Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Matthew 17:22 "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up."
LENT: THE PASSION OF JESUS
The season of Lent (though it has not always been called that) has been celebrated in the Christian church from the time of the apostles. However, the word "Lent" is not a very good description about what our services during this time of the year are all about. "Lent" is an old English word which means "spring" -- pointing only to the time of the year when it is celebrated.
In reality, Lent is much more than that. Lent is about the Passion of Jesus. It is about His suffering and death on the cross which was made necessary because of our sins; necessary in order to make the full sacrifice for our sins. In the early church, this part of the year was time set aside in preparation for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter. It was a time for repentant reflection on the passion of Jesus.
Many of you have heard or read the passion history of Jesus hundreds of times. But we are reminded that we shouldn't pass over the Lenten season like we've heard it a hundred times, nor should we miss the point of Christ's passion as the disciples of Jesus did. Instead we should ponder it with Spirit filled meditation and pray that we will not despise Christ's suffering and death, but through faith trust in His sacrifice for our sins that we may gain eternal life. May the Holy Spirit bless our consideration of the passion of Jesus during this Lenten season!
Jesus, I will ponder now on Thy holy passion;
With Thy Spirit me endow for such meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith may the image cherish
Of Thy suffering, pain and death that I may not perish.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 140:1)
