The Advent of Easter, Part I by Pamela Christian—Copyright © 2019
Lent is a 40-day period before Easter Sunday representing the 40 days Jesus was tempted in the wilderness (not counting the Sundays). Lent this year begins March 6, 2019
(Ash Wednesday) and ends on Holy Thursday, which is April 18, 2019. Lent is a season to repent, fast, reflect, and celebrate.
Christians understand Jesus was and is God’s promised Redeemer—the Second Person of the God-head who willingly took on human form to pay the debt of sin we owe, but cannot pay. Christians also understand God is three Persons in One: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each is equal in power and authority, each fulfilling a particular role. The Trinity is not a concept we can easily understand, but one we must acknowledge as we seek to learn more about God, His character, will, and intentions for humanity. (Scriptures identifying the Three Persons of God provided below.)
The Son of God, temporarily gave up His deity in order to live on earth solely in His humanity. Jesus’ mission and purpose formally began when He was baptized by John the Baptist. Immediately after this event, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the Judaean Desert. During this time, the enemy of God, known as Satan who is the fallen angel named Lucifer, appeared to Jesus and tempted Him to reject His earthly mission. Depending on God the Father entirely as a human, Jesus successfully resisted every temptation—He never once sinned. Thus, He became the only human capable of paying the debt of sin for all humanity, which He accomplished through His death on the cross.
Observers of Lent often receive the symbol of the cross of Jesus the Christ (Anointed One) deposited from ashes, upon their foreheads from the finger of the Priest or Pastor at a church service. The mood is solemn and often include long periods of silence. Worshipers will often leave the service in personal, reflective silence.
The ashes represent the dust from which man was made and the dust to which he will return. The ashes also represent death and repentance from the old man, with all hope for the new man Jesus Christ has made possible for those who believe. The ashes are often derived from burning palm branches commemorating Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Passover and Easter) when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
This Lenten Season, let’s determine to purposefully reflect, repent, fast, and pray about our personal relationship with God, through faith in Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray these posts intended to focus us on the magnificence of this high holy season, will both enlighten and transform you by the power of the truth of God’s Word.
The reason for Jesus’ earthly mission is explored in the next post.
Note: The reliability and authority of the Bible is a matter that’s come under critical scrutiny in recent decades with many claiming the Bible to be irrelevant for today. I address this claim and more in my first book in the Faith to Live By series, Examine Your Faith! Finding Truth in a World of Lies.
For March 6-7, 2019 read and meditate on the following Scriptures:
Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 2:33; Romans 3:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:14-16; 2 Peter 1:1
Scroll down below to access earlier posts in this series. To view the entire list of planned devotions, see the Introduction.
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