“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51
We are now stepping into March, and the Lenten journey is before us. The days are getting longer. Spring is approaching, it begins March 20th, and yet the church calendar keeps walking us steadily toward the cross. Holy Week begins at the end of this month and ends in the beginning of April. We are moving closer and Christ is with us along the way.
Lent is not just about giving up something. It is about being led somewhere. Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem. He is not wandering. He is walking with purpose.
In the Gospel of Luke, we are told that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” That is love. That is obedience. Jesus knows what waits for him there. Betrayal. Denial. Suffering. Pain. A cross. And still he walks.
There is something honest about the Lenten season. Lent does not pretend everything is fine. It invites us to look at our hearts. To name what needs healing. To confess where we have wandered. To admit where we are tired. But it also reminds us that we are not walking alone.
As Holy Week approaches, we remember that the road to the cross is also the road to resurrection. The same Jesus who rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday will kneel to wash feet. He will break bread. He will pray in the garden. He will carry the cross, and on the other side of that cross, there is an empty tomb waiting.
So, as we begin this month, slow your pace a little. Pay attention. Be mindful of how Spirit leads. What is the Spirit telling you to follow more closely? What needs to be laid down before you get to Good Friday? What hope do you believe might rise on Easter morning? Resurrection is coming, let us keep walking along the way.
Prayer
Almighty and loving God, As we move deeper into Lent and closer to Holy Week, please steady our steps. Give us courage to face what needs changing in us. Give us faith to trust that the road to the cross is not the end of the story. Prepare our hearts for the sorrow of Good Friday and the joy of Easter morning. Keep us near you every step along the way. Amen.
May God bless you and keep you!
Pastor Dennis