The Connection Corner

Jesus Knew and He Came Anyway

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2

I want you to think about all that He went through in that last week of His life for you. It was a week where everything changed in the history of the world and in the trajectory of all of our lives.

It started with Palm Sunday. He rode into Jerusalem for you. He knew that when He got there the same people that were cheering for Him would be the same people—just days later—demanding that He be put to death. But He did it for you.

He came into Jerusalem and there were people that were so excited because this guy who was the Messiah they finally expected. They didn’t know whether or not He could redeem them from their sins. They didn’t know about all that stuff. But what they did think was that He was coming to restore political glory back to them. They had been so ravaged by the Romans that they were expecting this was the guy that was gonna restore Israel to her former glory.

So they laid down their palm branches and they shouted, “Hosanna! King of the Jews!” They had been conquered by everybody at that point—the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and the Romans. They were zero for five, and they were excited that somebody had finally come to give them political victory.

They didn’t realize that that’s not why Jesus came. He didn’t come to Jerusalem to kick out the Romans. He came to kick out sin. He came to make sure that none of us had to pay our own wages for our sin. Aren’t you glad about it?

That’s not what they expected. It’s not even what they wanted.

Palm Sunday represents all the times that we get really excited because of all the things we expect Jesus has come to do for us. We’re so excited because we have predetermined expectations of what He desires to do in our life. We think He has come to bring miracles with no requirements, no dying, no suffering, but this Jesus came to lay down His life.

He survived brutal whippings and beatings and mocking. He was dressed in purple, a robe just to mock Him. And there was a crown of thorns that was not lightly placed upon His head. It was driven into His skull for you and for me.

There was no bleaker moment in all of human history. The people who had just celebrated Him now they were demanding His death. He knew that going in, but He did it for you and He did it for me.

They hung Him high. They stretched Him wide. He hung His head, and for me and for you, He died. That’s love.

— Priscilla Shirer

April 13, 2025/by David Hall

The Courage To Follow Through

Daily Devotional, Lisa Williams

“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 5:37

In radio, you learn quickly—if you make a promise, people will remember.

I’ve spent years helping with fundraisers at stations across the country. It’s one of my favorite things—watching generosity ripple through a community, knowing that each dollar represents a life touched. When my friends in Minnesota invited me to help with their fundraiser, I was all in.

We were live on-air, pushing to meet the station’s goal, doing everything we could to keep listeners engaged. And then, in a burst of enthusiasm, Andy Youso, Niki, and I made a bold pledge: if we hit our goal, we would jump into Lake Superior.

We made a big deal out of it, laughing and daring people to make it happen.

And they did. The goal was shattered.

But…that’s where things got complicated. I had already left town by the time the challenge came due, which meant Andy and Niki braved the icy waters without me. I figured that was the end of it. Life moved on. We celebrated the win.

But Andy? Andy did not move on.

Any time my name came up, so did this unfinished business. “Lisa still hasn’t jumped in,” he’d remind me. Again and again and again.

And the truth was? He was right. I had made a promise. I had said yes. And my yes needed to mean something.

So I booked another flight to Minnesota.

I stood on the edge of that freezing lake, feeling the wind bite through my jacket. I thought, Well, this is it. No backing out now. And then, I took a deep breath and jumped.

And as the icy shock stole my breath, I couldn’t help but laugh. Because in that moment, it wasn’t just about a fundraiser or a bet—it was about integrity. About living out the kind of faith that does what it says.

These days, people break commitments like they’re nothing. But what if we chose to be different? What if we decided that when we say we’ll do something, we actually do it?

It might not always be easy, but that’s the kind of person I want to be.

April 12, 2025/by Lisa Williams

Your Story Could Change A Life

Daily Devotional, Heart of the Artist

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”

Mark 16:15

“My wife didn’t grow up in a Christian home. To this day, her parents are still not Christians.

When she was 22, a friend invited her to church, and for the first time, my wife heard the Gospel. That day, she gave her heart to Jesus. God immediately changed her life.

Overwhelmed by the beauty of God’s saving grace and the new life she had been given, my wife was admittedly mad. She was angry with her Christian friends.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked them. “I’ve been struggling for so long. I’ve been completely miserable. This is such a better way to live. Why did you never tell me about Jesus?”

Evangelism is an important part of God’s plan. It’s our job as believers to look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with the people around us.

What if the person sitting beside you in the cubicle at work doesn’t know who Jesus is? What if the waitress at your favorite restaurant needs a healing but doesn’t know the Healer? What if your next-door neighbor has never experienced the life-changing power of Christ?

You might not know what someone else is going through, but you can know with certainty that everybody’s going through something. You might not have the full story, but God does, and He can use even a short, honest conversation to change someone’s life.

As the church, it’s our job to tell somebody. You don’t have to deliver an eloquent speech. You don’t have to be a gifted public speaker. Words don’t have to be your strong suit. All you have to do is share what God’s done in your own life.

Then you’ll be living out a very important part of the plan God has for you. Watch how walking in this kind of obedience to His word will change your life and the lives of those around you!”

— Danny Gokey

April 11, 2025/by David Hall