FAI Central

Our journey through the Farewell Discourse ends in John 21, with Jesus' simple but profound private conversation with Peter just days after the young man's failure to obey and follow Jesus at any and all costs. This familiar (but incredible) passage illuminates Jesus' gentle hand, devoted intercession, and commitment to lead Peter into the fullness ordained for him "beforehand" (see Ephesians 2:10). The rowdy boy from the backwoods of the Galilee would indeed become a "fisher of men." He would, also, share the same end in this age as the One he would follow all the rest of his days.

Grab some coffee and sit down with the final pages of John's Gospel for Part 24 of "The Better Farewell: Charcoal Fires."

"The Better Beautiful" will return June 5 with Season 3: an extended meditation on Philippians 2:5-11.

Lt. Col. Marco Moreno (Res.) draws on three decades of experiences in the Israeli Defense Forces to give Wire listeners an insider analysis of the escalating conflict between the State of Israel and the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip. Email your questions for Marco to [email protected] for a chance to get an answer during the next Wire podcast. Otherwise, please listen, pray and share.

"He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick..." (Isaiah 42:3a)

Part 23 of 'The Better Farewell' brings us to the morning of the empty tomb. And what does Jesus do? Whom does He seek to speak with first?

A woman under such compounding grief, that she sees the empty tomb and cannot register what it means.

A man so given to disillusionment, he makes a vow to never believe again—unless his terms and conditions are met.

Before Jesus would give the Great Commission, He found the flickering wicks. And all He had to do was say their names; all they had to do was hear His voice, and see Him standing beside them—alive. Consider the gentle hand of the slaughtered Lamb, who so graciously prioritized those weak in heart and spirit. And we haven't even gotten to breakfast in the Galilee yet.

As with all episodes of #TheBetterBeautiful, we pray this presses you into the beauty of Jesus and His "wonderful" Name. We have one episode left in Season 2, and hope you'll join us next week as we conclude our journey through the Farewell Discourse (spoiler alert: we announce Season 3 in this episode).

DURATION: 58 minutes

At the end of the day and the end of the age, there is but one King and one Truth. His Kingdom is not, will not, and cannot be tainted with the carnality of the flesh; it is "not of this world." We may only participate in His Kingdom with submission to His righteousness—and His alone. The "kings of the earth" will "rage" and "plot in vain," many with Pilate's cynicism on their lips: "What is truth?"

Listen to Part 22 of 'The Better Farewell' now, as we examine the Man on a steadfast mission to disarm the powers of the air, make a spectacle of their folly, and leverage a cursed execution to put the manifold wisdom of God on a magnificent, everlasting display.

DURATION: 53 minutes

Listen to this update from Marco Moreno about the tragic incident in northern Israel that left more than 40 dead and more than 150 injured.

Immediately after Jesus finishes praying in John 17, the next chapter opens with His arrest—a mind-boggling event bookended by two men from His ministry team and brotherhood turning their backs on Him. Is Peter any different, any better than Judas? What do you do when you wake up in the morning with all the world before you as normal, only to go to bed that night under the rubble of your own implosions?

Listen to Part 21 of 'The Better Farewell: Failure & Betrayal'

DURATION: 42 minutes