Sunday, as the children walked through the sanctuary smiling and waving their palm branches, I could not help but think about what was to happen in just a few days. I am sure the folks along the road to Jerusalem were happy and singing as they waved and welcomed Jesus into town. We celebrate Palm Sunday and then we are all happy come Easter morning with our “He Is Risen” faces on.

So many of us, including myself, have for some time moved over the sacrifice that was made on Friday and went straight to Sunday morning. Not that we did not remember what Jesus went through, how he was tortured, beaten, ridiculed, ran through a mockery of a trial and finally nailed to a wooden cross. But it almost seems that we wanted to go through the happy part of holy week celebrating death being defeated and the empty tomb.

Not to take away from the resurrection, through His rising again, we do not have to fear death; it is a defeated foe. Jesus is alive and when we leave this world either in death or in the rapture, we too will have overcome the sting of death.

Just like the folks on the road to Jerusalem, we at times seem to forget, or maybe sometimes want to forget that Jesus was God’s plan of salvation for a fallen people. God has always required a blood sacrifice to wash away the sins of man. Jesus was the unblemished lamb sent by God himself to be the final sacrifice that would be needed for our salvation.

Even the disciples were not ready to believe that Jesus was to be put to death. Even as he told them and predicated what was to happen, it most likely was falling on deaf ears.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:22-23 (NIV)

Jesus knew His mission and He would follow His Father’s plan. He would be the ultimate perfect sacrifice for all of mankind. His blood would wash away the sins of man and restore fellowship with the Father. While we deserved death, His death would give us life.

No greater love has ever been shown.  Jesus could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him, but instead gave up His life willingly. He showed us that in order to truly love, sacrifice is required. Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice made for all of your children.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.