On the night our Lord would be arrested, betrayed, denied, and abandoned to walk the lonely road to the cross, he agonized in prayer with His Father in the garden of Gethsemane.

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

In his agony, his sweat became as drops of blood in anticipation of bearing the unimaginable weight of the sin of the world upon his shoulders. But it was for this very purpose that he had come – not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Luke tells us that an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him, and that when he arose from prayer, his face was set. His heart and mind were resolved.

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:45–46)

Hebrews tells us that “for the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).” That night as Jesus walked from the garden to meet his betrayer, this joy was greater than any earthly fear he was feeling.

Every year during Passion Week (Holy Week), the church around the world retraces Jesus’ final steps to the cross, to the grave, and then out again in His glorious resurrection. This year at Grace we are going to reflect on three things Jesus did for the joy set before him.

Palm Sunday – March 29 at 9am and 11am
He Emptied Himself  (Philippians 2:6-7)

Good Friday – April 3 at 6pm
He Gave Himself (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Easter Sunday – April 5 at 8am, 9:30am, and 11am
He Offered Himself (Hebrews 9:11-14)

This Palm Sunday, Scott Rosenkranz will preach and help us consider “the triumphal entry before the triumphal entry.” Thirty-three years before Jesus rode into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey’s colt amidst waving palm branches and shouts of, “Hosanna!” the eternal Son of God left his heavenly throne, “emptying himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

On Good Friday, Eric Twisselmann will lead us to the cross to meditate on what was happening there when “the one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, gave himself as a ransom for all.”

And on Easter Sunday, Erik Thoennes will guide our thoughts to our risen Savior Jesus and His post-resurrection role as our perfect and eternal high priest, “offering himself without blemish to God, purifying our consciences from dead works to serve the living God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us that as we look to Jesus, who emptied himself and gave himself and offered himself for us for the joy set before him, it will strengthen us to run with endurance the race set before us.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry and invite someone who hasn’t heard this good news!