Fasting is the most common and important part of Lent. People usually don\u2019t give up all food but a certain type, like sweets or chocolate or meat. They might fast from certain entertainment or other luxury items.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An important element during Lent is prayer and meditation. Biblical fasting isn\u2019t for losing weight or physical health but to take that time and energy for more prayer and meditation. Since Lent leads to Easter, meditating on Christ\u2019s sacrifice is appropriate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here are seven passages on Jesus\u2019 journey to the cross to meditate on this Lent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019 Agony in the Garden\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Meditating on Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane offers a profound opportunity for reflection and spiritual growth. In Matthew 26:36-46<\/a>, we witness Jesus grappling with the weight of His impending crucifixion, experiencing deep sorrow and distress. This poignant moment reveals His humanity as He prays,\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This passage invites us to empathize with Jesus\u2019 emotional turmoil and surrender to God\u2019s will. It encourages self-examination, humility<\/a>, and a willingness to submit our own desires to God\u2019s plan. Jesus possessed a will contrary to his Father\u2019s and submitted to the Lord. Our own contrary will isn\u2019t sin, yet we must also submit our will to God and His redemptive plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through this meditation, we can deepen our appreciation for the sacrifice Jesus willingly embraced for our redemption. It becomes a transformative journey of drawing closer to God, acknowledging our vulnerabilities, and finding strength in surrender, echoing Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cWatch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation\u201d (Matthew 26:41<\/a>). This Lenten reflection guides believers towards a more profound understanding of the cost of redemption and a renewed commitment to aligning our will with God’s purpose.<\/p>\n While in the Garden, Judas betrays Jesus, who is then arrested. Meditating on the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the garden during Lent invites a contemplative journey into the depths of Christ\u2019s sacrificial love and human vulnerability. In Matthew 26:47-56<\/a>, the poignant scene unfolds as Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss, leading to His arrest by a cohort of soldiers. The injustice of betrayal by a close disciple and the ensuing arrest illustrate Jesus\u2019 submission to God’s redemptive plan.<\/p>\n As we reflect on this passage, we are compelled to confront both how others have betrayed us, and the times we have failed to stand with Christ. The garden becomes a sacred space for acknowledging our need for divine mercy. Jesus\u2019 resolute surrender, despite the unjust circumstances, becomes a source of inspiration for believers in their Lenten journey.<\/p>\n The betrayal and arrest of Jesus prompts a deep examination of conscience, fostering humility and repentance<\/a>. It calls for a commitment to walk faithfully with Christ, especially in times of trial. This Lenten reflection cultivates a spirit of gratitude for Christ\u2019s unyielding love, encouraging believers to live in alignment with His example of selfless obedience and enduring faithfulness.<\/p>\n After his arrest, the soldiers brought him before the High Priest and the Jewish council. Meditating on Jesus before the high priest during Lent invites contemplation of Christ\u2019s unwavering commitment to His mission amid unjust accusations and scrutiny. In Matthew 26:57-68<\/a>, the scene unfolds as Jesus faces a trial before the high priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. Despite false witnesses and accusations, Jesus maintains a dignified silence, refusing to defend Himself.<\/p>\n During Lent, this meditation prompts us to reflect on our own responses to unjust accusations or opposition. Jesus\u2019 steadfast demeanor becomes a model of humility and trust in God\u2019s ultimate justice. The scene calls for self-examination, urging individuals to embody Christ\u2019s resilience in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n The high priest\u2019s questioning also highlights Jesus’ divine identity as the Son of God, as he declared as much before the Sanhedrin. It becomes an opportunity to align our own lives with the values of truth, integrity, and trust in God\u2019s providence, even when coming under unjust scrutiny. This Lenten reflection encourages us to emulate Jesus\u2019 steadfastness and faith, recognizing the transformative power of resilience and knowledge of our identity in Christ.\u00a0<\/p>\n Before the final decision to crucify Jesus, the Romans sent him to be beaten and whipped, almost to the point of death. Meditating on Jesus\u2019 beating and whipping during Lent provides a solemn opportunity to reflect on the depth of Christ\u2019s suffering and the price paid for redemption. In the Gospel accounts, particularly in Matthew 27:26<\/a> and Mark 15:15<\/a>, we encounter the brutal scene where Jesus is scourged before His crucifixion.<\/p>\n Contemplating this aspect of the Passion narrative prompts a profound examination of the physical and emotional anguish Jesus endured. The merciless lashes, borne for the sins of humanity, become a poignant symbol of His sacrificial love. This meditation invites us to empathize with Christ\u2019s pain, acknowledging the weight of sin that necessitated such suffering.<\/p>\n During Lent, this reflection becomes a call to repentance and gratitude. It encourages us to confront the reality of our own shortcomings and sins, recognizing the immense price Jesus paid for our redemption. Through this meditation, we deepen our appreciation for the magnitude of God\u2019s love, finding solace in Christ\u2019s willingness to endure brutality for the sake of humanity\u2019s salvation. It serves as both a somber reminder of the gravity of sin and the boundless mercy extended through Christ’s sacrificial act.