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Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2026
Scripture: Luke 9:51–62
Jumping to Conclusions
Luke tells us that when the time came, Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” With that simple phrase, the gospel marks a turning point. Jesus chooses a direction, knowing full well where it will lead. Jerusalem is not just a destination—it is the place of suffering, confrontation, and sacrifice.
One of our great temptations, especially in seasons like Lent, is to jump ahead—to skip over what is hard and painful and rush toward relief. We want resurrection without the cross. We want healing without honest examination. We want joy without sitting with sorrow.
But Luke reminds us that faithfulness requires facing what we would rather avoid. Jesus does not look away. He fixes his face toward Jerusalem, toward the truth of what love will cost. Some refuse to receive him because his reality is more than they want to face.
We are not so different. When we look away from suffering, our own or that of others, when we deny grief, guilt, or outrage in favor of comfort or distraction, we too “jump to conclusions.” We bypass the difficult inner work of repentance and self-examination. Yet, Scripture assures us that the full truth of who we are—the good, the broken, and everything in between—is not beyond God’s grace.
Lent invites us to slow down and ask hard questions: Where is my face set? What am I rushing past? What truth is God asking me to face with courage and trust?
The good news is this: We can examine, pray, turn, and receive the grace of God together.
In Christ,
Pastor Lahronda
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