“Why I Take the Mark” Genesis 3:19
• Today we gather at the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance, reflection, and renewal.
• And on this day, Christians around the world willingly receive a mark on their foreheads — a smudge of ashes in the shape of a cross.
• Christians will walk around with a dark stain on our faces.
• We don’t hide it. We don’t apologize for it. We take the mark.
1. Why do we take the Mark? What does it mean to bear this mark — and why do we choose it?
• I Take the Mark Because It Tells the Truth about Me When the ashes touch our skin, we hear the ancient words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
• One theologian says, “This mark is not meant to shame us. It’s meant to free us.
• The world tells us to pretend: pretend we’re strong, pretend we’re in control
• pretend we’re self made, pretend we don’t need help
• Maybe these ashes tell a different story the ashes tell the truth: I am mortal. I am fragile. I am limited. I am dust. And yet — I am dust loved by God.
• take the mark because I’m tired of pretending. I take the mark because honesty is the doorway to grace.
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2. I Take the Mark Because It Reminds Me Who I Belong To
• In Revelation, there is talk of a “mark” that symbolizes allegiance to the powers of this world.
• But Ash Wednesday gives us a different mark — the mark of the cross.
• The Mark we take tonight is the mark that says I belong to Christ
• The Mark says I am not defined by my failures
• The Mark says I am not owned by my past
• The Mark says I am not shaped by fear
3. I Take the Mark Because it reminds me of Hope
• Ashes symbolize death, but they are placed in the shape of a cross — the symbol of resurrection.
• The mark says: Yes, life is short but I have hope
• Yes, sin is real but I have hope
• Yes, suffering exists, but I have hope
• Grace is greater Mercy is deeper Love is stronger Christ is risen
4. I Take the Mark Because I Want to Begin Again Lent is not punishment. It is invitation.
• The mark on my forehead is like God saying to me: “Let’s start over. Come home. I’m not done with you.”
• It’s a reminder that repentance is not about guilt — it’s about transformation.
• I take the mark because I want to be made new.
5. I take the Mark because I know my redeemer Lives
• He lives to tell me the truth I am fragile but I am loved of God
• My Redeemer lives and I belong to Him
• My Redeemer Lives and I have hope
• My Redeemer lives and allows me to start over and over and over again. Amen!
