A New Chapter
Text: Joshua 1:1–5
Theme: The reality of change and new beginnings in the life of the believer

The book of Joshua opens with a major transition. Moses is dead. Joshua is called to rise and take the reigns as Israel stands at the river Jordan, facing a new chapter that will require faith, courage, obedience, and movement. In many ways, Joshua is a picture of the Christian life: Romans 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The believer is not on a playground but on a battlefield. Paul told Timothy to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). He told the Corinthians that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Corinthians 10:4), and he told the Ephesians to "put on the whole armour of God." because we wrestle against spiritual powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:10–18). The Christian life is spiritual warfare, and the book of Joshua helps us understand what it means to move forward with God in seasons of change.

A New Reality
First, Joshua was confronted with a new reality. Moses was dead. That fact was not only historical, but instructive. Moses, the servant of the LORD, pictures the law, and the law could never bring a man into the promised inheritance. What the law could not do, grace does through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Joshua, whose name corresponds to Jesus (Acts 7:45), would now lead the people forward. God buries one season and raises another. When one servant passes off the scene, another must be ready to step into the work. Spurgeon once remarked that, “God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.” Death has a way of bringing things into focus. It reminds us that life is short, time is limited, and God's work must continue.

A New Responsibility
Second, Joshua was given a new responsibility. God told him to arise and go over this Jordan. There is no standing still when God has spoken. “Arise” speaks of awakening and resurrection (Eph. 5:14 – Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.) “Go over” speaks of movement and obedience. “This Jordan” speaks of God’s precise direction. God did not tell Joshua to invent his own path. He told him exactly where to go. So it is in the Christian life. After salvation comes responsibility. After awakening comes action. After instruction comes direction. God knows which river he wants you to cross, and he knows when you are ready to cross it. As Andrew Murray said, “God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.”

A New River
Third, Joshua stood before a new river. Jordan is more than a geographical boundary; it is a picture of death, separation, and transition. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  Every believer must cross certain Jordans in life. John 5:24 says. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
There must be death to self, death to the old man, and separation from the world. There must also be a transition into service, maturity, calling, and usefulness. Jesus said in Matthew 10:39, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” There is no entering Canaan without crossing Jordan. There is no crown without a cross. There is no true life without death to self. If we are to enter a new chapter with God, we will have to cross some rivers by faith. As Oswald Chambers put it, "“The test of abandonment is always over the neck of some river.”

A New Region
Fourth, Joshua was shown a new region. God had already prepared a place for Israel, just as Christ has prepared a place for his people in heaven (John 14:2). Yet while we wait for the full inheritance to come, God also has places of service, growth, and usefulness for us now. He gave Israel borders, and those borders mattered. The wilderness, Lebanon, the Euphrates, and the great sea each marked the boundaries of divine purpose.
In the Christian life, God gives boundaries for our good. They keep us in the place of safety, service, and blessing. Within those borders, we are to walk, war, and wait. We walk in obedience, war against the enemies of our inheritance, and wait on God to bring us into all he has prepared. 1 Corinthians 2:9 -  "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

A New Reassurance
Finally, Joshua received a new reassurance. God said, “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:5). Joshua had every human reason to fear. He was stepping into Moses’ place, leading a nation, and facing enemies across the river. But the call of God always comes with the presence of God. Hebrews 13:5 repeats this promise for believers today. The Lord does not send his people into a new chapter alone. He goes with them. He does not abandon them in transition, trial, or warfare.

Every believer eventually comes to moments like the one in Joshua 1. One book is closed, and another book is opened. One chapter has ended, and a new chapter begins with new responsibilities. A new reality with a new river stands ahead of a new region. The future is unfamiliar, but the same God who spoke old reassurances to Moses speaks new reassurances to Joshua through his word.
Today, God still calls his people to arise, go forward, cross over, and trust him. Whatever chapter you are entering, the reassurance remains the same: God will be with you. He will not fail you, and he will not forsake you.

The Resurrection Laundry
Text: John 20:5-7

John’s Gospel gives us a remarkable detail about resurrection morning that is easy to overlook if we are not careful. In John 20:5-7, the Holy Ghost pauses the movement of the narrative long enough for us to examine what remained inside the tomb. It is almost as if God wants us to think on these things. There was no body in the sepulcher, but there were linen graveclothes and a napkin lying in their place. This resurrection laundry pictures victory over death. They stand as silent witnesses to the truth that Jesus Christ was not stolen, did not merely revive, and did not leave the grave as He entered it. He rose in triumph, leaving death and all its garments behind Him.

The Long Look In
John first took a long look into the tomb.
When John arrived at the tomb, he stooped down and looked inside. What he saw must have puzzled him. The linen that had wrapped the body of Jesus were his graveclothes, and they were still there. If someone had stolen the body, they would not have taken the time to unwrap it and carefully leave the grave wrappings behind. As John Gill observed, the orderly condition of the linen clothes proved the body had not been taken by thieves. Charles Spurgeon likewise noted that the resurrection was not a hurried escape from a tomb but a deliberate and triumphant rising. Sometimes we look at circumstances that do not immediately make sense, but God is always working with purpose beyond what we can see.  

The contrast with Lazarus is striking. Lazarus came forth from the grave still bound in his graveclothes, needing others to loose him and let him go (John 11:44). But when Jesus Christ arose, He left every grave covering behind. Lazarus was restored to mortal life and would die again. Christ arose in resurrection power, never to die again. Romans 6:9 declares, “Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” The lying linen clothes declare that the garments of death had no further claim on Him. He no longer needed the clothing of a dead man, because He was alive for evermore.
 
The Lying Linen Clothes
These graveclothes also picture something spiritually true for every believer. The angel declared, “He is not here, but is risen.”  Christ did not merely rise temporarily like Lazarus. He rose in everlasting resurrection power. Death no longer had dominion over him. Those grave wrappings belonged to a dead body, but Jesus lives forevermore.

Apart from Christ, man is dead in trespasses and sins. The lost man may dress himself in religion, morality, ceremony, or self-righteousness, but in God’s sight all his righteousnesses are as filthy rags. The graveclothes represent the old condition of a dead man, covered but not cleansed, wrapped but not redeemed. But the child of God has been quickened together with Christ. The believer is no longer dressed in the garments of spiritual death, but stands clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Because Christ arose, those who are in Him are made alive and are called to walk in newness of life.

The Lonely Napkin
Then there is the lonely napkin. John makes special note that it was not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. That napkin had once covered the face of death. It was associated with tears, sorrow, and grief, but in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the napkin was no longer needed. No veil. No death. No sorrow. No tears. In Christ, there is fellowship instead of loneliness, life over death, joy, hope, peace instead of grief, sorrow, and tears. "We sorrow not as others, who have no hope...." (1 Thess. 4:13).

The napkin speaks of the lost sinner. It pictures the veil that remains upon the heart and mind without Christ. It pictures the loneliness of being without God and without hope in the world. It pictures sorrow that cannot be finally relieved because, outside of Christ, there is no joy, hope, or peace for the soul.

What a blessing that the clothing and the napkin were found without the body of Jesus. If the body had remained and only the clothing was missing, there would be no gospel hope. But because the tomb was empty and the graveclothes were left behind, the believer can rejoice that Christ has conquered death, hell, and the grave. The resurrection laundry of John 20 is more than an interesting detail. It is a testimony that Jesus Christ is alive, and all who trust Him may leave behind the old garments of death and walk in the newness of life.  


 

The Victorious Christian Life
Text: Hebrews 12:1-4

The Christian life is repeatedly compared in Scripture to a race. Paul told the Corinthians, “So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Cor. 9:24), and near the end of his life he testified, “I have finished my course” (2 Tim. 4:7).  Hebrews chapter 12 continues this imagery and shows believers what it takes to run the Christian race victoriously. Victory in the Christian life does not happen accidentally. According to this passage, it requires endurance, exercise, and exhortation.

First, the victorious Christian life requires ENDURING.
Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” Endurance means bearing hardship without yielding, continuing without perishing, and remaining faithful under pressure. Paul reinforced this truth when he wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3).

Joseph endured betrayal, false accusations, and imprisonment. Joshua endured warfare and responsibility as the leader of Israel. Likewise, every believer must endure slander, betrayal, defeats, and difficulties if he intends to finish his race faithfully.

Some of the hardships believers must endure include sufferings, sacrifices, criticisms, and contradictions. Scripture clearly teaches, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Christians are also called to present their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12:1). Just as Jesus endured shame at the cross, believers will sometimes be criticized and misrepresented for their convictions. The Lord Himself endured contradiction from sinners, being falsely accused and treated as though He were guilty, though He had committed no sin. Yet Hebrews reminds us that we endure these things by looking unto Jesus (Heb. 12:2) and considering Him (Heb. 12:3). When our eyes and minds remain fixed upon Christ, we gain strength to continue running.

Second, the victorious Christian life requires EXERCISING.
No athlete finishes a race successfully without training. Hebrews 12 explains that one of God’s primary methods of strengthening believers is chastening. Though chastening may seem painful at the time, it produces spiritual fruit afterward. God corrects us so that we do not run in vain (Gal. 2:2; Phil. 2:16) or run with vain men (1 Peter 4:4).

Chastisement consecrates us so that we may partake of His holiness (Heb. 12:10), and develops in us a conscience that produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11; Acts 24:16). Unlike the devil, who works through sin to bring pain and destruction, the Lord chastens His children to bring out the best in them. His goal is not frustration, but fruitfulness.

Third, the victorious Christian life requires EXHORTING.
Hebrews 12:12-13 describes runners whose hands hang down, whose knees are weak, and whose feet are lame. This is not the condition of someone running effectively. Instead of quitting the race, believers are called to strengthen one another.

Just as Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses, Christians must help support one another in times of weakness. Sometimes the best cure for spiritual weakness is simply to begin walking again in obedience. As the lepers said in 2 Kings 7:4, “Why sit we here until we die?” Scripture encourages us to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) and promises that those who wait upon the Lord “shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

The Christian race is not meant to be run alone. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us, “Let us run,” showing that believers run together. Above all, the Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, knows every battle we face and every mile we must travel. He strengthens us, supports us, straightens our path, and sees us through. As we rely on Him and encourage one another, we can finish the race victoriously.

The important question each believer must answer is this: Are you even in the race? If you are, how are you running? What condition are you in today? And are you helping others finish their race as well?

PRESS ON, CHRISTIAN. PRESS ON.

