Christians around the world begin observing the season of Lent today. It’s Ash Wednesday. Many people in observance of this season will fast from something dear to them. You’ve heard folks say, “I’m giving up ______ for Lent.” The fill in the blank answer can be anything from coffee to alcohol to chocolate to TV to social media to you-name-it. 

Of course, Jesus didn’t speak about the season of Lent. “Lent” isn’t mentioned in the Bible. Jesus never said, “Hey in the 40 days leading up to my death and resurrection, do this?” He never told us to give up chocolate or coffee. What he told us to give up was much, much more.

In discussing the cost of being a disciple in Luke 14, Jesus said these words:  those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:33. Underlining mine). “Everything” is a little bit bigger ask than giving up donuts or coffee. “Everything” is, well, everything. Clearly, Jesus hasn’t asked us to leave everything like he instructed the rich young ruler… or has he? Our attempts to distance ourselves from the rich young ruler seems to justify our exemption from Jesus’ leave-everything-and-follow-me instruction. We say we are nothing like the Rich Young Ruler (Truth Alert: By world’s standards nearly all Americans are rich). Our excuse making leads us to thinking we don’t need to leave everything, in fact, we don’t need to leave anything to follow Jesus.

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus doesn’t promote an easy way. His demands are hard. He said,“small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13)?  We like to think that the road to life is wide and most everyone is on it… ummm… maybe not. Jesus also said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23). We like to think if we are doing the big and mighty (read: prophesying, chasing demons and miracles or in our context– preaching, putting the Enemy to shame in big ways or leading miraculous ministries), then clearly we are doing God’s will…. ummm… maybe not. We like to think if we say the magic words (Read: Lord, Lord) then we are “in”… ummm…maybe not. The black-and-white demands of Jesus should make all would-be followers take notice.

What if we were to take Jesus literally. What if Jesus meant what he said? What if (not just for Lent but for all times) we give up everything. We take up a cross and follow him (Jesus said to do that too). We give up our rights. We give up having things our way. We give up our importance. We give up our demands. We give up our position. 

The way of the cross is the road of humility. It’s the road of peace-making. It’s the road of gentleness, kindness, patience, faithfulness and self-control. It’s the road that refuses to gossip, grumble and backbite (social media included). It’s the high road. The Jesus road. The narrow road.  

What if this season of Lent (and always) we acknowledge that Jesus calls us to give up everything—that’s a whole lot more than chocolate or coffee for 40 days.