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I learned how to bake from my mom. Growing up I was convinced that nobody could bake better than she could. She made the best sweet potato pudding. I didn’t realize just how good it was until I left home and tried others. I couldn’t wait to go home and watch her make her pudding to figure out what made it so special.

I got my passion for woodworking from my father. I used to stand behind him and watch as he took a piece of wood and turned it into a piece of art and then I’d go and try on my own. When I was disappointed with how mine turned out I came back to dad to watch him at work.

Growing up both mom and dad taught me about love. As an adult my wife has continued to teach me about love. I treasure their love. But the love we give and receive in this world cannot compare to God’s love. Listen as John explains in 1 John 4:7-8. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God doesn’t just love. God is love. The kind of love that will sacrifice everything for the sake of the someone else.

Just as I would go back to mom to master baking or back to dad to learn the art of woodworking getting close to my heavenly Father is the best way to experience deep, profound love. John tells us exactly where to see this love on display. In 1 John 4:10 he says “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Love sent His only Son to bear our sins and die our death satisfying the wrath of God. That’s propitiation.

Here’s the great news. It’s not too late to experience this profound love of God. Just as I would stand next to mom or behind dad to learn from the best God is giving us a front row seat to witness His love on display. Holy Week begins on April 10th as Jesus rides into Jerusalem to be the propitiation for the sins of the world. Holy Thursday Jesus will institute the Lord’s Supper so that we can receive his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Good Friday Jesus will give his life to atone for our sins. Easter Sunday he will rise triumphant over sin, death and the devil so that you too can rise triumphant every day of your life.

God is offering you a front row seat so that you can experience the depth of His love for you this Holy Week. The more we experience His sacrifice for us the better we understand profound love. “In this is love …”

REV. MATTHEW SORENSON is the pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church. He can be reached at pastor@ stjohnsfarmville.org.