Exhorting One Another:
Check Your Mirror at the Door
Text: Hebrews 10:22–25

The local church is not merely a place to attend; it is a place to engage. Hebrews 10:22–25 reveals one of the great responsibilities of every believer: the ministry of exhortation. To exhort is to incite unto good works, to stir up, to encourage, and to provoke one another toward faithfulness. This is not optional Christianity; it is essential Christianity.

Before we can rightly exhort others, Scripture gives three personal preparations. First, we must draw near with a true heart (Hebrews 10:22). Exhortation flows out of proximity to God. A distant Christian cannot effectively stir others because he himself is not stirred. Second, we must hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (Hebrews 10:23). A wavering believer produces weak exhortation. Third, we must consider one another (Hebrews 10:24). Exhortation requires awareness. It demands that we look beyond ourselves and take notice of others.

These preparations lead directly into the command not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The church gathering has a divine purpose. According to Hebrews 10:25, it is not merely attendance; it is exhortation. The assembly is a place where believers actively participate in strengthening one another.

The Faithful Assembly
A powerful Old Testament picture of this truth is found in Exodus 38:8. The women assembled at the door of the tabernacle and surrendered their looking glasses (their mirrors) for the service of God. Those mirrors were transformed into a brass laver, where the priests would wash before entering service. What was once used for vain examination became an instrument of virtue.

This is the heart of the message: when we come to church, we must check our mirrors at the door. Too often, people enter the assembly focused on self, e.g., appearance, opinions, pride, preferences, and personal agendas. The church is not a showroom for self-admiration; it is a sanctuary for sanctification. The focus must shift from self to the Savior and from self to others.

The word of God becomes the true mirror in the assembly. As James 1:23-25 teaches, it reveals who we really are. As Ephesians 5:26 declares, it washes us. What the mirror does for the face, the word of God does for the heart. It inspects, convicts, and cleanses. This is why preaching is central. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Through preaching, God exhorts His people.

The Falling Away
However, Hebrews 10:25 also warns of a troubling reality: the falling away. Even in Paul’s day, some were already developing the habit of forsaking the assembly. This was not accidental; it was a manner, a pattern, a chosen direction. Scripture makes it clear that this departure is prophesied and predictable (2 Timothy 4:1–4). Yet it is important to note that it is only “some,” not all. God has always preserved a faithful remnant.

Those who remain faithful in days of apostasy will often seem unusual, even extreme, but faithfulness has never been measured by popularity. It is measured by obedience. The remnant may be small, but it is strong.

The Final Approach
The urgency of this command is intensified by the phrase, “as ye see the day approaching.” The church today is on its final approach. Like the final approach of an aircraft for landing, the church is in its final approach to land on the runway of Heaven. Soon we will take off at the rapture and immediately touch down at Gloryland Airport.

Historically, "the day approaching" pointed toward the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Doctrinally, it anticipates the tribulation. Spiritually, it reminds us that our meeting with Christ at the rapture is near.

The last days are unmistakable (2 Timothy 3:1–7). As darkness increases, so must our diligence. The nearer the day, the greater the need for exhortation. This is not a time to withdraw; it is a time to press in and press on. We need the assembly more, not less. We need preaching more, not less. We need one another more, not less.
The church must reclaim its purpose. When we gather, we must come ready, not to consume, but to contribute; not to admire self, but to edify others; not to carry our mirrors, but to lay them down.

We must come ready to check our mirrors at the door!

The Amen
Text: John 21:25

The Gospel of John ends with a remarkable statement:

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25). John concludes his Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost with the word, "Amen." At first glance, it may appear to be a simple closing remark, but it carries far more significance.

The word Amen is one of the most powerful affirmations in all of Scripture. The Hebrew word means certainly, truly, surely, or verily. Throughout the Bible, it serves three primary purposes: it asserts truth, it consents to truth, and it affirms truth.

First, Amen asserts truth.
When Jesus spoke, He frequently began His statements with the phrase “Verily, verily.” This expression literally means “Amen, amen.” In doing so, Christ was declaring that what He was about to say was the absolute truth. His words carried divine authority because He Himself is the truth. Jesus declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Second, Amen expresses consent to the truth.
In Numbers 5:22, the woman accused under the law responded with “Amen, Amen,” consenting to the judgment placed upon her. Likewise, when Ezra read the law before the people in Nehemiah 8:6, the people answered with “Amen, Amen,” acknowledging the authority of God’s Word.

Third, Amen affirms truth.
Several Psalms conclude with this affirmation, including Psalm 41:13, Psalm 72:19, and Psalm 89:52. When believers say Amen, they are declaring their agreement with the truth of what has been spoken.

Yet the Amen at the end of John’s Gospel goes beyond John merely asserting or affirming truth. It points us to Jesus Christ Himself. Revelation 3:14 identifies Christ with the title “the Amen.” As Charles Haddon Spurgeon once observed, “The word ‘Amen’ is much more full of meaning than may be supposed, and as a title of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is eminently suggestive.”

Jesus Christ is the Amen of God’s divine person.
Revelation 3:14 calls Him “the Amen, the faithful and true witness.” He is the creator of all things, for John 1:3 declares that “all things were made by him.” Christ also possesses divine authority. The Bible says He spoke “as one having authority” (Matthew 7:29), and the Father has committed judgment unto Him (John 5:27). Just as wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8, so is Jesus Christ the Truth personified in John 14:6.

Jesus Christ is also the Amen of God’s divine promises.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.” Every promise God has ever made finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Through these promises, believers are given eternal life (1 John 2:25) and are made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Because these promises are certain, believers are called to live holy lives. 2 Corinthians 7:1 reminds us to cleanse ourselves from the sins of both flesh and spirit, allowing the words of God to wash and purify our lives (Ephesians 5:25; Psalm 119:9).

Jesus Christ is also the Amen of God’s divine propitiation. 
Sin invokes the wrath of a holy God, and propitiation is the act by which that wrath is appeased. Propitiation requires an offense, an offended person, a guilty sinner, and a sacrifice for sin. Jesus Christ fulfilled all of these requirements. 1 John 2:2 declares that He is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world. While Romans 3:25 tells us that God set Jesus, the Son of God, as the propitiatory sacrifice through the shedding of His blood. Through Christ’s sacrifice, sinners can be reconciled to God. For those who have received this propitiation, Christ gives a threefold promise found in John 5:24: everlasting life, freedom from condemnation, and the assurance that we have passed from death unto life.

Jesus Christ is the Amen of God’s divine plan.
Revelation describes Him as Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11). God’s redemptive plan will unfold exactly as He has declared. Christ will return, righteousness will prevail, and every promise of God will stand fulfilled. If you are saved and have read the back of the Book, you already know the outcome: we win in Christ. The Bible itself ends with the promise of Christ’s coming: "Surely I come quickly. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20).

The final word of Scripture is a word of certainty. It reminds us that the return of Christ is sure, the grace of Christ sustains us until He comes, and the presence of Christ awaits us when He does. God has sealed His word with the final affirmation: Amen.

These Things
Text: John 21:24–25
The Gospel of John closes with a remarkable statement from the beloved disciple:

“This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:24–25)

John reminds us that what he recorded about Jesus Christ is both true and intentionally selected. He witnessed the life, ministry, miracles, death, and resurrection of Christ firsthand. Yet he did not write everything he saw. The Holy Ghost guided him to write exactly what God wanted preserved in Scripture.

There were many other things Jesus did that were never written down. That truth should remind us that the Bible contains everything God intends for us to know. What is written is sufficient for our faith and life. If something is not included in Scripture, then it is information God deemed unnecessary for us to concern ourselves with.

As believers, we are accountable not to speculation, traditions, or extra-biblical writings, but to what God has written in his word. The Scriptures stand as the final authority for truth and doctrine. As one famous saying goes: “It’s not the things in the Bible I don’t know that bother me, but the things in the Bible I do know.”

John wrote “these things” for a purpose. When we examine his writings, we see that they point us toward three major realities: salvation, sanctification, and sound doctrine.

Salvation
John wrote so that people might be saved.
Jesus Himself declared: “If I receive witness from men, the witness of God is greater…” (John 5:34).  John explains further in his epistle: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13).

Salvation is received through believing on Jesus Christ. John makes this clear in the opening chapter of his Gospel: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:11–12).
Those who refuse to believe God’s testimony about his Son effectively make God out to be a liar. Scripture warns: “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4), and the seriousness of rejecting the truth is underscored in Revelation: “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8).

But for those who receive Christ, salvation brings tremendous blessings. The believer receives the witness of the Holy Ghost and has their name recorded in the book of life. Eternal life is given immediately: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” (John 3:36)

Salvation also removes condemnation. “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” (John 3:18). “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.” (John 5:24). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). As A. W. Tozer wisely observed, “Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty.”

Sanctification
John’s writings also point believers toward holy living. Jesus prayed for His disciples:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17). Sanctification is closely connected to purification. God refines his people through trials, sufferings, afflictions, rebukes, and chastening.

Purification often involves separation, as believers are called to come out from worldly influences and live unto God. It also comes through washing, as the Word of God cleanses the heart and mind. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:9).

At times, purification comes through fire, the refining trials that strengthen our faith.

“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10). “That the trial of your faith… might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7). Isaac Watts once wrote: “Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician prescribes.”

Ultimately, sanctification comes through the words of God. Scripture describes the word as pure, eternal, cleansing, burning, and powerful. “The words of the LORD are pure words.” (Psalm 12:6). “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Ephesians 5:26). “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:29). For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
God’s word purifies, shapes, and sanctifies His people.

Sound Doctrine
Finally, John wrote so believers could recognize truth and avoid deception. Jesus said: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.” (John 7:17)

Sound doctrine becomes clear when a person is committed to obeying Christ. Scripture warns that false teaching will increase in the last days. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1).

These teachings often come from self-willed teachers who follow their own desires rather than the Word of God (Titus 1:7; 2 Peter 2:10). John warned believers about these deceptive influences: “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” (1 John 2:26).

His Gospel even illustrates the danger through the betrayal of Judas in John 13, reminding readers that falsehood can exist close to the truth. Believers must test every spirit and remain anchored in the Word of God. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” (1 John 4:1).

Conclusion
The canon of Scripture represents the very mind and words of God, given by divine inspiration and preserved in a book. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Extra-biblical writings and traditions may contain historical value, but they are not divine revelation and must never be elevated to the authority of Scripture.

John reminds us that many other things Jesus did were never written (John 21:25). The Lord Himself restrained what was recorded. God gave us exactly what He intended for us to have.

The truth is simple: All you need is all you have, and all you have is what is written and sitting on your lap. The Scriptures we hold are sufficient for salvation, sanctification, and sound doctrine.

It is fitting that John ends his Gospel with the word Amen. “Amen” means so be it, truly, or with approval. It is a declaration that something is true and settled. Jesus Christ Himself identifies with that title: “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness…” (Revelation 3:14)
Christ is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, and the final authority of truth.

John closes his Gospel as though Christ himself is placing his seal upon everything written.
The testimony is true.
The record is complete.
The witness stands.

Just as Christ sealed the Gospel with an Amen, today he will seal your heart & soul with an Amen, if you believe.

Believe Him for salvation.
Believe Him for sanctification.
Believe Him for sound doctrine.

Text: John 21:18–23
Theme: Staying faithful and following the Lord because you love him

In John 21, Jesus confronts Peter with one of the most searching questions ever asked of a disciple: Do you love me? Peter had already affirmed his love, declaring, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:17). Yet Jesus did not leave Peter with mere words. He immediately connected Peter’s love with responsibility: “Feed my sheep.” Love for Christ was not to remain in Peter’s heart alone, it was to govern Peter’s life.

This principle had already been established earlier when Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and again, “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23). True love for Christ is demonstrated through faithful obedience.

Jesus then revealed to Peter that his future would include suffering and death. He said, “When thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” (John 21:18). John explains that Jesus spoke this “signifying by what death he should glorify God” (John 21:19). In Peter’s youth, he had walked wherever he wished, governed by his own will and strength. He had once boldly claimed he would die for Christ (John 13:37), yet when the moment of testing came, he denied the Lord (John 18:17, 25–27). But now, Peter would live long enough to prove his love; not through impulsive declarations, but through enduring faithfulness. His eventual martyrdom would not glorify his own courage, but God’s grace working through him. Scripture reminds us, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life” (James 1:12).

After revealing Peter’s future, Jesus gave him a simple command: “Follow me” (John 21:19). This command lies at the heart of discipleship. However, Peter immediately turned and asked about John’s future, saying, “Lord, and what shall this man do?” (John 21:21). Jesus answered with words that still correct believers today: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:22). Jesus made it clear that Peter’s responsibility was not to compare his calling with another’s, but to remain faithful to his own calling. Comparison distracts from obedience. Faithfulness requires focus on Christ alone. The Christian life is not about measuring our path against others, but about personally following the Lord wherever he leads.

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of following after spiritual things. Believers are instructed to follow “the things which make for peace” (Romans 14:19), to “follow after charity” (1 Corinthians 14:1), to press toward spiritual maturity (Philippians 3:12), and to pursue “that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Paul instructed Timothy to follow “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Each of these commands reflects a life oriented around Christ. Following him is not a one-time decision, but a lifelong commitment rooted in love.

Jesus also corrected a misunderstanding about John’s future. Some believed Jesus had promised John would never die, but that was not what he said (John 21:23). John would indeed suffer persecution and exile, yet he remained faithful. While banished to the Isle of Patmos, he received the revelation of Jesus Christ and recorded the prophetic vision of the Lord’s return (Revelation 1:9–19). Peter would die a violent martyr’s death, while John would live to old age and die peacefully. Both glorified God; not because of how they died, but because of how they lived. Faithfulness, not circumstance, is what matters. Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Ultimately, the question Jesus asked Peter is the same question he asks every believer: Do you love me? Everything flows from that question. God demonstrated his love for us through the sacrifice of Christ: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He loved us first, and our love for him is the response: “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Faithfulness is simply love expressed through obedience over time.

Faithfulness is rare. The psalmist cried, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men” (Psalm 12:1). Solomon asked, “A faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6). Yet God promises, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings” (Proverbs 28:20). Whether one’s path leads through suffering like Peter, endurance like John, or deliverance at Christ’s return, the call remains the same: Follow him.

In the end, the issue is not what God asks of others. The issue is what he asks of you. And the answer to that question will always be the same: If you love him, follow him.

Feed the Flock (Feed My Sheep)
Text: John 21:15–17

After his resurrection, Jesus met his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Simon Peter, who had denied the Lord three times, is now given three questions and three charges. In John 21:15, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” This question was not merely about Peter’s words, but about his affections. The phrase “more than these” likely refers to the fishing boats, nets, and the occupation Peter had returned to. Peter had gone back to what was familiar, what was comfortable, and what was carnal.

This question exposed a fundamental truth: affection determines direction. Scripture warns in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” There is nothing inherently sinful about an earthly occupation, but it becomes a problem when it interferes with a spiritual obligation. Peter was being reminded that his calling was no longer to catch fish, but to shepherd souls. The charge to care for the flock was grounded in Christ’s sacrifice. Acts 20:28 reminds pastors to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The flock belongs to Christ because he redeemed it at Calvary.

Jesus’ first command was, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). Lambs represent the young and immature believers or those newly born into the family of God. These lambs require nurturing, instruction, and patience. They must be given “the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Spiritual growth does not happen automatically; it happens through intentional feeding. Pastors are responsible for developing the flock through teaching sound doctrine and guiding believers toward maturity. As 2 Peter 3:18 says, “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Jesus’ second command was, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:16). This involves shepherding, guiding, and overseeing the flock. Peter later elaborated on this responsibility in 1 Peter 5:2–3: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly… neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Shepherding involves presence, patience, oversight, willingness, humility, and ensample. A shepherd does not stand above the flock as a tyrant but walks among them as a servant. He leads by example, demonstrating godliness in conduct, faith, charity, and purity (Titus 2:7).

Jesus’ third command again was, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17), but this includes defending the flock. Paul warned in Acts 20:29–30 that “grievous wolves” would enter the flock, speaking perverse things and drawing disciples after themselves. Therefore, the shepherd must watch, warn, and weep. He must watch for danger, warn against false doctrine, and weep with compassion for the souls entrusted to his care. This is not a casual responsibility.

This charge to feed the flock is not merely a job; it is a calling. Paul testified in Galatians 1:15-16 that God separated him from his mother’s womb and called him by grace. It is also a commitment. In 2 Timothy 1:13–14, Paul instructed Timothy to “hold fast the form of sound words” and guard the truth entrusted to him. Finally, it is a command. Paul charged Timothy before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).

The responsibility of the shepherd is to feed, but the responsibility of the sheep is to eat. Starving sheep cannot blame the shepherd if food is placed before them, but they refuse it. Many believers today suffer from spiritual malnutrition, not because there is no food, but because they consume more of the carnal than the spiritual. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Hebrews 10:25 commands the sheep to assemble in a centralized location for the purpose of receiving spiritual nourishment and exhortation.

The question remains: What do you love more, the carnal or the spiritual? What do you feed on daily? And if Christ has placed you in a pasture where his word is faithfully taught, are you feeding, growing, and abiding, or wandering and starving? The health of the flock depends on both the faithfulness of the shepherd to feed and the sheep to eat.

It Is The Lord
John 21:7-14

“It is the Lord.” With those four words, the apostle John made a declaration that was both spiritual recognition and settled truth. Jesus Christ was not merely present on the shore of Galilee, He was revealed in the heart of his disciples.
Scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” Spiritual sight is not natural; it is given by God the Holy Ghost and received by faith in the heart of man. Many struggle to recognize Christ until he is revealed in the midst of their sorrow or disappointment.

In John 21, the disciples were at one of their lowest points. They had labored all night, relying on experience, strength, and familiarity, yet they caught nothing. This is often when the Lord draws near. Though they did not recognize Him at first, He was already present, watching, preparing, and ready to speak. As Charles Haddon Spurgeon observed, “Christ is never absent from His people, though they are often unconscious of His presence.”

He Speaks to Your Present Situation
Jesus’ first words were not words of rebuke but of relationship: “Children, have ye any meat?” (John 21:5). The term “children” is one of tenderness and authority. It echoes the language of Christ in Mark 10:24 and reflects the loving correction described in Hebrews 12:5.
Jesus addressed them exactly where they were, tired, empty, and honest. The Lord still speaks this way. When we feel alone, He speaks companionship. When we feel guilty, He speaks forgiveness. When fear dominates, He speaks peace. His words are not empty encouragements; they are, as Jesus said and John wrote, words of “spirit and life.” In seasons of disappointment, God is often preparing gracious designs beyond our understanding.

He Reminds You of His Previous Solution
When John said, “It is the Lord” (John 21:7), recognition came through remembrance. The scene echoed an earlier miracle in Luke 5, when empty nets were filled at Christ’s command. John connected what God was doing now with what He had done before.
This is a vital principle of faith. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” John Newton frequently emphasized that past mercies are pledges of future faithfulness. When Peter heard the truth, he did not hesitate; he plunged into the water, eager to draw near again. Failure had not erased his desire for restored fellowship.

He Abundantly Provides for Your Sustenance
What followed was not a meager provision but an overwhelming abundance. Peter drew in a net containing 153 great fishes, yet the net did not break (John 21:11). Paul’s words ring true here: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Likewise, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Before Peter brought any fish to shore, Jesus already had bread and fish on the fire (John 21:9). Fellowship does not begin with what we provide, but with what Christ has already prepared. This scene reflects the early church in Acts 2:46-47, where believers continued in fellowship, breaking bread with gladness, praising the Lord, and the Lord adding to the church daily.

He Extends Himself to You in Personal Supping
Jesus’ invitation is simple yet profound: “Come and dine” (John 21:12). The risen Christ did not distance Himself from His weary disciples; He welcomed them. This same invitation is heard again in Revelation 3:20, where He promises fellowship to all who open the door. It is echoed in Matthew 11:28-30, where the weary are called to rest in His yoke, and in Isaiah 1:18, where sinners are invited to reason with the Lord and be cleansed.
Vance Havner wisely noted, “It is not enough to work for Christ; we must also sit with Him.” John Bunyan likewise emphasized that communion with Christ is the chief joy of the Christian life. The Lord does not merely command service; He offers fellowship.

Conclusion: It is the Lord who stands and waits for you to come to him. He is standing on the shores of grace, ready to receive you and fellowship with you over the warmth of his fire. If you come to him, he will not turn you away. To not come to him is to reject him, and to reject him is to be naked and toiling all alone, empty without hope and without God.

