Rabbi Eliezer famously taught that one should: “Repent one day before your death.” So his disciples asked him: “Does a person know which day he will die?” Rabbi Eliezer responded: “Certainly, then, a person should repent today, for perhaps tomorrow he will die—so that all his days he is repenting.” (Talmud, Shabbat 153a)
We are in a season of repentance called Lent. It began on Wednesday, marking 40 days leading up to Easter (well, actually 46 days because Sundays don’t count). Given that it does not appear in the Bible, where does this practice come from?
Origins of Lent
The exact origins of Lent are not fully known, but it started forming within the first couple of centuries. The earliest records of Lent appear in the Council of Nicaea in 325, coming out of early practices in fasting, repentance, and self-denial leading up to Easter.
Lent remembers the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. This period of fasting and reflection provides an opportunity for believers to deepen their relationship with God, examine their lives, and seek forgiveness for their sins. This practice of self-denial and sacrifice can help focus on spiritual matters and to remember the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.
Israel’s Preparation for Messiah
Right before Jesus was tempted in the wilderness he was baptized by John. John’s baptism was one for repentance, to prepare Israel for her Messiah.
What is repentance? We may think of being sorry for our sins. The Hebrew meaning of the word goes further. It is from a root that means to return (shuv). Biblical repentance means to change direction. We need to change our thoughts and behavior, totally turning around and behaving in the opposite way.
If Jesus didn’t need to repent for any sin, then why did he need to be baptized? He went into the waters to identify with Israel, being the long-awaited Coming One. His baptism took place at the same location Israel crossed into the Promised Land. Multiple Scriptures allude to Jesus’ being the New Moses prophesied about in Deuteronomy 18:15.
Preparing for Baptism in Early Church History
During Lent, new believers participated in a process of spiritual formation and instruction. Lasting several weeks or months, it was designed to help new believers develop a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and prepare them for their baptism, typically the Saturday night before Easter.
During the baptism ceremony, the new believer was typically immersed in water or had water poured over them, symbolizing the washing away of sin and the beginning of their new life in Christ. The baptistery was located outside the church. After their baptism, they were welcomed to join the community and enter the building.
Lent in Churches Today
There is a wide range today among churches from no Lenten rituals to strict adherence. For the unfamiliar, it can be perplexing. Engaging in Lenten practices can enhance the sense of a worldwide bond in the Church by sharing these similar traditions. We need to nudge ourselves away from our individualistic orientation and remind ourselves that together we form the church; we all need repentance and spiritual renewal. It’s not just about “me and Jesus” but “us and Jesus.”
Ash Wednesday
Lent began this past Wednesday with Ash Wednesday. Some go to services and have ashes put on their foreheads in the sign of the cross. It is a reminder of:
The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:7
You are dust, and to dust you shall return
Genesis 3:19b
This second verse is often spoken when the ashes are placed, plus “repent and be faithful to the gospel.”
In our society, we shield ourselves quite a bit from death and our own mortality. It can be good for us to ponder our mortality periodically. This Lenten season can be a good time for this, along with the hope of resurrection which is the climax of this time on the church calendar.
In the northern U.S., we start Lent in winter and end it in spring. The emergence of new life is a fitting metaphor for the goal of spiritual growth and celebration of the new birth Christ gives.
To Ponder…
What do you think of the season of Lent? Regardless of how you approach it (or not), it can be helpful to slow down and prioritize our time focused on spiritual growth as we head toward celebrating the Easter season. Take time to ask God to reveal if there is anything you need to repent of and ask him to transform you.
Click here if you would like to watch a weekly short Lenten video from N.T. Wright.