Comes in like a Lion, goes out like a Lamb.

In 1732, a doctor by the name of Thomas Fuller collected a group of sayings and published them in a volume called “Gnomologia:  Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British.”  Wow, that book title is a mouth full!  But in that book is the first recorded March proverb, “March comes in like a Lion, goes out like a Lamb.”

We’ve all heard that proverb, and were pretty sure that we understood it.  After all, as March begins, it is still winter, and the weather, at least in the northern hemisphere, is sometimes pretty bad.  But by the end of March, Spring has sprung, and the weather is much gentler.  It makes sense, doesn’t it?

But with the way that the proverb is published, I think it has a deeper meaning.  I wonder if March is not a symbol for Lent.  I was struck by this as we worshiped on the first Sunday in March this year … The Transfiguration of our Lord.  On March 3, we noted that Jesus becomes glorified on that mountain, and God’s voice is heard again.  The Lion of Judah made his entrance.  But, in the weeks following, Jesus makes very clear John’s proclamation that Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  All of the imagery of Lent, from Transfiguration to Good Friday is Passover imagery.  There is a reason that it is Moses and Elijah on that mountain with Jesus.  All three are present in the Passover.

Now Passover is not until April.  Our Passover Seder is scheduled for April 14 this year.  There is a link on our website to the Seder if you’d like to join us.  But in March, we have many opportunities to proclaim the Lamb, from Lenten Midweek services to Purim parties and even St. Patrick’s Day!  Because without the sacrifice of the Lamb, there is no deliverance.

Purim is the Feast of Esther, and a very appropriate Lenten observance.  It is the story of good triumphing over evil, and one of my favorite messianic passages comes from this book where God’s name is not mentioned.  But His fingerprints are all over the text.  “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)  We will proclaim this deliverance in the Lamb of God, Y’shua the Messiah on March 22 in St. Louis, and March 20 in S. Florida.  You would be welcome to attend either if you are in the area, so give me a call for more details or go to http://www.facebook.com/chaivshalom .  But, either way, please keep both celebrations in prayer.  For many will attend who need God’s deliverance.

Pray too for our St. Patrick’s Day outreach, where many in need of deliverance  gather right outside our door.

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