In my present quiet times I have been reflecting on the value of spiritual discipline in respect to prayer and bible study. Also the importance of worship, fasting and service. The art of self-disciple can be a vexed subject as it affects our personal freedoms to make our own life choices.
This compares to any religious or non-religious affinity that seeks to impose levels of discipline so that we conform to an expected standard of living within community. In this article I want to ask myself a question “what is the relevance of Lent in the context of Easter” and offer an answer to it!
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Timings
Within life there are rhythms and seasons that help to sooth or disturb us. The period that leads up to Easter Sunday on the 20th April 2025 includes Shrovetide that starts this year on Saturday the 1st of March with Shrove Tuesday on the 4th March. Ash Wednesday officially commences the period of Lent on the 5th March that overall, with Sundays, includes fifty-one days and seven weeks.
Origins
The background of Lent and Shrovetide, is in relation to preparing candidates for baptism on Easter Sunday. Such a baptism included infants and adults. Liturgically the Eastern and Western Church has tended to emphasise infant baptism that represents infants being accepted into the local and universal church.
A service of confirmation gives an individual an opportunity to affirm their own personal faith upon which they are then accepted to participate in Holy Communion. In some situations individuals may be baptised and confirmed at the same time and then share in Holy Communion. In the Free Church traditional water baptism takes place upon a person’s confession of faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
Fasting and Feasting
The period of Lent represents an opportunity for spiritual preparation, wherein one enters into a time of penitence, confession and fasting. Followers are encouraged to give something up that will help them concentrate on taking up a more spiritual focus to enhance and renew their faith and Christian lifestyle.
Jesus, for around thirty years in his daily work and private life would have prepared himself in some manner for his public ministry of three years. In such ministry he renounced the works of the devil and offered healing to the sick and health to those spiritually poor. He confronted the malpractice of the Jewish leaders and proclaimed the Kingdom of God on earth to be experienced in the hearts and life of all who followed him.
Jesus himself was baptised and anointed by the Holy Spirit that prepared him for the pathway to the Cross. He was resurrected from the dead, completed a post resurrection ministry, before ascending back into the presence of the Father and Holy Spirit.
So within the practice of Lent there is a moment of quiet solace with some form of fasting that concentrates the body and mind on spiritual matters. There is a feasting on a renewed and fresh declaration of faith in Jesus and a further anointing of God’s Holy Spirit for that continued and vibrant life of prayer and bible study, worship, fasting and service,
The Relevance of Lent
At this point I want us to consider personally how Shrovetide and Lent encourages us to be better followers and seekers of Jesus in today’s modern world. Many in the western world have embraced mindfulness and aspects of contemplation that is outside what is considered traditional church teaching. However, the use of personal and corporate reflection has always existed throughout the Scriptures and for the Jewish community and the early church.
For a moment place yourself at the start of Shrovetide which was on 1st March. In what ways would you reflect and concentrate on spiritual things? How would you begin to focus on the life of Jesus as a preparation for baptism and the celebration of Eastertide? I have suggested five points following the experiences of Jesus that I am going to reflect on and apply personally and I encourage you to choose pointers for your own reflections.
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Dessert
Think about the journey of Jesus in the Judean Desert for forty days (Matthew 4). He was tempted by the devil to change his plans and submit to the will and rewards that Satan could offer. His final reply to the devil was “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only”.
I think of my own life where I am constantly tempted to follow the ways of the world and disown the ways of the Lord. It is often during the dessert experiences that we may grow stronger in our faith as we hold on to the promises of God’s word for us.
Baptism
Consider how Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 13 – 17) and that special experience of ‘The Spirit of God descending upon him’. Also those beautiful words of affirmationfrom a voice in heaven saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”.
I have been reflecting on my own adult baptism and how it firmed up my faith and witness to all around me. The words of the Lord, in the context of the fears and worries that we carry, asks us to ‘seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all these things (concerns within the world) will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6: 33).
Crowds
Jesus had a busy ministry that left little time for himself and personal rest. People demanded from him. He had to incur threats as well as adulation. He travelled in the countryside and in the local towns and cities with varying pressures and responsibilities that contrasted to his time in the dessert (Matthew 4: 23 – 24).
I think about how I like to be in the presence of crowds and all that is going on rather than spending some quality time in the presence of God. I might also want to escape from crowds of people and their demands and simple focus on my own life and interests. It represents a daily struggle about priorities and decision making.
Temple
Jesus taught and read scripture in the synagogues and everyone praised him (Luke 4: 16 – 21). He then visited his home town of Nazareth and they also spoke well of him. He then declared “no prophet is accepted in his home town” and after that the people became angry towards him and asked him to leave Nazareth.
During this time of Lent we have an extra incentive and opportunities for private reflection and to join in a Lent study group. In all that we do people will praise and acknowledge us as well as ignore and not appreciate us. I am so glad that I am able to enter into vibrant church worship that includes teaching and fellowship. It is important to recognise that I am not on my own, I am loved and appreciated by the Lord and many friends and family.
Condemnation
Jesus accepted his calling and earthly ministry and was without sin. However, he had to endure being condemned to a criminal’s death by the Roman authorities and supported by the religious leaders (Matthew 27).
For me one of the greatest aspects of the Christian faith is that we are freed from all condemnation. (Romans 8: 1-4) We can be forgiven of all our sins on a daily basis as we confess them and seek to live a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirt. The Apostle Paul in all his struggles and those who affirmed him or not said in: Philippians 1: 21 ‘for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’.
Holy Week (12 April)
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The events during Holy Week are like eating separate slices of a cake, or should I say Pancakes, Hot Cross Buns, Simmel Cake and Easter Chocolate Eggs. Each one represents a sad and joyous aspect around Jesus’s ministry. It includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Dark Saturday and in conclusion Easter Sunday (Matthew 26 – 28).
So during these days and weeks of Lent think for yourself about certain aspects of Jesus life and ministry. May it help you to reflect, fast and apply such thoughts to your own life of faith and ministry so as to be renewed in love, grace and affirmation?
I encourage you to listen to this beautiful worship song by Jon Foreman entitled In Bloom that reminds us the in life we are like a Dessert in Bloom.
Selah: (Pause to think calmly on what has just been read) and check out A Time to Worship
Check out exploretoinspire.uk for further Encouragement for Daily Living
Graham
Explore to Inspire 