What Does Not Pass Away
Text: Mark 13:31
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

There are moments in life when the reality of time confronts us with sobering clarity. Seasons change. Generations come and go. Loved ones pass away. Creation itself, magnificent and vast as it is, carries within it the mark of temporality. Jesus said plainly in Mark 13:31, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

Heaven and earth were created by God, and they were created with a purpose and an appointed end. The apostle Peter echoes this truth: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away…” (2 Peter 3:10). What appears permanent to us is, in reality, temporary in the scope of eternity.

The Fleeting Nature of Everything
Scripture repeatedly reminds us of the brevity of life and the passing nature of this world. Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 declares, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…” Life moves in seasons, and none of them last forever.
Jesus Himself spoke in generational terms in Luke 21:32: “This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” Even entire generations rise and fall within God's unfolding plan.
James makes the truth intensely personal:
“For as the flower of the grass he shall pass away” (James 1:10).
“For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).
Today, that truth feels especially real as we reflect on the passing of Shiela. While her earthly life has ended, her spirit has returned unto the Lord who gave it. The sorrow is real. The separation is painful. Yet even in this hour, the enduring word of God speaks hope. Our grief does not negate God’s promises; it drives us to cling to them.

The Forever Nature of the Eternal Word of God
In contrast to the fading heavens and earth stands the unchanging word of God. Jesus said, “my words shall not pass away.” The psalmist declared, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
God’s Word is not subject to decay. It does not erode with time. It is settled, steadfast, and secure. When circumstances shift and emotions overwhelm us, Scripture remains the anchor of the soul.
Truth
Jesus prayed, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). He also declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The word of God reveals who God is, who we are, and what eternity holds. In a world filled with uncertainty, divine truth does not fluctuate.
Salvation
The word proclaims the gospel, which is the only message that overcomes death. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Death may claim the body, but it cannot conquer the soul redeemed by Christ.
Hope
Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). The grave does not have the final word. God does. There is resurrection. There is reunion. There is everlasting life for those in Christ.
Strength
Grief can drain the strongest heart. Yet Scripture assures us: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). God does not stand afar off in our sorrow. He draws near. His promises uphold us when our own strength fails.
Comfort
Finally, God’s word provides true comfort.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Comfort is not the denial of pain. It is the assurance that pain is not permanent. Death does not have the last word. The gospel does. The promises of God endure when all else fades.

Closing Reflection
Heaven and earth shall pass away. Generations shall pass away. Even time itself will one day cease. But the word of God will remain, and all who are in Christ will remain with Him forever.

Anne Steele captured this enduring confidence in her hymn, “The Promises of God” (c. 1760):

Firm as the earth thy gospel stands,
My Lord, my hope, my trust;
If I am found in Jesus’ hands,
My soul can ne’er be lost.

The Word that built the heavens above
Abides for ever sure;
The truth that seals redeeming love
Shall evermore endure.

When flesh and heart alike shall fail,
Thy promise is my stay;
The written Word shall yet prevail
When all things pass away.

Here would I rest my weary soul,
On truths divinely given;
Till faith be lost in perfect sight,
And hope be crowned in heaven.

God still meets the weary. He still fills what effort, experience, and energy cannot. If you are running on empty, perhaps it is time to move to where God would have you—and cast your net again at his word.

On This Wise:
When Jesus Shewed Himself
Text: John 21:1

After the resurrection, Scripture records not merely that Jesus appeared, but how he appeared. John writes, “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.” That phrase, "on this wise," means “in this way” or “after this fashion.” It appears seven times in Scripture, and every occurrence ultimately finds its meaning in Jesus Christ. From the priestly blessing of Aaron, to the birth of Christ, to Israel’s deliverance, to the resurrection, and even to God’s seventh-day rest, the Bible consistently teaches that God reveals himself with purpose, order, and intent. Christ never appears haphazardly. When he shows himself, it is always significant.

The word shewed simply means appeared, yet when Jesus Christ appears, heaven and earth are never unaffected. His manifestations are not dramatic interruptions but divine appointments. In John 21, the disciples have returned to the familiar work of fishing. They are not seeking a vision; they are simply trying to move forward. It is after these things of confusion, fear, failure, and waiting that Jesus appears once again.

First, his appearance is PUNCTUAL. Scripture repeatedly uses the phrase after these things to teach that God acts at precisely the right moment. After the wilderness, Jesus fed the five thousand. After uncertainty, he walked again among the people of Galilee. After judgment, heaven erupts with praise. What appears to us as delay is often divine preparation. John Broadus rightly observed, “What appears to us as delay is often the very preparation necessary for the fullest revelation of Christ.” B. H. Carroll echoed the same truth: “God’s movements are never hurried, never delayed. He works by plan, and his plan is perfect in its timing.” Jesus did not come to the shore early or late; he came exactly when he was needed. One day, after the things of this present age are complete, he will again appear right on time to receive his bride in glory.

Second, his appearance is PUNCTUAL. John carefully notes that “Jesus shewed himself…shewed he himself.” Christ did not send a messenger. He did not dispatch an angel. He came personally. This truth reaches back to Genesis 22:8, where God promised to provide himself a lamb, a promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. He became the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. He purchased the church with his own blood. Andrew Fuller captured this reality well when he wrote, “The gospel reveals not a distant Deity, but God in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” The same Lord who came personally to redeem fallen man will one day come personally to receive his own sheep.

Third, his appearance is PERPETUAL. John tells us this was the third time Jesus showed himself to the disciples. Earlier appearances brought peace; this appearance brings reconciliation and restoration, particularly for Peter. The faithfulness of Christ is not limited to a single moment. He shows up again and again—after failure, after fear, after denial. God returned to Jonah after rebellion, to Moses in the desert, and to Jacob after deception. Adoniram Judson, reflecting on years of suffering, testified, “If I had not felt the continued presence of God, I must have perished in the midst of my trials.” Christ does not vanish after the first meeting; he faithfully returns.

Fourth, his appearance is PARTICULAR. Jesus appeared to his disciples. He began his earthly ministry by calling individuals, and he concludes this scene by ministering to them. He knows the number of hairs on their heads. He knows his sheep by name, and they know his voice. Scripture repeatedly shows God personally calling his servants: Samuel, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, among many others. God never saves or shepherds people as an anonymous crowd.

Fifth, his appearance is PURPOSEFUL. Jesus came to the Sea of Tiberias because that is where his disciples were. This was familiar ground, a known place, and a deliberate meeting. The Lord always knows where his people are. When he comes to us through his word, conviction, or comfort, it is never accidental. He speaks precisely what we need, and exactly when we need it. He met with Moses at the burning bush, Elijah in a still small voice, Balaam through the mouth of a donkey, and Paul through the brightness of his glory. God has a message, and he knows how and when to deliver it.

Finally, his appearance is PASTORAL. When Jesus speaks with Peter, he speaks as the Good Shepherd. He entrusts his sheep to Peter’s care, calling him to feed and tend the flock. A true shepherd gives his life, watches the welfare of the sheep, and faithfully feeds them. Christ still shepherds his people today, caring for lambs and sheep alike through his shepherds, the Pastor or a congregation.

When Jesus shows himself, it is always on this wise: always on time, always personal, always faithful, and always purposeful. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our responsibility is not to force his timing, but to trust his presence.

When the Doors Were Shut
Text: John 20:26–31

Fear has a way of driving people behind closed doors. When danger feels near, and uncertainty grows, isolation begins to look like wisdom. That was the condition of the disciples in John 20. Scripture tells us plainly, “the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). They had shut themselves in, not because they hated Christ, but because fear had taken control. What they did not yet understand is that locked doors cannot keep the risen Saviour out.

Then Came Jesus
Eight days later, the same conditions remained. The doors were still shut. The fear had not yet passed. Yet, John records, “Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst” (John 20:26). Jesus did not knock. He did not wait for permission. He simply came. As J. C. Ryle so aptly observed, “Man locks doors in fear; Christ passes through them in victory.” Resurrection power was not hindered by human barriers.

There is no place a person can hide where God cannot go, and no spirit of fear Christ cannot calm. Jesus himself declared, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17–18). The gates of hell could neither lock him out nor lock him in. The psalmist affirmed this truth centuries earlier: “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:8). He fills all things (Ephesians 1:23) and inhabits eternity itself (Isaiah 57:15).

Scripture also reminds us that there is no confinement God cannot unlock. Prison doors opened for Peter (Acts 12), and chains fell from Paul and Silas as they sang praises at midnight (Acts 16:25–26). Likewise, there is no pit so deep that God cannot pull someone out. Joseph was raised from a pit to a palace (Genesis 37–41). Jeremiah was lifted from the miry dungeon (Jeremiah 38:6–13). Daniel walked out of the lions’ den unharmed (Daniel 6). Wherever darkness seems to reign, Christ still shines, fulfilling the words of Matthew 4:16: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”

Then Came Peace
When Jesus entered that locked room, the first thing he brought was peace (John 20:26 - “Jesus saith unto them, Peace be unto you"), reminding us of a passage in the Old Testament addressed to the children of Israel: Numbers 6:24-26 - "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." These were frightened men, unsure of the future, yet Christ did not rebuke their fear; rather, he addressed it. He had already promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). This peace is not circumstantial; it is spiritual. It flows from the Spirit and kingdom of God within (Romans 14:17).

That peace reaches every condition of life. It comes in storms, when the disciples feared perishing at sea (John 6). It comes in sin, when the prodigal son came to himself and returned home (Luke 15:17–24). It comes in the form of separation, when the shepherd seeks the one lost sheep (Luke 15:4–7). It comes in sorrow, when Mary Magdalene wept at the tomb until Jesus spoke her name (John 20:15–16). It comes when the soul is sunk down, as Jeremiah experienced repeatedly. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, “The peace Christ gives is not the calm after the storm, but calm in the storm.” Peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ in the midst of it.

Then Came the Blessing
Finally, Jesus pronounced a blessing that extends far beyond that locked room. “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Faith does not rest on sight, but on the word of God. George Müller captured this truth when he said, “Faith does not rest on what it sees, but on what God has said.” Oswald Chambers added, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.”

That faith is born and nourished by Scripture. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The word becomes effectual when it is believed. John Bunyan wrote, “Blessed are those who believe God’s Word more than their own eyes.” This belief leads to salvation, the greatest blessing of all, and to life itself. John concludes this passage by stating the purpose of the gospel: “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).

The doors were shut, but Jesus came anyway. Fear was present, but peace followed. Doubt lingered, but blessing prevailed. As A. W. Pink so clearly stated, “God is never locked out of the life that trusts Him.” Whatever door you think you have closed, Christ can still enter. Whatever place you have shut yourself into, Jesus can still minister. You cannot shut God out. The only question that remains is not whether he can come in, but whether you will believe he is there when he does.

