…And so, we reach the first Sunday in Lent. But what does it mean to the average Baptist? Does Lent have a place in our worship of Jesus? We Baptists don’t usually take Lent seriously. As a child, I saw it as something Roman Catholics and Anglicans did, often just giving up chocolate for a few weeks—hardly comparable to Jesus’ suffering. Should we participate? The word ‘Lent’ means ‘to lengthen’ in German, linked to spring and Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness of fasting and prayer.
When tragedy or suffering happens, I want it to pass quickly. ‘Time heals,” they say, but sometimes it doesn’t. Lingering thoughts bring hurt and sadness. But remembering Jesus’ suffering and death is different.
When we gather each month at the communion table, we remember the hurt, pain, and terrible death Jesus endured for us. We are thankful for the new life His salvation brings. While three or four days may seem brief in His 30-year life, time feels longer when we’re distressed. In Gethsemane, Jesus focused on the pain and asked His Father if there was another way, but there was none. Humanity needed to see the depravity of sin—disobedience, selfishness, pride—initially brought by Adam and Eve. Jesus, the “second Adam,” fulfilled perfect obedience to redeem us and restore fellowship with God.
Lent is my journey to the cross, helping me appreciate Easter more fully by preventing it from sneaking up on me in a busy life. I am reading ‘Preparing for Easter,’ a series by C.S. Lewis, and suggest you might do something similar. Many Lenten studies are available online. Whatever you choose to do, I pray that Easter won’t catch you unawares and that you take time to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice in a fresh way as you make your journey to the cross.
Bob
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