Only Later Did It Begin to Make Sense | Lent Devotional Day 32

Exploring the Meaning of Jesus’ Death
March 21, 2026
Written by: Jan Brooks

Only Later Did It Begin to Make Sense

Scripture:

3:1 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.”

4 Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it?”

5 Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said, “How are these things possible?”

10 “Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things? 11 I assure you that we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you don’t receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Human One. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

John 13:1–17

Reflection:

Like so many things in my faith journey, I didn’t fully understand the meaning of Easter at the time—only later did it begin to make sense. Before attending the Gathering, Easter was joyful, but also busy and sometimes hectic. It was filled with Easter program rehearsals, searching for matching dresses for my daughters, creating memorable Easter baskets with all their favorite things, egg hunts, and a big family dinner. Easter meant early mornings at church, making sure every bow was fluffed and every frill was just right.

Growing up in a Black Baptist church, some traditions simply weren’t part of our experience. We didn’t observe Ash Wednesday or receive ashes on our foreheads, and Lent wasn’t something we practiced regularly. When we did participate, it was usually because we had Catholic friends and saw it more as a challenge—giving up Diet Coke or chocolate for forty days. I remember being more aware of Lent because of the increased traffic on Fridays near the Catholic church for fish frys than because of its spiritual meaning. Maundy Thursday wasn’t on my radar, and Easter itself was mostly about preparing for the program and getting to church early.

That began to change when I came to the Gathering. For the first time, I started to understand the weight and significance of Easter and the days leading up to it. The Ash Wednesday service struck me deeply—the darkness, and the heaviness of it all. I remember leaving the sanctuary in silence, carrying something I hadn’t before. I attended Maundy Thursday out of curiosity, wanting to learn more, and found myself deeply moved when the pastor washed my feet.

Since then, my understanding continues to grow. I am learning more about what those final days were like for Jesus—especially as Pastor Matt recently illustrated Jesus’ time in the wilderness and the repeated temptations He faced. These moments have helped me see Easter not just as a celebration, but as the culmination of reflection, humility, sacrifice, and deep love.

Prayer:

My prayer is that during these forty days, I will be intentional about drawing closer to God—not by what I give up, but by how I open my heart. Help me to live more fully in the truth of Your love, a love shown not because we had it all together, but because You chose us anyway. May this season lead me to deeper gratitude, humility, and trust in the sacrifice that makes Easter possible.  Amen.

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