Reconnect with Christ during Lent
Rev. Norbert Tegtmeir
Friday, February 23, 2007
What are you giving up for Lent? Has anyone ever asked you that question?
I’ve heard all kinds of answers to that question. Some people give up broccoli or some other food they don’t really like. Others give up an activity that they never do anyway, and therefore it ends up not being very much of a sacrifice.
But there are some who give up something very meaningful in their lives, whether it be something to eat or drink or some activity that they enjoy very much. It is a sacrifice on their part and helps to remind them of the great sacrifice that Christ made on their behalf.
This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday in the Christian church, was the beginning of this season in the church that we have come to know as Lent.
Lent means different things for different people but for most in the Christian church, it is a time of self-examination and reflection on our personal lives as they relate to our gracious God. During these 40 days of Lent, we spend time looking inside, searching our hearts, searching our lives, examining what we do and what we say in light of God’s holy Word.
That discipline begins on Ash Wednesday, as the ashes remind us that we are dust and to dust we shall return. It is because of our sin, because of our rebellion, against this holy and just God that we have received that condemnation of death. And no one is left out! The whole human race is destined to die. We see it everyday.
As I write this, I heard on the news of another suicide bomber in Baghdad, killing seven people who were at the graveside, burying their loved one. Death touches each of our lives, maybe it is a loved one, maybe a friend, or maybe even we, ourselves, have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Lent reminds us of all of that and more.
Lent is really not about you and me, but rather, Lent is about this great and awesome God who realizes our condition and comes to do something about it. During these 40 days of Lent we follow the One they called “Jesus, the Christ” down a path that led Him to a hill outside that ancient city of Jerusalem.
On that path He encountered those who hated Him and everything about Him. In their rage they sought for an opportune time to get rid of this man once and for all. With some trumped-up charges they arrested Him in a garden and hauled Him before Pilate. There, in their hatred, they convinced Pilate that Jesus must die. Pilate, too weak and cowardly to stand up to them, gave in and handed Jesus over to be crucified.
And as they nailed this innocent Son of God to the cross, as He hung there and died, it indeed appeared as though Satan had won. This Jesus, the One who claimed to be the Son of God, the Savior of the world, was dead. All hope was gone and those who followed Him left in hopeless despair. It now appeared as though death would reign forever.
Those who died were destined for the torments of hell! And if the story of Lent ended on Good Friday as they took Jesus down from the cross and laid Him in the tomb, then there would be no hope. In fact, there would be no Christian religion. There would be no reason for us to share in this time of Lent. Nothing would matter. We would all be destined to endure the eternal consequences of sin, death in hell!
But Lent is “the Sweet Passion of our Lord.” These 40 days of Lent are followed by Easter Sunday. It is then that we hear the sweetness of Jesus sacrifice. We stand outside the tomb on that Easter morning and we hear the angel say to us and to the world, “He is risen! He is not here! Look at the place they laid Him!”
Look for yourself, the tomb is empty.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead! And because He lives our gracious Father promises life to us. Because of Good Friday, because of God’s sacrifice of His own Son on the cross of Calvary for the sin — the rebellion of the world, your sin and my sin — because of His great love for us, we have life even in the midst of death. Because Jesus rose victorious on that first Easter, we too shall live and rise again at the last day.
Hold on to that sweet Gospel when you are going through the most difficult times of life. Hold on to that sweet promise of Jesus when you are facing the death of a loved one, or even more, your own death.
Jesus gave up His life so that we might live. That’s what Lent is all about. It’s about God reaching out to the people of this world, God reaching out to you and inviting you to trust Him with your life.
Whatever you give up during this time of Lent, may it remind you that Jesus gave up His life so that YOU might live. May this time of Lent be for each of you a time of reconnecting with this gracious God so that you may grow to trust Him more each day.
• “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Norbert Tegtmeier, pastor of Emporia’s Messiah Lutheran Church.