As we journey through the wilderness of life, there is only one sign that can deliver what it signifies: the cross of Christ Jesus, through which experience the rich, healing grace of God.

Through silence and inaction, we have shunned Jesus for the same reasons as Peter: to avoid being denied by others. We strike our Lord with the wound of denial. Jesus carries this wound to the cross, where he becomes the outcast for us.

The account of Jesus' cleansing of the temple is more than an overturning of the moneychangers' tables. In righteous anger, Jesus drove out the animals and those who had turned his Father's house of prayer into a marketplace. When our lives seem overturned and upside-down, God our Father, who raised Jesus from the dead, is more than able to turn right-side-up whatever is overturned in our lives. Jesus, who overturned the power of sin, death, and hell, is at work in our lives. We look to him, and like his first disciples, we too, “… believe the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken” (John 2:22).

Apathy is certainly one of those wounds inflicted on Jesus which brought about his suffering and death. Early church leaders identified what are called the "seven deadly sins," which include lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. It is that deadly sin of sloth that connects us with the wound of apathy. The early definition of sloth was seen as apathy, joylessness, a refusal to enjoy the goodness of God. Like Peter, James, and John who fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus struggled in prayer, we are guilty of this same sin. In contrast to our sinful apathy, Jesus remains true to his mission and goes to the cross to pay the awful price for our sin.

Though we may be tempted to think that we're "more special" than other people, no one is truly worthy before God -- except His Son, who, through faith, works to rebuild and reshape our lives as we journey through this world.

During the 40 days of Lent, we reflect on Jesus and his faithfulness to God the Father. Because of Jesus' faithfulness, which was evidenced by his victory over Satan in the wilderness and completed on the cross, we have a guarantee of our own salvation.

Everyone is wounded in some way - physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Entering into this Lenten season, there is help and healing for those who are wounded. We have a wounded Savior for a wounded people. Jesus experienced the awful burden of our sin, taking on himself the punishment for the evil we have done and the good we have failed to do. He was wounded for our transgressions and died upon the cross for our salvation. Throughout the Lenten season, we will examine a different wound of our sinfulness which led to Jesus' being wounded and crucified in our behalf. In his wounds, there is forgiveness and new life.

Hiking up a mountain is an exhilarating experience, and helps give us perspective. Jesus goes up a mountain with Peter, James, and John and is transfigured before them as his heavenly glory and splendor are revealed for a fleeting moment. Jesus goes up the mountain only to come back down again - back down to set his face toward Jerusalem, and go up another mountain, Mount Calvary, and to the cross where he would pay the price of his own life for our sin.. It's very tempting for us to stay up on the mount of transfiguration, but we follow Jesus back down to the valley, knowing that he leads us forth to new life.

The Lord's healing touch is revealed in Naaman's being healed of his leprosy, and as Jesus brings healing and new life to the unnamed leper in Mark chapter 1. God's healing mercy continues to be demonstrated in the world today as people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and receive his healing mercy for body, mind, and spirit. The work of Mission India draws countless thousands of children, youth, and adults to Christ's healing mercy that brings new life and salvation.

Jesus came as the fulfillment of prophecy, the Chosen One of God who would defeat the forces of sin, death, and Satan.