Do you know what Jesus was doing in the days just before His arrest and crucifixion?

He was sharing a meal with friends.
He was standing for the sanctity of the Temple, confronting evil.
He was walking with friends.
He was serving.
He was washing feet.
He was teaching.
He was praying.

During the week in which the whole world changed, Jesus did not change His actions. He continued living, serving, loving, teaching.

He did not wring His hands in despair, although He did agonize in prayer as He submitted to His Father’s will.  He did not hide away from the evil or isolate Himself.

Even on the cross He ministered to the thief, to His mother, and to those who bore the job of the crucifixion.

He continued on through discomfort and rejection and unrelenting pain and sorrow. He continued on with His eyes set on redemption.

In Him, we not only find salvation and freedom and full redemption. In Him, we see the example for our lives.

In Jesus’ name we press on.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Philippians 3:13 – 15 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

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