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The question of whether the Bible still matters in modern life is one many people continue to ask—especially in a world shaped by rapid technological change, shifting values, and constant noise. At first thought an ancient text might seem disconnected from today’s realities. Yet, for millions the Bible remains deeply relevant because it speaks to core human experiences that have not changed: belief and trust in an all-knowing higher power, salvation from sin, ultimate purpose in life, one’s identity in the eyes of God, and the power of being in a right relationship with the Creator, among many other factors that span our modern experience. The apostle Paul shared a message that is central to the Bible’s teachings, and it is just as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” —Romans 10:9–11 Coming to a saving belief in the power of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and integrating the truths surrounding that sacrifice into your daily life is the key to implementing the Bible’s key principles into our lives. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The NIV Quest Study Bible helps clarify the meaning of this verse: God created us for a relationship with him. So he took the initiative to make the relationship right. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who did for us what we could never do for ourselves: Jesus lived a wholly righteous life—a perfect life in line with the law and in total relationship with God the Father. Even more than that, Jesus took on himself all the punishment our disobedience deserves (see Romans 3:24). At the cross he fulfilled all that righteousness demanded. His life was given in exchange for ours; his blood paid the price for our justification. The results of Jesus’ sacrifice are personally available to us simply by faith. God has done everything required to justify us. All that remains is for us to receive the grace of God shown on the cross. We are justified through faith when we stop trying to justify ourselves and depend completely on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Understanding that there is a God who offers his limitless wisdom and love through being in relationship with him and accepting the salvation offered in Jesus is and always has been the foundation of the Christian faith. But how does the Bible speak to some of today’s most pressing issues? Anxiety The Bible has much to say about anxiety, a concern of epic proportion today. Modern life often brings pressure, uncertainty, and comparison, all of which can fuel worry. The Bible doesn’t ignore these feelings; instead, it recognizes the universal nature of this reality and addresses it directly with both honesty and hope. Philippians 4:6–7 reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This passage doesn’t deny anxiety, but it offers a practical response: turn worries into prayer and trust in something far greater than immediate circumstances—God’s intimate knowledge of our concerns and fears and his ability to provide peace amid difficulty. Similarly, 1 Peter 5:7 encourages, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” In a fast-moving culture where people often feel like they are constantly striving to carry the weight of a stress-filled life and can’t ask for help, this verse presents a different perspective—that burdens can be shared, and that care is available that extends well beyond human limits. These teachings resonate today because anxiety remains a universal human experience, regardless of the era in which one lives. Purpose Finding purpose in life is another area where many people struggle. With countless choices at our fingertips and all of the self-imposed expectations we have in our quick-fix culture, it’s easy to feel unsure about direction or meaning. The Bible offers a grounding perspective by suggesting that purpose is not solely self-created; rather, it is best discovered in pursuing a deeper relationship with God. Jeremiah 29:11 is often cited in this context: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” While originally written to a specific group of people who were displaced from their homeland in exile, the broader message—that life has meaning beyond immediate human circumstances—continues to encourage people today. Additionally, Micah 6:8 provides a simple yet powerful summary of purposeful living: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Rather than defining purpose through achievement alone, the Bible emphasizes inquiring of the God who understands each one of us and can greatly influence character, relationships, and values. Loneliness Despite the sharp increase in digital connectivity, loneliness has become a major issue in modern life. The Bible addresses this by consistently highlighting the importance of community. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:18 states, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” This foundational idea reflects a broader truth: Humans are designed for connection. In the New Testament, this emphasis continues. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages believers, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together … but encouraging one another.” In a time when isolation is common, this call to intentional gathering in community remains highly relevant. The Bible doesn’t just acknowledge loneliness—it offers a vision of shared life as the antidote. The modern church, in its services and practices, is the beginning of the solution to this deeply felt issue. Overarching this need for human connection is the desire of the heavenly Father to connect with each of his children who believe in him: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). Weekly attendance and participation in a local congregation will bring God closer through the experience of intentional Christian community. Guidance When it comes to decision-making, the Bible provides guidance not through specific instructions for every situation but through principles that shape how people think and act. Proverbs 3:5–6 advises, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This passage encourages personal humility and trust in God for guidance and direction rather than relying on impulsive or purely self-reliant decisions. Another practical verse is James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” In a world full of complex choices, the idea that we have access to God and his eternal, all-knowing wisdom offers reassurance and direction. Identity Identity is another deeply relevant topic today. Many people wrestle with questions about who they are and what defines their worth. The Bible presents identity as rooted not in achievement or social approval but in being known and valued by God. Psalm 139:13–14 reflects this beautifully: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” This perspective, when deeply integrated into one’s life, can provide stability in a culture where identity often feels uncertain or externally shaped. In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 5:17 adds another dimension: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This speaks to personal transformation through being in relationship with the Savior of the world. It also speaks to the near-limitless possibility of renewal, which continues to resonate with people who are seeking change and growth in their lives. Relationships Relationships is another area where the Bible offers enduring wisdom. Whether in friendships, family, or romantic partnerships, its teachings emphasize love, patience, and forgiveness. One of the most well-known passages, 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, describes love in practical terms: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” These qualities and many others in this chapter remain widely recognized as foundational for healthy relationships. Ephesians 4:32 further highlights relational values: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” In a world where conflict is inevitable, the emphasis on kindness, forgiveness, and compassion remains highly applicable. The Bible’s Principles Still Apply—and Always Will So, is the Bible relevant and useful in modern life? For millions of believers, the answer is yes—not because it provides instant solutions, but because it addresses the deeper questions underlying human nature, God’s care and concern for his people, and many everyday challenges. The Bible’s teachings on salvation, anxiety, purpose, loneliness, decision-making, identity, and relationships continue to resonate because they speak to timeless aspects of the human experience. The Creator who made each of us has given guidance through his message to all of us who experience the complexities of life on this earth and who have chosen to follow him. He provides wisdom, perspective, and care for all who love him and trust him for protection and guidance. While cultural contexts have changed, the need for meaning, connection, and guidance has not. The Bible’s relevance today lies in its ability to meet those needs with both honesty and hope, offering insights that continue to shape how people live, think, and relate to one another in the modern world. Overarching all of this is the Bible’s encouragement to connect deeply to the God who cares about each individual and who loves us like no one else ever could. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! —1 John 3:1

Whole-Life Pro-Life Commitment For generations, Christians have believed and affirmed the true story that life is a gift from God in all of its stages. Our whole-life pro-life commitment means we believe every person at every stage of life is made in the image of God. We make a conscious commitment to value all of human life, from beginning to end—or from dust to dust, as the centuries-old graveside liturgy expresses it. But we inhabit a world that is dead set on living in a false story of aging—one that values, at most, only the first half of life but does not value its second half of bodily decline. The Christian whole-life pro-life commitment is beautiful on our lips, but it is more beautiful as it moves to our hands and feet. We assert that all of life is valuable in all of its stages, but do we prove we believe that story by living in a way that reflects this conviction? One of the simplest ways for the modern church to live counterculturally is to embrace, defend, and live as though we value all of life, including the latter parts. But to do so, we must grapple with—and, I believe, reject wholesale—the prevailing attitudes toward decline and death that make up a whopper of a false story. It’s a false story that yields negative consequences for all who embrace it, a false story rooted in how we understand what we were made for and how we relate to time itself. Here are six lies our culture wants us to believe about aging, and the truth the Bible gives us in response: 1. Aging is a diminishment, a loss of identity. As abilities decline and roles shift, aging changes us from someone who “is and does” to someone who “was and did.” We used to be employees, supervisors, fit, lean, beautiful, active, parents, spouses, siblings. We become has-beens, marking time until our bodies give out on us. The Bible instructs that aging is a completion, a deepening of identity. Older men and women are presented as the repositories of a generational wealth that can only be built by the passage of time and, in the case of the believer, by the work of the Spirit. Though the kinds of contributions they make may change over time, “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.” (Ps. 92:14) The titles that once fit them may fall away, but their personhood grows deep roots. They contribute a wisdom that only age can yield. 