Living with Hope

The End of Lent: Rising with Christ

“…Jesus revealed himself in this way.  Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanel from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We also will come with you.’”

-John 21

_______________________________________________________________________________________

We have entered into Holy Week.  Which means our hearts and minds should be focusing on the Lord’s passion and preparing for His glorious resurrection… but for most of us somewhere deep within us there’s the thought and relief that Lent is almost over!! 

I remember back when I was a teenager my Holy Week was not filled with contemplation and prayer of the significance of this week, but instead I was planning breaking my lenten fast and preparing for my feast on Easter.  If I had given up candy then I was planning which candy bars I was going to go buy, and which one I’d eat first, and how much I could eat without puking all that deliciousness back up… gross but true.

But as I’m getting older and slowly understanding what the Lord desires for me and my life, my desire has changed from wanting to celebrate the end of Lent to celebrating the Resurrection and my new life in Christ! 

The realization that we are called to rise with Christ (Romans 4:6) escaped me for a long time.

And I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t completely understand this “new life” concept: I have friends and family who don’t completely get it, I work with teens who don’t even know Christ is offering them new life… but when I read scripture I realize Peter didn’t get this either.

“I am going fishing…” said Peter, who seems to always be putting his foot in his mouth.

I think that verse reveals a lot more about Peter than most people realize.  When I read that verse, I see Peter trying to return to his old way of life… before Jesus, Peter was a fisherman… after Jesus, Peter just assumed he would go back to being a fisherman.  But obviously that wasn’t what Jesus had planned for Peter!  Jesus desired that Peter’s life would truly be changed…

And if this is true wouldn’t Jesus’ desire be the same for us? 

Lent is a time of conversion… not a test of will-power.  What was the point of these last 40 days if as soon as Lent ends we run right back into the “world”?  After Jesus spent 40 days in the desert He didn’t return to Nazareth to resume his life there, he started his public ministry.  Jesus wants our lives to be changed just like Peter’s was… I don’t know how Jesus wants to change your life but I know He doesn’t want His resurrection to be celebrated without you rising with Him.

So let us use this Holy Week to prepare to rise with Him.  Don’t let these last few days of Lent pass us by without us dying to ourselves so we can rise with Christ.