Peace Be Unto You
How to experience the peace of God in your life
John 20:19–23

Peace is one of the most universally desired experiences. Nations pursue it through diplomacy, strength, and strategy, yet history repeatedly shows how fragile and temporary those rememberable peace agreements can be. Scripture identifies peace as the “desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7), because peace is not merely a political condition, it is a spiritual necessity.
Every heart, home, and house of God (local church) desires peace. We are either shaped by it's presence or troubled by its absence. We depend upon it to function and operate in a spirit of unity rather than division. The peace men long for cannot be manufactured by circumstances, isolation, or optimism. Jesus was clear when he spoke to his disciples before the cross: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). The peace Christ gives is of a different kind altogether. It is not dependent upon outward calm but upon inward assurance. It is not the removal of fear but the triumph over it.

Peace in the Presence of Christ
John records that on the evening of the resurrection day, the disciples were gathered together in fear. They had assembled in a familiar place of the upper room. This was not a strange location but a room associated with fellowship, teaching, and prayer. Yet familiarity alone did not bring peace. The doors were shut. Fear had driven them inward not outward.
Though they were together, they were troubled. Though they were in a place of prior blessing, their hearts were unsettled. Fear has a way of sealing doors physically and spiritually. It closes mouths, dulls hearing, and hardens hearts. Many believers still assemble faithfully while inwardly barricading themselves against disappointment, grief, or uncertainty.
It was into this fearful gathering that Jesus came. He did not knock. He did not wait for permission. He did not require an opening. He simply stood in the midst. The risen Christ was not hindered by locked doors or guarded hearts. And when he spoke, his first words were not correction or clarification, but comfort: “Peace be unto you.”
Christ still enters fearful rooms. He still stands in the midst of troubled assemblies. And when he comes, he speaks peace. God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that his thoughts toward his people were thoughts of peace and not of evil (Jer. 29:11). That promise found its living expression in the words of Jesus to frightened disciples.

Peace in the Person of Christ
Jesus did not stop with words alone. He showed them his hands and his side. The wounds of Christ were not marks of defeat but tokens of a purchased salvation. As John Gill stated, “The wounds of Christ speak peace to the conscience, for they testify that justice has been satisfied.” There was evidence that death had been faced and conquered. The scars told the story. Sin had been judged. Justice had been satisfied. Death had been conquered. Their sorrow was turned into joy, and fear was turned into gladness. Thomas would later respond with worship when confronted with these same wounds, declaring, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Peace deepens when Christ is recognized for who he truly is.
Jesus then repeated the words, “Peace be unto you.” Repetition in Scripture is never accidental. Christ was not merely greeting his disciples; he was emphasizing his desire that their hearts and minds remain at peace (Philippians 4:7).  As the Father had sent the Son, the Son was now sending them, equipped with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15).
Jesus then breathed on them, which echoed the creation of Adam, when God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Here, the risen Christ imparts spiritual life and power, pointing to the ministry of the Holy Ghost. Peace is not produced by human resolve. It is the fruit of the Spirit of God at work within the believer. Outside of Christ and the Spirit, there is no lasting peace, comfort, or joy (Galatians 5:22). Ultimately, we are reminded here that peace is not the absence of suffering; rather, the absence of peace is suffering.

Peace in the Precious Word of Christ
John concludes his retelling of events by explaining why these things were written. The word of God was given so that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, they might have life through his name. Peace flows from this life.
The word of God is not merely informative, but transformative. When the word of Christ dwells richly within the believer (Colossians 3:16), faith is strengthened, assurance is settled, and peace becomes the governing condition of the mind and spirit. Doubt thrives where scripture is neglected. Peace flourishes where truth is believed.
Faith rests on what God has said about his Son. That faith produces life. That life produces peace. The peace Jesus spoke in a locked room still echoes through the written word today, offering rest to every heart willing to believe.

The Reality Behind Why Jesus Came to Earth
Luke 12:49

Jesus did not come quietly to leave the world unchanged. His words in Luke 12:49 are arresting: “I am come to send fire on the earth.” Fire in Scripture is never neutral. It purifies, it judges, it reveals, and it consumes. Christ’s coming introduced an unavoidable confrontation between holiness and sin, light and darkness, truth and lies, reception and rebellion. His presence demanded a response then, and it still does today.

The fire Christ spoke of ultimately finds its fulfillment at the second advent, when God’s righteous indignation will be poured out upon a rebellious world. Scripture consistently ties this fire to divine judgment, a consuming wrath against unrepentant sinners (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Zephaniah 3:8). Yet before that future fire falls, Christ himself bore a fire within. His earthly ministry was marked by a holy zeal, a burning grief over sin, and righteous anger toward religious hypocrisy and the defilement of God’s house. That inward fire revealed the heart of God toward sin, not indifference, but indignation mixed with mercy.

The world, however, kindled its own fire. Isaiah (50:11) warned of men who walk in the sparks of their own making, and Jesus became the central object of that flame. He endured rejection, mockery, persecution, and finally the baptism of fire at Calvary. On the cross, Christ absorbed the fiery wrath of God’s judgment, not for his own sin, but for sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21). The fire that should have fallen upon guilty men fell upon the sinless Son. This is the sobering reality behind redemption, salvation required judgment, and mercy was purchased through suffering.

Because of this, Jesus came to bring repentance to sinners (Mark 2:17). His mission was not to congratulate the self-righteous, but to call the spiritually sick to healing. Repentance is not only remorse or regret; it is a godly sorrow that produces a genuine change (2 Corinthians 7:10). Those who saw themselves as whole had no use for a physician, but those who acknowledged their blindness and sickness found forgiveness and restoration. Heaven still rejoices (Luke 15:7) over one sinner who repents, because repentance marks the moment when truth is believed, and grace is received.

Beyond repentance, Christ came to bring salvation (John 3:17). His purpose was not condemnation, but deliverance. He came to save lives (Luke 9:56), to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10; Mt. 18:11). While this included the lost sheep of Israel doctrinally (Mt. 10:6), it extended far beyond national boundaries. In the church age, salvation reaches sinners everywhere who sit under the gospel yet remain blind to its light (2 Corinthians 4:3). Grace does not discriminate by heritage or history; it is offered freely to all (Titus 2:11). “The gospel is not good advice to make bad men better; it is good news that makes dead men live.” — Adrian Rogers.

Finally, Jesus came to give eternal and abundant life (John 10:10; Romans 6:23). Eternal life is more than duration; it is a quality of life rooted in reconciliation with God. Abundant life is not defined by material excess, but by spiritual inheritance. In Christ, believers are no longer impoverished sinners, but heirs of all things (1 Timothy 6:17; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23). Death gives way to life, limitation to abundance (Ephesians 3:20), and condemnation to assurance.

The coming of Jesus changed everything, not merely by what he taught and how he lived, but by what he accomplished in the gospel of his death, burial, and resurrection.

The Resurrection Morning — Trusting God in the Unknown
John 20:1; Mark 16:1-8

Resurrection morning did not begin with clarity or confidence. It began with confusion, concern, and a collision of emotions that no one present could have anticipated. John 20:1 and Mark 16:1-8 record how a group of women made their way to the tomb with spices in hand and uncertainty in their hearts. They were not sure how everything would work out, but they went anyway. Their story shows us what real trust looks like: moving in faith when the outcome is unclear and believing that God is already at work where we cannot yet see.

The Women
These women were not casual observers. Mary Magdalene, from whom seven devils had been cast out (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2), Joanna, healed under the household of Chuza, Herod’s steward (Luke 8:3), Salome, the sister of James and John, followed in her brother's footsteps, and Mary, the mother of Jose, was a disciple. These women all had personal encounters with Jesus. The presence of Jesus in their lives and his compassion for them had changed their lives forever. They bought ointments and set out early, fully aware that a massive stone blocked their access to the tomb (Mark 16:3). Yet they went, not knowing who would remove it. Their obedience came before their understanding, and that is the essence of faith.
Faithful women have shaped the story of Scripture far more than history books typically recognize: Esther, Ruth, Jael, Rahab, Sarah, Hannah, Elisabeth, the woman with the issue of blood, and others modeled the same courage we see here. Sarah “judged him (God) faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).
Women were the first at the tomb. Women were the first to proclaim the resurrection. Women were a source of discipleship and prayer in the early church. When a woman’s faith is strengthened by God, nations, churches, and families rise, as A.W. Tozer once declared. “No nation or church has ever risen above the faith of its women.”

The Week Day
This moment took place on a Sunday, the first day of the week (Mark 16:2). The early church would later gather on this same day to break bread, receive the preaching of the word (Acts 20:7), give,  and minister to the saints (1 Corinthians 16:2). Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “A Sunday well spent brings a week of content,” and D. L. Moody observed, “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” The Resurrection morning confirms that Sunday is not a suggestion for the believer; it is a spiritual anchor.
Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us so much the more not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together because there is strength in numbers and being united in the faith of Christ. Assembling allows us to provoke, pray, and praise the Lord together in a common faith of unity rather than in a cult of isolation, division, and strife. Assembling for preaching that offers exhortation helps dispel the doubt and worry these women carry.

The Worry
Not only did these women carry ointment, but they also carried worry with them in their hearts and minds. They knew they could not roll the stone away from the tomb, and there was no guarantee their problem would be resolved upon arrival. Yet they moved toward the tomb anyway, seeking Jesus. We are commanded to first seek first the kingdom of God in Matthew 6:33, and afterward, all these things would be added. Seeking first is the first step of faith. Faith seeks without yet seeing.
As Oswald Chambers wrote, “All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.” Corrie Ten Boom echoed this truth: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its trouble; it empties today of its strength.” Scripture reinforces it: “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). Jesus taught, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow… sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).
The stone probably felt as heavy as many of our problems, but Mark 10:27 reminds us, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Luke 18:27 confirms it: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Even when faith feels small, Jesus said that faith like a grain of mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20), and Luke 1:37 assures us: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

The Wonder
When the women arrived, everything changed. They found the stone rolled away. The tomb was empty. Angels appeared, and they were “affrighted,” “amazed,” and “trembled” (Mark 16:5–6, 8). They came expecting a dead body, but encountered a tomb empty of its resident, and angels who were there in his place. They came to honor a body, but discovered their Savior had risen. Their experience teaches us that God is not a God of chaos but a God of mystery. He does not always reveal himself when or how we expect. Sometimes he goes beyond our understanding, leaving us in awe and wonder.

