1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
‘“Terror from every side!” Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’
Emotions ran deep in Israel in 33AD the week before Passover was celebrated. Jesus was loved and hated by many. Funny and ironic, He is loved and hated today in similar ways. In 2026 Jesus unfortunately would be in the same political shoes. Yes, if Jesus was on Earth today, He would still be hated by many. The same outcome of Good Friday and Easter Sunday would have happened again just at a later date.
The attitude of the world is the same today as it was then. Jesus would have to be condemned and die because of the attitudes of hate and having their ears closed and because of the sin in their lives. Sin makes the human angry and mean. The sinner rejects anything that condemns his sinful life.
How do we get from denounce him to loving God and each other?
1 John 4:8-9 Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week, let us focus how we can be more like the loving person of Jesus. How has Lent made me a better person? How has the the journey of Lent changed me to be more like the love that is God?
0God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Pope Leo XIV. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! The impossible could and can happen. (Saint Rita) Never deny God! Pray for justice for immigrants! Pray for justice for our President and all government officials! Pray for Immigrants! Pray for Peace!
