The Pastor's Windshield for February 2023

Lent is almost here! Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, marks the beginning of Lent. Christians have been observing this season for around 1,700 years!  The word “Lent” means spring. As the natural world revives each spring, in Lent we remember the new life which Christ won for us through His suffering, death, and resurrection. In remembrance of Christ’s 40 days of fasting and facing temptation in the wilderness, the season is 40 days long (not including Sundays). Lent is a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter. With its focus on the cross, Lent can also be a more somber and penitential time of the Church Year. 

I’d like to share some Lenten encouragements with you based on the Apostle Peter’s words in Acts chapter 3. In the second recorded sermon from early Christianity, Peter preaches, “But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.” (Acts 3:18-21)

Peter tells us that God kept His promise in sending Christ to suffer as our Savior. As we prepare for Lent, let’s focus on three of the things that Peter also highlights in this passage:  Repentance, Refreshment, and Restoration. 

Lent is a time to turn to the Lord in repentance. Biblically, repentance means a change of heart. God creates such a change in our hearts when He leads us to turn from our sin and turn toward Him for mercy and forgiveness. To use Peter’s expression, the Lord blots out our sins (Acts 3:19) because Jesus died for those sins at the cross.

Repentance is a gift from God, worked through His Word and Holy Spirit as He leads us to recognize and experience contrition over our sin (both our sinful condition as well as specific sins we’ve committed).

Lent reminds us of the great price that Christ paid to take away our sins: giving His life and shedding His blood for us. The hymn “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” reminds us that if we “think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great” that at the cross we “may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate. Mark the sacrifice appointed, See who bears the awful load..." And praise God that Christ has borne the heavy load of our sin!

Lent is also a time to be refreshed in our Christian faith. Peter uses the expression “times of refreshing” in Acts 3:20. This is the only time the Bible uses this phrase, but it seems to refer to the New Testament in which we are living. We also note that this refreshment follows the Lord’s forgiveness. What could be more “refreshing” than the assurance that Christ has removed your sins and paved the path to eternal life for you?

Our Lord continues to refresh us as we receive His Absolution, remember our Baptism, and receive His gifts in the Lord’s Supper. God also offers us refreshment through His people and the encouragement of walking with one another in our common faith and life in Christ Jesus. 

He refreshes us as we grow in His Word, and Lent is an especially great time to begin, renew, or add to your prayer and devotional practices. (Please let me know if you’d like any ideas!) The additional worship services on Wednesdays and during Holy Week also provide opportunities to be refreshed in the Word of our Lord. 

Finally, Lent reminds us of how Christ has restored our relationship with God through His cross. Even in the midst of Lent, we also look forward to celebrating Easter. We celebrate the fact that God raised Jesus from the tomb and restored Him to life. But Peter’s words in Acts 3:21 point us ahead to a greater restoration that is still to come, but which is previewed for us by Jesus’ resurrection. When Christ returns on the Last Day, God will restore all things – both His creation and you and me. He will raise us from our graves and restore us in body and soul to enjoy everlasting life with Him!

Lastly, here’s a little detail that’s worth noting: the upcoming Sundays are described as “in” Lent rather than “of” Lent. Even while we focus on Christ’s suffering and cross for our sins, we continue to give thanks for His Easter triumph and the restoration that is ours because of it.  I look forward to sharing this Lenten journey with you this year!

Peace in Christ,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke