My mind often reflects on the thought from Hebrews 11 where it is recorded that, for the JOY that was set before him, Jesus endured the shame of the cross.

During this Lenten season, some might think that this is a personal private time for us to reflect on our sins. We ought to feel worse and worse about ourselves in an effort to show Jesus how sorry we are for our sins. We have all heard about giving something up for Lent. When I was a boy there were no weddings during Lent, we were encouraged not to go to movies, and it was to be a somber time of reflection on the work of Jesus. Sermon series often concentrated on the Last Seven Words of Jesus from the cross. There is merit in reflecting on the magnitude and majesty of Jesus’ death.

The situation today seems much reversed. While we may plan Lenten worship into our lives and make a special effort to get to special services, we know that the world around us is in a very different mood. Many go to the other extreme. It sounds strange that neighborhood stores would close on Good Friday from 12-3. It seems strange that anyone would think of giving something up! It seems strange in a world that does not see gathering for worship weekly to be part of life, as it was in my “day” as a youngster.

Such gathering is not for torture or a guilt trip, but for joy. We certainly need to remember that we have been delivered from self-centeredness and arrogance and the power of our sinning against what God has made us to be as His creatures. We are in trouble spiritually if we think we are doing just fine because WE think we are doing just fine. Our selfishness can take hold so that we think WE are in charge of our joy, instead of our Maker, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Playing god is a weighty and crushing task.

Our God does not want to leave us alone. For the JOY that was set before Him, HE (Jesus) endured eternal death’s power, at the hands of His Father, to give us the joy of eternal life. He calls us from the precipice of sin and death and playing god to be His beloved children. For the joy set before US, let us worship, search His Holy Word, sit at the feet of our Savior, be fed with His Body and Blood and rejoice in our baptism. Let us grow in loving others with His forgiving love. That is a healthy Lenten mindset and heartset (see Ephesians 1).

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp