Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matthew 4:1-2
Being raised in an Evangelical Church, we never celebrated Lent so I never truly knew the history behind it. That my Mom grew up in the Lutheran Church and they did. They observed Lent by not eating meat on Friday’s and eating Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday the end of Lent. But we did celebrate Fastnacht Day (donut day) which was yesterday. It began so the lard and sugar could be used up before giving up sweets and rich foods until Easter, just as Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. Well not quite the same thing, but for most of us giving those things up is a sacrifice.
Placing the ashes on the forehead, is to remind us we are dust and to dust we will one day return. The ashes are from the past years palms handed out on Palm Sunday that were left over. Burning them and then accepting them and then having them placed in the shape of the cross, says we’re sorry for our sins. It begins a time of confession so we can correct our faults, purify our hearts and grow in holiness so that we can celebrate Easter with more joy.
The 40 Days that are to be representative of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness are actually 46 days, without counting the 6 Sundays. I never did find out what that meant and truly I think it has no meaning. But the truth behind Lent has meaning not only for 40 or 46 days before Easter but every day of the year. When Jesus chose to become our substitute for God’s wrath to be satisfied, He saved all those once and for all who chose to accept Him and receive His forgiveness. Now that’s something to celebrate every day.
But honestly when we get past all the ritual and symbols, taking the next 46 days to consider what Jesus experienced when He was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, dealing with the Religious Leaders, the scoffers and haters. He showed us what it means to be a child of the Most High God and yet call Him Abba. He showed us the power of Holy Spirit and the abundant life we can find in following Him. He made a way for us to remember what He accomplished for us in the garden, the courtyard, the way to Calvary to endure the cross. Be buried in a tomb for 3 days and rising again, all so we could be reconciled back to God and be set free from the power of sin and its destruction.
I don’t know about you, but the next 46 days should be a time of thanksgiving and praise with grateful hearts. A time to reflect how we can better use all the wonderful gifts He gave us to live this life empowered to overcome. Ways we can show and tell others of how amazing Jesus is. How He can transform there lives like He did ours. So I encourage you to spend this time between now and Easter to get better prepared to celebrate the greatest day on the Christian Calender, the day Jesus conquered hell, death and the grave forever!
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