"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19 NIV84)

The speaker (if you want to call him a speaker) at the very first Lenten service (if you want to call it that) delivered only a brief message. He had to repeat it, but it was effective. More on that in a moment.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season. Neither Ash Wednesday nor Lent is mentioned in the Bible. We know that Lent has existed for over 1,700 years because it was acknowledged by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. Roughly three centuries later, Pope Gregory established Ash Wednesday, placed it forty-six days before Easter to begin Lent, and excluded the Sundays involved to keep Lent at forty days—forty days because that's how long Jesus fasted in the wilderness. More important than the origin details, our Lenten services provide us with valuable opportunities for spiritual preparation.

Now, about the aforementioned speaker: His only purpose was to remind the listener that he, the listener, was a sinner. Similarly, our Lenten services remind us that we are sinners—and we are, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Hearing these reminders leads us to examine our lives, experience godly sorrow over the sinful paths and impulses we've followed, and repent.

The speaker, uttering his brief message in a dark and chilly courtyard, accomplished his purpose when he famously crowed. Yes, he crowed! The "speaker" wasn't really a speaker (nor was this a church service of any kind); the "speaker" was a rooster—the one that Jesus had prophesied would crow twice.

Mark 14:72 gives this account: "And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept."

The crowing rooster proved to be an effective reminder of what Jesus had told Peter, and more than likely, Peter remembered his own bold, yet failed, proclamations as well: "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." And, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" (Matthew 26:33,35) Remarkably, it wasn't years or months after Peter made these statements that he denied being a follower of Jesus; it was just hours later. That sounds like something we'd do, doesn't it?

There's more that happened in the courtyard that night: We see in Luke 22:61 that when the rooster crowed a second time, "The Lord turned and looked at Peter." This must have been with an all-knowing look, one that pierced Peter, but at the same time, a look filled with compassion—the compassion of a Savior Who would soon be crucified to give Peter and all mankind everlasting life, and Who desires that everyone know and believe that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

On Ash Wednesday and throughout the Lenten season, you'll hear Scripture readings, liturgy, hymns, and sermons that will cause you to remember and ponder your sin. Hear the courtyard rooster just as Peter did, and weep over your trespasses. Then repent, and turn to God for forgiveness and salvation through Jesus. These Lenten preparations lead to refreshing Easter joy.

Lord, in loving contemplation
Fix our hearts and eyes on Thee
Till we taste Thy full salvation
And Thine unveiled glory see. Amen. (TLH 155:5)

Karl Olmanson is a retired teacher. He lives in Kasota, Minnesota.