2. The elderly are obsolete. People don’t just age, they age out. The elderly may still be physically present, but their ability to contribute to or live in a rapidly changing world has more or less ceased. Like pagers and floppy disks and last year’s iPhone, their day of relevance has passed into sunset. Let them collect in communities with other obsolete people, other citizens of the lost world of yesterday. And don’t waste the first half of life, while you still have relevance. The Bible instructs us that the elderly are invaluable. Their insights and experience make them worthy of honor (Lev. 19:32). Their perspectives matter for the well-being of the family, whether family of origin or family of God. That wisdom and experience should grant them a central place in our lives, rather than a sequestered one. And it keeps them relevant for all of life. 3. Wisdom is found among the young. Because tech changes so rapidly, the old among us struggle to keep apace. Knowledge moves faster than they do. Younger generations can conflate a lack of current knowledge with a lack of wisdom. How can someone who needs help with her printer have wisdom to lend? Nowhere is this more evident than on social media platforms, where an entire class of faux experts has emerged: influencers whose credentials we take no time to verify dispense the norms by which we are told to order our lives. These influencers are not gray-hairs. Most are still young adults. And very few are marketing the wisdom of age; they are more likely linking us to the newest fountain of youth with an affiliate link. The Bible instructs us that “wisdom is found among the aged” (Job 12:12), a wisdom of a quality that can only be discovered by the passage of time and the work of the Spirit. That elderly couple who sits behind you at church may not know how to reset their router, but they likely know some invaluable lessons about marriage and parenting. Your grandma who never used sunscreen or had a chemical peel likely knows some secrets about inner beauty, and you need her insights. 4. Aging is a disease to medicate. Modern medicine is a gift that adds length and quality of life to our latter years. While medically mitigating or preventing the suffering that comes with physical decline is a positive, medically masking the outward signs of aging is a matter for serious consideration. One has only to look at the faces and bodies of Hollywood actors to apprehend that aging faces and bodies are increasingly viewed as deformities. Aging is a process to be prevented, concealed, and denied through all manner of injections, surgeries, laser treatments, diets, workouts, and supplements. The Bible instructs us that aging is a gift to steward. When we read that “gray hair is a crown of glory” we are tempted to laugh (Prov. 16:31). But many never live to gain that crown. Those of us who do gain it receive a form of riches–more time for intergenerational relationships, more time for faithful service to God and others. Yes, old age does erode our health, typically requiring doctor appointments, medications, and care. But even in receiving that care, we are met with God’s sustaining presence (Isa. 46:4). As he graciously does with all consequences of the fall, God works aging for our good. Our aging faces and bodies teach us of a sustaining God. 5. The elderly are a burden. In our age of radical individualism, most of us conceive of a successful life as one where we grow up to become self-sufficient, leaving dependency permanently behind in childhood. To return to a state of dependency, particularly dependency on our own children, feels like the ultimate failure. Thus, the idea of the elderly as burdensome takes root. Because aging parents are so often vocal about not wanting to be a burden, adult children may take them at their word, only to be surprised or blindsided by caregiving needs when they arise. The Bible instructs us that the elderly are a sacred charge (Ex. 20:12, cf 1 Tim. 5:8). It anticipates that long life will entail dependency on younger generations. Rather than conceive of caregiving as a downward-only duty, we instead expect that caregiving upward will be a normal, anticipated part of the rhythm of life. We banish the language of burden, both as caregiver and receiver. Caring for the elderly may not be simple or easy, but it is a duty we strive to fulfill out of gratitude. Some of us may not have parents for whom we can reasonably feel grateful, but we seek to care for them as we are able, forgiving where we can, providing where we can. 6. Age is just a number. You’re only as old as you feel! Pay no attention to a date on a calendar. You don’t look a day over 29. Don’t worry, your biological age is much younger than your chronological age. So say the birthday cards, the BFF’s, and the biohackers. The Bible instructs us that our days are sovereignly numbered and that we must strive to number them properly (Ps. 90:12). For the believer, aging gracefully is rooted in a distinctly Christian understanding of grace: that the time God gives us is precious and that our awareness of its passing develops wisdom in us. Well-intended platitudes like “Age is just a number” contain a kernel of truth, but they also betray our desire to deny or minimize the passage of time. Age is not just a number. It’s an indicator light on the dashboard of life. If we want to steward the time God has given, we must pay attention to how much we likely have left to steward. Don’t miss the underlying motivators of these two competing narratives. The world’s false story of anti-aging is motivated by fear: Don’t get old. You’ll be invisible, irrelevant, a has-been, a burden. The Bible’s true story of aging is motivated by joy: Embrace aging. You’ll grow in wisdom, depth, and value. No one is a has-been in God’s family. Which story will you embrace? Your quality of life, your willingness to care for the aging, and your witness to those around you depend on your answer. Aging is the ultimate test of steadfastness. No story but the true one will see us through with dignity and grace. Our aging faces and bodies teach us of a sustaining God. Jen Wilkin is the author of Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World.

Joseph’s story in the book of Genesis is one of the most powerful examples in the Bible of an individual trusting God’s plan through extreme difficulty and hardship. Joseph’s life—marked by betrayal, suffering, and ultimate redemption of an individual who held a key role in God’s plan for his people—did more than shape Joseph’s own future. It preserved the nation of Israel, fulfilled God’s promises, and continues to offer practical lessons for Christians today. Joseph’s Betrayal and Suffering: Trusting God in Hardship Joseph’s trials began with deep betrayal from his own family. His brothers, jealous of their father’s obvious favor for his youngest son Joseph, “stripped him of his robe… and threw him into the cistern” (Genesis 37:23–24). Soon after, convinced by their brother Judah’s appeal to spare Joseph’s life, the brothers agreed to sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:28). As they watched the Ishmaelites carry him away, they thought they had effectively removed him from his home and future. They imagined that their “problem” was solved. After this, Joseph continued to suffer. Taken as a slave to Egypt, he had to cope with life in a foreign land. Though he served faithfully and was well liked by his owner Potiphar, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). And although he was also found useful in prison, being given many responsibilities by the captain of the guard, he was forgotten by those he had helped—those who could have helped him: “The chief cupbearer… did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (Genesis 40:23). Despite years of injustice, Joseph never abandoned his faith. His story reminds believers that trusting God doesn’t mean avoiding hardship; rather, it means remaining faithful to God’s purposes through whatever difficulties may come. How Joseph Preserved Israel and Fulfilled God’s Plan Joseph’s faithfulness positioned him for God’s greater purpose. Scripture emphasizes, “The Lord was with [Joseph] and … gave him success in everything he did” (Genesis 39:2–3). After a series of events in which Joseph was given the opportunity to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph rose to power in Egypt (Genesis 41:14–16, 41). From his lofty position as second-in-command under the Egyptian Pharaoh, Joseph prepared the nation of Egypt for the severe famine predicted in Pharaoh’s dream. When the famine spread throughout the region, Joseph’s own family came to Egypt seeking food—leading to their survival. Joseph later revealed God’s perspective on his suffering to his brothers in one of the most startling stories in the book of Genesis. Joseph met with his brothers, the ones who had betrayed him and sold him into slavery, and Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:19–20). Through Joseph: The family of Jacob, the people of Israel, survived a severe famine. The family of Jacob settled in Egypt, benefitting directly from the influence of Joseph. After they migrated, the people thrived in the land of Egypt: “Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number” (Genesis 47:27). What initially looked like personal tragedy for Joseph was actually an integral part of God’s covenant plan for his people. God empowered Joseph to endure hardship, giving him success in the midst of his troubles. Through God’s care and guidance, Joseph’s dedication to God and his personal integrity was rewarded by his superiors, moving forward the story of the people of God. Joseph’s Godly Character in a Secular Culture Living in Egypt, Joseph remained faithful to God in an environment that was likely openly hostile to the Israelites’ religious devotion. He remained faithful to the convictions he learned under the instruction of his father Jacob, who exemplified faithfulness and dedication to the God of heaven. For example, when tempted to sexual sin by the wife of his employer, he declared: “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). The NIV Application Bible asserts the following about the attempted seduction and subsequent accusation by Potiphar’s wife: The account of the attempted seduction of Joseph shows him in a positive light. The details are given in such a way as to confirm Joseph’s unquestionable innocence. He does not lead on Potiphar’s wife or allow himself to enjoy her company at any level. He is compromised only by a desperate and spiteful act, supported by shameless lies that none can contest but the accused. Potiphar responds by “burn[ing] with anger” (39:19). Given his wife’s slander of his own motives, the proven trustworthiness of Joseph, and his knowledge of his wife’s character or lack of it, Potiphar’s anger arguably burns at his wife, not at Joseph. This is further suggested by the fact that Joseph is only put in the king’s prison. If Potiphar believed his wife and was truly angry with Joseph, Joseph would probably have been executed on the spot, no questions asked. In contrast, the king’s prison was a place for political prisoners and would hardly have been expected to accommodate foreign slaves guilty of crimes against their masters. The action he takes against Joseph is as minimal as it can be while still retaining his family’s honor. Later, when given the unusual (and God-ordained) opportunity to speak with the Pharaoh and interpret his dreams, Joseph stayed humble and refused to take the credit: “I cannot do it… but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16). Again, the NIV Application Bible comments on this story: When Joseph is finally brought before Pharaoh, he is careful to deny that he is a trained expert in dream interpretation. Whatever success he has, he insists, comes from God. He assures Pharaoh that God will give him the “answer he desires” (v. 16). As Joseph presents the interpretation, he also treats the dream as a message from God (41:25). He does not specifically identify the God Yahweh as the deity who has sent the message. He uses generic terminology, and Pharaoh is left to draw his own conclusion about which deity is responsible. Certainly, any deity who could inflict such a severe famine on Egypt must be a powerful one. The gods connected to the Nile and its annual flooding were considered to be powerful gods who would have to be restrained in some way (or angered by some offense) for the annual flooding to fail for seven years. No cause is offered for the coming famine. It would appear odd for a dream to carry prospects of both tremendous prosperity and devastating tragedy. What could possibly be motivating any deity to offer such mutually exclusive determinations? Joseph is clearly no complainer conspiring to speak ill of the throne, nor is he a flatterer trying to get on Pharaoh’s good side by offering joyous news of divine favor. It is not surprising, then, that Pharaoh decides that Joseph is both credible and trustworthy. Again Joseph’s personal integrity and deep trust in God’s plan for his journey stands out. Joseph’s life is exemplary in that it shows Christians today how they can live with integrity, influence, and faithfulness—even in the midst of secular workplaces and cultures. God can and still does work in the lives of his followers to accomplish his purposes. What Christians Today Can Learn from Joseph Joseph’s story is deeply relevant for modern believers, especially Christians navigating uncertain seasons. From his actions and his responses we can be inspired to similarly trust in the God who knows us and promises to lead us. As Proverbs 3:5–6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Here are a few key takeaways: 1. Trust God’s plan when life doesn’t make sense: Joseph’s suffering had purpose—even when he couldn’t see it.2. Stay faithful in hidden seasons: God was shaping Joseph in slavery and prison long before his promotion.3. Let God, rather than your pain, define your story: Joseph chose forgiveness over bitterness.4. Believe God is working behind the scenes. As the New Testament affirms: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Summary: Following Joseph’s Example Joseph didn’t just endure hardship—he trusted God with his entire life story. Because of that, his faithfulness impacted generations and fulfilled God’s promises. His testimony is a reminder that even when circumstances feel confusing or painful, God is still writing the story. The same truth applies today: As did Joseph, we can trust the Author of our story—even when we don’t yet understand the plot. Let’s take one last look at the NIV Application Bible to summarize this short review: God can use even the messiest family dysfunction and wrong motives to accomplish his will. God’s providence moves through all human actions. Even something as horrible as selling a brother into slavery led to the saving of many lives. Surely there were long periods of darkness and despair for Joseph, but in the end God’s plan was good, and Joseph recognized that when he looked back at his past hardships. When we find ourselves in times of uncertainty, Joseph’s story reminds us that God is always in control. Adapted from the study material from the NIV Application Bible based on the NIV Application Commentary series.

In both the story of Jairus’s daughter and the story of the woman with the bleeding condition (see Mark 5: 21-43), Jesus allows prolonged suffering, longer than either would have chosen. And yet those delays are not signs of neglect but part of his healing work. By allowing desperation to deepen, he brings healing not only to the body but also to the heart. When it comes to healing, God often uses two kinds of means: the ordinary and the miraculous. We see both in this passage. For those of us in places like Nashville— sometimes called the “Silicon Valley of health care”— this resonates deeply. Many in our churches and communities labor each day to ease suffering. Thanks to modern medicine, a cardiologist can guide a tiny camera through a heart, place a stent, and send a patient home by dinner. These marvels are ordinary means, yet still gifts from God. And still even the best medicine has limits. Each Sunday, pastors look into congregations filled with people who, like the woman in Mark 5, have tried everything. After twelve years of suffering, her health has worsened. She has spent all she has. She’s exhausted and isolated. Her story mirrors the ache of many today. Having served as a pastor for thirty years, I’ve witnessed the toll of unhealed suffering. Often people turn to Jesus only when every other option has failed. But here is the good news: Even when we come to him as a last resort, Jesus meets us not with disappointment but with compassion. He welcomes our desperate prayers even when our faith feels tattered and small. For the bleeding woman, physical suffering is only part of her pain. Her condition has left her ceremonially unclean, cut off from touch, community, and dignity. While Jairus approaches Jesus publicly and with status, she comes in secret—ashamed, unnoticed, and uncertain of her worth. Her faith is real, but hesitant. She doesn’t stand tall before Jesus. She reaches from behind, hoping not to be seen. But Jesus refuses to let her remain hidden. In a culture where women are often known only by their relationships—daughter of, wife of, mother of—this woman has been known only by her affliction. For twelve long years, she’s had no advocate, no voice, no name that carries affection. But Jesus gives her one. With a single word—daughter—he restores what suffering has taken. He names her not by what she’s endured but by what she’s worth. This is more than a healing. It’s a royal decree. Her identity isn’t explained, earned, or negotiated. It is bestowed. This is how the Mercy King reigns: by restoring what has been stolen and naming those who feel forgotten. He does not merely heal bodies, he reclaims souls. He wields power not to dominate but to mend and make whole. Jairus’s need is no less urgent. His daughter is dying. A respected synagogue leader, he humbles himself before Jesus with a plea that sounds like both a father’s anguish and a disciple’s hope: “Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” Every second matters. He has rushed through the streets, Jesus by his side. And now, as Jesus stops to tend to another, Jairus waits— helpless, watching the clock. And then the news comes: “Your daughter is dead.” What must that moment have felt like? The urgency had been real. The hope had been fragile. And now it seemed too late. But Jesus operates on a different timeline, one in which delays are not denials but designs for deeper healing. By the time they reach the house, mourners are already weeping. When Jesus says, “The child is not dead but asleep,” they laugh. It sounds absurd. But Jesus sees what they cannot: Death is no match for his mercy. Only a King with cosmic authority can speak to death as though it were sleep. Jesus doesn’t panic; he commands. His calm isn’t indifference, it’s sovereignty wrapped in love. He reigns over time, over decay, and even over the grave. This scene echoes the grief and disorientation many of us feel in our own seasons of suffering. When God delays, when prayers go unanswered, when hope dims, we wonder whether he cares at all. The silence can feel unbearable. In moments like these we may resonate not with the heroes of faith but with those like Job’s wife. After losing ten children in a single day, she cries out in anguish, “Curse God and die!” Her words are often judged harshly, but who could endure such loss without despair? Her pain is real. Her lament, raw. And while her words may falter, they reflect a wound that the Mercy King understands. A surprising and sobering example of feeling abandoned by God in the midst of deep faith can be found in the life of Mother Teresa. Known around the world for her tireless work among the poor in Calcutta, she privately carried a burden few knew about— a heavy and prolonged sense of spiritual emptiness. In letters to her spiritual advisors, published after her death, she describes what she calls a “dark night of the soul,” marked by years of sensing God’s absence. “I feel that God does not want me, that God is not God, and that he does not really exist,” she once wrote. For Mother Teresa, the silence wasn’t occasional, it was constant. She longed for Jesus’ presence, yet often encountered only a sense of distance and void. It felt at times as though Christ had hidden his face. And yet in the absence of emotional reassurance, she continued to pray, serve, and persevere. Her life became a quiet, unwavering witness to a faith that often shines brightest not in clarity but in darkness. Even in her struggle, she found a kind of fellowship with Christ—not through relief or resolution but through shared suffering. Her ache echoed Jesus’ cry on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Identifying with that cry, she discovered a mysterious solidarity, a deeper connection with the one who bore abandonment for our sakes. Her story reminds us that faith is not always accompanied by felt assurance. Sometimes it looks like showing up, loving others, and holding on, especially when God feels silent. Mother Teresa’s perseverance bears witness to this: that Christ’s redeeming love will ultimately transform all sorrow, even when it seems hidden in the moment. This is the paradox of faith: It endures even when it cannot feel. And the question it leaves us with is this: When we face our own dark nights of the soul, will we press into God, or will we pull away? To live in despair or to die in unbelief is a tragedy far deeper than suffering itself. When we place conditions on our faith, expecting God to meet our expectations before we extend trust, we risk disillusionment. We begin to relate to him not as children but as consumers. It’s like a child at the doctor’s office. Imagine them squirming and crying as a parent gently restrains them so a nurse can administer a shot. In that moment, the child feels confused, maybe even betrayed. Why would someone who loves them allow this pain? But the parent knows this brief sting is a small price for something far greater: health, protection, long- term good. In the same way, our suffering may feel like abandonment, but often it is love we don’t yet understand. God is not indifferent. When it seems like God is holding us down or holding us back, in reality he is simply holding us—often unseen, always securely. What feels like absence will in time reveal itself as a deeper presence. We may think he is doing too little. But he is doing far more than we can comprehend. Taken from The Mercy King: How the Kindness of Jesus Heals Your Sin, Shame, and Weakness by Scott Sauls.

