What have you given up for lent?
Lent is a time for picking up.
This is what someone said to me the other day and it really struck me because every year when lent comes around we ask that question: “what are you giving up for lent?”. Often the answer is something like chocolate, social media or caffeine. These are all things that can become so addictive to us and especially with something like social media they can become a bit of an idol pulling you away from Christ and stealing your time spent in his presence. They are great things to give up!
Historically we give something up at Lent to remember how Jesus spent 40 days praying and fasting in the desert before he started his ministry. But as I’ve been reflecting on my personal walk and what I want to give up for lent I began reflecting on what Jesus gave up, not just in the 40 days he spent in the desert but throughout his time on Earth.
One of the youth at my church asked me the other day if Jesus is one-third of God because God has three parts. In response, I explained that Jesus is wholly God but gave up his godly powers to become wholly human. The young person then went on to argue that that doesn’t make sense mathematically, but that conversation reminded me what Jesus gave up in coming to Earth. He laid aside his godly characteristics; “he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” Philippians 2:7.
Jesus gave up everything to come to Earth.
As I give up something for 40 days for lent, I don’t want to just remember how Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert. In preparation for Easter, I’m remembering what Jesus gave up simply by becoming human.
But Philippians 2 carries on “and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
Jesus didn’t just give something up but he also picked something up. He took on the weight of our sins so that he could bring us atonement. Hebrews 2:17 says “for this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
Lent is a time to prepare ourselves for Easter, a time to remember what Jesus did for us so this lent I’m giving something up to remember how Jesus laid aside his godliness to become fully human, how he humbled himself living a life where he experienced hunger and pain. But I’m also going to pick something up to remember how Jesus took on our sin and took on all the pain and suffering that came with that, ultimately giving his life for us. In comparison to what Jesus gave up and took upon himself what I’m giving up and picking up are tiny; I’m giving up scrolling on social media and picking up the habit of going on a prayer walk daily. But I hope that these two small changes will remind me every day over Lent exactly what Jesus did in coming to Earth and dying on the cross for our sins.
