“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same:
self-examination
and penitence,
demonstrated by self-denial,
in preparation for Easter.
Early church father Irenaus of Lyons (c.130-c.200) wrote of such a season in the earliest days of the church, but back then it lasted only two or three days, not the 40 observed today.
In 325, the Council of Nicea discussed a 40-day Lenten season of fasting, but it's unclear whether its original intent was just for new Christians preparing for Baptism, but it soon encompassed the whole Church. It was then the idea was connected to the beginning of Jesus' public ministry right after his baptism and his 40 days in the desert where he was tempted. Matt 4:1-2 says:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights and afterwards he was famished.
How exactly the churches counted those 40 days varied depending on location. In the East, one only fasted on weekdays. The western church's Lent was one week shorter, but included Saturdays. But in both places, the observance was both strict and serious. Only one meal was taken a day, near the evening. There was to be no meat, fish, or animal products eaten.
The goal of which was to reorient our lives by focusing our lives on the disciplines of the Christians are urged to refrain from business as usual in order to attend to the body, spirit, mind, soul, and heart. It is a time set aside for worshipers to connect their faith walk with the ways in which they live, move, and have their being throughout daily life. Thus, the Lenten journey is a renewed spirit and a genuine desire to become an incarnational presence in the world.
We have come to the end of our renewal journey - 40 days of fasting, self examination, prayer, scripture reading, confession - all to grow closer to God through more time with Jesus. So as you celebrate His love for you this morning, what has changed? Is your life any different today because of your Lenten experience.
I am a reflective personality. Some say I think too much, feel too deeply and act with too much intensity - especially when it comes to items related to faith. I guess it's because I have sat and wondered…
“What if”?
What if Jesus never came? Never suffered? Never rose from the grave?
Never spoke to the disciples?
Never discipled 12 guys for 3 years?
Never did one miracle.
Never said “come and see and go and tell”.
Never proclaimed love as the cornerstone of faith?
What would life be like for the 2.3 billion people who claim Jesus today?
How about the 6 billion in the world?
Education would certainly be different. The Christian religion has been significant in establishing education as a cornerstone to better lives. The Christian focus on the dignity of human life would surely be different. The orphanages in war torn countries and improved rights for all, especially women, might be non-existent. Women's rights have dramatically changed the landscape for the better. Did you know, everywhere women have been lifted from property to equality, the culture changes for the better? Care for one’s neighbors and the poor all come from the establishment of Christian values. The Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Compassion International, Feed my Starving Children all have their roots in Christianity.
Robert Woodberry, a professor at Baylor, in his published thesis: “The work of missionaries turns out to be the single largest factor in ensuring the health of nations.” He goes on to summarize his findings that “Areas where conversionist Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are, on average, more economically developed today with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment — especially for women —and more robust membership in non-governmental associations.”
The truth is the world would be a much darker place. People can claim humanity has good in it. However, history, experience, reason and even Scripture will not support the idea. It is only when humanity is shown and empowered through the presence of a greater idea and understanding of God who loves so completely He would come and die for us, that humanity moves towards real progress and hope.
Did you know that Christians give 2.5 times more than non Christians to charitable organizations? An did you know Americans gave twice as much as the next closest nation in terms of individual GDP 1.45 vs .74. And America gave 410 billion dollars to Charity last year with over 80% given by individuals not corporations?
Do not be fooled by the culture!
Our God is not the the same as the Muslim, Indian, Buddhist or the Spiritualist. Jesus is not passe.
The idea of a Savior who redeems is not a fairytale.
God’s Word is not unreasonable.
God’s love is not debatable.
Believing in Jesus has changed and continues to change everything.
The story we read every Easter is the Good News because it tells of the beginning of the greatest transformation ever. The scriptures describe it so we can place ourselves in the middle of the event.
The mood is so clear in my mind. It’s been a couple of days. The grief is still lingering from the events of the past Friday. The disciples and the entourage are hanging around in shock. Everything they thought they knew has been turned upside down. Jesus who was the messiah was dead and in the ground. What now? The ladies couldn’t take it so they took the long walk to the tomb to take care of the body. They all knew Jesus personally and yet, they hadn’t fully grasped the storyline they are playing a part in.
Take a listen from John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
I really love John letting us know he one the race to the tomb. It tells us a little about their rivalry but also about their state of mind. They were as befuddled as any new believer on Easter morning. What is happening? Who did this? How will this affect me or us? What should we do now?
By just heading back to the Bed and Breakfast, we see their struggle in processing the event. They like so many, when our truth is challenged by God's truth, return to safety hoping to find answers.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Mary, described in all her grief, highlights the depth of her struggle and yet like so many transformation stories, in our darkest moments, we get a glimpse of the Lord that transforms our lives.
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Mary’s actions are the standard of everyone who has come into contact with the Son of God. Our first desire is to stay in his presence. The peace and joy are overwhelming so staying put is logical. However, God did not die for our comfort but for everyone’s salvation. Our role is to tell everyone what he has done for us. After all, he moved heaven and earth for you.
So Jesus is risen, He has risen indeed.
So go and tell everyone how His rising has changed your life and how it can change theirs if they just believe and repent.
