Consider – {Lent}

Easter’s a-coming and you don’t even have to look at a calendar to know that! One walk through a supermarket will show you – the selling of Easter eggs and hot cross buns has begun. But this time of year is about much more than the anticipation of Easter Eggs or the enjoyment thereof (not that I have!), this time of year is about remembering the journey that Jesus took to the Cross.

It’s a season known on the Church Calendar as Lent. It’s a time to reflect, remember and consider this pivotal time in history. In these precious 40 days we remember the journey that Jesus undertook to the Cross. His arrest, the betrayals, the beatings and the crucifixion. We open our hearts afresh to the wonder that Jesus – Son of God would lay down His life for us and then the miracle and the victory that would come from His resurrection.

Churches often encourage the sacrifice or giving up of something – a particular food, an activity – during this season. By doing this it gives us a trigger or a reminder to keep our hearts turned towards Heaven. The reminder comes as we experience the gap in our lives from what we have chosen to go without. The removing of something from our lives gives us more space to remember, to consider the most amazing demonstration of love of our God for us. Lent reminds us that the Son of God had to willingly walk a path to death. For without this journey there is no Easter Sunday. There can be no Resurrection without a death first.

As we countdown to Easter Sunday let us consider what Jesus did for us, endured for us. I am sure then that our hearts will be filled afresh with  awe of this season and Easter Sunday our hearts will overflow with the celebration that He is Risen!

Christ has died!

Christ has risen!

Christ will come again

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:12)