As Holy Week and Easter approach, we reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, which had separated us from God. Through His death, Jesus destroyed the work of the devil and made it possible for us to have a close relationship with God once again. The Bible tells us in Luke 9:23 that Jesus called His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. This means that we should put God's kingdom first and choose His way over our own selfish desires. Denying ourselves is a decision to make God's priorities more important than our own. When we take up our cross, we give up selfish ambitions and choose to live for the Gospel—the good news about Jesus. This is not always easy, but it is what Jesus asks us to do if we want to be His followers. Jesus' death was not just a sacrifice; it was also the beginning of new life for His followers—the body of Christ, which is the Church. As Jesus carried His cross, He showed us how much He loves us and how we should love others as well. Following Jesus means drawing close to Him by obeying His Word and becoming more like Him. It means trusting Him and living in a way that pleases God. When we accept Jesus' sacrifice on Good Friday, we are called to live for Him every day. As Romans 12:1–2 reminds us, we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices and not conform to the pattern of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is the best way to honor Jesus' sacrifice and to grow in our faith. —Brother Michael R., for Pastor Paul & Sister Claudia