The Way
Finally, came the way forward. The angels gave direction: where to go, whom to speak to, and what to say (Mark 16:7). They came speaking, but they left speechless (Mark 16:8). They arrived overwhelmed by a problem, but they left overwhelmed by a miracle, and were obedient in delivering the message. When God does what only he can do, it changes how we walk away from the place where it happened.

You may not know what to expect from God in your current season. You may be carrying fear, uncertainty, or a burden that feels too heavy to roll away, but the resurrection teaches us that God is greater than any problem. He can remove what is impossible. He can open what is sealed. He can change what looks final. Trust him in the unknown, and you will not leave the same way you came.

From Secrecy to Service
Text: John 19:38–42

The gospel does not end at the cross. While the crucifixion stands as the great display of sacrifice and the resurrection shines as the triumph of victory, the burial of Jesus Christ occupies a sacred and often overlooked space between the two. It is here, in the stillness after suffering and before glory, that faith is tested, revealed, and matured. John records that the burial of Jesus was not carried out by enemies or strangers, but by two men who had once followed quietly and cautiously. Their obedience in this moment speaks volumes to every believer who has ever struggled between fear and faith.

Joseph of Arimathaea enters the narrative as a man of stature and influence. He was wealthy, honorable, and respected among the Jews. He served as a counsellor and possessed social standing that afforded him both comfort and security. Yet scripture tells us that he was a disciple of Jesus secretly, for fear of the Jews. His faith was real, but restrained. His belief was sincere, but hidden. That secrecy would be tested when Christ died.
The moment Jesus breathed his last, Joseph’s faith could no longer remain private. He went boldly unto Pilate, requesting the body of Jesus. This was no small act. To identify with a crucified man was to risk reputation, position, and possibly life itself. Yet Joseph begged, besought, and craved the body of Jesus. The man who once remained silent now stepped forward publicly. Faith that had once stayed in the shadows moved into the light of costly obedience.

Nicodemus stands beside Joseph as a companion in this sacred task. Earlier in the Gospel, he is introduced as a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night, cautious and curious, seeking answers while avoiding exposure. He understood that the kingdom of God was spiritual and internal, not visible or political. Yet like Joseph, his faith had not yet found its voice.

At the burial, Nicodemus no longer arrives in secrecy. He comes openly, bringing a great weight of myrrh and aloes. The man who once asked questions now offers devotion. Together, Joseph and Nicodemus take the body of Jesus, wrap it in linen, anoint it with spices, and lay it in a new tomb. What the other Gospel writers attribute largely to Joseph, John clarifies was a shared work. Faith, once solitary and silent, becomes united and visible.

These men may not have fully understood the resurrection. Scripture does not tell us whether they expected the tomb to be empty in three days. Yet their actions reveal something deeper. They were waiting for the kingdom of God, a kingdom not observed with the eyes but realized within the heart. That kingdom would only come through victory over death. Though their understanding may have been incomplete, their devotion was genuine.

The burial of Jesus teaches that the past does not determine the future. Both Joseph and Nicodemus were once secret disciples, cautious believers, spiritual observers rather than public witnesses. Yet when the moment demanded courage, they responded with action. Faith matured under pressure. Love overcame fear. Loyalty replaced hesitation.

Their care for the body of Jesus also points forward to resurrection life. They prepared and preserved his body with reverence. They treated it with dignity, not neglect. There was no indifference in their service. They did not want the body of Christ to be dishonored or corrupted. In doing so, they demonstrated faith that anticipated life beyond the grave. What they laid in the tomb would not remain there.

This moment speaks directly to the church today. The body of Christ still requires faithful care. Believers are called not merely to admire Christ from a distance but to identify with him openly. The challenge is not whether one believes, but whether that belief is willing to be seen. God still seeks disciples who will move from secrecy to service, from quiet agreement to visible devotion.

The church needs Christians who are willing to be bold, who will beg, crave, and care for the body of Christ with loyalty and love. The testimony of the church should be a sweet savour, not a stench. That requires sacrifice, surrender, submission, and sometimes suffering. It requires staying when it would be easier to walk away, searching and seeking truth, studying the word, offering supplications, stirring one another to faithfulness, and strengthening the body until the day of resurrection.

The burial of Jesus reminds us that devotion is often proven in the quiet moments when hope seems dim and victory feels distant. Yet it is in those moments that faith is refined and service is revealed. Resurrection power always follows faithful obedience.

What Jesus Brought When He Came and was Born
The birth of Jesus Christ was not merely a sentimental moment marked by angels, shepherds, and a manger. It was the deliberate entrance of divine purpose into a world saturated with darkness, sin, and spiritual confusion. Scripture presents his coming not as accidental or symbolic, but as intentional, necessary, and confrontational. He did not arrive quietly to blend into human history, nor did he come merely to inspire moral improvement. He came to reveal truth, expose hearts, and demand a response from every soul.

From the moment he entered the world, Jesus brought realities that could not be ignored. His presence forced men to reckon with who they were, what they believed, and where they stood before God. Light has that effect. It uncovers what darkness conceals, and it divides those who welcome truth from those who resist it.

He Brought Judgement
First, Jesus came to bring judgment. While he did not come at his first advent to execute final condemnation upon the world, his presence revealed the actual spiritual condition of mankind. As he himself declared, his coming caused the blind to see and those who claimed to see to become blind. Judgment, in this sense, was not imposed through force or violence, but through revelation. Truth stood before men, and their response to it exposed their hearts.

Those willing to acknowledge their blindness found mercy and illumination. Those confident in their own righteousness and understanding hardened themselves against the truth and were left in greater darkness. This remains one of the most sobering aspects of Christ’s coming. The same light that brings sight to the humble brings judgment upon the proud.

He Brought Light
Second, Jesus came to bring light. He did not merely teach truth; he was the Truth incarnate. He declared himself to be the light of the world, the only reliable source of spiritual direction and life. In a world stumbling through moral confusion and spiritual night, Christ shone with clarity, authority, and grace.

Darkness persists where light is despised and rejected. The tragedy of unbelief is not that men lack information, but that they reject revelation. Light was present, accessible, and offered freely, yet many chose darkness because their deeds were evil. When Jesus departed physically from the world, darkness followed once again, leaving believers with the responsibility to reflect his light through the word of God and faithful witness.

He Brought Propitiation
Third, Jesus came to bring the payment of salvation. The cross was not an interruption of his mission, nor was it an unfortunate consequence of political resistance. It was the very purpose for which he came. From birth, Christ moved steadily toward the cross, fully aware of the cost and fully submitted to the Father's will.

His death was not merely an example of love or sacrifice. It was propitiation, the satisfying of divine wrath through a perfect substitute. He bore the judgment sinners deserved so that reconciliation with God could be made possible. Divine justice was not ignored or softened; it was entirely satisfied in the person of Christ.

He Brought Repentance
Fourth, Jesus came to bring repentance. His message consistently reached those who recognized their need, while it offended those confident in their own righteousness. He did not come to affirm the self-satisfied, but to call sinners to repentance. Repentance was not superficial remorse or religious regret, but genuine sorrow that resulted in a fundamental change of heart and direction.

Those who saw themselves as sick sought the Physician and were healed. Those who insisted they were whole saw no need for grace and walked away unchanged. The dividing line was not morality, education, or religious background, but humility before truth.

He Brought Salvation
Finally, Jesus came to bring salvation. God’s purpose in sending his Son was not destruction, but deliverance. Salvation was not limited to one nation, class, or culture, but extended to all who would believe. The invitation was broad, though the response would be personal.

The same Savior who lay in a manger still calls sinners out of darkness and into life. His mission has not changed, and neither has the responsibility of those who hear his message. Salvation remains a gift of grace, received by faith, secured by the finished work of Christ.

The question remains unchanged since his first coming: What will we do with the light that has been given?

The Message of the Cross
Text: John 19:34–35

The cross of Jesus Christ is not merely the means by which redemption was accomplished; it is the message of redemption itself. In John 19:34-35, the apostle John pauses the narrative of the crucifixion to bear witness that what took place at Calvary was real, observable, and purposeful. The blood and water flowing from the pierced side of Christ do not merely confirm his death; they proclaim a message that continues to speak to all of mankind.
Ultimately, the cross and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ are a message of love. Though horrifying and grotesque in their physical reality, they reveal the extreme measures God took to save sinners because he so loved the world. Everything the believer does after salvation must be built upon a foundation of love in response to the love Jesus demonstrated on the cross. As Charles H. Spurgeon rightly observed, “The cross is the pulpit from which God proclaims His love to the world.”

A Message of Forgiveness
One of the clearest messages spoken from the cross is forgiveness. In Luke 23:34, Jesus prays for those who are actively torturing and murdering him. He seeks forgiveness for sins already committed and for sins yet to be committed. This prayer reveals the depth of divine mercy and the scope of Christ’s atoning work. Forgiveness flows from a river of mercy, not a stream of bitterness.
Christ does the same for us. At salvation, he forgives past and future sins, securing eternal redemption. Daily confession, then, is not about regaining salvation but restoring fellowship. On the basis of God’s forgiveness, believers are called to seek and give forgiveness to others in order to maintain fellowship, as Ephesians 4:32 instructs. Forgiveness is one of the greatest acts of love and one of the clearest marks of Christlikeness. Vance Havner captured this truth well when he said, “We are never more like Christ than when we forgive.”
Unforgiveness hinders fellowship with God and others. One cannot love the Lord or live for the Lord as he should while refusing to forgive. Forgiveness may require repeated obedience until the offense no longer holds power over the heart.

A Message of Faithfulness
The cross also delivers a message of faithfulness. In John 19:25-27, Jesus remains faithful both to his heavenly Father and to his earthly family. Even in his final moments, he provides for his mother, demonstrating unwavering love, loyalty, and responsibility. It is possible that Joseph, upon his demise, entrusted the care of Mary to Jesus, who now entrusts it to John.
Faithfulness, however, is rare. Proverbs 20:6 asks where a faithful man can be found, and Jesus himself questioned whether faith would remain on the earth when he returns (Luke 18:8). Faithfulness must flow from love, not fear or mere duty. Adoniram Judson wisely stated, “A life once given to God is not measured by success, but by faithfulness.”
In God’s economy, faithfulness is success.  First Corinthians 3 teaches that God rewards the sort of work, not its size. Faithful labor done in love is successful in God’s sight and will be rewarded accordingly. God rewards the laborer as the farmer rewards the ox who treads out the corn (1 Timothy 5:18).

