From the time Jesus entered Jerusalem, marking the start of a painful and trying time, those closest to Him were trying to talk Him out of it. Because the reality is — no one prefers pain over peace, trouble over ease, death over life. Those around Jesus wanted to protect Him from all He was preparing to encounter. However, Jesus knew that the painful season would pass, and that it would prepare Him for the reason He was here. Ultimately, Jesus knew that His sole purpose was to glorify the Father. We often wonder "why?" Why the pain, why the uncertainty, why the trouble, etc. What if the things we’ve been avoiding and viewing as an ending were really momentary seasons that God was using for a reason?