Three Days on a Mountain

April 2, 2025

By Jessie Richards

It was a lot less dramatic than 40 days, and I didn’t come down with stone tablets inscribed by God, or other grand revelations, but this was an experience worth writing about.

A couple of years ago, I made a resolution that when I had the opportunity to see or do something amazing and memorable, I wasn’t going to let it pass. I have passed up such opportunities before, and I regret those times. I believe that one purpose we have in life is to experience and learn new things.

A few friends and I climbed Xueshan (“Snow Mountain”). It is the second-highest mountain in Taiwan, with its peak reaching 3,886 meters (12,749 ft). It took us three days and two nights to make the trek. It was both the longest trek I’ve ever completed and the highest altitude I’ve ever experienced.

This journey made me think that I should be fully present—in the moment—of what I experience. Even though the guys took a thousand and one pictures during the trek, the photos do not nearly capture the magnificence of the sights, sounds, and feelings. That’s one reason I wanted to make this trip—to see it with my own eyes, and also hear it, smell it, feel the cold mountain air, and so forth.

Since we had to carry all that we would need for the three days in our backpacks—and since a sleeping bag, food, and a couple of other items were not optional—I didn’t bring any electronics. No laptop, Kindle, or even a phone.

For three entire days I received and sent no emails, phone calls, or texts. I had no visual input either, besides the panorama around me. No books, ebooks, movies, or TV shows. Ever since I got my first email account, I have not experienced such a long time away from technology.

Between work and personal purposes, I’m at my MacBook about 12 hours a day, and then I crawl into bed at night with my Kindle. When I’m cleaning, walking, driving, or conducting some activity away from my Mac, I have a portable device “reading” to me. The very idea of the “vast silence of no input” was terrifying at first, but soon enough I found it calming, relaxing, and eventually desirable.

At one point, two of us were climbing from the lodge to the peak. We were trying to get down the mountain by a certain time that afternoon. In a moment of clarity, I realized, “So, I’m in a beautiful forest, at sunrise, with dawn sunlight streaming through the trees, experiencing something so gorgeous that I’ve never seen before and will probably never see again … and I’m thinking about what time it is?!” Too much thinking about what’s next, too much rushing from this to that, too much watching the clock can cause us to miss out on so many things.

I’d like to miss fewer of those things from now on.

I loved the sheer beauty of the mountain! Glorious was my word for that week. It’s amazing how wonderfully refreshing it is for the mind, body, and spirit to see beautiful things. There are so many beautiful things in life, but from what I’ve seen so far, it seems there’s hardly anything more beautiful than the panoramic view from a high mountain.

What I see and experience on an everyday basis (tropical flora, hot weather, and very crowded cities and streets) is vastly different from what I saw on the mountaintop. The forests of tall trees, the fresh cool air, and lack of other people for miles were invigorating.

Sans technology, as I mentioned, the primary form of entertainment was, naturally, other people. It was interesting to see a different side of my friends, which reminded me that every person has so much to them on so many levels.

A gentlemanly fellow climber insisted on “picking up the rear” along with me. Between being a recovered asthmatic with less-than-stellar lungs, and my shoes breaking along the way, I was going slower than anyone else. He kindly stayed at my pace, and even waited the night to go up the last stretch to the peak with me the next morning, which made it possible for me to make it all the way to the top.

This act of thoughtfulness and kindness reminded me of how much good there is in so many people. In addition to the kind people I trekked with and that we came across, I thought about my friends and what was going on with them while I was away. I couldn’t help but realize just how blessed I am to have so many wonderful people in my life—family, friends, and co-workers who care, who are there for me. I only pray that I will be there for them in the same way, when and how I can.

Now about the descent. I’ve heard people say, “It’s all downhill from here.” The intent is to make something sound easy, meaning the hardest part is over. But I’ve never enjoyed the descent on any hike, and this time was no different. This descent took longer than expected and was more stressful, since my shoes didn’t have grip and things got slippery.

It made me think of the words of the Psalmist: “You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”¹ It also made me think about how things do tend to come in pairs—good with bad, uphill with downhill, etc. That’s just the way life is. It’s not something to be mopey or disappointed about, but rather it’s there to teach us to be grateful for the parts we like, while accepting that there are going to be parts that we don’t enjoy as much.

This mountain-trekking experience caused me to be more grateful for the little joys in life that we sometimes take for granted. On the way down, toward the end, my feet were blistered, my legs wobbly and shaky, my peanut butter bars all gone, and there was no “glory” left to view. My last remaining motivation was “every step brings me closer to a hot shower.” By the time I got down, a few people on our team had been down for a while and had found a place for us to take a hot shower! It was like heaven. As was the hot meal—a tasty spread of various regional Taiwanese dishes with a cold drink alongside it. Sleeping in my own bed a few hours later was marvelous. I hope it’ll be a while before I start taking these little things for granted.

While up there “on the mountain,” I had time to meditate and pray about my life—my future, my plans, and various concerns I had. By God’s grace, I committed them all to His capable hands. I somehow feel a lot less stressed. Having had that time up above it all gave me the ability to look at the world from a different perspective. I am glad to be back in civilization, but I hope and pray that my new perspective is not short-lived.

Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast, a Christian character-building resource for young people.

¹ Psalm 18:36 ESV.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

What Does Love Look Like?

April 1, 2025

A compilation

Audio length: 10:11

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What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.—Saint Augustine

*

[Joni Eareckson Tada, who is a quadriplegic and was also suffering cancer when this was written, said:] It’s quite wonderful—when you’re going through the worst of it and it’s just a nightmare—to have someone standing by you. The other night I was in such pain, and I prayed right before I went to bed, “Oh, Lord Jesus, would You please show up tonight? Let me see You and feel You. Let me know You’re with me. You’ve promised that You will never leave or forsake me. Let me sense that tonight.”

Well, sure enough, I had to wake Ken up to help me, and as he was standing there in the dim light of the bedside lamp, I said, “You’re Him! You’re Jesus! Ken, I feel Him in your touch, I see Him in your face, in your smile. [I hear Him] in the tone of your voice.” It was the sweetest thing to feel the presence of Jesus through my husband.—Joni Eareckson Tada

*

John 3:16 tells us what it means to love like Jesus loves: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” Godly love gives sacrificially. Loving like Jesus means we hold everything we own with loose hands. We are willing to part with money, time, and possessions in order to serve other people. … When we see a brother or sister in need, and we have resources that could help, we are to share what we have with them (James 2:15; 1 John 3:16–17).

Jesus was undiscriminating in the way He loved. He warned us that it is easy to love those who are like us (Luke 6:32–33). But Jesus loved even His enemies and expects His followers to do the same (Luke 6:35). … We are to treat every human being with dignity and respect, remembering that this person is a special creation, designed in the image of God (1 John 2:9–10; 4:20–21). …

Loving like Jesus means we care enough about the souls of others to tell them the truth. … We do not love people by watering down the gospel that could save them. … Forgiveness is another way we can love like Jesus. … Jesus told His disciples that the primary way the world would know they were His was by their love for one another (John 13:35). If we love Jesus, then we will love what He loves, which is people. And as we practice loving like He loved, we become more like Him.—GotQuestions.org¹

*

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him for dead.

Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite [temple assistant], when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan [a people despised and shunned by the Jews of those days], as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?—Jesus, Luke 10:30–36

*

With the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught that our neighbor is anyone who needs our help, regardless of race, creed, color, nationality, condition, or location. If we have love, we can’t just pass by someone in need; we’ll take action, like the Samaritan did. That’s the difference between pity and compassion. Pity just feels sorry; compassion does something about it. The compassionate put feet to their prayers and kind deeds to their kind words. Love is making a connection between God and somebody who needs His love, and we do that by showing others His real love and manifesting it by genuine proving action. “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).—David Brandt Berg

*

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant, kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. … The service has already started, and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed, and he can’t find a seat.

By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!) Now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. The deacon is in his eighties, and has silver-gray hair, and wears a three-piece suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified, and very courtly.

He walks with a cane, and as he begins to move toward this boy, everyone is pondering that you can’t fault him for what he’s about to do. How can you anticipate a man of his age and his upbringing to comprehend some college kid on the floor? It takes quite a while for the man to approach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can’t even hear anyone breathing. The minister can’t preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won’t be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister regains composure, he says, “What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.”—Rebecca Manley Pippert, retold by Alice Gray²

*

Be careful how you live. You may be the only “Bible” some people will ever read.—Author unknown

Published on Anchor April  2025. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso. Music by Michael Fogarty.

