Verse for meditation: "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’" (Mk.8:34).
In the meditation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, his vicarious suffering is the main topic. The death of Jesus Christ which reconciled man with God that is meditated during the time of lent is related to the priestly ministry of Jesus. In the Book of Leviticus chapters 1 to 5 we find various sacrifices. In these sacrifices the ministry of the priest is very important. The priest gives leadership to the sacrifices. But in the New Testament, Jesus himself became the sacrifice (Heb. Chs. 4.5.6). The Christian believers are also asked to fallow Jesus, taking their own cross. Every Christian, in Christ becomes a priest (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6).
Ash Wednesday
Ash is seen as a symbol of remorse, repentance and change of mind (Job. 42:3-6; Dan. 9:3; Jer. 6:26; Num. 19:9,17; Jonah 3:6; Matt. 11:21; Lk. 10:13; Heb. 9:13; Ez.9). This concept can be seen in the Apocryphal writings also (1Meccabees 3:47; 4:39). Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season. Taking the 40 days of fasting of Jesus as a model, 40 days before the day of the resurrection (Easter) is separated for fasting and prayer. The six Sundays those occur during the 40 days are not counted as they are observed as Sabbath by the Christians. On the day of Ash Wednesday the tender coconut leaves used in the previous Palm Sunday gets burnt and applied on the forehead of the believer by the priest, drawing the symbol of cross. As the priest draws the cross, he will recite the verses of Gen. 3:19 and Mk. 1:15. These verses point to the repentance and death of men. In Ireland this day is observed as day against tobacco. This indicates the avoiding of luxury, during this days. The first day against tobacco was observed in the United Kingdom on an Ash Wednesday in the year 1984. Now it is observed on the second Wednesday in the month of March. Lent which starts on the Ash Wednesday, meat, wine and narcotic substances are avoided and reserve time for prayer and repentance.
1. Share life by becoming partners in suffering (1 Kings 17:12-24).
When we become partners in sufferings, others receive life. As sufferings are increased in us, comfort is increased in others (2 Cor. 1:4-7). To reveal the life of Jesus, we carry his death (2 Cor. 4:9, 10). Thus death lives in us and life lives in you (2 Cor. 4:12). When the son of the widow of Zarephath died, the prophet Elijah fell upon the boy three times. He prayed for life to come back. This is the prayer of the priest. Carrying the cross by oneself out of freewill is to carry the burden of others (1 Cor. 17:20, 21, 22).
2. Have the mind of Jesus (Phil. 2:1-11))
Paul calls us to put on the mind of Jesus that Jesus had when he took the form of a servant not holding equality with God (Phil. 2:5). The Kenosis theory which says emptying Himself and becoming in the human form is dealt with here – the experience of becoming empty by oneself.
3. A call to carry the Cross (Mk. 8:31-38)
Jesus called others to empty and take up the cross and follow Jesus day by day. The death of Jesus for humanity is our model. In our experience of ‘daily crucifixion’ we are asked to meditate upon Jesus. Cross is not the final end. It is only the beginning of resurrection and eternal redemption. Let us meditate upon the vicarious sufferings of Jesus during this Lenten season as a challenge to us.