Welcome to Lent, Disciple Sojourner.
Last night we participated in a powerful Ash Wednesday service where we were reminded by Jesus that all who wish to follow must take up their cross and die to things that hold us back from a surrendered life that promises abundant resurrection. We claimed our need for a Savior as ashes were placed on our heads. We heard the familiar words spoken over us as the sign of the cross was placed on our foreheads: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” But this year, we responded back with words of hope and assurance: “In life and in death, I belong to Jesus.”
So far in Mark we have met a rough, rebel, emotional, and lonely Jesus who draws friends close and holds them to a high expectation that they will continue his mission of prophetic, miracle working, critic-of-the-culture who liberates us from the oppression this world places on us and frees us to live abundantly as the beloved children of God we are. The final half of Mark begins with Jesus predicting his death and suffering, something that will happen in each subsequent chapter either in word or in action. To pick up a cross and follow Jesus means that as we move toward Easter, Jesus is going to call us to die to things that are obstacles in our lives and of this world that block us from truly understanding and living into resurrection. Like the stages of development humans move through from infancy to older adulthood, we will find there are similar spiritual movements of letting go in order to fully mature as disciples who understand and live resurrection on this side of eternity.
This Lent we hope you will join us as we become disciples who are...
