Friends, Betrayers, and Breakfast on the Beach

What if the triumphant entry wasn't triumphant at all? Rather, it was Jesus staging a powerful protest against the empire. While Rome paraded through Jerusalem's main gates with war horses and soldiers, Jesus deliberately chose a different path—riding a borrowed colt through the back entrance, surrounded not by military might but by ordinary people who'd witnessed his miracles.This Holy Week, we're exploring how Jesus consistently upends our expectations of power and greatness. Through the familiar stories of Palm Sunday and the Last Supper, we discover a revolutionary message that remains radical even today: true greatness comes through service. When the disciples argue about who is greatest among them, Jesus doesn't just correct them—he completely redefines greatness itself.Perhaps most striking is who Jesus welcomes to the first communion table. Not just the faithful, but the betrayer, the denier, the doubter. Everyone is invited—a profound challenge to our tendency to create boundaries around belonging. Even as Jesus predicts Peter's denial, he's already planning for his restoration, telling him, "when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." The spiritual journey isn't about never falling; it's about how quickly we return to love.This teaching invites us to practice seeing others differently. When confronted with difficult people, can we move beyond judgment to compassion? Can we recognize that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us, bringing resurrection power to whatever dead places we carry? As we approach Easter, we're reminded that God's love for us is as great as God's love for Jesus—and that truth changes everything.Join us next Sunday for our Easter celebration, and mark your calendars for May 23rd when we'll gather for a hymn sing at First Love Church. Whatever brokenness or disappointment you carry, know that you are welcomed in the house of the Lord, just as you are.Support the showThis podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors.  If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/givingIn the service of LOVE,Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake