I Love Lent

Isaiah 53:5

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Have you heard people say “I love Valentine’s Day!” “I love Christmas!” “I love Easter!” “I love Thanksgiving!” You’ve probably heard people say things like that before, but have you ever heard someone say “I love Lent!”

Well it’s true, I love Lent. You might be thinking to yourself, “Pastor what sort of masochist are you? You love Lent? Isn’t it that time of year when Christians really focus on their sins and what they have done wrong? That time of year when we talk about Jesus passion, his suffering, and death? Isn’t that so depressing?”

Well it’s true I love Lent. I love Lent because it’s that time of year when we focus on all of those gory details. When we come before God acknowledging our unworthiness and our sin and we see everything that Christ did in order to pay for that sin.

From his betrayal in the garden, to being falsely accused before the high priest, to being mocked and ridiculed and mistreated bloodied and bruised, ultimately put up on a cross where he was even forsaken by God. He died and was buried.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14th this year, we have special services at our church that begin to focus on Jesus passion, every last detail, and I love that we go through the story every year to see every bit of what Jesus suffered for us and for our sin. Lent is a reminder of what Isaiah tells us in his 53rd chapter beginning at verse 5:

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5f

Love Lent because it’s all about what God has done for us in Christ. Amen.