Lent… a time to reach out to the Saviour

By Munir Bayouk/ en.abouna.org:

Lent is the 40-day period that precedes the grand feast marking Lord Jesus Christ’s rising from the dead following His crucifixion. It is a remarkably historic event that gave life to believers and turned over a new leaf in the future of humanity by introducing the concept of eternal life in the Kingdom of God in the presence of the Prince of Peace.

Lent is a time of prayer and renewal and an opportunity to refocus relationships with God that lead us to the Easter Sunday celebration of our risen Christ. It is a period of meditation in the glory of Lord Jesus who gave up His life to save humanity, yet He defeated death and rose from the dead gloriously revealing to humans the fact that as He rose from the dead, they will definitely follow the same model once they believe in Him.

Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism, people should make use of this golden opportunity by fasting, praying, as well as donating to charity  in order to give a helping hand to the poor and the needy. When fasting, we follow the model of Lord Jesus who fasted for 40 days as the Holy Bible says, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness… He fasted forty days and forty nights” (Matthew 4:1-2). As for prayer, it is necessary to get closer to the Lord and further experience that hard times He passed through. So, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.

What are the similarities between Abraham and Isaac on the one hand and Jesus’ sacrifice on the other?

Is there a tie in between Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac and God/Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross?

The Holy Bible states, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his One and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (1 John)

The Holy Bible also states, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.” (Hebrews 11:17)

In the second case God sent a lamb to be sacrificed in lieu of Isaac, thus Isaac was freed from the curse of death by being replaced by a lamb. In the first case, Lord Jesus was the Lomb of God who died on the Cross in lieu of the sinners who follow in His steps with His precious blood cleansing their sins and offering them eternal life.

The Holy Bible mentions at least six verses which refer to Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of all those who believe in Him.

*The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).

*And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:11)

*“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)    

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