¹ “What does it mean to love like Jesus?” GotQuestions, January 4, 2022, https://www.gotquestions.org/love-like-Jesus.html

² Alice Gray, “A Guy Named Bill,” in More Stories for the Heart (Portland: Multnomah Press, 1997), 32–33, https://bible.org/illustration/guy-named-bill

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

From One Friend to Another

March 31, 2025

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 11:08

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And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.—Isaiah 45:3

When you feel alone, always remember that I love you with an everlasting love. I am touched by everything you experience, and I understand how you feel. I am moved with compassion for you. This stage of your life won’t last forever, and if you cast every burden you are carrying on Me, you will find the strength to continue onward and stay faithful to Me (Psalm 55:22).

You may feel small and insignificant at times and wonder how the God of the universe and Creator of all things could possibly understand you and the things you go through in life. But I understand you completely because I made you! I created every part of you—your body, mind, and soul, down to the tiniest cell in your brain.

I understand every thought and every worry and fear that you have. I created your spirit, and I gave you life. I experienced life as a human being and I understand loneliness, pain, loss, suffering, and struggle (Hebrews 4:15).

Maybe you are tempted to ask, “If You know what I’m going through, why don’t You help me out of it or change this situation?” Trust Me that I know the situation you’re in and I understand how difficult the struggle is. But as you commit your ways to Me and trust Me to guide and direct the path of your life, I will work every single thing you experience together for your good. I care for you, and every hair on your head is counted—along with every aspect of your life (Luke 12:7).

Trust that these times are part of My work in your life, as they draw you closer to Me. Don’t worry or be discouraged about your present situation—this time won’t last forever. Make the best of the situation while you’re in it. Things will change, and there’ll come a time when you’ll look back and realize the treasures in the darkness that you mined during this time, and how I used this time to draw you close to Me.

Choosing the right perspective

The prospect of the righteous is joy.—Proverbs 10:28

If you had a choice, would you rather live somewhere where the sun never shines, and where it’s always cloudy and gray, where the people never seem to find anything to be happy about or celebrate? Or would you rather live where it’s bright and sunny, where the cool breezes blow, and the people are happy and smiling?

Whenever you choose to look at things from a negative or hopeless perspective, you’re walking right into that dreary gray world of negativity, where the sun doesn’t show its face from behind the clouds and there is no hope for a brighter tomorrow. Negativity is like a dark cloud that covers up the beautiful blue skies and makes everything look sad and gray and joyless.

But whenever you adopt a positive perspective that’s full of faith, it’s as if you have chosen to reside in a place that’s bright and filled with hope and promise. In that place, no matter what happens, I am with you, and your future will be a glorious one for all eternity. It’s a place where the clouds can’t stop the sun from shining through; they seem to only make the blue skies even more beautiful. Even the clouds and storms of life that do arise are sure to ultimately rain down blessings of love and greater faith and understanding.

Faith is the evidence of the things hoped for and written in My Word—and the promise of a beautiful life to come, filled with joy and promise (Hebrews 11:1). Choose a faith-filled perspective on life and you will experience My joy.

Great victories

Blessed are those who find strength in you. Their hearts are on the road that leads to you. … Their strength grows as they go along until each one of them appears in front of God in Zion.—Psalm 84:5–7

When you call out to Me when you are weary or downcast, I can help you to dispel the giants of discouragement. When you are struggling with fear and feelings of failure, I am your ever-present help and place of refuge (Psalm 46:1).

Whenever you come to Me when you are weary and heavy laden, I give you rest. I watch over you every step of your life’s journey, whether it is uphill or downhill, or whether you feel like you’re on target or you’ve strayed off the path. My rod and staff always guide and comfort you (Psalm 23:4).

My Spirit always watches over you, and with each step, each test, I have always been at your side. I see the future and all the great things that I have in store for you. I see the past and all the lives that have been touched and helped and led to Me because of your faithfulness to follow Me and allow Me to work in and through you.

I see the prayers that you have prayed and the fruit that has been borne through your commitment to Me. I see the great victories that have been won because of your love and your perseverance, and because of your fervent prayers and faithfulness to My cause and mission.

Let patience have its perfect work

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.—Romans 8:25

Patience is one of the greatest lessons that My servants learned in times past when life moved a lot slower. It’s a difficult lesson to learn, and the same advice that was given to My children thousands of years ago applies as well today: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:14).

Everything that you experience in this life is preparation for the future, as you grow in your walk with Me and are transformed more and more into My likeness. It may not seem to you that you’re learning, growing, or accomplishing much as you continue to be faithful to Me day after day and year after year. It certainly didn’t seem that way to Moses when he was in the wilderness tending sheep, but that was part of My plan.

That time was necessary to teach him the things that he would need in his service to Me in later years. I was able to instruct him and speak to his heart in the quiet hours that he spent with Me. I was able to work in his life to make him into the kind of vessel that he needed to be for the special calling I had for him.

When it feels like your life is in a waiting pattern, trust that I have a plan for you. Hold on to Me through this time, and I’ll bring you forth as fine gold, fit for My use (1 Peter 1:7). I’ve entrusted you with a very important job. It’s not one that necessarily has a title to go with it that will be recognized and appreciated by the world. But My great commission and calling to share My truth, hope, and salvation with others is an important job, because the eternal destiny of people depends on it.

Walk a mile

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.—Romans 12:15

The saying “walk a mile in their shoes” is commonly quoted, but have you ever paused to think about what it really means? If you have tried walking in someone else’s shoes, you’ve probably discovered that it can be quite uncomfortable. But putting yourself in someone else’s place helps you to better understand what they are going through and how to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39).

Learning to walk in someone else’s shoes is one of the most important keys to truly empathizing with others. So whenever there’s someone you have a hard time relating to, remind yourself that they may be carrying a load of secret sorrows, confusion, or struggles that you cannot see. Make a conscious effort to put yourself in their shoes and it will help you to treat them with kindness and consideration and to offer encouragement and hope.

Even small gestures of love and appreciation can go a long way for someone who feels unnoticed, left behind, or overwhelmed. You’ll see that if you try to understand what they are going through and walk alongside them, you can make a difference in that person’s life. They will know that someone cares and ultimately that I care for them.

Originally published in 1999. Adapted and republished March 2025. Read by Jon Marc. Music by John Listen.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

Death Is Not the End

Gloria Cruz

2023-11-29

Losing a loved one is very hard, and I know it well.

The first time I faced the death of someone I loved was when I was nine years old. My grandmother, who lived with us, became seriously ill. One day she breathed her last breath when my mother and I were alone with her in the house. My mother, who was a believer, immediately began to pray. I did not fully understand what was happening.

My second encounter with death was when my husband passed away. He had contracted cancer.  We were fighting the disease for several years, until he left us at the young age of 26.

Needless to say, that experience marked my life heavily. By this time, I’d already had a spiritual experience that led me to believe in a loving God and in Jesus as His representation on earth. My husband was also a believer. It goes without saying that believing in life after death helped us tremendously in coping with cancer in a more positive way, although it was still a very difficult battle.

My Christian beliefs also helped me with the sad outcome when my husband died. At that moment, the only thing I could hold on to was my faith that death was not the end of the road, but the beginning of something new and even better.

Of course, I fell apart at first. How could God take someone away in the prime of his life? And how could I be a widow at age 25? It was a tremendous blow.

What I did then—and still do when I face difficult moments—was to go to the many wonderful promises in God’s Word that talk about death and how it is the entrance to the next world. (You can find a selection of scriptures on this topic below.) I spent days in my room reading and rereading those promises, because that helped me to see the positive side of what had happened, such as he was in a better place, we would see each other again, nothing happens without a purpose, and God has a plan for everything. Slowly, my priorities and the way I saw life were changing.

But the moment I stopped meditating on those promises, my thoughts went to the negative: How could it be that God had taken him? Why did it have to be this way? I was not going to be able to overcome it. The pain felt unbearable and my heart was broken!

Little by little, God started to heal the wound with His balm of love, and through His Word, He was helping me to accept what had happened and to even turn it into something positive in my life. I also found comfort in reading the testimonies in the book Life After Life by Dr. Raymond Moody, and other similar writings.

Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God can use what you’ve been through—including the loss of a loved one—to bring about something very positive in your life, and if you filter your heartache through that verse, you can gain a new perspective.

God is good and He loves you. Trust Him. Believe that heaven is real. Life does not end with death.

Here are some thoughts that helped me to accept death as something natural:

Leaving this life is just like going from one room to another and closing the door.

I am standing on the seashore. A ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean. I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon, and someone at my side says, “She is gone.” Gone where? The loss of sight is in me, not in her. Just at the moment when someone says, “She is gone,” there are others who are watching her coming. Other voices take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!” That is dying.—Henry Van Dyke

I encourage you to trust and believe that, as a born-again believer, your loved one has not disappeared! You will see him or her again. Think of the transformation you see happen with a caterpillar. It seems that when it locks itself in a cocoon, it has died, and it will never be a worm again. But no, it only underwent a transformation and now is a beautiful butterfly full of color. That’s how it is going to be when we die!

* * *

Ecclesiastes 3:1–2: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die…

Psalm 116:15: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Psalm 139:16: Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Job 1:20–21: Then Job … said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 4:16–18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Romans 14:8: For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

John 11:26: Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Isaiah 25:8: He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.

Luke 1:78–79: Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Bodily Resurrection and Life After Death

Interview with N. T. Wright

2018-03-30

At Easter the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is celebrated. But do “modern” people still believe in the bodily resurrection and a life after death? Lucette Verboven, Catholic Television Belgium, asks the leading New Testament scholar N. T. Wright about his views, and he doesn’t shy away from giving bold answers. In the interview, he first concentrates on what Greeks and Romans thought about life after death in order to discover the deeper meaning of the stories of the early Christians.

Run time for this video is 26 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB10G3nm8o

The God of All Comfort

March 28, 2025

By N.T. Wright

The gospel story is heavy with Isaiah 40—and indeed the rest of the poem in chapters 40–55—that offers a solid foundation for our faith today and on into God’s future. … The Bible offers the huge sprawling story of the Creator’s purposes for this world and His people. …

When you get to know this God, you are drawn into His larger purposes. God has promised to put the whole world right. And in the present time, He puts people right, so that they can be part of His “putting right” project for the world. That’s the biblical doctrine of justification in a nutshell. You are not just ensured of forgiveness for yourself, you are shaped to be part of God’s forgiving, healing, new creation purposes in this world.

Run time for this video is 45 minutes. The link starts at the start of the sermon, following an introduction.

https://youtu.be/tS7s9kDPKNw?si=Z1z0g2x15X4O3U_3&t=122

The Sermon on the Mount: An Introduction

March 27, 2025

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 9:14

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The Sermon on the Mount is one of the best known of Jesus’ teachings. While it doesn’t cover the full spectrum of His message, it provides guidance on how to live as Christians within God’s kingdom. The importance of understanding these teachings and applying them in our lives is seen in the closing words of the Sermon:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:24–27).

The Sermon addresses the character of believers, describing the kind of people we are meant to be, and the attitudes of heart and spirit we are to possess. Jesus’ words are the map that shows how those who live in the reign of God and the awareness of His presence in their lives are meant to journey through this life. Jesus proclaims as blessed those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers. Likewise, those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” and “those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” are blessed, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3–10).

The Sermon (as well as the other teachings of Jesus) teaches that everyone who follows Jesus is to take on a new perspective, a different attitude and outlook, than the one they had before entering the kingdom of God. It teaches us to focus on the things which are important to God and to adjust our thinking, perspectives, goals, and worldview to be in alignment with Him and His will. Jesus teaches us to not lay up treasures for ourselves in this world, but to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19–24). This causes us to adjust our attitude toward money and possessions, how we relate to and interact with others, and much more.

Jesus teaches us in the Sermon to not be anxious about our lives but to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and trust that the rest will be added to us (Matthew 6:25–34). As people who build our lives on the foundation of Jesus’ teachings, our center, our focus, the foundation of our lives, is God. And when it is, then He through His Spirit and Word changes us. The Sermon on the Mount contains teachings that are meant to be guiding principles in our interaction with God and others. They are foundation stones to living Christlikeness. Understanding and living these principles provides us with a compass to navigate the challenges of this life, while keeping us heading true north.

Some scholars consider that the Sermon is a collection of many separate sayings of Jesus compiled into one discourse or sermon, and that Jesus never taught these principles in one setting. Others disagree, and believe that Jesus did teach these things as a sermon or a talk to a specific gathering. As an itinerant teacher, Jesus could have sometimes taught the Sermon as a whole, sometimes in sections, and sometimes as individual points. Itinerant preachers would typically preach and teach the same things many times over in different settings. They may not preach the exact same sermon over and over, but teach portions of it depending on the time, the place, the audience, etc.

We’re told that Jesus went to cities all throughout Galilee, as well as to some of the surrounding Gentile areas. His message about the arrival of the kingdom of God was His key theme and undoubtedly He spoke of it time and again. It is likely that the points presented in the Sermon were also repeated many times over. This would make it fairly easy for His disciples to recall Jesus’ sayings later, if not word for word, at least in a manner that was conceptually accurate.

There are two versions of the Sermon: the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–7:27), which contains 107 verses, and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49), which has 30 verses. The term “the Sermon on the Mount” is the title that Augustine gave to his commentary on Matthew 5–7, written somewhere between AD 392–396, though it wasn’t generally referred to as the Sermon on the Mount until the sixteenth century.¹

The setting of the mountain is taken from the first verse of Matthew chapter 5, which says: “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them” (Matthew 5:1–2). The inference is that the Sermon was given only to His disciples. However, at the end of the Sermon, Matthew reports that “when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28–29).

Most commentators explain that the crowds were people interested in Jesus’ teaching and His miracles, and that while Jesus was speaking to His disciples, the crowds were also present and heard what He said. The setting was most likely somewhere in the hill country of Galilee, and since just prior to the Sermon Jesus is recorded as healing the diseases of many (Matthew 4:23–25), it’s probable that the “mountain” was a hilly area, as the diseased and those in pain wouldn’t have been able to climb up a mountain to hear Him.

Luke’s Gospel tells us that Jesus went out to a mountain and spent the night in prayer. The following morning He called His disciples together and chose the twelve whom He named apostles. Afterwards He came down from the mountain to a level place, with a great crowd of His disciples, and spoke to a multitude of people who had come to hear Him and be healed. He then spoke to His disciples in the presence of the crowd (Luke 6:12–20). In more modern times this version has been called “the Sermon on the Plain,” since Jesus “stood on a level place” (Luke 6:17).

Some commentators point out that since there are two accounts that refer to Jesus specifically teaching similar things in the presence of crowds, this makes a case that the Sermon was a historical event. In any case, the fact that many of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon are also articulated throughout other New Testament writings makes it clear that whether He taught them in a specific setting or preached them at different times, they are His teachings. That’s what matters.

The Sermon is important for Christians because it speaks of the transformed behavior of those who have entered the kingdom and who follow Jesus. It speaks of what the Christian’s character and conduct should look like in relation to God and our fellow human beings; of the influence we are called to be on others for good; of the righteousness we are asked to embrace in relationship to God’s law; of the devotion we are meant to have for God; of our desire to glorify God; of our relationships with others in light of our relationship with God; and of our commitment to do what Jesus taught.²

The Sermon teaches the principles of how our lives can truly reflect God, how His image can be seen within and through us. It tells us the means by which we can begin to live now in the manner that we will live fully in eternity. It shows us how to develop inner spiritual habits which will align our beings with God’s kingdom. We begin to live them now, and will carry on living them in the final kingdom.

As we understand and apply the words of Jesus, the principles He lays out in the Sermon on the Mount (and elsewhere within the Gospels), our lives are progressively transformed. We become more Christlike, in closer alignment with God’s character, and a better reflection of His nature and attributes. In short, we live our Christianity.

Originally published August 2015. Adapted and republished March 2025. Read by Reuben Ruchevsky.

¹ G. N. Stanton (1992), “Sermon on the Mount/Plain.” In J. B. Green and S. McKnight (eds.), Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 736.

