GDLC Audio

For centuries the Jewish people knew about sacrifices. The right sacrifice consisted of the right animal (or crop) at the right time as instructed by God Himself. At the cross Jesus redefines sacrifice as we see Him willingly surrender Himself for the sake of the world. This “new sacrifice” is not demanded by law but is driven by love to pay the ultimate price for the sins of humanity. In His silence, His suffering, and His final breath, Jesus shows us the true depth of the heart of our God. On this day of Good Friday, we stand in awe before costly grace of our God again and see in His wounds the end of our striving and the beginning of a love that lays itself down in order to lift us to a brand new and fully forgiven eternal life.  

During the celebration of the Passover meal, Jesus knowing everything had been given to Him, in His power and authority knelt with a towel and basin bowl and washed the disciples’ feet. This example redefined greatness and even love itself. Jesus tells His disciples, “A new command I give you,” He said—not new in concept, but new in quality: love as I have loved you. This kind of love is not based on our emotions or how we “feel” about the person but is a self-emptying, sacrificial, and steadfast kind of love. On Maundy Thursday we are confronted with the mystery and mandate of that love: a love that kneels before sinners, that serves instead of demands, that gives before its asked, and that invites us to embody the very heart of God in how we love one another.  

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, to the shouts of “Hosanna,” the Pharisees urge him to quiet his disciples. They are worried, not about truth, but about optics, not about worship, but about reputation. In their call for silence, we see the Pharisee in us who prefers social peace over spiritual honesty and who fears the noise of devotion, more than the cost of true discipleship. But Jesus declares that if His followers are silent, even the stones will cry out. This Palm Sunday confronts our temptation to sanitize faith, and to make it respectable and restrained when Christ calls us for a bold, joyful, surrender, that refuses to hush the Glory of God.  

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, to the shouts of “Hosanna,” the Pharisees urge him to quiet his disciples. They are worried, not about truth, but about optics, not about worship, but about reputation. In their call for silence, we see the Pharisee in us who prefers social peace over spiritual honesty and who fears the noise of devotion, more than the cost of true discipleship. But Jesus declares that if His followers are silent, even the stones will cry out. This Palm Sunday confronts our temptation to sanitize faith, and to make it respectable and restrained when Christ calls us for a bold, joyful, surrender, that refuses to hush the Glory of God.  

This week we watch Jesus confront the resentful Pharisee in us as we look at the elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son. The elder brother in the parable embodies the Pharisee’s struggle with joyless obedience and resentful faithfulness. He obeyed the Father’s rules but missed the Father’s heart. Jesus confronts us to invite us back into the celebration of grace and to trade our resentment for rejoicing and rediscover the joy of extended mercy to others.