Many Christian traditions observe a Lenten season which kicks off with the somber service of Ash Wednesday. Lent is meant to be a season of examination, personal reflection and change, the doing of good deeds, and by humbling oneself through the self-denial of unhealthy habits, or observing a fast. Of course, Lent coincides with the coming of spring which can become a distraction to our holy execution. Our Christian forefathers intentionally set the Lenten season within our Christian calendar to boost our spiritual growth and renewal.
In many ways, Lent mirrors for Christians many of the obeyances found within the Hebrew Fall Festivals found in Scripture which includes The Day of the Trumpet, the Days of Awe, and the Day of Atonement. However, the Christian calendar is most closely tied to the Passover rememberance and feast on which Christ was crucified as our Passover Lamb.
As the forty-day observance of Lent comes to a close, we will participate in Holy Week gatherings which remembers Christs procession into Jerusalem, his anointing for death, the foot-washing of his disciples and the communion of his body and blood on Maundy Thursday which leads into Good Friday services, the Holy Sabbath, and finally the Easter celebration. Each day bears grace to us. The four gospel accounts have recorded a detail of the week of Christ’s passion. Each gospel focuses on a different day, event, or aspect of those humbling events. Victory of the Lamb brings the events together in such a way as to have the greatest insight and impact.
In this novel, as Jesus’ earthly ministry nears its end. He is a wanted man, and as the people around him grow impatient for him to establish a new earthly kingdom, his eyes have become stoically fixed on the cross. His people fail to understand his delay, his talk of his death, and even those closest to him seem to totally miss his words promising his resurrection.
It is clear, that his last days have become his most complex and drama awaits at every turn. Yet, he does not draw back from the cross. Instead, every step presses him onward for the prize that awaits him on the other side of his crucifixion.
Victory Of The Lamb is the perfect Easter read for your meditations.
What words will speak to you this year and break your heart so as to allow the light in?
Art by: K. S. McFarland, author
K. S. McFarland 