A Message of Finishing
When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” the cross proclaimed a message of completion. Christ finished what Adam began, accomplished the work the Father sent him to do, and fully and finally secured redemption for mankind. Scripture affirms that Jesus is both the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
This finishing work extends to the believer as well. God, who began a good work at salvation, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). The love of Christ should constrain believers to finish their own course faithfully, just as Paul finished his course out of love for God and those he was sent to serve (2 Timothy 4:7.

A Message of Faith
Finally, the cross proclaims a message of faith. Faith is what it takes to believe. One thief on the cross believed by faith and was saved. A Roman centurion, witnessing the crucifixion, believed by faith and declared Jesus to be the righteous Son of God.
Faith saves, according to Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith pleases God, as Hebrews 11:5 teaches. Faith brings peace, as Jesus assured the healed woman in Luke 8:48. The cross demands a response, and believing by faith is that response.

Closing Reflection
Acts 13:38-41 reminds us that forgiveness of sins is preached through Jesus Christ. This is the greatest message and the greatest gift ever given. His faithfulness, his forgiveness, and his finished work call for your faith. To despise the message of the cross is to reject the greatest gift God could ever give—his life for yours.
What Christ requires of us is nothing greater than what was required of him: faith for salvation, faithfulness for service, forgiveness for fellowship, and finishing for reward. The cross still speaks, and its message remains urgent.

Be of Good Courage: Stand in the Gap
Text: 2 Samuel 10:12
Theme: How a Christian Will Stand in the Gap

There is always a gap. In every generation, in every home, in every church, and in every spiritual battle, something is missing, broken, weakened, or threatened. A gap is an opening, a breach, a chasm, a defect, or a weak point where danger can enter or where duty is being neglected. The London Underground reminds travelers to “Mind the Gap,” warning them to be alert to the space between the train and the platform. Spiritually, believers must do the same—recognizing dangerous gaps in their lives, families, and ministries, and allowing the Lord to either fill them or empower us to stand in them.

Standing in the gap takes courage, and Scripture has much to say about that word. The terms courage, courageous, and courageously appear twenty-six times in the AV1611, and the definition is rich: bravery; intrepidity; boldness; resolution; and the spiritual quality that enables a believer to face danger or difficulty with firmness rather than fear. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to stand firm while fear presses in. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, the believer’s courage flows from a God who has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

Courage also includes valor, and true valor is never rooted in physical ability or human intellect. It is dependent entirely upon God. The Scriptures remind us that strength, skill, and victory come “through God” (Psalm 60:12), through the presence of the Lord (1 Samuel 16:18), and through Jesus Christ, who strengthens the believer (Psalm 118:15–16; Philippians 4:13). A person may be physically strong and spiritually fearful, or physically timid yet spiritually mighty. Gideon is proof—called a “mighty man of valor” while he was hiding in weakness. God sees not what we are in ourselves, but what we can become through him. Therefore, the call of 1 Corinthians 16:13 still stands: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

But courage is not only needed to confront danger; it is also required when God calls someone to fill a spiritual vacancy. In Ezekiel 22:30, God searched for someone who would stand in the gap, repair the breach, and intercede on behalf of the land. Tragically, he found none. The same searching gaze is found in Luke 18:8, where the Lord asks whether he will even find faith upon the earth at his return. Gaps often form through unfaithfulness, fear, and neglect, yet God still calls his people to the vocation of standing, walking worthy of the calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1-3). Throughout Scripture, men and women such as Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Caleb, Jephthah, Ruth, David, Daniel, Esther, Mary, and Paul stepped forward when others stepped back. They filled gaps, lifted burdens, and fought battles that demanded more courage than comfort.

Strength is required to stand in the gap, and Ezra 10:4 reminds us that this strength comes from God himself. Often, the Lord teaches us strength by first allowing us to experience weakness. Isaiah 41:10, 1 Corinthians 12:9, and Hebrews 11:34 show that divine strength is most clearly displayed when human strength fails. Obedience fuels courage, and obedience frequently grows through suffering (Hebrews 5:8). Doing the will of God when it is difficult is an act of valor. Andrew Fuller wisely observed, “Great faith is not shown by great talent, but by great obedience.” And before the work of standing can be accomplished, there must be humility to confess sin, lay aside pride, and submit to the word of God, just as Ezra did.

Sometimes believers also need to strengthen one another to remain in the gap. Moses strengthened Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:28), and Jesus strengthened Peter so he might strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32). Courage is woven into the very word encouragement. When we exhort one another, we literally put courage into one another. Scripture and experience teach that courage is contagious, as is cowardice (Numbers 13-14). God uses his people to lift and strengthen, while the enemy uses discouragement, criticism, and fear to weaken. As Spurgeon once wrote, “A word fitly spoken may be the spark that kindles the flame of courage in a fainting heart.” (See: Proverbs 25:11)

Courage is also developed through patience. Psalm 27:14 calls believers to wait on the Lord, and in the waiting, he strengthens the heart. Patience and courage grow together, for neither can be developed without deeper fellowship with Christ. To wait is not to be idle; it is to trust, to lean, and to rest in the timing and strength of the Lord who renews his people like the eagle (Isaiah 40:31).

Finally, courage is fueled by hope. Psalm 31:24 reminds believers to “be of good courage” because the Lord will strengthen their hearts. Romans 5:5 teaches that hope does not make us ashamed, and 1 Timothy 1:1 declares that Christ is not only the object of our hope but he IS our hope. A Christian’s courage will always rise or fall in proportion to where his hope is placed.

Courage, then, is the application of faith, the embodiment of conviction, the strength born of suffering, the blessing of encouragement, the patience of waiting, and the confidence of hope. There will always be gaps that need to be filled. But there is always a God who strengthens those who are willing to stand.

Beholding the Lamb in His Final Hour
Text: John 19:8–18

In John 1:29, John the Baptist issued a command that still echoes through the centuries: “Behold the Lamb of God.” That call was not merely an invitation to look, but to consider, to comprehend, and to believe. By the time we arrive at John 19, the Lamb is no longer being introduced; he is being offered. In these verses, Pilate himself unknowingly becomes a herald, presenting the Lamb to the world in his final hour. We have already beheld the Man in verse 5, the Messiah, the Man of Sorrows, the Mediator, and the Master-Builder. Now we are called to behold the events that surround the sacrifice of the Lamb of God on Calvary.

Behold His Mock Trial:
The first thing to behold is the mockery of justice that surrounded his trial. It was irrational. According to Matthew 26:67, they covered his face, spat upon him, struck him, slapped him, and mocked him by demanding that he prophesy who had done it. Luke tells us that he was also sent to Herod, who desired to see a miracle rather than administer justice. What took place was not a legitimate trial but a calculated humiliation of the innocent Son of God.
It was also irreverent. Mark 15 records that he was scourged, a punishment designed not merely to hurt but to destroy the body. Roman scourging involved multiple leather cords with pieces of bone, metal, or glass attached, tearing flesh with every strike. Isaiah had foretold this brutality centuries earlier: “I gave my back to the smiters,” and “his visage was so marred more than any man.” The psalmist described his back as furrowed like a plowed field. After the scourging, they draped him in a purple robe, placed a reed in his hand as a mock scepter, pressed a crown of thorns into his scalp, and bowed before him in feigned worship. Then they ripped the robe from his torn back, reopening wounds as blood and flesh clung to the fabric. Every act was calculated cruelty.

None of this was accidental. Jesus himself had foretold it. Luke 18 makes clear that these sufferings were included in prophecy. What appeared to be chaos was actually fulfillment. Heaven was not surprised by Calvary.

Behold His Murder:
Next, we behold his murder. Acts 7:52 reminds us that he was not merely executed; he was betrayed and murdered. The process was insufferable. Jesus was forced to carry the heavy crossbeam, weighing upward of one hundred pounds, until his strength failed. Nails were driven through his wrists, destroying the median nerve and producing relentless, burning agony that shot through his arms and chest every time he lifted himself to breathe. His feet were nailed at the ankles, turning them into instruments of torture rather than support.
Crucifixion required the victim to inflict pain upon himself just to survive. Every breath meant pushing against nails, tearing wounds, scraping shredded flesh against wood, and enduring intense muscle cramping as oxygen deprivation set in. Breathing became short, desperate gasps, the body slowly suffocating while still fully conscious. He was offered gall mixed with vinegar, his garments were divided among soldiers, and his side was pierced to confirm death. Each detail underscores the calculated nature of the act.

Medically speaking, crucifixion was a prolonged cycle of blood loss, nerve destruction, suffocation, and eventual cardiac collapse, all occurring without anesthesia. In simple terms, it was legalized torture designed to keep a human alive and aware as long as possible while the body failed system by system.
Historically, Josephus called it the most miserable of deaths, and Cicero described it as the cruelest and most disgusting punishment known to man.
Theologically, the crucifixion stands alone. It was the willing surrender of the Son of God to a form of death that stripped him of strength, breath, and life, so that in full consciousness he bore the weight of human sin. He fulfilled prophecy, satisfied divine justice, and displayed unfathomable love by choosing not to save himself so that he might save others. As A. W. Pink observed, God allowed wicked men to exhaust the depths of their depravity so that the height of divine love might be unmistakably displayed.

Behold the Macedonian Call:
Finally, this scene should be irresistible. John tells us that these things were recorded so that testimony might be believed. Acts 7:51 warns against resisting the Holy Ghost when he convicts and confronts the sinner as it relates to the gospel. To behold the Lamb is not merely to acknowledge these things as historical facts but to respond to them spiritually by faith. The Lamb was slain, not in secret, not in haste, but openly, deliberately, and sufficiently.

To behold him is to see both the horror of sin and the holiness of God, the cost of redemption and the depth of grace. Calvary demands more than observation; it demands surrender.

Why Jesus Came and Was Born, Part 2

The birth of Jesus is often described in terms of peace, joy, and celebration, yet the New Testament reveals that the arrival of Christ brought division, exposure, judgment, and light. His coming was not simply the birth of a child, it was the arrival of truth in a world shaped by darkness and deception. The message of Christmas, if taken seriously, must go deeper than sentiment and holiday tradition. It must confront us with the reasons Jesus came and the transformation his arrival demands.

