Why is Lent so important? (Week 5)

As we continue to discover why Lent is so important, let’s follow Jesus into Jerusalem. It is a familiar story with palm leaves waving and shouts of “Hosanna!” But today, Jesus will show us just how significant the details really are. And all things are possible with God!

If you want to catch up, here are the links for the last 4 weeks;

We have been following Jesus through the Book of Matthew, but for this story, let’s flip over to John 12.

The Triumphal Entry

Jesus enters Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, with branches waving and shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Let’s pick up there.

John 12:12 reads,

^“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

So, where did this great crowd come from? They obviously knew of him. Did they know he was the King of kings? Or did they only think he might become the king of Israel?

Turn back to John 11.

Let me summarize.

Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, was very sick and died. The sisters sent word to Jesus to come. Jesus waited two days, saying, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

Then, He heads their way. When He arrives, Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days, which is significant.

Martha rushes out to meet Jesus and they have this interchange.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

²³Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

²⁴Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

²⁷“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Our faith is professed through this conversation. Go back and reread Jesus’ words in bold. Ask yourself the question, “Do I believe this?”

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Let’s jump down to verse 38, where Mary, Martha and the others, join Jesus at the tomb. Jesus says, “Take away the stone.” Because we know the story, it almost feels like foreshadowing. A glimpse of what is to come.

Then, Jesus calls Lazarus out and we see a real life resurrection. Life beyond death. For with God, all things are possible. Jesus is setting a great stage for us, for what is about to take place. If we only believe.

A few days later, in John 12, Jesus is riding into the city on the back of a donkey. As He approaches, a great crowd forms because they have heard what happened with Lazarus. They want to see this miracle worker. The one who brings dead things to life. And they worship him with shouts of “Hosanna!”

John 12:16 reads,

^“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize….”

This is why Lent is so important. God is in the details and Jesus is no longer pointing us to the cross, but beyond it to the possibility of resurrection. Life after death. He is building our faith and what we believe through His story.

Let us pray;

God of all the details, thank you for sending your son to show us the way. Teach us the importance of Lent as a cornerstone of what we believe. Prepare us for the cross and amaze us in what comes after. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

P.S. Leave me a comment below. Forward this message to a friend. Or share on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, think about how you can honor Christ today. -M