February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday & Lent Devotional
Posted by Michael
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” — Genesis 3:19
Tonight we will celebrate the start of the Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday service at the Herndon and Waterford campuses.
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter (40 days, which represent the number days Jesus spent in the wilderness, plus 6 Sundays). Ash Wednesday is a time of reflection on how much we are in need of a Savior. In the Old Testament, people would cover themselves with ashes as a way to mourn and repent of their sins. When Jonah went to Nineveh to warn the people about their sins, they fasted and covered themselves in ashes as a way to repent. On Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on our foreheads as a way of reflecting and mourning our sin.
Reflecting on our sin may not seem like a way to “celebrate” the start of the Easter season. It is not easy to look within at our own brokenness. But Easter is all about Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Realizing how in need we are for a Savior gives us a proper perspective to fully celebrate Easter 46 days later.
Jesus’ Seven Miracles & “I Am” Statements
Throughout this Lent season, we will be posting a devotional to this blog each Wednesday. The devotional will explore the seven miracles recorded in the book of John, as well as the seven “I Am” statements that Jesus made about Himself. The purpose of this is two-fold.
First, as we prepare for Easter, we want to remind ourselves that Jesus was God Incarnate. He was more than just a wise man with good ideas. Wise men can’t save us from our sins. Only God can. The seven miracles in John remind us of the power and authority Jesus has.
Second, we want to remember that Jesus had a purpose for every miracle He did. He wasn’t a magician performing for the people. Every miracle revealed something about Him, and we will explore that through the “I Am” statements.
If you’d like to start reading, here’s where you can find the miracles and “I Am” statements:
Miracles:
1. The miracle of water into wine (John 2:1-11)
2. Healing the noble man’s son (John 4:46-53)
3. Healing the man at the pool (John 5:1-9)
4. Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:4-13)
5. Jesus walks on water (John 6:16-21)
6. Healing the blind man (John 9:1-12)
7. Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:30-44)
“I Am” Statements:
1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48-51)
2. “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12, 9:5)
3. “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7, 9)
4. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, 14)
5. “I am the resurrection, and the life.” (John 11:25)
6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
7. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)
We’ll begin the devotional series next Wednesday. We hope you’ll join us tonight for Ash Wednesday service. Services are 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Herndon (Base Camp available at 6:30 service) and 7 p.m. at Waterford (Base Camp available).