<\/p>\n Once beaten and scourged, they brought Jesus before the Roman governor, Pilate. Meditating on Jesus before Pilate during Lent invites us to reflect on the pivotal moment when Christ stood before a secular authority, facing false accusations and the impending decision of His fate. As described in Matthew 27:11-26<\/a>, this encounter with Pontius Pilate unveils the intersection of divine purpose and human judgment.<\/p>\n As we engage in this Lenten meditation, we contemplate Christ\u2019s humility in the face of unjust accusations and His refusal to defend Himself forcefully. Pilate\u2019s questioning and the crowd\u2019s demands create a backdrop for introspection, encouraging us to examine our own responses to external pressures and societal expectations.<\/p>\n This reflection becomes an opportunity to ponder the contrast between the earthly authority of Pilate and the divine authority embodied in Jesus. During this encounter with Pilate, Jesus declares he is a king, but his Kingdom isn\u2019t of this world (John 18:36<\/a>), which is also considered Christ\u2019s good confession. This challenges us to prioritize allegiance to the Kingdom of God over worldly standards. The scene before Pilate emphasizes Christ\u2019s mission as a sacrificial lamb, willingly submitting to the unfolding plan of redemption.<\/p>\n During Lent, this meditation deepens understanding of Christ\u2019s trust in God\u2019s ultimate justice. It calls to prioritize spiritual values over worldly acclaim, echoing Christ’s profound example before Pilate.<\/p>\n As Jesus was arrested and brought before religious and political leaders, Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter was one of the disciples closest to Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meditating on Peter\u2019s denial of Jesus during Lent offers a poignant opportunity for reflection on the complexities of human weakness, repentance, and the unyielding grace of Christ. In the Gospels, particularly in Matthew 26:69-75<\/a>, Mark 14:66-72<\/a>, Luke 22:54-62<\/a>, and John 18:15-18<\/a>, 25-27, the narrative unfolds as Peter, despite his initial bravado, succumbs to fear and denies association with Jesus three times.<\/p>\n This Lenten meditation prompts us to examine our own vulnerabilities and moments of spiritual frailty. Peter\u2019s denial becomes a mirror reflecting the frailty inherent in human nature and the propensity to falter in times of pressure. The crowing rooster serves as a sobering reminder of the impact of denial and the realization of our need for redemption.<\/p>\n As we engage in this reflection, it becomes a call to humility and repentance. Peter\u2019s subsequent restoration by Jesus, as recorded in John 21:15-19<\/a>, becomes a beacon of hope, emphasizing Christ\u2019s unfailing mercy and the transformative power of forgiveness.<\/p>\n During Lent, this meditation invites us to confront our own denials of Christ\u2014whether through actions, words, or attitudes\u2014and to seek the redeeming grace offered by Jesus. It encourages a renewed commitment to follow Christ more faithfully.<\/p>\n Since crucifixion was designed to make a spectacle of the criminal bound for execution, the condemned often carried their own cross to the place of death. After the crowd called for his crucifixion, Jesus carried the cross to the hill of his physical death.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meditating on this during Lent invites us to contemplate the profound symbolism of Christ bearing the weight of humanity\u2019s sins and the sacrificial journey toward redemption. Described in all four Gospels, particularly in Matthew 27:32<\/a>, Mark 15:21<\/a>, Luke 23:26<\/a>, and John 19:17<\/a>, this moment captures the physical and spiritual burden placed upon Jesus.<\/p>\n This Lenten reflection prompts us to empathize with Christ\u2019s excruciating journey as He shoulders the cross towards Calvary. The physical strain becomes a metaphor for the weight of sin that Jesus willingly undertakes for the salvation of humanity.<\/p>\n As individuals engage in this meditation, it becomes an avenue for introspection on the cost of discipleship. Jesus\u2019 journey with the cross challenges believers to reflect on their own commitment to follow Christ, acknowledging the challenges and sacrifices inherent in discipleship. During his ministry, Jesus taught how his disciples must take up our cross and follow him.\u00a0<\/p>\n This meditation fosters gratitude for the immeasurable love demonstrated through Jesus\u2019 willingness to carry the cross. We contemplate the transformative power of the cross in our own lives, inspiring a renewed dedication to the path of self-denial humility and carrying our cross as we follow in the footsteps of Christ.<\/p>\n This year for Lent, let us view these events leading up to the crucifixion of our Savior, meditating on both the humanity and divinity of Christ within each moment. He suffered and died, yet that wasn\u2019t the end. His divinity redeemed this death, turning it all into victory. As his disciples, we enter the same story, sharing in his suffering and sacrificing for the love of others, but more importantly, through this life, we share in his victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a0Getty Images\/Kara Gebhardt<\/em><\/p>\n LISTEN: How to Love Difficult People: Practicing Lent as a Family<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Asheritah gives great tips on how we can practice this season of Lent with intentionality for ourselves, and if you have children, she gives some great tips on practicing Lent as a family.<\/p>\n\n
Jesus\u2019 Betrayal and Arrest\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Jesus Before High Priest\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Beating and Whipping of Jesus<\/h2>\n
Jesus Before Pilate\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Peter\u2019s Denial of Jesus<\/h2>\n
Jesus Carrying the Cross\u00a0<\/h2>\n
![\"Britt](\"https:\/\/i.swncdn.com\/media\/131w\/via\/images\/2022\/07\/28\/26695-britt-mooney-headshot-1_source_file.webp\")
<\/source><\/picture>Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non -iction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee\u00a0<\/a>and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth<\/em><\/a> as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n