Photo by Ahna Ziegler on Unsplash
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for Christians around the world. I laid out our wooden lenten candelabra, with tulips juxtaposed for St Valentine’s Day. The snow fell lightly as twilight descended. We donned our coats and winter boots and drove into town for our evening service. Men, women, and children entered the sanctuary, people visiting for this midweek service, another local church joining us for this service, happy to be together again after a long work day. Hymns were sung, liturgy spoken, Scripture from the Old and New Testaments read, prayers, and a homily. Quietly, no music in the background, one by one, each of us came forward to receive the sign of the cross on our foreheads, ash mixed with oil, reminding us:
“From dust you came, to dust you shall return.”
Reminded of our mortality, we lifted up our hands to receive the benediction. This is one of my favorite services of the year. I love to be marked with the sign of the cross because it is the most meaningful symbol. God took on flesh and gave Himself up in our place to be the full payment for sin. The cross speaks of my salvation. The cross speaks of the love poured out in the blood and the water that cascaded from my Lord’s flesh. His body broken, His blood poured out, to pay the debt I owed Him. He took my place.
It is at the cross where “Justice smiles and asks no more…”
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. - Romans 3:21-31 (English Standard Version)
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder (click to listen)
1. Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Saviors name
He has hushed the laws loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God
2. Let us love the Lord Who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God
3. Let us sing though fierce temptation
Threatens hard to bear us down
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqurors crown
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God
4. Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercys store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God
5. Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou art worthy Lamb of God
6. Yes, we praise Thee, gracious Saviour
Wonder, love, and bless Thy Name.
Pardon, Lord our poor endeavor
Pity for Thou knowest our frame
Wash our souls and songs with blood
Wash our souls and songs with blood
Wash our souls and songs with blood
For by Thee, we come to God
©2001 Laura Taylor Music.
Photo by Steve Sharp on Unsplash