Ashes gently rubbed on the forehead in the shape of a cross—it’s a somber image that signifies the beginning of Lent. This 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and reflection before Easter commences on Ash Wednesday.

The ashen cross, a symbol of grief over sin, has caused dissonance among many Christians. Some see it as taking a spiritual posture of humility and reverence. Others see it as a man-made ritual that distracts from the finished work on the cross.

Discovering the Beauty in Biblical Ashes

But setting aside the differing views of Ash Wednesday for a moment, you can find something powerful in the historical practice of wearing ashes. Before the establishment of the Church, ashes reflected the fiercest pain of the heart—a lament so strong that only charred remnants could come close to communicating the depths of grief.

Wearing ashes was a common symbol of mourning and repentance in early history. Putting on sackcloth—a rough and uncomfortable garment—and fasting often accompanied the act of wearing ashes.

Sometimes, a person wore ashes when experiencing a wrong caused by someone else.

When Amnon raped his sister, “Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went (2 Samuel 13:19).”

When Mordecai learned of the plot to destroy the Jews, “he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly (Esther 4:1).”

A Sign of Repentance

In some Bible translations, the word “dust” is used instead of “ashes.” This harkens back to Genesis when God formed man out of dust (Genesis 2:7) and said to Adam, “‘dust you are and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19),'” after the fall.

Today, ashes are not a common adornment to express grief in Western culture. People may wear black or put on a veil but likely won’t go for a bucket of soot by the fireplace.

Interestingly, ashes were also absent where humanity saw the greatest example of sin’s destructive consequences—the cross. God’s Son, who had never sinned Himself, was murdered for the wrongs that others had committed.

But even Paul lamented over his sin. Before writing of the hope of Christ in Romans 8, Paul called himself “unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin (Romans 7:14).”

The recognition of our sin is meant to open our eyes to the unfathomable love of God. How often do believers marvel at the miracle of the resurrection without giving one thought to the reason Jesus went to the grave in the first place?

As R. C. Sproul said, “The gospel is only good news when we understand the bad news.” Understand the bad news, immediately rejoice in the good news, and then take God’s light to those still living in darkness.