Scripture: John 3:16 (NIV) – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Message: At Christmas, nativity sets filled a wall of shelves in my home.  Olive wood ones from Israel, ceramic from Peru, stone from Kenya, and a multitude of others.  Each one featured Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.  Shepherds gazed at the Babe in several scenes.  Wise men stood in reverence along with their camels.  Serene faces turned toward the little one.  But Jesus didn’t remain in the lowly manger.  His story continued as He grew up, selected His disciples, and began His ministry.  

He endured forty days in the desert with no food while being tempted by Satan.  People flocked to see His miracles, but they didn’t understand His words.  Many who rejoiced on Palm Sunday rejected Him days later and wanted Him crucified.  

Do we celebrate His time of temptation, self-reflection and transformation in the wilderness like we do His birth?  Would anyone purchase a display of self-righteous religious leaders denouncing Him?  Could we find a place on the shelf for figures flogging our Lord?  Would Christians gaze at a disfigured Christ on the cross? 

Lent is a season to reflect on what Jesus did for us.  Not merely a time to give up something, but to pray and study the biblical events.

We would rather jump from Christmas to Easter and ignore the distressful events in between.  However, when we can truly see what Jesus did for us, Easter becomes more glorious.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we don’t fully understand Your plan for Jesus to suffer such pain to save us.  Help us accept Your gift of salvation and share the news with others.  Amen.

Rebecca Carpenter

Northland Church, Longwood, Florida