Ashes and Affection
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13).
It is Ash Wednesday, a day on which many celebrate the beginning of Lent. “Celebrate” seems at first like a strange word to use, because the Lenten season is one of intentional lament. We are remembering—and even intentionally associating with—the suffering and death of our Jesus. The ashes you will see today are a reminder of death and the reality that we are all creatures of dust on our own accord (Ecc. 3:20).
So why would creatures of dust and ash celebrate? Why especially would we intentionally celebrate in this prolonged way around a conversation of death? Certainly, a major part of it is that it helps us fully revel in the truth that life conquered death when Jesus rose on the third day! This is the foundational truth that changed world history and your eternal reality—death couldn’t hold Jesus! He broke the chains of death that were previously undefeated!
So, yes, life conquering death is the primary reason we celebrate. But there is a layer of “why” embedded in this truth we sometimes forget to fully consider, and it is the one that adds vivid color to our celebration.
It is the truth that the ashes of Jesus’ death speak to the reality of great affection! Why did Jesus suffer and die? Yes, it was to give you life, both eternal and abundant (Jn. 10:10). But, as if that were not enough, He also bled and died because of His great affection for you (Eph. 2:4-5)!
Yes, the crucifixion of Jesus was the central component of God’s eternal plan. But it was not only that. It was also an act infused by great love and affection! The God of the universe was—and is—passionate about and for you! You are the object of His affection, and it is you with whom He longs to have relationship and from whom He desires praise (Is. 43:21)!
It is so outlandish it feels as though it cannot be true, especially in a world where true affection is so constantly defrauded. Earthly affection is increasingly inauthentic—and even artificial. It is truly a crisis of our times.
And yet, the affection born out of ashes is white hot and as genuine today as the day on which it motivated the ultimate act of sacrificial love!
God’s affection burns for you, my friend! How do I know? The evidence is in the ashes!
The preceding article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.