Lent, a time to repent

March 6, was Ash Wednesday. Members of St. John, as well as believers from many other Christian churches, will willingly participate in a curious tradition. They will have their foreheads marked with the sign of the cross, this mark composed of ashes. Why would someone willingly have ashes rubbed into their skin? Why would someone walk around with an imperfect cross of dirt on their forehead for all to see?

I have recently been asked by a number of people about Lent. You won’t find the word “Lent” in the Bible, but you will find in Scripture the suffering and the sacrifice of Jesus which Lent remembers. Lent is a word which comes from Latin and actually means “spring.” The time set aside for Lent remembers the 40 days of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, plus Sundays. But, Lent is a season when Christians have especially focused upon and meditated on the suffering, the passion, and the death of Jesus to pay for our sins.

Because Jesus willingly faced opposition from the very people He came to save, because He suffered and died for our sins, these six weeks of Lent are a special opportunity for repentance. As we remember that our sin is the reason Jesus suffered and died, as Christians prepare for the victory celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death in His rising from the dead, God’s people have used Lent as an opportunity to confess their sins, to turn to the love and forgiveness of God found in Jesus, and to work on living for God instead of for themselves.

Actually, repentance is a common and recurring message of Scripture. Time and again God’s people fall into the sin of fleshly desires and of rebellion against the rule of God as Lord of their lives. So time and again God calls His people to turn from their sin, and to turn to the love, the grace, and the guidance our Lord lovingly offers. Sometimes these calls to repentance even speak of ashes as a sign of sorrow over sin. (Look at Job 42:1-5, Isaiah 58:1-10, and especially, Daniel 9:1-9). Jesus began His public ministry with His baptism by John, and with His temptation by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. As soon as this time of calling, testing, and strengthening was finished Jesus began preaching. His message was, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)

In fact, when Jesus scolds the villages in which He had taught and performed miracles for the lack of repentance He found in those villages, Jesus Himself mentions the “sackcloth and ashes” of repentance.

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (Matthew 11:20-21. See also verses 22-24!)

There is a good reason the Christian church observes Lent before celebrating Easter. Chronologically of course, Jesus did first suffer and die before He rose. But, when God’s law points to our sin and the punishment we deserve for turning against our Creator and Lord, then we see the forgiveness won by Jesus’ sacrificial death, and the eternal life He offers by faith because of His resurrection, as the amazing gift that it is. When we know our sin and repent, the mercy of God gives new life. That is why the Apostles also began their ministry by preaching law and Gospel, repentance and salvation. Listen to the words of Peter and John in the temple right after Pentecost Day.

“18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:18-19)

The idea of repentance is not popular with people of today. But even Adam and Eve in their day tried to shift blame instead of admitting their sin and submitting to God. However, it is only when we admit that we have dirt on our hearts, that the cleansing of Jesus really is Good News. When we repent in sorrow because of our sins and turn to the mercy and the forgiveness won by Jesus, this Good News refreshes our hearts and souls. The rising of Jesus is not just a miracle of the Son of God, but victory for us in our lives.

So why observe Lent? This season of the church year is not found in Scripture. But, the repentance of Lent prepares our hearts to receive the good news of Jesus forgiveness and salvation by faith. As we remember the suffering and death of Jesus for our sins during Lent, the celebration of Jesus’ Easter victory becomes personal and powerful in our lives. A Blessed Lenten Season to each of you.