² John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1978), 24–25.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

A Question of Loyalty (Acts 3–5)

March 26, 2025

Treasures

The air around the temple grounds became electric with excitement as the news began to spread. Only a short while before, an old beggar man, lame from his mother’s womb, was seen walking and leaping and praising God! Every day for years he had lain at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate to beg for alms of those entering the temple.

That day, as Peter and John were entering the temple, he begged alms of them as was his custom. And Peter told him, “I don’t have any silver or gold to give you, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Peter then took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately the man’s feet and ankles were made strong (Acts 3:1–8).

When the people saw this man, whom they recognized as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate, walking and praising God, they were filled with wonder and amazement and came running to Peter and John (Acts 3:9–10). When Peter saw this, he spoke boldly of Jesus to the astonished crowd, telling them, “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed this man, as you can all see. You disowned Him, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this” (Acts 3:11–16).

Even as they were speaking and preaching to the crowd, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees, who were “greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead,” laid hands on them and put them in jail that night to await questioning the next day (Acts 4:1–3). But in spite of their efforts to silence the apostles, “many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).

The next morning a meeting of the temple leaders, the rulers, and the teachers of the law was held, and Peter and John were called before them. “By what power, or by what name, did you do this?” challenged the high priest. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly proclaimed, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed!” And Peter went on to declare, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:7–12).

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated fishermen, they marveled, as they realized that they had been with Jesus. As for the miracle that was done, they could say nothing. “What shall we do with these men?” the priests conferred with one another. “For a notable miracle was performed through them, and we cannot deny it.” But to avoid the further spreading of this strange new doctrine, they threatened them not to speak any more in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go, for fear of people’s reaction, since they all were glorifying God for the miracle that had been performed (Acts 4:13–22).

Before their release upon hearing the decision of the priests and rulers, Peter and John replied by saying, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we can only speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20). After threatening them further, the council al­lowed them to leave. But the apostles went away with no intention of stopping their work.

After their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. Upon hearing their account, everyone raised their voices in prayer with one accord, “Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Lord blessed them with even more power to witness to people and speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:23–31).

Not only that, but through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, so that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. People began flocking into Jerusalem from nearby villages, bringing sick people, and “believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:12–16).

This was the last straw for the priests and rulers, who were filled with envy and indignation. They could not bear to see the popularity of these followers of Jesus amongst the people and the risk this posed to their authority. So they had them arrested again and put in the common prison. But these men could not be stopped, and during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out. Not only that, but the angel told them to “go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life!” (Acts 5:17–20).

So Peter and John went from prison to preach­ing in the temple at daybreak as though nothing had happened. The priests, however, knew nothing about the apostles’ escape, and when the time came for their trial, they sent officers to the prison to have them brought to them. But there were no prisoners there! Greatly embarrassed, the officers returned, saying, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside” (Acts 5:21–23).

You can imagine the astonished outrage of the council. “What?!” they cried. “The prisoners are gone? How did they escape through locked doors?” At that moment a messenger rushed in with the news that the escaped prisoners were once again standing in the temple and teaching the people.

“Bring them here!” cried the chief priest. The guards went out and found them and brought them without force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this man’s name,” raged the high priest. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us” (Acts 5:24–28).

“We must obey God rather than men,” answered Peter and the other apostles who stood with him. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed! But God has exalted Him to be a Prince and Savior to bring repentance to Israel and forgive­ness of sins. We are His witnesses of these things” (Acts 5:29–32).

When the council heard these words, they were furious and determined to kill the apostles. But Gamaliel, an honored member of the council, interrupted their rantings with his wise advice, “Take care what you do with these men,” he warned. “If this undertaking or this work is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you be found even to fight against God!” There wasn’t much that the council could answer to the wise words of Gamaliel, so it was decided to let the apostles off with a flogging (Acts 5:33–40).

The apostles were later released after being beaten and ordered not to speak again in the name of Jesus. They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. “And every day in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:40–42).

There were some ordinances of their day that the apostles had a difficult time obeying while remaining true to their calling and faith. Although the Bible teaches, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1), in cases where the laws or ordinances would violate a believer’s faith, Christians are called to obey God and follow the dictates of their conscience (Acts 5:27–29).

The apostles could not obey the council’s demands that prohibit­ed their preaching and teaching about Jesus, in obedience to His final command to them to make disciples of all nations and to teach them to observe all His commands (Matthew 28:19–20). In the face of persecution for their faith, they stayed true to their faith and convictions.

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His soon departure, He told them, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it loves its own. But I have chosen you out of the world, so you don’t belong to it” (John 15:19). As Christians, we have a calling to be “in the world” but not “of the world” (John 17:14–15). We are called to shine His light on the world around us to draw people to God. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16).

May we each be found true to our faith and the commandments of God’s Word, even when it is unpopular to do so or in the face of opposition. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition … so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1–3).

From an article in Treasures, published by the Family International in 1987. Adapted and republished March 2025.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness

March 25, 2025

A compilation

Forgiveness. Even the word can make us bristle. Past wounds instinctively spring to mind, making forgiveness feel impossible (or at least unnatural). …

I know. I have nursed my anger as I have lingered over the ways people have hurt me. A close friend who ended our long-standing relationship over a misunderstanding. A woman whom I mentored for years who slandered me to others. My husband who unexpectedly left me for someone else. The doctor whose careless mistake ended my son’s life.

I remember sitting in a counselor’s office, talking about a deep betrayal. When the counselor mentioned forgiveness, I was furious. It felt like he was suggesting I offer that person a “get out of jail free” card, which was unthinkable after all I had suffered. …

I have often had to say, Lord, I don’t want to forgive now, but could you make me willing to forgive? You have forgiven all my sins, and I know anything I forgive others is small by comparison (Matthew 18:21–35). But I cannot do this without you. Please help me.

Often, I have to repeat this prayer until God changes my heart. When he does, he usually helps me see the wounds of the person who has hurt me—wounds that do not diminish, justify, or excuse the offense, but that do soften my attitude toward the person. …

For most offenses, forgiveness is both an initial decision to let go of bitterness as well as a long, ongoing process. When offenses come to mind and painful memories resurface, I must intentionally stop rehearsing them and ask the Lord to help me release those thoughts and practice forgiveness. For years I didn’t realize the importance of forgiveness and somehow assumed it was optional; now I see it as a command. “As the Lord has forgiven you,” Colossians 3:13 says, “so you also must forgive.”

So to truly forgive those who have wronged us, we must first receive God’s forgiveness, acknowledging our need before him, which empowers us to forgive others. Christian forgiveness is vertical before it is horizontal. Throughout Scripture, our Lord intertwines his forgiveness of us with our forgiveness of others (Matthew 6:14–15). And like all of his commands, it is always for our good.

Forgiving those who have hurt us sets us free. It keeps bitterness from taking root, bitterness that would defile us and everyone around us (Ephesians 4:31). When we cling to resentment, we unknowingly give our offender ongoing power over our hearts, which keeps us enslaved to our anger. This prison we have created pulls us away from our Lord because we cannot hold on to bitterness and hold on to God.

Correspondingly, forgiving those who have wronged us releases the hold of bitterness on us. God, who has forgiven our enormous debt, gives us the power to forgive others. It is his power, not ours. This is the miracle of Christian forgiveness: when we forgive, Christ does something profound in us and for us. Those wounds inflicted by others firmly graft us into Christ, the vine, and his life flows all the more powerfully through us. The process unleashes God’s power in our lives in an unparalleled way, making forgiveness one of the most life-changing steps we ever take. …

We see the power of forgiveness and grace in the lives of Joseph (Genesis 50:15–21) and Job (Job 42:7–10), who both forgave those who wronged them. Being able to forgive not only changes our present; it changes our future. When we forgive, we can begin walking in freedom and joy. —Vaneetha Rendall Risner¹

*

Recently, I was reviewing my past, and I began to blame others for how some things had turned out. I blamed my parents for the decisions they made that affected my childhood. I blamed my school for the insecurities I felt, and how I never felt I was perfect enough to succeed. I blamed my church for attitudes I had about God that affected my relationship with Him.

But as I lay in bed thinking deeply about my life, I began to see my parents with understanding and realized that they had done the best they had known how. I remembered all the ways they had encouraged me and helped me become the person I am today.

Likewise, I looked back at my time in school and realized that a lot of what I had experienced was on me. I was shy and afraid to try new things. I was fearful of stepping out and taking risks. It was mostly my own insecurities that got in the way of my academic and social success.

When I reviewed the years I spent going to my family’s small church, I realized in reality I had received a wonderful foundation of faith, and so often the members of the congregation there had helped me and been examples of genuine Christianity.

My life hasn’t been perfect. I have made some decisions that have hurt myself, and at times others have hurt me. But it wasn’t my home life or my school or my church that was responsible. It was individuals. And when I remembered the individuals, I saw a woman struggling with grief because her oldest child had died; an unhappy middle-aged woman who had been caring for her elderly mother and aunt who had numerous infirmities; a fresh-out-of-college youth leader who thought he was an expert on teenagers but who simply needed a bit more life experience; and an exhausted and stressed math teacher whose wife’s pregnancy had landed her in the hospital for months. These people made mistakes, just like I’ve made mistakes in my life.

It’s easy to draw conclusions about our experiences and the people we feel justified in blaming. At the time, we might not have understood why someone reacted the way they did, but looking back with understanding helps us have a clearer picture and find freedom in forgiveness.—Joyce Suttin

*

Colossians 3:13 reminds us, ”Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

This isn’t about diminishing what we’ve been through or making light of the anguish we’ve cried a million tears over. It’s knowing that those who cooperate most fully with forgiveness are those who dance most freely in the beauty of redemption. And what exactly is this beautiful redemption?

It is sweeping our hearts clean of little offenses before they cause us big problems.

And it’s finally finding the freedom to move on.

We don’t have to stay stuck here, friend. Forgiveness is the weapon. Our choices moving forward are the battlefield. Being released from that heavy feeling is the reward. Regaining the possibility of trust and closeness is the sweet victory. And walking confidently with the Lord from hurt to healing is the freedom that awaits.

Lord, help us learn to forgive as You have forgiven us. Freely. Completely. Not to excuse what’s been done to us, but to set us free. You are good. Your ways are good. And that means we can trust that forgiveness is good too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.—Lysa TerKeurst²

*

I love you, I died for you, and you are in My care. No matter what has happened to you or hurt you, you are Mine, and I can make things right again. Remember that this life is only a vapor, only for a little while, and that the suffering of this present time cannot be compared with the glories of the world beyond (James 4:14; Romans 8:18).

Fix your thoughts on Me and meditate on My Word until you are confident of My love and care for you. Remember that your life is not intended to be a paradise of only good. As I said, “In the world you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). It really helps if you are secure in the knowledge that I love you and I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

If you believe in My goodness and My ability to work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28), it will give you faith to forgive. This is not about telling anyone that you’re okay with what they did. It’s a sacred act between you and Me, an acknowledgment of My love and goodness, and a desire to have nothing in your heart that is not of Me. It’s giving someone else what I have already given you.

Although you may still feel pain for a while, you won’t be tempted to retaliate. Although it may take time for your spirit to mend, you are surrendering to My love, and thus you extend others forgiveness in the name of Christ, who also forgave you.

This may be one of the hardest things to do. But once you make this decision to forgive, even in the quietness of your own heart, the liberating power of this act will become apparent to you. You will be free, you will be right with Me.—Jesus

Published on Anchor March 2025. Read by Jerry Paladino. Music by Michael Dooley.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

Life Essentials—Communication

March 24, 2025

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 10:49

Download Audio (9.9MB)

Besides Jesus, who makes everything better when He is a part of our lives, there is a very important element that permeates pretty much everything we do—communication. It is one of our greatest challenges to understand what others are communicating to us and to help others understand what we are trying to convey to them.

This essential medium comes in many forms. We communicate through “body language,” which includes such things as a wink, a nod, our facial expressions, and the positioning of our bodies. There’s also speech, reading, writing, sign language, and many different things that encourage, instruct, or warn people. We communicate through the tone of our voice, our choice of words, or even our lack of speech. We also communicate through our actions.

We also communicate through prayer or hearing the Lord’s voice whispering in our hearts. While our communication with God doesn’t usually involve many of the more visible forms of communication, He does speak to us through His Word, coupled with the Holy Spirit, or through His still small voice in our hearts. He also communicates with us through His creation and many touches of His love through others that can help us to comprehend His love for us.

Science has found that we communicate in ways that our conscious mind may not be aware of. This type of communication is beginning to be more recognized because equipment exists that can detect it. Our brains are wired to both project and receive such communications, but our conscious minds may only vaguely sense them or may not pick them up at all, especially when we are preoccupied with other things.

Many people have experienced what some call premonitions or intuition or gut feelings that communicate messages to us or seem to nudge us to do things that we can’t give a logical reason for doing. They just feel right.

We use these many forms of communication in our interactions with others, such as business transactions, simple greetings to strangers on the street, acts of politeness that communicate respect and acknowledgment of the value of another person, friendships, casual and more long-term; and deep, lifelong relationships with a spouse or other relatives that grow and develop, sometimes over many decades. When we fail to remain engaged and committed to meaningful communication, our relationships with others begin to falter, become confusing, grow familiar, or can even fade away.

Words are one of our most common forms of communication, but we cannot always rely on words alone to understand what is being communicated. In today’s world, communication has become increasingly complex and less likely to be done in person. We use many different mediums for communication, such as email, social media, phone, text, chat, or online meetings, etc. Often, we can find ourselves attempting to decipher the meaning of the other person’s quick email or text, or wondering if there is a deeper meaning when we can’t see the person’s face or body language or look in their eyes to better understand their intent.

This can sometimes lead to us reading things into what others say that may be slightly inaccurate or completely wrong. We assume that we understand someone’s intent, but sadly, the limited personal interactions can cause us to misunderstand what they are trying to express.

Someone recently told me that they believe one of the most wonderful things about heaven will be to be able to fully understand each other’s thoughts and feelings. The Bible indicates that nothing will be hidden in heaven, and we will fully understand others and be fully understood.

Understanding and being understood is a powerful manifestation of the Lord’s love for us. In hard times, it can be tremendously comforting to remember that Jesus understands us completely. He knows us and loves us as we are. We sometimes think Jesus is going to love us more because we’re trying to do all the right things. The truth is that He loves us just as we are. As we grow in our confidence in His tremendous love, it motivates us to do what we can to please Him.

Learning to communicate effectively with one another is crucial to relationships, and it’s not something we learn quickly. It can take a lifetime of practice and trial and error. And we all need to have patience with each other as we grow in our sincere, heartfelt desire to understand and support one another.

Years ago, I had a secretary who had an especially difficult time communicating things in a way that others understood clearly. Later, this person said that what had really clicked for them and helped them to improve their communication skills was something the Lord had inspired me to tell them. I’d said, “If you want to truly communicate with others, it’s not enough that you use words that express to you what you want to communicate. You have to think in terms of the other person’s perspective. You need to strive to find the words that will enable those you are communicating with to clearly grasp what you want to communicate.”

That may sound obvious, but it can be a challenge because it requires understanding the other person, which takes time, effort, and the humility to ask questions and listen. What a word or concept might mean to one person, based on their personality, past experiences, culture, relationship with Jesus, etc., can be very different from what it means to you.

We all have a variety of relationships where we need to develop the art of communication. I think marriage provides a very clear example of how important communication is. We can read books and articles that explain in general terms what someone is like because he or she is a male or a female. Based on that, there is further explanation about how they may generally think and feel, and therefore it’s advisable to treat them in this way or that way.

But we know there is no standard or rule that fits every man or woman. There are some tendencies that may be more prominent among men or among women, but we know that everyone needs to be loved and valued, and the innate need for connection with God’s Spirit is present in all people.

We can only get to know others when we take the time to see beneath the surface. To do that, we have to develop trust and openness. A big part of that is learning to have mutual respect. To have effective communication, we need to see others without preconceived opinions. There is no substitute for investing the time to listen to and learn more about anyone with whom you want to build a meaningful connection. Good communication takes time.

The communication principles that make a good marriage relationship are fundamentally the same as those that build lasting friendships, effective working relationships, and even forge new relationships. Connection with others shapes our lives and theirs. Lack of connection with others, on the other hand, is often a major factor in mental illness, anger issues, violent behavior, depression, substance abuse, and so many ills that are happening in epidemic proportions today.

