| − | '''Lent''' is the forty-day period of [[atonement]] and fasting that begins on [[Ash Wednesday]] and culminates with [[Holy Week]], as recognized by most [[Christian]] demoninations.<ref>Lent is followed by [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]], [[Methodist]]s, [[Lutheran]]s, [[Anglican]]s, [[Episcopalians]], and many others.</ref> The word "Lent" is taken from the [[Anglo-Saxon]] or Teutonic word Lencten, meaning "spring".<ref name="Spring">{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/voices/why-is-lent-relevant-for-evangelicals.html|title=Why is Lent relevant for evangelicals?|date=March 7, 2020|accessdate=March 9, 2020|author=Jim Denison|publisher=[[The Christian Post]]}}</ref> [[Good Friday]], the Friday before [[Easter]] Sunday, is an important Holy Day because it marks Christ's death on the cross. This entire holy season commemorates the period when Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert after His [[baptism]] (by [[John the Baptist]]), see {{bibleref|Matthew|4|1-2}}, culminating in the [[Three Temptations of Christ]] ({{biblref|Matthew|4|3-11}}). A triumphant celebration of [[Christ]]'s resurrection marks the conclusion of Lent. | + | '''Lent''' is the forty-day period of [[atonement]] and fasting that begins on [[Ash Wednesday]] and culminates with [[Holy Week]], as recognized by most [[Christian]] demoninations.<ref>Lent is followed by [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]], [[Methodist]]s, [[Lutheran]]s, [[Anglican]]s, [[Episcopalians]], and many others.</ref> The word "Lent" is taken from the [[Anglo-Saxon]] or Teutonic word Lencten, meaning "spring".<ref name="Spring">{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/voices/why-is-lent-relevant-for-evangelicals.html|title=Why is Lent relevant for evangelicals?|date=March 7, 2020|accessdate=March 9, 2020|author=Jim Denison|publisher=[[The Christian Post]]}}</ref> [[Good Friday]], the Friday before [[Easter]] Sunday, is an important Holy Day because it marks Christ's death on the cross. This entire holy season commemorates the period when Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert after His [[baptism]] (by [[John the Baptist]]), see {{bibleref|Matthew|4|1-2}}, culminating in the [[Three Temptations of Christ]] ({{bibleref|Matthew|4|3-11}}). A triumphant celebration of [[Christ]]'s resurrection marks the conclusion of Lent. |