This week begins the season of Lent on the Christian calendar. “Lent,” from an old English word meaning “springtime,” is the 40-day period leading up to Easter and it is designed to be a time of repentance as well as a time reflection on the death of Jesus. “Springtime” is meant to also direct our attention to the good news that new life and spiritual growth is on the horizon as we come to the Lord in repentance and surrender.
The season begins this week with Ash Wednesday which allows us to meditate on our immortality, sinfulness, and our need for a savior even as we give thanks that Jesus has conquered death and sin by his death on the cross. The old Negro Spiritual sings it well, “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.” As we make our way to Good Friday, we go there thankful that God has met our sin with the power of the cross. Each Sunday, as we gather for worship in our Sanctuary, one of the symbols in the stained glass reminds us of this good news. It is the Cross Potent in one of the windows on the south side of the Sanctuary. This cross is formed with a bar at the end of each of the cross beams. The word “potent” is from an old French word that means “crutch” and the cross beams of the cross resemble crutches. This cross carries with it the meaning that Jesus’ death on the cross comes to heal “our sin-sick souls” so that we are able to know forgiveness of sin and new life in Christ.
Paul wrote about this good news in his letter to the church at Ephesus:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air…Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…it is by grace you have been saved!” Eph 2:1-10
Yes, our journey to the cross is our chance to remember how our sin has been forgiven by the gracious and merciful God who has made his love known to us by his Son, Jesus. May you sense God’s loving presence as you reflect on this good news across the coming 40 days.
In the Love of Jesus,
Tony Tench