Communication takes time, and we need to be patient and persevere. Human nature often wants everything over and done with, so that we can enjoy the benefits as quickly as possible. Yet, so many times, especially with communication, there aren’t quick fixes. We have to persevere. It may take a concerted effort to remember the value that open and honest communication can bring to our lives.

Sometimes I get frustrated with some of these long-term growth processes, like communication. I’m tempted to think, “Why couldn’t I just get the hang of it from the beginning? Why can’t I just do the right things and get the point and move on to other more important things?” However, like so many things in life, it’s a process that takes time to develop. Learning to provide that time for others is part of how we can love them, respect them, and in turn, be much more effective in our work and relationships.

Life is an adventure of learning. We need to mature, and that takes thinking more about others than ourselves, in order to discover the great joy, satisfaction, and contentment that comes from loving others.

The core skills of communicating can be developed through experience or through other methods, such as books, classes, and mentoring. But it’s important to remember that even the most skilled person still has to consider what 1 Corinthians 13 expresses. Without the Lord’s love being the motivation, all those skills fall far short of their most important potential to exemplify the love of God to a world in need of hope, and to provide a reminder of what will continue long after this temporal world has fallen into dust.

Communicating effectively is a very valuable tool to have. Let’s use it to the full to benefit as many as we can.

Originally published May 2022. Adapted and republished March 2025. Read by Lenore Welsh.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

Another Layer of Easter

Maria Hodler

2017-04-07

I was going to bed when a line popped into my head, “He did not leave my soul in hell.” It sounded like a familiar Bible passage, but I wasn’t sure. Neither was I sure if the writer was referring to Jesus.

I pulled out my smartphone and googled the phrase. It was in the Bible. You can find it in Psalm 16, where King David penned that line in prophecy speaking of Jesus: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”¹

Next I wanted to confirm that David was speaking of Jesus, so I looked a little further. The exact same passage is quoted again by Peter in Acts chapter 2, in his very first sermon at Pentecost. Jesus had just ascended into heaven and had told His disciples the Holy Spirit would come to them. The believers anxiously huddled together in an upper room waiting to see what was next. Then the Holy Spirit swept through in the form of flames of fire, and they were all filled with a power and boldness that they had never known.

At that time, Jerusalem was filled with Jews from all over the world. These devout believers were in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost—one of the most significant events in the Jewish calendar.

Upon being filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples trickled out of their upper room and into the public, where they began declaring the gospel—in foreign languages none of them previously knew! All the Jewish visitors to Jerusalem were astounded that these people knew their languages. People were trying to figure out how it could be possible for them to speak in languages they had never learned. Some took to making fun: “They must be drunk.”²

Then Peter, the same Peter who had denied Jesus just a few weeks before, stood up and addressed this huge crowd: “We aren’t drunk; it’s only 9 in the morning. We’re filled with the Spirit just like the prophet Joel prophesied.”³

He goes on to explain that Jesus of Nazareth, the one that everyone knew had recently been crucified, was the Son of God, whom God had raised from the dead. He referenced David’s prophecy in Psalm 16.⁴

Peter says, “Brothers and sisters, I can speak confidently about the patriarch David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this very day. Because he was a prophet, he knew that God promised him with a solemn pledge to seat one of his descendants on his throne. Having seen this beforehand, David spoke about the resurrection of Christ, that he wasn’t abandoned to the grave, nor did his body experience decay. This Jesus, God raised up. We are all witnesses to that fact.”⁵

Then Peter pricked the crowd with the statement, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”⁶

Peter’s delivery was so powerful and anointed that the crowd was cut to the heart and cried, “Brothers, what do we do?”

“Repent and be baptized,” was the reply. That day 3,000 believers were added to the church. And that was just the beginning.⁷

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus gave us gifts that have completely altered the course of mankind. These gifts are:

1. Salvation and a relationship with God
2. The Holy Spirit
3. The gift of healing, through His suffering on the cross.⁸

The gift of the Comforter is directly related to Jesus’ death. I haven’t always thought of the gift of the Holy Spirit as something to celebrate at Easter, but I can see that it is really a great gift to celebrate at Easter. Because of Jesus’ physical departure from His disciples, they were—and we are—able to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”⁹

The Holy Spirit is God living in us. It’s His presence in our lives, and is available to us because Jesus was willing to give His life for us to have it. The Holy Spirit goes beyond salvation (which is already the most amazing, awesome, love-filled gift we could possibly receive), and ensures us an eternity with God in that it connects us to God’s presence each and every day.

Thinking about the Holy Spirit in this way has added another layer to my appreciation of Easter and what Jesus has done for us. I’m grateful for this deeper understanding of what Jesus has done for me, and it’s something I never want to take for granted.

Footnotes
¹ Psalm 16:10 KJV
² Acts 2:13
³ Acts 2:15–16, paraphrased
⁴ Acts 2:27
⁵ Acts 2:29–32 CEB
⁶ Acts 2:36 NIV
⁷ Acts 2:37–38, 41
⁸ Isaiah 53:5
⁹ John 14:26 KJV

S&S link: Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Holy Spirit, The-2a

Authored by Maria Hodler, adapted. Originally published on Just1Thing.
Illustrations by Alvi. Design by Stefan Merour.
Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2017 by The Family International

A Spirit Hath Not Flesh and Bones

Timothy Keller

2012-04-03

A discussion about Luke 24:37-43 by Dr. Timothy Keller.

“I believe that this little story is written especially for the average [Christian] today, because the average [Christian] is actually comfortable with the message of Easter. When the disciples heard the real message of Easter, look at all the words: startled, terrified, troubled, filled with doubts, disbelief, joy! The average [Christian] experiences none of these. … I’m here to show you that it’s almost like Luke anticipated that, because this passage comes right out essentially and says, ‘If you spiritualize the resurrection, if you say that Jesus is just living on in spirit, you will have comfort, but you won’t have the truth.’ … If you are comfortable with Easter, if you’re not terrified by it and rapturously lifted into joy by it, it’s because you have either spiritualized the message of Easter or you haven’t thought out the message of Easter. If you understand it the way the disciples understood it, you’ll be moved from absolute terror to absolute joy, but you won’t just be comforted by it.”

Run time of the audio, if you download it, is 34 minutes. (Note: There seems to be a problem with the streaming version, in that it repeats partway through and comes out to be over an hour long.) https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/doubt-joy-and-power-easter/

God Knows What You Don’t Have

March 21, 2025

By Abigail Dodds

“God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.”

When Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015) says it, I perk up. I nod in agreement. I remember her life, her murdered missionary husband, her devotion to the gospel, her absolute earnestness about Jesus, and the congruity of her words and practice, and I say, “Amen.”

The circumstances of her life were the stuff of legend for me as a growing girl. It was undeniably evident that God was orchestrating all the hardships and massive disappointments she experienced, at the very least, to help all the rest of us. I wanted to be like her, because I wanted to know her God as deeply as she did—the kind of God who made every trial worth it.

But I hadn’t fully reckoned with the means of her unflappable faith in God. I thought, or at least hoped, that the intimacy and trust she had in Jesus could come through a life of ease. …

(Read the article here.)

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-knows-what-you-dont-have

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

Overcoming Loneliness

March 20, 2025

Happier Living Series

Audio length: 15:51

Download Audio (14.5MB)

The issue

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions in our world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that social isolation and loneliness are becoming increasingly widespread, and a large body of research shows that these can have a serious impact on physical and mental health and quality of life.¹ It wasn’t intended for people to experience life alone. We were created by God as relational beings, and to live, love, and share our lives together with others. But just being surrounded by people doesn’t necessarily alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.

It has been said that being alone and being lonely are not the same. One person can be alone or on their own without feeling lonely, while another person can feel lonely while in a crowded room. Loneliness is an emotion or a state of mind which is brought about by feelings of separation from other people, and a deeply felt sense of isolation.

No matter what the cause of loneliness, the lasting cure for us as Christians will be found in our fellowship with Christ. It starts with our personal relationship with God, who loves us so much that He gave His son for our eternal salvation and so that we could dwell in heaven with Him. And then it expands outward as we obey His second and great command to “love our neighbors as ourselves” (Matthew 22:37–39). As we seek to give and share His love, He has promised to “meet all our needs according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).

