpful insights and descriptions of Jesus and his journey to the cross." -Alistair Chalmers
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