Forty is an important biblical number. During the Genesis flood it rained 40 days and 40 nights; Moses grew up in pharaoh’s palace for 40 years, lived in the wilderness for another 40, and led the Israelites through the desert during his last 40; at the time of the Ten Commandments, he was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days.

It took the Israelite spies 40 days to search out the Promised Land; King Saul, King David, and King Solomon each reigned for 40 years; the people of Nineveh repented after 40 days; Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days; and there were 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension.

So what’s the significance of this number? Many scholars say the biblical 40 most often references a period of significant testing or struggle, followed by a time of God’s blessing.

Today we find ourselves at another important 40, the days of Lent. As we again consider the horror of the cross, it’s a good idea to carve out time to reflect on all that our Savior endured. Knowing the number 40 represents struggle, 40 days for Lent seems appropriate.

I often wonder what Jesus did during his 40 days of misery in the wilderness. Scripture doesn’t let us in on the details, but we do know a few things: he lived among wild animals during that time; he was tempted by Satan repeatedly, possibly on all 40 days; he ate nothing and grew very hungry; and at the end of this agony, angels rushed from heaven to earth to help him.

Because we’re unable to participate in any of Jesus’ sufferings, whether in the wilderness or on a cross, Lent offers a time to rearrange our lives just a little by offering token participation in what Jesus went through. We willingly force ourselves to give up something we usually enjoy or surrender some of “our” time to do good for others.

Because our congregation was together tonight to initiate these 40 days of thinking about the cross, Pastor Kyle offered a symbolic way for us to recognize it was our sin that put Jesus on the cross to die: ashes on the forehead. Setting aside what little I knew about this Lenten custom, I focused on why I need the repentance Christ made possible and stepped forward for my ashes, a sign of death and grief.

The pastor said, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,” a quote from Psalm 130 and also the cry of my heart. “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness.” (vv. 3-4)

May 40 days of small sacrifices shake up our thinking enough to prompt fresh, potent understanding of what Jesus willingly did to bring the beauty of eternal life from the ashes of certain death.

“Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” (Psalm 130:7)