Worldly self-esteem bases your worth on appearance, possessions, and accomplishments. Whether high or low, this kind of esteem is prideful, focuses on self, and doesn’t add value to your life. It minimizes your potential for growth and influence. On the other hand, self-image based upon the value God has placed on you is Christ-centered and goes far beyond what you can dream or imagine. If you are a believer who wants to be a leader, you must live as someone valued by God. So, how can you increase your Christ-centered self-image? Look to the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In it, he gives three reasons you are valuable to God, five truths to know, and five things to do: Why You Are Valuable to God 1. You are valuable because of who you are. You are made in God’s image, according to His likeness (Genesis 1:26). A long time ago, even before God created you and before He created this universe, you were the focus of His love. “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). 2. You are valuable because of what you cost. As one loved by God, you have also been chosen by God for “adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” (Ephesians 1:5). This adoption came at a high price, the death of His Son. “He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:6, 7). 3. You are valuable because of what you can become. As a person who is loved by God and adopted into His family, you can be sure that God has a plan for your life: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11, 12). What to Know The value God has placed on you is the value you should place on yourself. You can live as someone valued by God when you know these vital truths. 1. Christ wants to have a relationship with you. When Paul prayed that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17), he wasn’t referring to something temporary. Jesus wants to live and relate with you permanently. 2. You can experience Christ’s extravagant love. As if being pursued relationally by the Son of God isn’t enough, even more amazing is the fact that He wants you to know and experience the “width and length and depth and height” (Ephesians 3:18) of His love! 3. You can live a full and fulfilled life. Jesus wants you to “be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) and came that you might have life more abundantly (John 10:10). 4. God’s power is not limited. He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). 5. God can do a great work within you. This divine love and power that exceeds your imagination works in you (Ephesians 3:20) because His Spirit strengthens you and Christ lives in you. You cannot help seeing yourself as valuable when you really know these truths. But don’t stop there. To live as someone valued by God, you must do something with that knowledge. What to Do 1. Discover your spiritual path and start moving. Paul beseeched believers “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1). Be intentional about living a life that matches who you are by virtue of your relationship with Christ. 2. Be humble and disciplined. Cultivate Jesus’ attitude of humility (Ephesians 4:2) by putting others before yourself and following through with what you start. 3. Experience community. Serve one another and stay together. You will feel more valuable when you work to add value to others’ lives and “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). 4. Use your unique gifts. Followers of Christ are “one body” who belong to “one Lord” and “one God and Father” (Ephesians 4:4-6), but that doesn’t mean we’re all supposed to look, speak, and act alike. God has made you unique, and He has given you unique gifts to influence others and add value to their lives. 5. Keep growing. God wants you to “grow up in all things into Him” (Ephesians 4:15). Satisfaction with the status quo always leads to stagnation. Until the day you die, you have the potential to keep growing, leading, making a difference in this world, and adding value to others’ lives. That starts by believing and living as someone valued by God. You matter. You have value. Start living like it today and never stop. By John C. Maxwell. By John Maxwell, from the NIV Maxwell Leadership Bible

Both hands are skilled in doing evil;the ruler demands gifts,the judge accepts bribes,the powerful dictate what they desire—they all conspire together.The best of them is like a brier,the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.The day God visits you has come,the day your watchmen sound the alarm.Now is the time of your confusion. Micah 7:3–4 The final chapter of Micah paints a dim picture of Israel. The people couldn’t be trusted, but lay in wait to use, abuse, and destroy each other. Micah 7:3–4 tells us why this happened: poor leadership at the top. The rulers, princes and judges worked for kickbacks and bribes. They schemed how they could beat the system and better their own status. They expected the people to serve them instead of them serving the people. When leaders fail to practice servant leadership, inevitably they become self-serving. Without a compelling cause to better mankind, all leaders find a cause to serve their own interests. This self-service eventually becomes a thorn in their leadership. As Responsibilities Increase, Rights Decrease Here is a principle that cuts against every natural instinct leaders have: the higher you rise, the more you owe. The more people who follow you, the more people you are called to serve. The world tells us that power is something to be accumulated and protected. But Jesus turned that idea completely upside down. The Old Testament uses several Hebrew terms that we translate as “servant,” each one presenting a slightly different picture of the heart of a servant. What can we learn from these terms? Plenty. Jesus forever linked leadership with servanthood (Matthew 20:25–28): Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say, “Try to be a little more helpful.” He didn’t offer a minor adjustment to the leadership models of his day. He issued a complete reversal. Greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured by how well you serve—not by how many serve you. Let’s take a moment to discover what we might learn about servant leadership from some of these ancient Hebrew words: 1. Ebed: a love-slave or servant. This term describes someone who is at the complete disposal of another (Deuteronomy 15:12–18). Likewise, leaders must be at the disposal of the Lord and their people. 2. Abad: one who gives up personal rights in order to work in the fields or tabernacle (Numbers 18:7, 23). In a similar way, leaders must sacrifice their rights and stay surrendered to the cause. 3. Sakyir: a hired servant who works for pay, by day or by year (Leviticus 25:39–42). A leader must avoid the perspective of a “paid professional.” 4. Sharath: someone who will perform menial tasks to accomplish an overall goal (Exodus 28:35–43). Leaders must do whatever it takes to serve the mission. The Question We All Must Answer The leaders in Micah’s day had answers for everything—except the most important question: Who am I here to serve? They filled their own storehouses while the people suffered. They built their own reputations while justice crumbled. And God noticed. He always does. The good news for us is that we don’t have to follow their example. The leaders of Israel in Micah’s time chose the path of self-interest, and it cost them everything. As Christians, we are called to choose differently. We have Jesus, who modeled it perfectly. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, knelt on the floor, and washed the feet of twelve ordinary men. The King of Kings took the posture of the lowest household servant. If our Lord could wash His disciples’ feet as a lowly sharath, then how could we frown at becoming an ebed? Drawn from content by John C. Maxwell in the NIV Maxwell Leadership Bible.

