I was watching the news this morning and was reminded by the presence of ashes on the foreheads of men and women testifying before Congress, and appearing in interviews in the news feed, that today is the beginning of Lent. If you are unfamiliar with the practice of making the sign of the cross on the forehead with the ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday palms, Wikipedia will tell you “Lent is usually observed in the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican, United Protestant and Orthodox Christian traditions, among others.”
I was raised in one of those traditions that observed Lent as a solemn season of preparation for the glories of Easter and the resurrection. Ash Wednesday marks 40 days–corresponding to Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness and Jesus’ 40 days in the same place–till Maundy Thursday of Passion Week. The ashes remind us that we are made of dust and the forty days are an opportunity to remember why we need a Savior. But it also a season of reflection on the wonders of God’s love, that He would leave the glories of heaven to save the likes of us. This year (2025), Lent goes from March 5-April 17.
For me, the Lenten season begins with a rereading of just one verse. It is from a scene in the life of Christ that actually happens in the last week before the crucifixion. It is one verse that has always arrested my spirit. John 13:1 (NASB95):
“Now before the Feast of the Passover,
Jesus knowing that His hour had come
that He would depart out this world to the Father,
Having loved His own who were in the world,
He loved them to the end”
Four times during the ministry of Christ, we are told, . . .
“My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4)
“My time has not yet here” (John 7:6)
“His hour had not yet come” (John 7:30)
“His hour had not yet come” (John 8:20)
And then, finally, at the beginning of the final week of the Savior’s life, we read this in John 13:1,
“. . . knowing that His hour had come . . .”
It’s that last line in verse 1, that nearly always grabs my spirit and squeezes tears from my eyes.
“He loved them to the end.”
Think about what that included in that last week.
- The Pharisees paid Judas to betray Him. “He loved them to the end.”
- Judas betrayed Him. “He loved them to the end.”
- Peter denied Him. “He loved them to the end.”
- James, John and Peter fell asleep on Him. “He loved them to the end.”
- All of the disciples ran and hid. “He loved them to the end.”
- Judas committed suicide. “He loved them to the end.”
- From the cross, He forgave them. “He loved them to the end.”
How magnificent is our Savior? How matchless is His love? How good is the good news of the gospel? How marvelous is it to be adopted into the family of God?
Too marvelous for words but not so for tears of joy and thanksgiving, for a Savior like Jesus.
ChosenRebel's Blog 