On Ash Wednesday, we began our Lent journey toward the cross as we follow Jesus to resurrection Sunday.
What is Lent exactly? The word LENT comes from the Latin word for 40 – Quadragesima – (in which I only recognize the root word “Quad”… and how they got LENT out of that, I have no idea.) In scripture, 40 is a powerful number…
- In Noah’s time, it rained for 40 days and nights as God’s punishment for human sin overtaking the earth.
- In Moses’ time, he fasted for 40 days and nights on Mt. Sinai in preparation to receive the 10 Commandments from God.
- The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness before coming into the Promised Land.
- Jesus spent 40 days being tempted in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.
This “watching,” preparatory time of Lent, set aside as “sacred” time by the early church, begins with Ash Wednesday and ends just a few days before Easter. It omits Sundays as those are already set apart as Sabbath days. As with this year, the math often doesn’t quite add up but the symbolism of 40 days is clear – a time set apart for a momentous movement of God.
There is no greater movement of God than the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. So we set this time aside – separate it from “common” time – and in our hearts dedicate these days and nights to meditating on Jesus, thinking and praying with more intention and earnestness than we may at other times of the year.
For me, there’s nothing more worthwhile than contemplating Jesus – his life, words, silence, and actions. He is the most pivotal person in human history. In the Gospel of John, there are eight “I AM” sayings of Jesus which unveil layers of his purpose and intention with ever-increasing clarity. Our Lent sermon series is entitled, “I AM.”