Introduction to Lent
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
One summer afternoon, two boys were playing in the backyard with their action figures. One boy wanted the other to give him his action figure for a moment so he could play with it. The other boy politely told him no. The first boy became enraged and threw a rock at his friend. His friend began to cry and ran back inside the house. The result was the angry boy stewing in his room after his mother sent him there. During his timeout, he became very sad and felt guilty. In his mind, He needed to make up for it, so he began to scratch his forearms in order to punish himself and make up for what he did. When his mother came to the room and found him like this, she asked him, “Judas or Peter?” The boy knew what she meant.
Judas regretted his sin but didn’t trust in His Savior. He despaired and gained nothing but damnation. Peter also regretted his sin yet he knew his Savior. He was restored by His Savior, who died on the cross to take away his sin. The mother’s point: Jesus took care of that little boy’s sin on the cross; there was no need to punish himself. The rock-throwing was forgiven and forgotten. The boy was greatly relieved.
During this Lenten season, don’t look at the cross and passion of our Lord Jesus as a reason to punish yourself. Don’t look at it as only a part of your forgiveness. Look to it as your complete and full forgiveness. The sacrifice of Christ on that cross will give you the peace of mind that you need. He took care of your “rock-throwing” once and for all.
If my sins give me alarm and my conscience grieve me,
Let Thy cross my fear disarm, peace of conscience give me.
Grant that I may trust in Thee and Thy holy Passion.
If His Son so loveth me, God must have compassion.
The Lutheran Hymnal 140:5