Imagine making all A's in your class and becoming class president. Your teacher is so proud of you so she asks you to stand up in front of everyone so that all of your classmates can clap their hands for you. But then, the next week, your teacher refuses to let you even be a part of the class, makes you sit in the corner of the room on display and away from everyone else. Everyone who you thought was your friend all of a sudden makes jokes about you, calls you names, won't play with you at recess, or sit near you during lunch.
That is exactly what happened to Jesus years ago--but a little differently of course. This week is what many people consider Holy Week. It is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday was the day when Jesus came into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and everyone praised Him as their King. They used palms to fan in the air to show Him how much they were excited for Him to arrive! Within only ONE week, Jesus was nailed to the cross by the exact people who--a week earlier-- had been excited for Him to arrive. They called him names, refused to be near Him, and hated Him.
That is exactly what happened to Jesus years ago--but a little differently of course. This week is what many people consider Holy Week. It is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday was the day when Jesus came into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and everyone praised Him as their King. They used palms to fan in the air to show Him how much they were excited for Him to arrive! Within only ONE week, Jesus was nailed to the cross by the exact people who--a week earlier-- had been excited for Him to arrive. They called him names, refused to be near Him, and hated Him.
Did you know that Jesus knew all of that was going to happen? Did you know that He knew that everyone would first love Him and then hate Him?
He knew that He would be nailed to the cross and hated by so many people, and yet He CHOSE to continue with God's plan for Him to die on the cross. He did this because He loves us so much that He was willing to be hated by the world, to be separated from any source of love, goodness, or kindness--all for our sake. He knew that only a perfect human could be a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world, and so He knew He had to be hated and die on the cross to save the rest of us.
This Easter, don't forget that it's not about Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, or Easter egg hunts. It's all about a God who came down to the world, to face all the struggles that we as humans now face, but that we no longer have to fear because He has bridged the gap for us to know God our Father.
Until next time,
He knew that He would be nailed to the cross and hated by so many people, and yet He CHOSE to continue with God's plan for Him to die on the cross. He did this because He loves us so much that He was willing to be hated by the world, to be separated from any source of love, goodness, or kindness--all for our sake. He knew that only a perfect human could be a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world, and so He knew He had to be hated and die on the cross to save the rest of us.
This Easter, don't forget that it's not about Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, or Easter egg hunts. It's all about a God who came down to the world, to face all the struggles that we as humans now face, but that we no longer have to fear because He has bridged the gap for us to know God our Father.
Until next time,
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