Emphasis Preaching Journal

What is striking every Holy Week is Jesus' determination. He began his ministry knowing what would happen to him. There were times when he must have been frustrated or at least disappointed with his disciples. He recognized positive qualities in them, but there were times when they just did not understand. Jesus did not give up on them, or find new ones, but continued to love and work with them.

Jesus' confrontation with the religious officials might have caught him off guard. He might have thought that they would immediately recognize that he was God's own Son and work with him, but they did not. They not only rejected him but plotted against him orchestrating his death.

Nothing would stop Jesus or derail his mission, not his sometimes-confused disciples and certainly not the misguided religious officials. As we begin Holy Week we realize that nothing could stop Jesus. He had come too far to quit. He would offer his life as a sacrifice so that we can experience eternal life.

God stops at nothing in order to win our salvation, even if it means sacrificing God's own Son on the cross. When disappointments, hardships, and setbacks seem to get the best of us, we would do well to remember Jesus and his sense of determination.