I love that imagery. The very worst that we could do to God in Jesus became the very best He could do for us. While we were murdering Him, He was forgiving us and in His death, He reconciled us to God. He chose the nails that belonged to us, carried the cross that should have been ours, and died the death that we in our sins deserved.

The author, Malcolm Guite, talks about how the ashes from Ash Wednesday represent mourning and loss as typified by how the ancient people used to express grief by tearing their garments and pouring ashes on their heads. Guite also mentions that ashes can be used for fertilizer in a garden to bring new life.

That’s a perfect picture of Golgotha and Easter Sunday, isn’t it? New life coming out of death? Hope coming out of a grave? That’s essentially the Easter story in a nutshell. That’s the reason why I love the Lent and Easter season so much.

“If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus’ fist, but by His nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him” (A.W. Tozer, Preparing for Jesus’ Return: Daily Live the Blessed Hope).