Today is Ash Wednesday… What Does That Mean?

If you’ve ever seen someone with a small black cross smudged on their forehead and wondered what it meant, you’ve encountered one of the most visible markers of the Christian calendar: Ash Wednesday. In the last few weeks, I’ve had a few people in our church family ask about the Christian calendar, specifically about Ash Wednesday and Lent, and I thought I’d share a few thoughts. So what exactly is Ash Wednesday? Where did it come from? And how does it fit into the journey toward Easter? 

Let’s take a closer look.

Where Did Ash Wednesday Come From?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day season (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. Lent is a time of repentance, reflection, fasting, and preparation as believers walk with Jesus toward the cross and ultimately the empty tomb.

The practice of using ashes as a sign of repentance has deep biblical roots. In the Old Testament, ashes were a symbol of mourning and humility before God. When Job repented, he said, “I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:6). The prophet Daniel turned to God “in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). Ashes were a physical way of expressing an inward sorrow over sin and dependence upon God.

By the early centuries of the church, Christians began setting aside a season before Easter for repentance and spiritual preparation. Around the 4th century, the 40-day fast of Lent became more formally recognized. The use of ashes on the first day of Lent eventually developed in Western Christianity, particularly within the Roman Catholic Church, as a way of publicly marking the beginning of this solemn season.

Traditionally, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made from the burned palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday—an intentional reminder that the cheers of “Hosanna!” can quickly turn into cries of “Crucify Him!”

What Do the Ashes Signify?

When ashes are placed on a person’s forehead—often in the shape of a cross—the minister typically says one of two phrases:

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
“Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Both phrases capture the heart of Ash Wednesday.

First, ashes remind us of our mortality. The words “you are dust” echo Genesis 3:19, where God tells Adam that humanity will return to the ground from which it was formed. Ash Wednesday confronts us with a reality we often avoid: life is fragile, temporary, and dependent on God. It is a humbling moment.

Second, ashes symbolize repentance. They are not about shame for shame’s sake. They are about turning—turning away from sin and turning toward God. Lent begins not with celebration, but with confession. It invites believers to examine their hearts, habits, and priorities.

Ash Wednesday, then, is not morbid—it is clarifying. It strips away distraction and calls us back to what matters most.

How Does Ash Wednesday Fit into the Easter Season?

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, which lasts 40 days (excluding Sundays). The number 40 is biblically significant:

·         Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness.
·         Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Sinai.
·         Elijah traveled 40 days to Mount Horeb.
·         Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.

Lent mirrors Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness—a time of testing, fasting, and spiritual focus. It’s a season meant to prepare hearts for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. If Christmas invites us to rejoice in Christ’s birth, Lent invites us to reckon with why He came. The journey moves from ashes to cross, from cross to empty tomb.

Ash Wednesday sets the tone: repentance first, resurrection later. You cannot fully appreciate the joy of Easter without understanding the weight of sin and the cost of redemption.

How Do Different Evangelical Traditions View Ash Wednesday?

Not all Christians observe Ash Wednesday in the same way.

In Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and some Methodist churches, Ash Wednesday is a formal liturgical service. Worshipers receive ashes on their foreheads and begin Lent with intentional spiritual practices such as fasting, confession, and prayer.

Many Lutheran congregations strongly observe Ash Wednesday, seeing it as a meaningful call to repentance rooted in Scripture. Some Reformed churches have also embraced Lent and Ash Wednesday as helpful rhythms, even if not required by Scripture.

Historically, many evangelical churches (like ours) have not emphasized Ash Wednesday, partly out of concern about ritual becoming empty tradition. The Reformers in the 16th century pushed back against practices they believed were not explicitly commanded in Scripture.

However, in recent decades, some evangelical churches have rediscovered the value of the Christian calendar—not as a requirement, but as a tool. They see Ash Wednesday as a helpful opportunity to focus on repentance and preparation, provided it remains centered on the gospel and not mere ceremony.

For many evangelicals, participation in Ash Wednesday is optional and symbolic, not sacramental. It is seen as spiritually beneficial if it leads to genuine heart reflection rather than outward display.

What About Fasting?

Ash Wednesday is traditionally a day of fasting. Fasting during Lent can take many forms:

·         Giving up certain foods
·         Abstaining from social media
·         Limiting entertainment
·         Adding intentional times of prayer or Scripture reading

The goal of fasting is not self-improvement. It’s dependence. When we fast, we create space. Space to feel our need for God. Hunger, whether physical or habitual, becomes a reminder to pray.

Jesus assumed His followers would fast (Matthew 6:16), but He warned against doing it for public recognition. Ash Wednesday should never become spiritual performance. It’s about inward humility.

Should Christians Observe Ash Wednesday?

There is freedom here.

Scripture does not command believers to observe Ash Wednesday or Lent. At the same time, Scripture consistently calls believers to repentance, self-examination, fasting, and preparation of heart. For some, Ash Wednesday becomes a powerful yearly reset. It turns into a moment to pause and realign with Christ before the journey to the cross. For others, similar reflection may happen in different ways.

The key question is not, “Do I have ashes on my forehead?”
The real question is, “Is my heart humble before God?”

From Ashes to Hope

Ash Wednesday begins with a sobering truth: we are dust. We are mortal. We are sinners in need of grace.
But it does not end there.

The cross traced in ashes on the forehead is intentional. It reminds us that though we are dust, we are loved. Though we repent, we are forgiven. Though we will one day die, we belong to the One who conquered death.

Ash Wednesday is not the celebration. It’s the preparation.
It slows us down. It humbles us. It invites us to turn around.

And as we walk through Lent, we do so with hope—because the story doesn’t end in ashes. It ends in resurrection.

So if it’s Ash Wednesday and you’re wondering what it means, perhaps it’s simply this:

Pause.
Repent.
Remember who you are.

And prepare your heart for Easter.

 I love you, church.

~ Pastor Daniel

For those interested, Redeemer’s Fellowship is hosting a Community Ash Wednesday Service tonight, Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 PM. The evening features worship and a guided interactive evening as the Lent season begins.