Dear Christian friends:

We name this day Ash, Wednesday. Why Ash? A long time ago when people were sorry about their sins the people put ashes on their heads. Ashes are a sign of sorrow. At the first day of Lent people should confess their sins, be sorry about them and ask God to forgive them. That's why we name today Ash Wednesday.

Today we will not throw ashes on our head, but we will confess our sins and we will be sorry that we have sinned against God and against one another. And we will ask God to forgive our sins. Truly we need forgiveness.

During this Lent we will listen to Jesus' words from the cross. Seven times Jesus spoke while He hung on the cross. The first sentence our Lord spoke was, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) We need forgiveness, the same as the people almost two-thousand years ago needed forgiveness.

They needed forgiveness because of their ignorance about God. They didn't know about God. Jesus says, "Father forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." (verse 34)

The soldiers did not know what they were doing. They didn't know that Jesus was the Son of God. They thought He was just another Jewish trouble-maker. They crucified God's Son and didn't know it. They didn't know that Jesus was God. They thought He was only a man.

The leaders of the Jews, the chief priests and the Jewish Council were also ignorant. They thought Jesus was a false prophet, a blasphemer. They, because of their ignorance forced Pontius Pilate to condemn Jesus to death.

The people of Jerusalem didn't know what was happening that day. God, the Maker of heaven and earth was dying on a cross near their city and they didn't know it. They, too, were ignorant about God.

Are people today any better? No! People today are also ignorant about God and His laws and Jesus His Son. Most people don't believe in the Triune God. Many worship false gods and idols. Some love mammon instead of God. Natural man is ignorant about the true God, His laws and His Savior. And therefore sins terribly. He thinks abortion is okay. He thinks gay is okay. He thinks jealousy and revenge is right etc. He enjoys to hate someone, and get revenge, even war. Cheats and steals all the time and tells lies. Yes, natural man is ignorant of God. He is a sinner and enemy of God. He needs forgiveness because in his ignorance He has crucified God's holy Son.

Also we Christians who have some knowledge of God are often weak and continue sinning much every day. We can't seem to stop sinning and we are not ignorant of God. We know God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yet we daily sin much because we, also, still have our old nature and we forget to pray and forget His Word too much.

Truly, all people need forgiveness. The ignorant unbelievers, and the weak, careless Christians.

Yes, really all people today should throw ashes on their heads, be sorry and confess their sins, and look with surprise and awe to Jesus suspended on cross praying, "Father, forgive..."

God the Father does forgive. He hears Jesus' prayer from the cross. And God the Father accepts Jesus' offering of Himself on the cross.

God the Father forgives you! But you have not deserved it! Although you confess your sins today and are sorry and ask Him to forgive you, you do not deserve that forgiveness. Although you promise that you will stop sinning and improve, you do not earn forgiveness by that. You can't keep that promise anyway! We do not deserve forgiveness and we can't earn it. We deserve to go to hell!

God forgives because of His great love and mercy in Jesus. Because Jesus accepted our sins and suffered all our punishment for us on the cross. Therefore Jesus crucified prays for us, and God forgives us.

Let us today accept again God's mercy and forgiveness in Jesus who was crucified for us and who prays for us. Then let us thank Him and praise Him and let us love Him who first loved us and try to improve in thankful service.

We Christians are not ignorant of God like the unbelievers. We know God is our dear Father in Jesus and we are His dear children. With His Holy Spirit we can begin to love God and others and not continue in ignorant sin.

Jesus reaches out to us today and asks us to come and follow Him and be fishers of men.

We have come today to stand beneath the cross and confess our sins and hear His prayer of forgiveness. Now let us leave here and be new persons with thanks and praise to God and love for others.

Amen.