Conceived for This: March 25, 2016

March 25^th is the traditional date for Gabriel’s annunciation to the Virgin Mary: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son” (Luke 1:31). Mary believed these words and the Christ was conceived in her by the Holy Spirit.
But why was March 25^th chosen as the day for this festival? Some cite an old Jewish tradition which assumed that the great patriarchs and prophets died on the same calendar day they were conceived. If it were true that Jesus died on March 25^th, as some early Christian writers suggested, then it was reasonable to think that Jesus might have also been conceived on that date. While the dates of His conception, birth, and death cannot be absolutely verified, the Western Church has settled on March 25^th for Jesus’ incarnation and subsequently December 25^th for His birth.
The date of Jesus’ death is a movable day on the church calendar, which means that Good Friday can fall anywhere from the end of March to the end of April. Only on rare occasions does Good Friday fall on March 25^th. It happened just three times in the 20^th century (1910, 1921, 1932), and it happens only twice in the 21^st century (2005, 2016). After this year, the convergence of these special days will not happen again until 2157.
What a wonderful opportunity we have in 2016 to celebrate these holy days! Good Friday answers the why of the Incarnation: the Son of God took on flesh to save sinners by His death. We are not the first to mark this significant event. The English poet John Donne (1572-1631) wrote the poem “Upon the Annunciation and Passion,” which converged in his lifetime in 1608. These couplets capture some of the themes in Donne’s poem:
Today we feast, for God has come to save;
Today we fast, for sin sent Him to cross and grave.
Today the Christ by Spirit was conceived;
Today the spirit of His Son did God receive.
Today was God made flesh in Mary’s womb; Today was Jesus laid to rest in Joseph’s tomb.
Today was Virgin found to be with Child;
Today were God and man forever reconciled.
Today came Christ to crush the serpent’s head; Today for your salvation Jesus gladly bled.
The Worship Committee of the ELS has produced a special service to mark this occasion. It can be found on the els.org website. The combined themes of Christ’s incarnation and crucifixion on March 25, 2016, make this a particularly good Good Friday.
Reverend Peter Faugstad
Saude Lutheran Church
Saude, IA
Jerico Lutheran Church
Jerico, IA