The new heaven and the new earth haven’t been ushered in yet. So when believers die now, where do they go? When Jesus was being crucified, one of the criminals being executed with him said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42–43). Jesus assured the man that he’d be with him in paradise that very same day. So when people who love Jesus die, they go to be with Jesus—immediately. The heaven they go to isn’t the same as the new heaven and the new earth. In his book, Heaven, author Randy Alcorn calls it a “present heaven.” In John’s vision of this present heaven in Revelation 6:9–11, he saw “the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained” (Revelation 6:9). These martyrs were asking God how long it would be until he avenged their deaths. Notably, they were with God, yet aware of what was happening on earth and able to remember their lives there. This raises the question: Can people truly be in “heaven” if they’re aware of bad stuff that’s taking place on earth? It’s worth noting that God won’t wipe away his people’s tears until he ushers in the new heaven and the new earth (see Revelation 21:3–4). While the place where believers are now isn’t the same as the new heaven and the new earth, it’s a place so good that Jesus called it “paradise.” There’s much we can’t know for certain, but one thing we know for sure: believers who have died are with God. They’re with Jesus. And that’s a beautiful place to be. Is the New Heaven and New Earth One Place or Two? While there’s a lot of mystery about what comes next, the book of Revelation tells us that after God purifies the earth, he will restore heaven and earth. In the apostle John’s vision, he “saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1). Heaven and earth, once separate, will merge into one. And the new Jerusalem—a city said to be 1,400 miles long, wide and high (see Revelation 21:16)—is a perfect cube, just like the Most Holy Place in the temple (see Exodus 26:2–8; 1 Kings 6:20), the place where God’s presence dwelled. This city will come down “out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The Bride of Christ This may raise the question for you—how can the new Jerusalem come down from heaven dressed as a bride? Aren’t we Jesus’ bride? In ancient times, a new home was an important part of a new couple’s married life. After a man and woman became engaged, the groom-to-be would go and prepare a place for them to live, usually an addition built on to his father’s house. The groom would make their future home as nice as possible—he’d dress it up—for his bride-to-be. Once the dwelling was finished, the groom would go get the bride, they’d get married, and then he’d bring her back to the place he had built for them. Jesus used this same kind of imagery in John 14:2–3. We are his bride, and he’s preparing a place for us. As Jesus’ bride, we’ll live with him in the new earth he has taken great care to “dress up” and prepare for us (see Revelation 3:12). Then, like at ancient weddings, there will be a huge party (Revelation 19:9). We’ll celebrate with our Groom and the new life we get to live with him in our new home forever. Face to Face with God In Old Testament times, people knew that God was so holy and their sin was so evil that no person could see him and live. During tabernacle/temple times, only one Israelite (the high priest) was allowed to pass through the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and enter God’s presence —and only once a year. Generations of Israelites were born and died without ever being directly in God’s presence. But after God resurrects us and rids the universe of evil, he’ll fully welcome us to live in his presence. What was once so unreal that it could never happen will become our reality every day. Job caught a glimpse of this hope long ago and declared: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another” (Job 19:25–27). One day you will see God’s face; you will talk to him. Although God is a spirit, he will be fully present with you, and you will see him with your own eyes (see Psalm 17:15; Revelation 22:4). Whatever keeps us from sensing his constant presence on the fallen earth will be absent from the new earth. What we call “prayer” on the fallen earth will be a completely un-hindered two-way conversation with God wherever we are on the new earth—or wherever we are in the entire universe. There will be no more wondering if he’s listening to you—you’ll know and see that he most definitely is. He’ll be as present to you as the air that surrounds you. And he’ll be that close forever. Prayer Prompts Ask Jesus to help you remember and be inspired by the truth that when believers die, they go to be with him. Ask God to help you live in his love that is founded by the desire to be close to you—forever. For Reflection What are some things you are looking forward to about the new home Jesus is preparing for you? Drawn from content in the NIV Read. Think. Live. Bible.

Don’t Shortcut Your Learning When I was in high school, I took advanced Spanish courses in preparation for spending my summers doing volunteer work in Central America. This was long before smartphones existed, so I couldn’t rely on Google Translate to communicate for me. I had to study vocabulary, conjugate verbs, work on my pronunciation, and employ the rules of grammar in awkward, jarring conversations with my classmates and teacher. When I got to Central America, I was able to shop in the market, work alongside the locals, and generally understand what was being said to me. It was rewarding to have done the work of study to be a real participant in the world I was briefly living in. While it would have been easier if I’d had an app to rely on, I would have missed the growth in developing the language as well as the joy that came from being able to connect with the local Spanish speakers. Shortcutting the process of language learning would have robbed me of personal growth and rich relationships. The Purposes of Bible Study These days, we have numerous apps and aids to make our lives easier. While it’s not wrong to use things that make tasks more efficient, there are some processes in life wherein shortcutting the learning process isn’t best for us. Bible study is one of those things. While you won’t find a direct command in Scripture to study it, you will find exhortations, patterns, and principles that encourage us to make a close examination of God’s word for the purpose of spiritual growth, a deeper understanding of God and his story of redemption, and to cultivate a closer relationship with him. The purposes of study require that we do the work of study. We cannot expect spiritual growth without living closely to Scripture. We cannot hope for a deeper understanding of God and his redemptive story while refusing to learn the Person or the story. We won’t grow closer to the Lord if we refuse to engage with his chosen means of revelation. The things we desire to take from Bible study will only come through studying the Bible. A deepened affection for the Lord and a heart that reflects Christ come from a life saturated with Scripture. Because God’s word is living and active, regular study will (over time) shape you to look like Jesus, to love what he loves, and to hate what he hates. To enjoy the gifts of growth associated with a Scripture-saturated life, we must take the plunge and go deep into the waters of God’s good word. The Long Path of Spiritual Growth No one in the history of the world has had as much access to Scripture and supplemental study materials as we do in the twenty-first century Western world. Whether it’s the stack of Bibles on our shelves, the study guides we can download in an instant, the apps that read Scripture to us, or the podcasts that tell us what Scripture means, our access to a wealth of biblical knowledge is an embarrassment of riches! Yet research suggests we are still more biblically illiterate than ever. Having access to God’s word doesn’t automatically mean that we are studying God’s word regularly. In my experience as a Bible teacher and a pastor’s wife, I’ve observed that those who do not do the regular work of deep study themselves but are only fed by others are unable to see much spiritual growth over the course of their lives. Without regular personal study, they struggle to grasp the overall redemptive story arc, have difficulty seeing Christ in all of Scripture, and are quick to pluck verses out of context for personal application. Discouraged by the lack of immediate spiritual growth and quick understanding of difficult texts, the solution is to rely on the study of others for a faster, more efficient way to grow in the Lord—or to quit trying altogether. But there is no app that can sanctify you or make you like Jesus. While learning Scripture within the body of Christ is crucial for our growth, we can’t rely solely on the teaching of others for our own maturity in Christ. The path of spiritual growth must be walked with an open Bible in your own hand. When we shortcut the work of Bible study, we miss out on engaging with the text and wrestling with the parts of Scripture we don’t understand. And though wrestling with the text is hard, it’s good for our souls. The Reward of Wrestling and Learning I look back on my first awkward interactions in another language and cringe at how poorly my words must have come across. I hunted for words in my mind while staring blankly at the person I was speaking with. It was hard to think and speak in another language! But working through it made me better at it, and it was rewarding to be able to dialogue with others. I could have relied on a translator, but I would have missed the personal engagement of one-on-one conversations. In Bible study, we often bump up against passages we don’t understand at first. Sometimes the genre makes it difficult for us. Hebrew poetry and apocalyptic literature can be challenging to grasp. With an endless stream of knowledge available at our fingertips, we’re not good at sitting with the phrase “I don’t know.” We swipe, tap, and research to escape the helplessness of not knowing. So when the “I don’t know” frustration creeps into our Bible study, it’s tempting to immediately turn to a commentary or a pastor or podcaster to tell us what the text means. It’s certainly not wrong to seek help when we need it, but if we always skip the challenging parts of study, we miss out on the reward of engagement with Scripture. Study feels hard because it often is hard! But God gave us his word so that “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). It is his will for us to read and understand. Therefore, we must obey him and let his word dwell richly in us, even when it’s challenging to grasp (see Col. 3:16). I’ve found that wrestling with the text might mean asking questions to help round out your understanding of it. When you’re reading Scripture and feel stuck and uncertain of its meaning, consider asking questions like these: What does this teach me about God’s character?How does this show me man’s need for Christ?How is the hope of the gospel apparent in the text?Are there commands to obey or sins to confess and repent of? As you read and question, don’t forget that you have one of the greatest study aids you could ever hope for: the Holy Spirit. If you are in Christ, the Spirit lives in you to guide and help you both remember and understand the words of the Lord (see John 14:26). One of the most important ways to work through passages you don’t understand is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you’re reading. As you persevere, he is your guide and your comfort. You never study Scripture alone! Lifelong Transformation I must confess that I let go of my ability to speak Spanish decades ago. I quit doing the work of study, so I lost the language. If I had worked to hold onto it after my teen years, I’m certain I’d be fluent now in my mid-forties. But, as a student of Scripture, I’ve learned that the joy I find in digging into the word each day is immeasurably greater than any frustration I feel in the studying process. As I open my Bible to read, question, observe, interpret, and apply Scripture, God is working in me. While I can’t look at the last three months and see any measurable spiritual growth, I can look at the last five or ten years and see many ways in which God has changed my desires, deepened my love for him, convicted me of sin, and comforted me in trials. What we can’t see in the daily study of Scripture is the slow work of transformation. It’s not something we can chart on a graph or track in an app. But God uses his word to help us “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). And growth takes time. When you open your Bible today to study God’s word, consider what he will do with your obedience in five or ten years. Our purposes in study are to know the Lord and to love him more, and it’s the daily work and wrestling that bring about those purposes. Because God brings growth through our daily obedience to engage with his word, that’s not a process we want to skip. The path of spiritual growth must be walked with an open Bible in your own hand. Glenna Marshall is the author of Bible Study.

