What is Lent and why do Christians celebrate it?
What is Lent?
Lent is a period of time, 40 days, before Easter Sunday where Christians take time to pause, reflect, and prepare for the celebration of Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death by way of His death and resurrection.
Many fast and pray as a way to prepare. Not all Christian denominations make it a practice but still encourage their congregations to recognize this season as a special time for followers of Jesus to take time to reflect on what He has done on our behalf and to spend time self evaluating how we are doing with Jesus.
Lent is also a time of renewal - a renewal of our commitment to our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
For those who are not Christians, I'll give a brief over view.
Easter is the celebration of our Savior’s death and resurrection on our behalf. In the book of Genesis1, we read :
"In the beginning God created...and it was good..."
The word "good" to us might sound like how we use today,
"How was the movie? Oh it was good."
But "good" has a much a deeper meaning than what we read it to mean today. "Good" meant that what God had created was flawless, perfectly beautiful, perfectly complete, and has purpose.
Soon after we read of all that God had created and how He called what He had done, "good," a devastating moment happens.
In Genesis three we read about a created, crafty, talking serpant who slithers into this "good" garden we just read about.
This serpant is satan, the fallen angel who rebelled against God, either disguised as a serpent or possibly possessing a serpent, (as we know serpent's do not talk.)
Through a means of carefully crafated half truths, misdirection, and gaslighting, the serpent is able to manipulate Adam and Eve to disobey God by taking a bite of fruit that they were told not to eat. (You can read more here.)
What followed was what seems to be the unraveling of all that was "good."
Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. But this did not throw God off, He already knew humans would rebel, and because of God’s perfect love, He already had a plan to reconcile us back to Himself through His son, Jesus Christ.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Lent is a time for us to pause, reflect, prepare and prayerfully make a new commitment to Jesus, or to recommit if you have wondered.
How can I better prepare for Easter this Lent season?
Here are some verses that will hopefully help encourage and prepare you for Easter
·Joel 2:12-13:
"Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. … Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in mercy and relenting of catastrophe."
Psalm 51:10-12:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Joel 2:12-13 &and Psalm 51:10-12 can help us reflect on repentance, returning to God, renewing our commitment to Jesus, and being made clean.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4:
"...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
Philippians 3:10
"...I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings..."
· Romans 12:12:
"Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer."
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Philippians 3:10 and Romans 12:12 helps us to reflect on what Christ did on our behalf and how we are called to be Renew how we think and live and rejoice in hope in this messy life.
· John 11:25-26:
“Jesus said... ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’”
· 1 Peter 1:3:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
John 11:25-26 & 1 Peter 1:3 can prayerfully help us to reflect on His Great love and His mercy for us, and that we are made new so that we can live confidently in our what He has done on our behalf if we truly put our trust in Him and strive to live a life in true friendship and communion with Jesus.
Easter is all about the Saving love, sacrifice and work of Jesus Christ.
What are some good reflections questions I can pray over?
How am I doing with Jesus?
Do I need to make some changes in my life to get right with Him?
How can my life reflect more of Jesus love to others?
How can I show more gratitude with my life to Jesus?
How can I stay connected – remain in a close relationship with Jesus?
Before I close, I want ot make sure you have some information on how you can become a genuine follower of Christ and know you are saved.
How to begin a relationship with Jesus?
It’s first acknowledging you are a sinner and then repent. Repent means to turn from, not just apologize but recognize your life is headed in the wrong direction and you need to make a complete 180 in your life.
Secondly embrace God’s forgiveness and "confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..." Romans 10:9
Thirdly, get involved in a church that beileves the bible is the Word of God and one that will help disciple, mentor, love and encourage you in your walk with Jesus.