This post is 1 of a 6 part series on faith: 1) We have a Heart Problem, 2) Palm Sunday-The Love of Jesus, 3) Easter-Believing in Jesus, 4) What happens next?, 5) Being a New Believer, and 6) Patience in Growth

5 minute read 
by Bethany Rees

For the Love…of Others

We’ve all heard it—or said it ourselves—usually with a sigh, an eye roll, or a muttered groan:
“For the love of Pete…”
Or maybe you’ve used a variant like:
“For the love of all that is holy…”
“For the love of coffee…”

We throw those little phrases out when things get ridiculous:

• When your kid spills the third glass of milk this week.
  
  
• When your kid doesn’t load the dishwasher… again.
  
  
• When the Wi-Fi goes down right before your Zoom call.
  
  

They’re harmless gripes, really. But they reflect something deeper we often feel: this situation is ridiculous, inconvenient, or downright frustrating… and I’m barely tolerating it.

But as Palm Sunday rolls around, I find myself thinking about Jesus—and how He rode into the biggest, most ridiculous, most unjust situation anyone has ever willingly walked (or trotted) into.

And He didn’t do it for the love of just Pete.

He did it for the love of people.

He Knew What Was Coming

Palm Sunday is often viewed as a day of celebration—and rightly so. The people waved palm branches, laid down their cloaks, and shouted:

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ~ Matthew 21:9

But Jesus wasn’t fooled by the cheers.
He wasn’t carried away by the crowd’s praise.
He knew what was waiting on the other side of that gate.

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,…”  ~ Luke 19:41

Let that settle for a moment.
Jesus is celebrated by the people but grieving over them. Why?
Because His heart wasn’t fixated on the crowd’s approval—it was anchored in His Father’s mission.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  ~ Luke 19:10

Even knowing He was heading toward betrayal, mockery, beatings, and crucifixion, Jesus didn’t sigh and mutter,
“For the love of… I don’t want to do this.”

Instead, His heart said:
“For the love of them… I will.”

His Heart Was Always for Us

Scripture shows us again and again that Jesus’ love wasn’t reactive—it was resolute.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  ~ John 15:13

He wasn’t dragged to the cross by force. He walked toward it in perfect love and obedience.

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”  ~ John 10:18

That’s the heart of Palm Sunday:
Jesus didn’t come for the applause.
He came for the cross.

A Love That Changes Everything

This week, as we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey—not a war horse, not a chariot, but a lowly beast of burden—we’re reminded of the kind of King He is.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” ~ Philippians 2:5-8  [emphasis added]

His entry was humble. His path was painful.
But His purpose? Was love.

So the next time you mutter “For the love…” in frustration, pause.
Remember the One who, for the love of YOU, endured the unthinkable to bring you back to the Father.

Let His love shape your heart, your response, and your walk this Holy Week.

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. For the Love of All.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  ~ John 15:13

Theme Song:

It’s Friday but Sunday’s Coming (Sermon by S.M. Lockridge)

References Used:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.