The Back Forty

 

Many of you know I grew up on a 40-acre farm just outside of Strafford, Missouri. My parents tried their hand at raising cattle, chickens, and pigs, but that did not last for too long. This required a lot of work and we did not have the time to do it properly. We had a small garden near the house and plenty of wild blackberries near the back of the property. I always described our land as a “walking around farm.” In fact, going for a stroll on the property was one of my mother’s favorite activities with her children. I will not say it was one of my first choices in my childhood, but, as I got older, I grew to love just going for a walk on the back 40.

The church has a 40-day opportunity to walk with Jesus during the liturgical season of Lent. Our goal is not to reach the back-fence line of an Ozarks farm but the royal city of Jerusalem with our Christ. In the 9th chapter of Luke’s gospel we hear of Jesus recognizing the days were drawing near for him to be taken up, and he set his face to go toward the Holy City. It would have been safer for him to remain in Galilee among the familiar farms, towns, and terrain of his youth, but that was not his divinely appointed destiny. The middle section of Luke is filled with Jesus and the disciples walking toward the city which would take his life. As he went, Jesus healed many people, told plenty of parables and rebuked those who let their religiosity get in the way of living generous lives. It is a long walk and covers more than a third of Luke’s gospel.

“Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.’ But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said” (Luke 18:31-34.)

Lent gives us a chance to take this same walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem. There are easier roads out there to be sure, but the way to the cross is the path God lays out for all disciples who want to follow the Christ. My prayer is we can all make good use of these 40 days through increased Bible study, devotional reading, and meaningful service. May God continue to bless you as we make our way to Jerusalem, the cross, and the empty tomb. 

In Hope and Confidence, 

Pastor Dave

Photo by Rebecca Ritchie on Unsplash