One of the most overlooked truths is that Jesus came to divide mankind. His presence forces a choice because his identity cannot be ignored. When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, he demolished the foundation of every religious system that reduces him to something less. Mormonism presents a created and evolving figure, the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach a lesser divine being, and Islam acknowledges Jesus only as a prophet; yet, Jesus claims to be God manifest in the flesh, the Creator of all things, the Judge of all humanity, and the Savior of all who believe. His claims dismantle every theological structure that seeks to use him without submitting to him. Division is not an unintended consequence of his coming; it is the unavoidable outcome of encountering truth that demands allegiance.

Jesus also came to take away man’s cloak of sin. If he had not come, humanity could continue hiding behind religion, morality, and self-righteousness, pretending to be spiritually acceptable. Isaiah wrote that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags, and the story of Adam and Eve shows humanity’s natural instinct to run, hide, and cover shame. The coming of Christ removes the illusions that humans build to justify themselves. In the presence of Jesus, fig leaves are useless, garments lose their worth, and the soul stands naked and ashamed before God, needing to be clothed with the righteousness that only Christ provides. Revelation describes humanity as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and Hebrews declares that all things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Jesus sees through the coverings we use to hide our guilt, whether they are made of leaves from a garden or garments from a fishing boat. His coming exposes and humbles us that he might redeem us.

The birth of Jesus demands more than a seasonal acknowledgment. It demands a personal response. He came to divide truth from error, piercing the soul, heart, mind, and conscience of man, the peace of a home for the sake of eternity, and he will smite the nations at his second coming. He came to strip away self-righteousness and pride to expose the sin and error of one's ways. 

Behold the Man
John 19:1–7

When Pilate presented Jesus before the crowd and declared, "Behold the Man," he unknowingly issued a divine summons. History, theology, and eternity converge in that moment because Scripture does not merely invite us to acknowledge Jesus; it commands us to behold him. To behold is not only to look, but to contemplate, examine, trust, and respond. Jesus Christ is not an abstract idea or a distant religious figure, but a real man in real time, with real flesh, real sorrow, and real glory. When we behold him in Scripture, we see his true identity revealed with clarity, authority, and beauty.
As a man to behold, Jesus Christ was tender, compassionate kind, gentle, loving, angry, authoritative, austere, listening, answering, healing, helping, hungry, fed, forgiving, wept, rejoiced, patient, longsuffering, direct, firm, faithful, and sinless. He is the perfect man as a son, brother, friend, husband, soldier, shepherd, and physician. He is everything man desires to be but fails to become.

Jesus revealed himself first as the Messiah, the promised Redeemer who would come to save his people from their sins. In John 4, Jesus plainly declared that he was the one whom Israel had long anticipated, the fulfillment of every shadow and the answer to every prophecy. He was not a revolutionary seeking political power, or a philosopher adding another voice to the noise of history, but the Messiah sent to rescue sinners from eternal death. The woman at the well was surprised that this weary, thirsty Jewish man was the long-awaited Savior. Yet, it is in this unexpected disclosure that we discover the humility and intention of God’s redeeming plan. Jesus is the Sinless Saviour.

Jesus, the Messiah, is also the Man of Sorrows. Isaiah 53 describes him as despised and rejected, acquainted with grief, and familiar with pain. His suffering was not accidental or tragic, but purposeful. He bore grief, carried sorrow, and endured rejection so that those who trust him would not bear the eternal weight of sin and guilt. Jesus did not come to avoid the sorrows of humanity, but to enter them fully and redeem them completely. His life was marked by tears, loneliness, misunderstanding, and betrayal, not because he lacked power or wisdom, but because he chose the sufferings of mankind over the pleasures of sin for a season. In the soul and spirit, he was equal with God, but in the likeness of flesh, he chose to be equal with those he came to save, but without sin. Jesus was a Suffering Servant.

Jesus is also the Mediator. There is no Mediatrix. The only one who can reconcile God and mankind is Jesus Christ, the Mediator. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul explains that there is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." No priest, no saint, no ritual, no denomination, no baptism, no good works, and no religion can stand in that place. Jesus is the mediator because he alone possesses both natures, human and divine, and because he alone offered himself as the sufficient sacrifice for sin. Without him, God is unreachable, and judgment is unavoidable, but through him, sinners are brought to God, forgiven, and reconciled. The cross is not merely a symbol of suffering; it is the place where mediation occurs and where mercy triumphs over damnation. Jesus is the Standing Son of God.

Finally, Jesus is the Master-Builder. Zechariah prophesied of The BRANCH who would build the temple of the LORD, sit upon his throne, and rule with perfect wisdom and righteousness. Jesus, is that BRANCH. He is the Builder and the Ruler of the coming millennial kingdom. He will come in his glory with all of his saints. He will come as the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings. He will construct a temple and a kingdom that will endure one thousand years of history on the earth, wherein dwells righteousness. The nation of Israel will be subject to him, the devil will be chained in hell, and the body of Christ will rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests with earned crowns of gold, silver, and precious stones. Those who suffer with him will also reign with him as joint heirs with Christ. Jesus will be the Shining Sceptre.

Therefore, we are commanded to behold the Man who is the Savior, the Servant, the Son of God, and the Scepter of Righteousness. We are called to behold him in his identity, his humility and suffering, in his glory, and authority. To behold Christ is not merely to admire him from a distance, but to trust him, to follow him, and to submit to him. The invitation to behold is both a summons and a promise, because those who fix their eyes upon Jesus find life, forgiveness, and hope. Behold the Man, that you might believe. Believe so that you will be saved.

“Reasons to Be of Good Cheer”
Finding Confidence in Christ During Life’s Storms

There is a profound difference between the shallow happiness the world offers and the deep, abiding cheerfulness Scripture commands. Happiness rises and falls with circumstances, but biblical cheerfulness comes from a transformed heart anchored in the person and promises of Christ. Jesus does not call His people to “cheer up” through self-effort or self-deception. He gives them spiritual reasons to rejoice, even when the winds howl and the waves roar. Cheerfulness is the outward expression of an inward confidence rooted in forgiveness, presence, victory, care, and trust in Jesus Christ.

The first reason a believer can be of good cheer is that Jesus has forgiven their sins (Matthew 9:2). Nothing produces assurance like the knowledge that the guilt of sin has been removed. From forgiveness flows peace (Luke 7:48-50) and joy (Luke 10:20). Jesus links cheerfulness not to personal accomplishment, but to simple, childlike faith. Spiritual maturity does not outgrow this childlike confidence; it deepens it. John reminds believers, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:12). The Christian who remembers forgiveness is the Christian who walks in "good cheer."

Second, believers can be cheerful because Jesus is near (Mark 6:50). His presence is not confined to peaceful shores but extends into raging storms as well. He enables His people to walk through humanly impossible situations and lifts them when faith begins to fail. Likewise, when Jesus is on board, there should be a peace that everything will be alright. When faith wanes and fear arises, we might make irrational decisions. Jesus calls on us to pray, but that prayer is to be rooted in faith and believing (Mark 4:38). Courage comes not from the absence of waves but from the presence of Christ. The storm that troubles you may be the very storm that teaches you to walk by faith, not sight.

Third, we can be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome (John 16:33). The victory of Christ over the world is not merely theological; it is practical. It means that whatever overwhelms us has already been overcome by him. Peace does not come by eliminating every trial, but by trusting in Jesus Christ, who has already conquered them. His victory becomes ours by faith (1 John 5:4-5). The world produces fear, anxiety, and defeat, but Christ produces a peace that guards the heart even in the fiercest conflicts.

Fourth, we can be cheerful because Jesus cares (Acts 27:22). As Paul faced a violent storm with sailors, prisoners, and soldiers aboard, the Lord cared for each soul on that ship and on the shore. God’s compassion extended not only to His servant but also to those who had no regard for Him. His care is broad, tender, and intentional. Because Jesus cares, we can cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). Paul did not merely survive the storm; he encouraged and exhorted others through it. When storms strike others, our calling is not to exalt ourselves, but to exhort (Hebrews 10:25).

Finally, believers can be cheerful because Jesus is worth believing (Acts 27:25). God keeps his word. He anchors the soul in hope and gives refuge in the fiercest waves (Hebrews 6:13-19). Even when the ship breaks apart, the believer does not have to. Cheerfulness is not based on avoiding shipwreck, but on trusting God when the ship goes down. The anchor of hope is Christ Himself: sure, steady, and unbreakable. He remains faithful in the storm, on the shore, and beyond.

Christian cheerfulness is not naïve optimism or denial of reality. It is the bold confidence that Christ is with us, Christ is for us, and Christ is sufficient for us. The storms may roar, the winds may howl, and the waves may break, but the believer who rests in Christ will not be moved.
 
Be of good cheer, not because life is easy, but because Jesus is everything He says He is.

JESUS CAME AND WAS BORN

Text: John 18:37
Theme: Several reasons Jesus came to earth and was born
When Jesus stood before Pilate and declared, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,” He pulled back the curtain on the true meaning of His birth. The incarnation was no vague expression of holiday goodwill, no sentimental story of a child wrapped in swaddling clothes. It was the deliberate entrance of the eternal Son of God into human history for specific, divine purposes. Scripture gives 12 or more reasons Christ came into the world, and none of them have to do with bringing earthly peace at His first coming. Instead, they reveal a mission rooted in truth, obedience, righteousness, and holy division.

First, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. In a world deceived by Satan, darkened by sin, and confused by religious error, Christ arrived as the embodiment of truth (John 14:6). He came to make truth known, to declare the Father, to expose lies, and to liberate sinners through the truth that makes men free (John 8:32). His Word sanctifies, confronts, pierces, and transforms (John 17:17). The baby in the manger was heaven’s answer to the world’s deception.

Second, Jesus came to do the will of His Father (John 6:38-40). His birth, life, ministry, and death were not driven by personal ambition or human agenda. From His first breath in Bethlehem to His last cry on Calvary, Jesus lived in complete submission to His Father’s plan. Even in Gethsemane, He prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” His obedience sets the pattern for every believer: our plans, desires, and dreams must yield to God’s will, just as Paul declared, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (1 Corinthians 4:19). Christ came to model, and fulfill, perfect obedience.

Third, Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). The law demanded perfection, and Christ perfectly satisfied every command, ordinance, and requirement.

Jesus came into the world with a purpose. He entered this world to reveal truth, accomplish the Father’s will, and fulfill the law. Had Had He failed in even one point of the law, He would have been guilty of all (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). Yet from His sinless birth to His voluntary death, He fulfilled the law’s demands so completely that believers can now walk in the righteousness of the law through the Spirit (Romans 8:4). The manger led to the cross; at the cross He became a curse, and the curse became our redemption.