The 40 days before Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is known by some as Lent. This year, Lent starts on March 2. Lent did not begin in biblical times, and is not something Jesus instructed His disciples to observe. The early Church (see the Book of Acts) did not observe Lent. In fact, Lent was not even mentioned until 325 A.D. (E. A. Livingstone, Oxford: Oxford University, 2006). Lent became a tradition in the fourth century AD.
During these 40 days, people will often abstain from eating something, or perhaps fast. Some people give us meat on Fridays, for instance. Some people view it very legalistically, as something they “have to do.” Some people think it earns favor with God. Others think it joins them in Christ’s sufferings or in His temptations. None of those thoughts or explanations are based in Scripture.
What is Scriptural? Recognize every single day (not just the 40 before Resurrection Sunday) the real meaning of the Easter season: Jesus coming to die and be raised to bring eternal life to all who would believe in Him. John 3:16. He arose and conquered death! Jesus paid our sin debt IN FULL, and we should be preparing to celebrate that every single day of our lives! We should be praising God every day for the sacrifice of the Lamb!
We should be constantly prepared for His return. We should be celebrating His Resurrection every single day, which means we need to be thinking about Him and preparing to worship Him every single day. Can we do that? Oh, yes, we can. We can worship Him and prepare for the celebration of Resurrection Sunday (April 17 this year) by remembering that Colossians 3:23 tells us that, in whatever we do, we are to do it, heartily, as unto the Lord. We can present our bodies – all year long – as a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable worship. Romans 12:1.
Want to focus on the true meaning of this season? When Christ died on that cross for our sin, one of the things He said was “it is finished.” The work was done. The sacrifice given – once for all. Join us at Maple Grove as we learn and experience more about the love of Jesus Christ and more fully understand what it means to be secure in His loving arms forever.
Bro. Parks