Ask many people what the Bible teaches about money , and they will likely respond with a paraphrase of 1 Timothy 6:10 . For example, people often misquote this verse saying, “money is the root of all evil.” Some, more accurately but still not fully capturing the meaning of this text, will say, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” What 1 Timothy 6:10 actually says in the NIV is, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” There are two things we can notice right away. First, it is the love  of money that is the issue. Paul warns that some people’s desire for money leads them away from the faith. Second, the love of money is the root of all   kinds  of evil, not every single evil. Envy  and lust are other roots of evil, as are other sins. If we look at other Bible verses about money, we see that money itself doesn’t appear intrinsically evil. Proverbs 3:9 , for example, says to “Honor the LORD with your wealth.” Proverbs 13 says a person who “gathers money little by little makes it grow” ( verse 11 ) and “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children” ( verse 22 ). As we can see, money itself is not the problem. It is a person’s relationship with money and how they use their wealth to honor God that matters. Solomon’s Request for Wisdom and God’s Generous Response King Solomon’s life shows us how we can use money for good, and how it can lead us astray. After Solomon took his father David’s throne, God offered Solomon anything his heart desired and Solomon asked for wisdom  (see 1 Kings 3:9 ). God was pleased with Solomon’s request and granted the new king not only deep wisdom but also great wealth (see 1 Kings 3:12–13 ). Solomon built God’s temple and filled it with gold furnishings to honor God (see 1 Kings 7:48–50 ). Solomon’s wealth and gold, however, far exceeded what he used for God’s glory. Solomon’s building projects included ornate palaces for himself and for his wives. He also built a fleet of ships for the purpose of importing more gold (see 1 Kings 9:26–28 ). Solomon and the Queen of Sheba The splendor in which Solomon lived was so extreme that when the Queen of Sheba—herself an opulently wealthy royal—saw Solomon’s wealth “she was overwhelmed” ( 1 Kings 10:5 ). Yet her astonishment led her to praise God: “Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice  and righteousness” (1 Kings 10:9). We don’t know what Solomon may have said, but clearly the Queen of Sheba had the right reaction. Rather than praising  Solomon, she praised his God. This story should make Christians today ponder how to demonstrate a kind of faith that makes other people praise God. The Scale of Solomon’s Wealth Solomon received copious amounts of gold annually—666 talents of it (see 1 Kings 10:14 ). This amount is somewhere in the range of 45,000–50,000 pounds of gold! Solomon used the gold for everything: shields, his throne, goblets, household articles … all of it was made of pure gold. In fact, the Bible says “Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days” ( 1 Kings 10:21 ). The account of Solomon’s wealth is stunning, and it seems that the wealth he had yielded some good, God-oriented results. First Kings 10:24 says, “The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.” Solomon’s Wealth Became a Spiritual Snare Unfortunately, Solomon’s wealth led to his becoming involved with many foreign women, and they pulled his heart away from God (see 1 Kings 11:1–6 ). In this, Solomon’s wealth becomes a cautionary example. His wealth gave him celebrity status, and his taste for the things of the flesh turned him away from following God’s will. He pursued momentary pleasure rather than lasting faithfulness. Wealth should always remind us to honor God as the Giver. The way we use money is a fundamental aspect of how we live out our faith. God’s children need to look beyond their own interests and be generous with what God gives them, using it to bless others and to glorify God. We need to remember that every gift comes from God (see James 1:17 ). This means that all such gifts should be used in ways that honor and praise God. As Proverbs 3:9  reminds us, we must honor the Lord with our wealth. True Treasure We also need to remember not to set too much value on wealth. It might be tempting to fantasize about having great wealth like Solomon. We might even try to convince ourselves that we wouldn’t fall into the same sinful traps as Solomon did if we were blessed with wealth like his. (Let’s not be too sure! There are all too many examples, ancient and contemporary, in which desire for wealth has twisted hearts away from God.) We need to remember that placing too much importance on wealth and possessions is the opposite of what Christ taught. Jesus reminded his listeners that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (see Luke 12:15 ). In the Sermon on the Mount , Jesus said to store up our treasures in heaven  rather than on earth, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). We want our hearts in the right place. Jesus went on to say, “See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” ( Matthew 6:28–29 ). What We Can Learn from Solomon The splendor of Solomon’s wealth was spectacular, but that’s not what life is about. Whatever God blesses us with, we must use it for his purposes. Even if God doesn’t bless us with wealth like Solomon’s, we have no less splendor, for our true identity and worth are not in what we own but in the One who owns us by his grace and mercy. Thanks be to God! Adapted from the study material from the  NIV Application Bible  based on the NIV Application Commentary series.

Do You Only Hate the Consequences of Your Sin? We often don’t change because we don’t really want to. You may react against this. “I’ve been struggling with sin for years,” you may say. “For years I’ve wanted to be free from it, and now you tell me that I don’t really want to?” But the truth is we often want to change the consequences of sin but not the sin itself. We want to do something about the guilt, the fear, the damaged relationships. These outcomes can be a strong motive for seeking help, but in our heart of hearts, we still desire the sin itself. In moments of temptation, you still think that it offers more than God. I often see this in people’s lives. People ask me, as a pastor, to help them sort out the mess of their lives, but they don’t really want to change the behavior that’s creating the mess. People want help with debt, but they don’t want to change the idolatry of shopping that creates the damaging spending habits. They want help with broken relationships, but they don’t want to change the idolatry of self that creates the friction. Imagine that you could commit a sin without any consequences—no one would think worse of you, and no judgment would come from God. Would you do it? Answering yes, suggests John Owen, is not really very different from actually sinning. The implication is that we still love the sin more than God. The only thing stopping us is that we fear its consequences more than we love the sin itself. “But those who belong to Christ,” says Owen, “and whose obedience is shaped by gospel principles, have the death of Christ, the love of God, the detestable nature of sin, the preciousness of communion with God, a deep-seated horror of sin as sin, to oppose to all the seductions of sin.” The answer is always the same: faith and repentance. We need to dig deeper to expose the lies in our hearts and repent of the idols in our hearts. The New Testament language of repentance is often violent: Amputating: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” ( Matt. 5:29–30 ). Murdering: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” ( Col. 3:5 ). Starving: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” ( Rom. 13:14 ). Fighting: “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” ( Eph. 6:13 ). As Paul exhorts Timothy to be godly, he uses three pictures that all highlight the effort involved. “Train yourself for godliness” ( 1 Tim. 4:7–8 ). Imagine athletes preparing for a race by following a strict diet. Each day they push themselves a little further. Often it hurts, but it’s worth it to win the prize. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (6:11). Imagine a lion in pursuit of an antelope. It’s relentless as it follows the antelope, not giving up until it has it in its grasp. “Fight the good fight of the faith” (6:12). Now we’re to imagine a boxer in the ring, taking heavy blows but always getting up again to fight to the end. We need to be violent with sin. If we hold back, it’s almost certainly because we don’t want to be violent toward something that we still love. We need to hate sin as sin and desire God for his own sake. Spot the Voice of Temptation Puritan John Flavel identified six arguments that Satan uses to tempt us, together with six model responses. Spot the voice of temptation in your life and identify how you should respond. You might like to ask two people to read it aloud as a dialogue. Argument 1: The Pleasure of Sin Temptation: Look at my smiling face and listen to my charming voice. Here is pleasure to be enjoyed. Who can stay away from such delights? Response: The pleasures of sin are real but so are the pangs of conscience and the flames of hell. The pleasures of sin are real but pleasing God is much sweeter. Argument 2: The Secrecy of Sin Temptation: This sin will never disgrace you in public because no one will ever find out. Response: Can I find somewhere God is not present for me to sin? Argument 3: The Profit of Sin Temptation: If you just stretch your conscience a little, you’ll gain so much. This is your opportunity. Response: What do I benefit if I gain the whole world but lose my own soul? I won’t risk my soul for all I could have in this world. Argument 4: The Smallness of Sin Temptation: It’s only a little thing, a small matter, a trifle. Who else would worry about such a trivial thing? Response: Is the majesty of heaven a small matter too? If I commit this sin, I will offend and wrong our great God. Is there any little hell to torment little sinners? Great wrath awaits those the world thinks are little sinners. The littler the sin, the less reason there is to commit it! Why should I be unfaithful toward God for such a trifle? Argument 5: The Grace of God Temptation: God will pass over this as a weakness. He won’t make a big deal of it. Response: Because God is good? Shall I take God’s glorious mercy and make it a reason to sin? Shall I wrong him because he’s good? Argument 6: The Example of Others Temptation: Better people than you have sinned in this way. And plenty of people have been restored after committing this sin. Response: God didn’t record the examples of good people sinning for me to copy but to warn me. Am I willing to feel what they felt for sin? I dare not follow their example in case God plunges me into the depths of horror that he cast them. We need to hate sin as sin and desire God for his own sake. This article is adapted from You Can Change: God's Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions   by Tim Chester.

