Devo I wrote for Lent

While in seminary my friends and I liked to consider ourselves “budding theologians.” We would get in debates and by the time they were over, my head would hurt. In one class the professor asked us what was the most important moment of Jesus Christ’s ministry. Some classmates answered the birth of Jesus was the most important. It shows both the divinity and humanity of Christ. Then others started saying the miracles of Jesus were the most important. Others said the death and resurrection was most important, because it showed the sacrifice of Jesus and that Christ lives forever. My brain started to hurt from all the debating. I wanted to say “Isn't it ALL important?” Yes, the greatest miracle happened when Jesus was killed on the cross and then rose again, but all of Jesus’ life is critical in our faith. To truly know Jesus, I believe we need every moment of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. The greatest story ever told. Miracles happened. People’s lives were transformed. God was present on the earth. Jesus made eternal life possible through the sacrifice made on the cross. Finally, God is still present in the world through the Holy Spirit. To me this is best described in our Holy Communion Liturgy. It says “Your Spirit anointed Him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captive and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people.” WOW! Wouldn’t it be amazing to have seen recovering of sight to the blind? Or to have heard Jesus preach? The liturgy then says “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me…Do this, as often as you think it, in remembrance of me.” We eat the bread and drink the juice to remember the power, grace, and death of Jesus Christ. The liturgy goes on to say “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” That is a promise that we can hold on to forever. The great miracle of all miracles. Imagine standing there the day that Jesus came back to speak to his followers and then ascended into Heaven. Imagine witnessing this miracle. As we journey through Lent, let us think about the whole story of Jesus Christ. The birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection. Let us put this into our hearts and minds. Dig into your Bible and see the story for yourself. Allow it to fill all you do. Don’t let it die, tell others about it. Prayer: “Loving, grace-filled God, help us remain focused on our Savior Jesus and that Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.”