Loneliness and the cure

To every one of us, from time to time, there comes a sense of utter loneliness. Some of the loneliest people in the world are those who are constantly surrounded by others, yet they feel that no one knows or understands the “real me.” They long to share their interests with someone, to find someone who will listen to their problems and sympathize with them.

We may have a lifelong companion or close dear friends who love us well and are loved by us, but even they will never know or understand us completely. Some tears are always shed alone. No other human being can ever enter the deepest recesses of our mind or heart or soul.

Why do we all have this deep craving to be understood by someone? Why this intense longing to have another share our joys and triumphs, sorrows, and defeats? Did God, who made us a living soul, make some mistake in this, His masterpiece—humankind? He made provision for every other hunger of life: bread for the hunger of the body, knowledge for the hunger of the mind, love for the hunger of the heart.

This lack that we feel, this incompleteness, is a need of our soul for God. He knew that when we found human sympathy lacking, we would seek the divine. He knew that this very sense of isolation, of not being understood, would drive us to Him.

God made us for Himself. He desires our love. Not until He Himself fills that inner longing will we ever be truly satisfied. God’s Word says He is a “satisfying portion” (Psalm 107:9; Psalm 73:26). Only He can truly satisfy the longings of our heart.

He who made you is the only One who can fill every part of your life. So when you feel this loneliness, hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). His presence satisfies the lonely soul, and those who walk with Him from day to day will never walk alone.—Virginia Brandt Berg

Overcoming the pain of loneliness

During the first six months after my husband left, I faced the toxicity of loneliness day in and day out. An empty nest, working from home and cold nights alone were taking their toll. … The reality of my aloneness hit me like a punch in the gut—being alone was my permanent new normal. I suddenly felt more excruciatingly isolated than ever before, as if I had been dropped off on another planet and left there to figure out how to survive. All alone with no escape.

Scripture gives plenty of examples of people who shared these same painful feelings and realities. In fact, all of the Psalms point to evidence that even King David felt lonely quite often. Yet his loneliness is exactly what drove him to lean into God.

In Psalm 25:16, King David said, “Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress,” followed by verses 17–18, which say, “My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble.” This whole passage is a series of pleas for God’s help because David felt oppressed, depressed, troubled, unseen, and deserted by God and others … painfully alone.

But instead of staying upset with God, David’s prayer takes a twist. “In you I take refuge. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you” (Psalm 25:20–21). Despite everything, King David leaned into the Lord in his darkest moments instead of away from Him. Despite how alone he felt, David wanted to connect with God and held on to hope that He was there, even if no one else was.

You see, loneliness can actually be a catalyst to grow our relationship with God rather than stifle it. Loneliness is God’s way of reminding us we were made for a personal relationship with Him, and He placed a deep longing in our hearts only He can satisfy.

Maybe you’re feeling loneliness because of the loss of a spouse from separation, divorce, or even death. Maybe it’s because of an empty nest, an empty spot at the table, the loss of friends. Regardless of the root of our loneliness, we can always trust God is with us. As we lean into Him, we can continue to pray that He will bring the right people into our lives and satisfy our need for human connection as He satisfies our soul’s thirst for Him. …

Connect with God first, and the rest will eventually fall into place. God may not take away the loneliness, but as we put our hope in Him like David did, God will make sure we feel His nearness.—Tracie Miles²

Be a friend

As I was walking home from high school one Friday afternoon, a new kid from my freshman class was half a block ahead of me. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. Only a real nerd would bring all his books home for the weekend, I thought. I had quite a weekend planned myself—parties and a football game with my friends.

A minute later, a few other boys ran at Kyle, knocked his books out of his arms, and tripped him. Kyle tumbled to the ground. His glasses went flying and landed in the grass a short distance from him. As Kyle picked himself up, he looked my way. Even from half a block away, I could see that he was angry, frustrated, and humiliated.

My heart went out to him, so I jogged up to him. By this time he was down on his hands and knees, looking for his glasses. He tried to hide the tears in his eyes, and I tried to act like I hadn’t noticed. I handed him his glasses and said, “Those guys are jerks! They really should get a life!”

Kyle looked at me and said, “Hey, thanks!” He broke out into a big smile—one of those smiles that show real gratitude.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. We decided on different schools, but I knew that we would always be friends. The miles between us would never be a problem.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. On graduation day, when the time came, he stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your brothers and sisters, maybe a coach … but mostly your friends. I am here to tell you that true friendship is the best gift you can give anyone. I am going to tell you a true story.”

Then I watched Kyle with disbelief as he told the story of the day we met. He told how he had planned to kill himself over the weekend, and had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn’t have to do it later. That was why he had carried all his stuff home that Friday afternoon. Kyle looked straight at me and gave me a smile. “Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

A gasp went through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. His mom and dad looked over at me with that same grateful smile. Not until that moment had I realized its depth.—Author Unknown

Keys for overcoming loneliness

First, reaffirm that God is an ever-present God in your life. And you can enjoy His companionship anytime that you like. The comfort of God’s presence is a reality to believers.

Second, find like-minded friends. We love and walk with God, but He has created us in such a way that we love and need human companionship.

Finally, we have God’s work to do while here on earth. Keep busy… Find something to do that glorifies your Creator and Savior, and right now is the time to do it!—Pastor Rich Bitterman³

Think about it…

Whatever the cause of loneliness, for the Christian the cure is always the same—the comforting fellowship of Christ. … He is the friend who “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), who lays down His life for His friends (John 15:13–15), and who has promised never to leave us or forsake us but to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).—Gotquestions.org⁴

Everyone experiences loneliness at some time. It’s a common denominator in the equation of life. It’s also something no one likes to feel, so our natural response is to run from it, avoid it, or deny it by filling our lives with a million distractions. God has a better way… Loneliness is God’s gift that drives us into relationship and enlarges our hearts to love. Without it, we would never marry, engage in friendships, or endure the numerous problems that are a natural part of intimacy.—Shana Schutte⁵

There is someone near you who is lonely. And if you reach out to them, you may be their link to life. You may, just by offering a smile and some conversation and a bright spot in their day, be giving them a reason to live. Don’t hold back just because you think people won’t like it or might feel they don’t need it. They do. And often they will be eternally grateful.—Chloe West

What the Bible says…

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”—Lamentations 3:22–24

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses… Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:15–16

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.—Ephesians 1:5

Published on Anchor March 2025. Read by John Laurence.

¹ World Health Organization, “Social Isolation and Loneliness,” https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/social-isolation-and-loneliness

² Tracie Miles, “Overcoming the Pain of Loneliness,” Proverbs 31, April 21, 2021, https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2021/04/21/overcoming-the-pain-of-loneliness

³ Rich Bitterman, “God’s Cure for Loneliness,” Medium, August 3, 2021, https://medium.com/@richbitterman/gods-cure-for-loneliness-265982ba9c35

⁴ Got Questions, “What does the Bible say about loneliness?” July 26, 2024, https://www.gotquestions.org/loneliness.html

⁵ Shana Schutte, “The Gift of Loneliness,” Focus on the Family, February 1, 2007, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/the-gift-of-loneliness

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

The Walk

March 19, 2025

By Steve Hearts

There are undoubtedly many things in life that are far easier said than done. The path of words is often much easier than the path of action. But if words are not backed up by action, they can be empty and fruitless. The example manifested by our actions and our lives often speaks much louder than our words.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:19, “Anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

When I was a kid, I took great pleasure in correcting and preaching to my family and friends. But most of the time, they had the last laugh, since I would often turn right around and do the exact opposite of what I was telling them. I was told more than once, “You need to learn to take your own advice.”

One Christmas season when I was young, my classmates and I were practicing a song for an upcoming Christmas program. Since it was meant to be a special surprise for those who would see it, we were not to tell anyone about it. I repeatedly reminded my classmates of this. But one day, in front of the whole group, I started telling someone all about the song. One of the boys piped up, “Why did you tell us over and over to keep quiet about it if you can’t keep quiet yourself?” And they all roared with laughter.

As embarrassing as this was for me, it served as my first big lesson about “walking my talk.”

Bragging is another thing that can turn people off. When I first started composing songs in my early teen years, I constantly bragged about this new “talent” of mine. But when asked to actually play my songs for other people, I always chickened out and refused. My mother gave me some good advice. She said, “If you’re not willing to let people hear your songs, then quit bragging about them.”