A Fact of History The existence of Jesus of Nazareth and his execution by the Romans is not just an article of faith for Christians. It is a fact of history. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote that “Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius” ( Annals  15.44). The Jewish historian Josephus similarly writes regarding Jesus that “upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross” ( Antiquities  18.3.3 §63). Only the eyes of faith, however, can see that Jesus’s death was not that of a mere man dying a horrific, excruciating death, the victim of treachery by a close follower and a phalanx of political forces—the Sanhedrin (the Jewish supreme council) and Pontius Pilate (the Roman governor)—conspiring against him. Rather, in keeping with biblical expectation and in fulfillment of prophecy, the authors of Scripture affirm that Jesus died as the regal son of David and the suffering servant of the Lord who gave his life so that believers can live with him. As Isaiah wrote, Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ( Isa. 53:4–6 ) Jesus died for us , sinners who cannot save themselves but desperately need a Savior. He took the punishment for our sins upon himself and “was pierced for our transgressions.” By “his wounds we are healed.” And all of this was the Lord’s doing: it was he who “has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus’s death and resurrection were the ultimate game-changer. Before it, we were under God’s wrath and stood condemned ( John 5:24 ). After it, and by virtue of it, we are saved and forgiven, adopted into God’s family and destined for eternal bliss in heaven ( Gal. 4:4–5 ; Eph. 1:5 ). The death and resurrection of Christ truly changed everything. United with Christ in His Death and Resurrection But there is more. Between our past gift of salvation and our future destiny of heaven lies a life lived on this earth as Christ-followers pursuing his mission and being conformed to Christ’s image in sanctification. As Paul teaches, believers are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, which makes our sanctification possible. Our union with Christ is a central plank in New Testament teaching. We are “in Christ” ( Eph. 1:1, 4, 11, 13 ). Just as Jesus was set apart (“sanctified”) for his redemptive mission, we are set apart (“sanctified”) for mission. Jesus’s mission is primary; ours is derivative. As we proclaim the saving message of Christ, we act as his representatives, appealing to unbelievers to repent of their sin and to be reconciled to God ( 2 Cor. 5:20 ). The New Testament teaching connecting Christ’s death and resurrection and union with Christ with our sanctification is well captured by the apostle Paul: For if we have been united with him in a death  like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection  like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. . . . Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God . So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ( Rom. 6:5–11 ; emphases added) Here we see the beautiful truth of our union with Christ in his death and resurrection and the implications of this union for our ongoing sanctification. “If we have died  with Christ, we will also live  with him.” Our union with Christ in his death leads inexorably to our union with him in his resurrection , for, like his death, his resurrection is also a historical fact. Paul notes elsewhere that there are well over five hundred witnesses who saw the risen Jesus ( 1 Cor. 15:3–6 ). The death Jesus died, he died with reference to sin, and he did so once for all. He “became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him” ( 2 Cor. 5:21 ). “But the life he lives, he lives to God.” In the same way, we are to consider ourselves “dead to sin and alive to God” in him. According to the apostle, the implication of this wonderful salvation and sanctification truth is clear: Let not sin therefore reign  in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God  as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. ( Rom. 6:12–14 ) As we claim Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil on the cross, we refuse to present the members of our body as instruments of sin. Instead, we present them as instruments of righteousness, knowing that sin no longer has dominion over us as it did prior to our conversion. Now we live under the aegis and energizing power of grace, having received redemption, forgiveness, and adoption into God’s family, and having been set apart so we can become what we already are : holy and set apart to be God’s instruments for his glory. Implications for Sanctification The personal dimension of our union with Christ, therefore, results in our sanctification, which is both positional (we are set apart for God at conversion) and progressive (we are increasingly made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit). In addition to the individual dimension of sanctification, however, there is also a communal, missional, and familial dimension. Communal First, sanctification is communal, lived out in the context of the church. We are made more like Christ in our relationships with others in the body of Christ. Time and again, Paul stresses that we are to live out our faith in relation to “one another.” Take his words to the Colossians as an example: Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another  and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other ; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom . . . . ( Col. 3:12–16 ) Missional Second, sanctification is missional. It is not an end in itself, as if the end goal of our sanctification were our individual holiness. Rather, our growth in holiness is to reflect God’s glory, and the same God, in Christ, has commissioned his people to “go and disciple the nations” ( Matt. 28:18 ). Thus God has set us apart for a purpose. He has cleansed us and equipped us to represent him in sharing the good news of salvation in Christ with a lost and dying world. Familial Finally, third, sanctification is familial. We live out our sanctification first and foremost in our marriages and families. Thus Paul urges husbands to play a vital part in their wives’ sanctification ( Eph. 5:25–29 ). Also, mature Christian women are to mentor young women to love their husband and children and to manage their household well ( Titus 2:3–5 ). What started our journey of faith in surrendering our lives to Christ has morphed into a sanctified day to day quest to let the Spirit continue and complete his work in us as we are part of our church community, join God in his mission in this world, and live out our faith in our families. Conclusion The death and resurrection of Jesus are the indispensable foundation for our sanctification. Because Jesus died for us and rose again, we too died to our sinful selves and have a new life in him. Our union with Christ in his death and resurrection launches us into orbit as we pursue our sanctification in the Spirit. Not only do we do so individually, but we also live out our faith in our communities, as part of the church’s mission, and in our families. Christ’s death and resurrection make our sanctification possible, and for this we can be eternally grateful. Our union with Christ in his death leads inexorably to our union with him in his resurrection. by: Andreas J. Köstenberge

Holy Week stands as the pinnacle of the Christian calendar, a brief but sacred span of time that invites believers to walk alongside Jesus on his journey to the cross. All of the events of the Christian year point to this week of reflection on God’s plan to redeem his people through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus . As we read the story of our Savior’s experiences through this impossibly difficult week from the different perspectives of the Gospel  writers, we can follow along Jesus’ path: from the early shouts of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday to the somber silence of the tomb on Saturday and finally to the empty tomb and the glorious proclamation of “He is risen!” on Easter Sunday . For Christians around the world, Easter week is much more than simply a historical remembrance; it is an opportunity to engage in an immersive spiritual encounter that defines the center—the very heart—of the Christian faith. When we pause to reflect on these days, we find ourselves drawn into a narrative of profound love, painful sacrifice, and ultimate victory. Jesus’ Journey Through Passion Week Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem The journey to the cross begins with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, a moment of deceptive celebration. Jesus rides into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy: Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!See, your king comes to you,righteous and victorious,lowly and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) Seeing Jesus and wanting to believe that he would be the ones to save them from Roman oppression, the crowds spread their cloaks on the road, shouting, ” ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven !’” ( Matthew 21:9 ). Yet despite the echo of prophecy in this event, Jesus knows the fickle nature of human praise. He later weeps over Jerusalem ( Luke 19:41-44 ), understanding that the anthems of praise on this day would soon curdle into shouts for his crucifixion ( Matthew 27:22-23 ). Cleansing the Temple As the week progresses, the atmosphere of the story grows heavier. We read about Jesus’ interactions with the religious leaders, and we see Jesus’ righteous indignation in cleansing the temple from the corrupt traders who are cheating the worshipers within its walls. Jesus seeks to turn his people’s attention back to the true purpose of worship  in the temple. He overturns tables, disrupting the animal trade ( Matthew 21:12–13 ; Mark 11:15–17 ; Luke 19:45–46 ; John 2:13–16 ) and declaring, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’” ( Matthew 21:13 ). This act moves Jesus quickly forward on his collision course with the Jewish religious authorities. It accelerates their plot to kill him ( Luke 19:47–48 ) in the face of his popularity. The Upper Room The events in the Upper Room slow down the narrative. Here, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples—a shocking display of servant leadership ( John 13:1–17 )—and institutes the Lord’s Supper  ( Matthew 26:17–30 ; Mark 14:12–26 ; Luke 22:7–23 ; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ). He offers bread and wine, symbols of a new covenant based on