Good Friday is the day when Christians solemnly remember Jesus’ death on the cross. Death is the ultimate evidence that our world has been ruined by sin and rightly deserved to be scrapped by God. And yet, in his Son, God used death to make the once-for-all payment for the sins of the world. He used death to defeat death so that eternal life could be offered to all.

Good Friday is the day when Christians solemnly remember Jesus’ death on the cross. Death is the ultimate evidence that our world has been ruined by sin and rightly deserved to be scrapped by God. And yet, in his Son, God used death to make the once-for-all payment for the sins of the world. He used death to defeat death so that eternal life could be offered to all.

On Palm Sunday we see how Jesus used gentleness and humility to defeat a world that was hostile to him. Rather than defeating his enemies by overpowering them, he defeated them by surrendering to them. In so doing, he made it possible for every one of those enemies to come to him in humble faith seeking his forgiveness. As we begin Holy Week, may we always gladly welcome Jesus as our king and confess him as Lord.

When what you hoped would be a masterpiece ends up a mess, you normally crumple it up, toss it out, and start over. But God does just the opposite. In a world ruined by sin, he finds treasure in what’s normally tossed—and teaches us to do the same. This week we see how God wants us to find treasure in Jesus himself. When much of what Jesus teaches us about God and the life God wants for us is normally tossed, it should come as no surprise that Jesus himself is often treated in just the same way. Jesus wants us to anticipate this and not be fooled by it. Even though the world’s supposed experts have often found Jesus to be worthless, God has made his priceless worth evident by raising him to life.

When what you hoped would be a masterpiece ends up a mess, you normally crumple it up, toss it out, and start over. But God does just the opposite. In a world ruined by sin, he finds treasure in what’s normally tossed—and teaches us to do the same. This week we see how God wants us to find treasure in the way he treats sinners with grace. Grace sounds wonderful—assuming we are the ones on the receiving end of it. Inevitably, however, grace will prove offensive when the person on the receiving end of it is someone we think is unworthy of it. If grace had to be earned, however, none of us would qualify. The fact that God’s grace is for all is the only way we can be certain it is for us.

When what you hoped would be a masterpiece ends up a mess, you normally crumple it up, toss it out, and start over. But God does just the opposite. In a world ruined by sin, he finds treasure in what’s normally tossed—and teaches us to do the same. This week we see how God wants us to find treasure in the way he patiently warns sinners about the judgment they will face unless they repent. It’s easy for us to want swift and merciless judgment for others and endless and unconditional mercy for ourselves, but God gives neither. He warns all and is patient with all. He wants all to turn to him for forgiveness and be saved.

When what you hoped would be a masterpiece ends up a mess, you normally crumple it up, toss it out, and start over. But God does just the opposite. In a world ruined by sin, he finds treasure in what’s normally tossed—and teaches us to do the same. This week we see how God wants us to find treasure in self-denial. Normally, we are taught to pursue whatever gives us pleasure and avoid whatever inflicts on us pain. Jesus, however, came to do just the opposite. Rather than following a path of self-preservation or self-fulfillment, he followed a path of self-denial. All who follow him walk down the same path on their way to their heavenly prize.

When what you hoped would be a masterpiece ends up a mess, you normally crumple it up, toss it out, and start over. But God does just the opposite. In a world ruined by sin, he finds treasure in what’s normally tossed—and teaches us to do the same. This week we see how God wants us to find treasure in substitution. Normally admitting that we need someone to take our place and do a job for us is the last thing we want to do. When it comes to battling the devil’s temptations, however, it is our only hope. We need Jesus to fight Satan as one of us and in the place of all of us.