I love to talk—and I’m sure there are those reading this who can say the same for themselves. Talking is not inherently wrong, but it’s important for us to remember to back up what we say with our actions and by how we live our lives. Failure to do so can make us look … well, rather silly.

For a long time, I believed that it was all about what I said when it came to making a difference in the lives of others. But it is important that the words we speak, be it advice we offer or promises we make, are backed up by our actions and put into practice in our own lives. Jesus made this clear in His classic parable of the two sons.

“There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will go, sir,’ but he did not go” (Matthew 21:28–30).

Although the eldest son verbally refused in the beginning, he later had a change of heart and did his father’s bidding. The second son’s promise to obey his father turned out to be useless, because he didn’t keep his promise.

Don’t get me wrong, words are important and essential in our relationships and our witness to others and sharing the Good News with people. And especially when we’re prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak, we should definitely do so. But in this article, I’m emphasizing the fact that we need to put into practice through our actions what we say with our words .

John tells us in his first epistle, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17–18).

When I was 14, I got to know a dear woman of faith who, at the time, was battling cancer and not expected to live much longer. I accompanied my dad on a visit to the hospital she was staying at. Since this was my first time to come face to face with someone so ill, I felt unsure of what to say or do. So, other than the initial greetings, I said nothing as I sat by our friend’s bedside holding her hand. I later berated myself for not attempting to be a bit more expressive and communicative.

By an absolute miracle, this woman pulled through. When we’d later discussed that hospital visit, I apologized for being silent the whole time—without offering so much as a prayer or a word of encouragement. She replied, “Don’t worry. You did the right thing. All the other folks who came by to visit me would constantly bombard me with advice on what to do and what not to do. Though I knew they meant well, I was growing tired of their constant input. When you came to see me that day, your silence was a comfort and a relief as you sat there just holding my hand.”

If we want to shine God’s light to those around us, there are a couple of principles that are important: Walk your talk. Ground your convictions and principles in the Bible—and put them into action daily. You may find that your “walk” may turn out to be a wonderful adventure, that will help you become a better friend to others.

As the Steven Curtis Chapman song goes:

Well, you can run with the big dogs
You can fly with the eagle
You can jump through all the hoops
And climb the ladder to the top
But when it all comes down
You know it all comes down
To the walk.¹

Are you ready? Let’s start walking!

Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast, a Christian character-building resource for young people.

¹ “The Walk,” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Copyright © 2025 The Family International

The Meaning of the Transfiguration

March 18, 2025

A compilation

Audio length: 12:33

Download Audio (11.4MB)

The transfiguration of Jesus was a unique event within His ministry. In the book of Matthew, the transfiguration happened six days after the apostle Peter stated, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16) and when “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21).

Following is the account of the transfiguration:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead” (Matthew 17:1–9).

Within the Gospels, Peter, James, and John form what seems to be Jesus’ inner circle of His closest companions. They were with Him in the garden of Gethsemane right before His arrest (Matthew 26:37), and they were the only ones allowed into the room when He raised the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue (Mark 5:37). And as Matthew described in the passage above, they were present at the transfiguration as well.

Once they were alone in that isolated spot, Jesus “was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” In the Gospel of Luke we read that “the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white” (Luke 9:29). In Mark, it says: “his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them” (Mark 9:3).

In the Old Testament, we read of God clothing Himself in light: “O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:1–2).

In his book, The Gospel of Matthew, R. T. France explains: “The visual ‘transformation’ is not so much a physical alteration as an added dimension of glory; it is the same Jesus, but now with an awesome brightness ‘like the sun’ and ‘like light.’”

The concept of seeing Jesus’ “majesty,” “honor,” and “glory” is later expressed by the apostle Peter when he wrote about this experience:

We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:16–18).

During Jesus’ transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. Some commentators suggest that the reason Moses and Elijah appeared was that Moses was the great lawgiver and Elijah was an important figure among the prophets, and thus they represent all of the Old Testament revelation fulfilled in Jesus.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, nothing is said about what they talked about; however, in Luke, we read: “Two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30–31). “Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah’” (Matthew 17:4). These shelters, like those made during the Feast of Tabernacles, would have most likely been made with branches and leaves and would protect them from the heat of the sun. “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him’” (Matthew 17:5).

While Peter was still speaking about his tent plan, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Within the Old Testament, the presence of God is often symbolized by a fiery cloud associated with God’s glory (Exodus 13:21–22; 1 Kings 8:10–11). God also spoke to Moses from the cloud so that the people would believe in Moses (Exodus 19:9). In a similar manner, both through the presence of the cloud and God speaking about His beloved Son, the Father was setting His seal of approval on Jesus’ ministry and making it known that the disciples should listen to him.

Upon hearing the voice of God speaking directly to them, Peter, James, and John fell on their faces and were terrified. They responded as did others in both the Old and New Testaments when they heard God speak directly to them, appear to them, or they witnessed His power (Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 10:15).

The disciples stayed in that position until “Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only” (Matthew 17:7–8). As the divine endorsement through the appearance of these two important Old Testament individuals and Jesus’ transfiguration came to an end, Jesus touched the three disciples to reassure them.

They then started back down the mountain, and Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead” (Matthew 17:9). Jesus had selected Peter, James, and John to go up the mountain and to witness this astonishing event, but He didn’t want anyone else to know about it until after His death and resurrection. His suffering, death, and resurrection had yet to be accomplished. His destination was the cross, to lay down His life for humanity to bring humankind salvation.—Peter Amsterdam

The purpose of the transfiguration

Undoubtedly, the purpose of the transfiguration of Christ into at least a part of His heavenly glory was so that the “inner circle” of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was. Christ underwent a dramatic change in appearance in order that the disciples could behold Him in His glory. The disciples, who had only known Him in His human body, now had a greater realization of the deity of Christ, though they could not fully comprehend it. That gave them the reassurance they needed after hearing the shocking news of His coming death. … Also, in His glorified form they saw a preview of His coming glorification and enthronement as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The disciples never forgot what happened that day on the mountain, and no doubt this was intended. John wrote in his gospel, “We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only” (John 1:14). … Those who witnessed the transfiguration bore witness to it to the other disciples and to countless millions down through the centuries.—GotQuestions.org¹

The multifaceted glory of Jesus

The story of Christ’s transfiguration would probably strike us as weird if it weren’t so familiar. I mean, think about it. Jesus goes up on a mountain with three friends and meets two dead prophets, all while glowing in the dark! Even the word “transfiguration” is a word we never use except when referring to this story. …

The presence of Moses and Elijah is one of the most fascinating features of this story. Where else in the New Testament do you find Old Testament heroes showing up in person? But it’s not hard to see why Moses and Elijah would be summoned for such a glorious mountaintop event. After all, both men had famous mountaintop experiences with God (Exodus 24:9–34:35; 1 Kings 19:8–18). Moses’s was especially relevant, since it resulted in his own transfiguration, with his face shining so brightly they had to cover it with a veil (Exodus 34:29–35).

But Jesus wasn’t simply shining the way Moses had, or the way you and I one day will (Matthew 13:43). His was more than a reflected glory; it was the glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). … Moses had asked God to show him his glory (Exodus 33:18)—and 1,500 years later his prayer was still being answered, as he gazed on the One who is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). …

So the transfiguration wasn’t only a preview of the future; it was also a peek into eternity at “the glory [Christ] had with [the Father] before the world existed” (John 17:5). It was a glimpse behind the veil at the glory that Christ continued to immutably possess, despite having hidden the glorious form of God beneath the humble form of a servant (Philippians 2:5–7). …

The transfiguration is like a prism through which we can see the multifaceted glory of Jesus. In it we see a picture of his unique authority. In it we get a glimpse of the eternal glory he had veiled. And in it we’re given a preview of what our lives will be like on that final mountain where we’ll all be transfigured, where his glory will provide all the light we need (Revelation 21:23).—Justin Dillehay²

Published on Anchor March 2025. Read by Debra Lee.

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¹ Got Questions, “What was the meaning and importance of the transfiguration?” March 14, 2024, https://www.gotquestions.org/transfiguration.html

² Justin Dillehay, “Multifaceted Glory: What the Transfiguration Tells Us About Jesus,” The Gospel Coalition, January 17, 2021, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/glory-transfiguration-jesus

Copyright © 2025 The Family International