his own body and blood. But the intimacy of this scene is fractured by betrayal. Judas slips away into the night to meet with the Jewish religious authorities ( John 13:21–30 ), and Jesus retreats with a few of his disciples to Gethsemane ( Matthew 26:36–46 ; Mark 14:32–42 ; Luke 22:39–46 ). Gethsemane There in the garden we witness the raw humanity of the Son of God. He is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death ( Matthew 26:37–38 ). He prays, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” ( Matthew 26:39 ). The physical and emotional anguish is palpable as he accepts the weight of the world’s sin ( Luke 22:44 ), even as he himself is perfectly sinless. His pain and suffering are so intense that his sweat is like drops of blood. Good Friday / Jesus’ Crucifixion The journey then descends into the darkness of Good Friday. Following his arrest, Jesus endures a brutal scourging, a punishment designed to inflict maximum pain and leave him physically weakened and emotionally spent. The whip itself likely tears the skin on Jesus’ back to ribbons; infliction of these wounds were in many cases too much for the condemned, who died from searing pain and massive blood loss. Jesus survives this beating, and the gospel accounts detail how he is then forced to carry his own cross through the streets of Jerusalem toward Golgotha, also called “the place of the skull.” As we read about Jesus experiencing this very public, exhausting, and humiliating trek, we see how his humility and his resolve are both on display. His purpose is firm; his course is set. Both the scourging and the public walk carrying the cross are designed to maximize the deterrent effect of the act of crucifixion itself for those watching. Those who see Jesus walking through the streets, torn and filthy and bleeding, surely would never have willingly traded places with him. Roman crucifixion was designed to be one of the most agonizing forms of execution. Nails driven through Jesus’ wrists and feet would have pierced major nerves, delivering excruciating pain with each movement. As his body weight hung from those wounds and his outstretched arms, his shoulders and elbows likely dislocated. The position he was in on the cross made every breath a struggle. He would have had to push up against the nail piercing his feet just to inhale, an act that would have inflamed his nail wounds and scraped his torn back against the rough wood. Jesus’ suffering only intensified with time, as dehydration, severe muscle cramps, and shock likely set in. Fluid loss and restricted breathing were likely part of his slow suffocation, until the moment when he willingly gave up his spirit. Throughout all of this pain and suffering, Jesus was always in control, willingly taking the punishment that was necessary to set humanity on a path toward reconciliation with God. Jesus’ Death on the Cross Betrayed ( Matthew 26:47–50 ), arrested ( John 18:2–13 ), mocked ( Matthew 27:27–31 ), beaten ( Mark 15:15–20 ), and finally nailed to a cross ( John 19:16–18 ), Jesus endures ultimate separation from God his Father. At God’s hand, nature responds to this cosmic tragedy and darkness covers the land ( Luke 23:44–45 ). It is then that the end comes: “When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit” ( Matthew 27:50 ). At the same time as Jesus’ death, the thick veil of the temple tears from top to bottom, eliminating the barriers that had formerly existed between individuals and God. This physical act of God tearing the curtain from top to bottom is a picture of the effort that God made to open up the relationship between himself and his created people, making communion between humans and heaven possible ( Matthew 27:51 ; Mark 15:38 ; Luke 23:45 ). For Christians, these intense emotional and physical sufferings reveal the depth of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Every gasp and wave of pain carries spiritual meaning. Jesus bore this suffering willingly, opening the way for people to pursue forgiveness  of their sin and enter into a new relationship with God. Jesus’ willingness to endure this harrowing crucifixion inspires believers to live in gratitude , humility, and active faith, recognizing that their ultimate hope is rooted in the self-giving sacrifice of Christ.   Burial and Waiting With his followers scattered, and the women who knew him best bearing witness, Jesus’ body is removed from the cross and prepared for burial. Two unlikely but courageous followers take on this task, and one offers a tomb that he had made ready for himself and his family. Then the stone is rolled in front of the tomb. Silence falls on Saturday, a day of waiting, fear, and hopelessness for his followers ( Matthew 27:62–66 ), until the stone is rolled away on Sunday morning ( Matthew 28:1–10 ; Mark 16:1–8 ; Luke 24:1–12 ; John 20:1–18 )! The Gospel accounts recording this event are almost unbelievable. Imagine seeing what the women and the disciples saw and experienced that day! The power of the Roman crucifixion, cursed as it was by Scripture ( Deuteronomy 21:23 , quoted in Galatians 3:13 ), is rendered powerless by the resurrection of Jesus. Death is defeated, and a path to freedom and communion is created for all who will trust and obey. Hallelujah! Jesus Christ—the perfectly sinless One who gave himself up as a sacrifice for human sin, who died on a cruel cross to pay the price for the sins of everyone who would believe in him—that same Jesus is alive again. And he still lives today! The Significance for Those Who Believe For the believer, Holy Week is not merely a retelling of ancient events; it is a mirror held up to our own souls. It forces us to confront the gravity of our own sinful nature and the magnitude of God’s grace in sending Jesus Christ to earth to bring salvation . Christians cannot walk through this week casually. As we consider the weight of our own sin, we are invited to see ourselves in the crowd—sometimes praising  ( Matthew 21:8–9 ), sometimes denying ( Luke 22:54–62 ), often hiding ( John 20:19 ). This week signifies the ultimate exchange. We recognize that the isolation Jesus felt on the cross—his separation from God to pay the price for our sin—was the isolation we deserved.“The punishment that brought us peace  was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” ( Isaiah 53:5 ). For every Christian who has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf, this week is a time for deep introspection and repentance. When we meditate on the cross, our own pride and petty grievances seem trivial. The call to “take up [our] cross and follow [him]” ( Matthew 16:24 ; Mark 8:34 ; Luke 9:23 ) becomes not just a metaphor, but a daily reality of dying to self so that we can pursue and advance the cause of Christ in the world. Furthermore, Holy Week anchors our hope. The resurrection is the lynchpin of our faith. As the apostle Paul writes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” ( 1 Corinthians 15:17 ). Because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and still lives to advocate for us, we have the assurance that death is not the final word in our own stories. Holy week transforms our understanding of suffering because we learn that God is not aloof from our pain; he has entered into it, absorbed it, and redeemed it ( Hebrews 4:15 —Jesus as our sympathetic high priest). Holy Week and the Celebration of Passover Holy Week unfolds within the context of the Jewish Passover, a commemoration of God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. In the observance of Passover, families selected a spotless lamb that would be sacrificed as a symbol of purity and substitution ( Exodus 12:3–7 ): “the blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you” ( Exodus 12:13 ). Passover foreshadowed a far greater deliverance—the redemption of humanity through Christ. It is no accident that the events of Jesus’ passion occur during the celebration of Passover ( Matthew 26:17–19 ; Mark 14:12–16 ; Luke 22:7–13 ). The path Jesus walked to Calvary was also the route trodden by the sacrifical Passover lambs that were brought into Jerusalem. According to tradition, these lambs would be led from Bethlehem through the Sheep Gate and up to the Temple for sacrifice (see Nehemiah 3:1  for historical context). Jesus, called the “Lamb of God” ( John 1:29 ), entered Jerusalem from Bethlehem, passed through the same gate as these sacrificial lambs, and ultimately journeyed to the cross on the very roads these animals walked. In this way, he fulfilled centuries of prophecy and ritual. As Paul wrote, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” ( 1 Corinthians 5:7 ). The Turning Point of History Beyond the historical timeline and personal application of this week lies a cosmic reality: Holy Week is the turning point of history. Jesus’ resurrection signifies the moment where the Kingdom  of God overcame, once and for all time, the kingdom of this world. It completed God’s plan to save his people after the fall in Genesis 3 , and it signals the ultimate defeat of the powers of darkness. When Jesus declared, “It is finished” ( John 19:30 ), he was announcing the completion of a rescue mission planned before the foundation of the world. One of the great reasons for celebration in the face of these realities is found in the restoration of relationships. The tearing of the temple curtain signifies that access to the presence of God is no longer restricted ( Matthew 27:51 ; Mark 15:38 ; Luke 23:45 ). We are invited into the Most Holy Place—not by our own merit, but by the blood of the Lamb ( Hebrews 10:19–22 ). This celebration also represents a subversive act in terms of the sinful world that we live in. In a world obsessed with power, wealth, and status, Holy Week celebrates a King who conquers through humility, a God who wins ultimate victory from a cross, and a pathway to life that is found by losing it ( Matthew 20:26–28 ; Mark 10:43–45 ). It is God acting purely out of love toward undeserving, sin-sick people; he rewards humility, surrender, and faith with unspeakable love and grace and mercy. As such, it challenges every worldly definition of success  and victory. Holy Week: A Love Story Ultimately, Holy Week is a love story. It is the story of a holy God who fulfilled the requirements and paid the penalties for our sin in his own body. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). As we move from the shadows of Gethsemane to the light of the empty tomb, let us do so with hearts full of wonder, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to live as people of the resurrection.