EASTER'S COMING

Hi, All,

Yesterday was Ash Wedesday. It's a pity that many Protestants don't take the day very seriously like our Romanish brothers and sisters do--Catholics, Episcopalians, and Lutherans. We Methodists, Baptists, and other anabaptist traditions acknowledge Lent, but the practice of Ash Wednesday seems to be lost on us for the most part.

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance. I liken it to Rosashana, the Jewish Day of Atonement. At the Jerusalem Temple, the High Priest would hold his hands over a peffect lamb, one "without spot or blemish." As he did this he would confess on behalf of the people of Israel and himslef of all the sins they committed thoughtout the year. After the sins were cast upon this perfect lamb, he would be driven into the wilderness taking upon him the sins of the people.

Two men waited there to receive the lamb and throw him to his death over a cliff. This was done so that the sin-bearer would not return to the city bringing with him the people's sins which would be revisited upon them. This animal was known as the "Scape Goat."

Jesus of Nazarreth was our scapegoat. He is "The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world." He is the perfet human who bore upon himself on the cross of Calvary, not only the sins of the Jews, but of the whole world; one time for all eternity, for all humanity.

There is no sin so heinous that God will not forgve, nor is there any depth to which God's grace will not go to redeem any and all who who are in need of redemption.

This is reason alone we should take Ash Wednesday and the whole season of Lent seriously. We need no more to make sacrifices to win forgiveness, Christ accomplished that on our behalf. But we are called to be "Living Sacricifes," that is, to live lives worthy of the death fo Christ and for what he has done for us.

Are you carrying your sins upon you? Is your heart heavy with sorrow? Are there secrets of which you are ashamed? Turn your burdens over to Jesus. His yoke for you is easy and his burden is light. He died for you no matter who you are nor how low or unworthy you feel. He knew about you before you were conceived and He died so that you would not have to.

Have a blessed Lent,
Richard