From the Youth Director's Desk

In Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago, a crowd was waving palm branches and shouting about Jesus becoming King. While you read the next couple of lines, make sure no one is around. We don't have palm branches. Instead put a party hat on. Palm branches and party hats are used for celebrating. The people long ago were waving their palm branches at Jesus in excitement and talking about the wonderful things he had done. They were singing and shouting and calling to him. Pretend that you see Jesus coming. He is riding on a donkey and everyone is shouting, "Welcome to the King!" "Isn't he wonderful?" "Look, here he comes!" "I heard he can heal people!" "Do you think we can get closer to him?" "Welcome, Jesus!" "Hail to the King!" "Yeah, Jesus!"

We should be even more excited. Those people thought they were getting a new king for their country. We know that Jesus was much more important than that. He was coming to Jerusalem to die for us so that he could be king of our hearts and our lives forever. Use the party hat to remind you that we have a lot to celebrate. Please take the party hat off before you come to church on Sunday.

When I was a kid I had a lot of questions about Jesus, and one that sticks out in my mind was "Was Jesus scared to die on the Cross?" If you turn in your Bible to Matthew 26:39-42 just before Jesus' time came to die on the cross, he asked God some questions like the one I asked. In Matthew 26:39b, Jesus said, "If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." And in verse 42b, Jesus said, "If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." The Bible tells us that Jesus prayed in this way three different times.

Jesus believed God's promise--that eternal life would be available for all humankind through his death on the cross--but his questions show his dread or fear of the pain he would experience.

There was no easy out for Jesus--no way for him to protect himself from the pain of the cross. Yet he went willingly because he loved us and he was sure it was what God wanted him to do. In John 17:1-5, we read that Jesus knew that when it was all over, eternal life awaited those who believed, and the glory he had before the world began would be given back to him. His suffering would be for a limited time, but the results would last forever.

I will leave you with this phrase, JESUS' PAIN WAS OUR GAIN. Lord Bless you and your family during this Easter season.

In Him,

Caitlyn