Day 1: Sunday in the first week of Lent
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith
The first Sunday in Lent takes us to the wilderness where Satan tries to show that Jesus is unworthy of the high honor of being God’s ‘Son’. Three times Satan seeks to turn Jesus away from faithfulness to God, and each time Jesus remains steadfast. He will not fill his belly with bread. He will not put God to the test (to see if God is trustworthy). He will not gain the whole world at the expense of his soul. He will let God be God. He will be God’s servant/son.
The theological idea of Jesus’ sinlessness is this perfect or complete faithfulness. Even in Gethsemane, Jesus will pray “Not my will, but yours be done.” It contrasts profoundly with the tragic human choice first made in the garden and manifested daily in thought, word and deed, to follow our own will, want and way. Paul writes about this in Romans, how Adam’s sin brought death, but Christ’s faithfulness brings life.
Satan has but one goal, to show that Jesus is just as corrupt as the rest of us. Push him hard enough and he will betray God. Push him hard enough and he will choose himself first: his wants, his needs, his desires.
But Jesus doesn’t fall.
And the world is reborn.
With Jesus’ complete faithfulness the wilderness becomes the Garden. The tree of the cross becomes the tree of life. The flaming sword is stilled and the path opened to the rebirth of the world.
We need only lay our burdens down. The saints and prophets surround us like the cheering crowds in the coliseum. There is a race to run. But we cannot run well if we are clutching our greeds and passions. We cannot run well if we are burdened with guilt and shame. We cannot run free if we are carrying hates and fears. We cannot run free if our eyes are on all that glitters. We cannot run free if we are turned in on ourselves rather than looking to the pioneer and perfecter of faithfulness.
Gracious and ever-present God,
whose mercy knows no bounds,
and whose arms are ever open to your world:
Grant us faithfulness in the wilderness
And make us joyful in your service.
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Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Happy_child_finds_joy.jpg Hillebrand Steve, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Public domain