Lent, 2024 - Pt. 2

 

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.” (Jonah 3:6-8 ESV).

 

When I was in Student Ministry at Tyler Junior College we distributed a cross made of nails on a leather cord during an event at the beginning of the Lenten season. We encouraged the students to wear the nail around their necks in the weeks before Easter to remind themselves of their sin. The nail was to remind them that their sin needed a savior, and, that their sin caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross.

 

While Lent does not begin for another seven days, we can begin our preparation now. From the earliest history of Lenten tradition, new Christian converts often prepared to be baptized on Easter Sunday through Lent. Over time, Lent became a season of reflection and renewal for all Christians. Ash Wednesday and Lent are themselves incomplete without the greater story of God’s grace. Lent amounts to nothing without the celebration at Easter!

 

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The early church decided that just as Jesus spent forty days fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2) to prepare for his ministry, so we might prepare for Easter for forty days. We count back forty days from Easter but exclude Sundays, which remain days of celebration. That lands us on the Wednesday seven weeks prior to Easter. You may be wondering “why ash?” In the Bible, ash and dust mean frailty or death (Genesis 18:27), sadness or mourning (Esther 4:3), judgment (Lamentations 3:16), and repentance (Jonah 3:6). Some have also seen ash as a purifying or cleansing agent. All these images figure into ash as an expressive symbol in Lent. In Christ's work on the cross we see God judge evil. In penitence, we remember Christ's passion saved us from our sins. Throughout Lent, we see that we are purified and renewed by His sacrifice.

 

Many churches hold Ash Wednesday worship services in which the minister thumbs a cross of ash on each person's forehead. To each, he might say, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," or, "Repent, and believe the gospel." This is not a sacrament, and it's not instituted in scripture. It's really just a gesture of prayer, saying "Lord, have mercy; Come Lord Jesus!" It's like lighting the candles of Advent, hoping for God to be with us, Immanuel. However, you choose to show your willingness to surrender in repentance, make that your focus in these days.