As Christians, we deeply appreciate the price Jesus paid for us to be released from the grip of the sin of Adam. To say that this has given us a new opportunity for life is a dramatic understatement. All we can really do is be profoundly thankful as we diligently follow in his footsteps. One question many Christians find uncomfortable to face is the question of the “everybody else.” According to the Bible, what really happens to them? What effect did Jesus’ life, death and resurrection have on those who are atheist, Muslim or Hindu? If we say they are essentially doomed, the question of true justice needs to be addressed. How fair would it be to condemn people to eternal death who in many cases never, ever really knew the name of Jesus? Precisely what effect does Jesus’ sacrifice have on these people? Is salvation for all?

At the beginning of the human experience in Genesis, we all inherited of death through Adam’s sin. This teaches us that all of humanity is subject to mortality. Yet from the earliest Scriptures, God provided hope by proclaiming the promise of a “seed” who would ultimately defeat Satan and bring deliverance. This hope is fulfilled in Christ, whose death and resurrection counteract Adam’s transgression.

Romans 6:23 and 1 Corinthians 15:22 highlight that while we all die in Adam, all will be made alive in Christ. The promises to Abraham further confirm that “all nations” will be blessed through his seed, identified as Christ in Galatians 3:16.

Scriptures soundly proclaim that God’s will is for ALL to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Colossians 1:20 affirms the reconciliation of “all things” through Christ’s blood. This means Jesus’ sacrifice fully satisfied divine justice, making peace for all humanity.

This two‑part plan ensures fairness and justice, as all will eventually come to full knowledge of the truth.

Romans 5 explains that just as condemnation came through Adam, justification comes through Christ, balancing the scales of divine justice. Several Old Testament prophecies reveal the vision of all nations worshiping God, showing the ultimate outcome of Jesus’ suffering. The power of the Bible’s message is evident: Jesus died for every single human being, ensuring both justice and hope for all creation.

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The teaching Jesus gave to his apostles the night before his crucifixion about him being ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ was a profound foundation that described the path of every true Christian. Jesus as ‘the way’ opened up the opportunity for average, sinful individuals to become acceptable to God through the merit of Jesus’ sacrifice. He was and is the path we are to follow. As we walk this path, we can recognize Jesus as ‘the truth’ by accepting that his actions, teachings and example were always a direct reflection of the ultimate and pure truth that comes directly from the Father. Being on the path, following Jesus’ example and absorbing the truth of God’s words spoken through Jesus, we now can begin to open ourselves to understanding Jesus as ‘the life.’

At the beginning of John 15, Jesus taught us about how he is ‘the life’ in a rich metaphor of spiritual vitality. He called himself ‘the true vine,’ labeled God as the “Vinedresser” and his disciples as “branches.” These relationships highlight spiritual nourishment and fruitful discipleship rooted in obedience and love.

• Jesus as the ‘true vine’ shows us that his disciples must remain connected to him in order to bear fruit. God nurtures and prunes these branches to increase spiritual growth.

• Any and all fruitfulness comes as a result of his disciples abiding in Christ, receiving cleansing through his words as well as yielding to the loving discipline of God.

• Selfless love is central to bearing fruit, and Jesus openly modeled this specific kind of love through crystal clear obedience to his Father’s will. His disciples were commanded to love one another sacrificially by following his example. His sacrifice IS life to us!

As we look beyond this beautiful vine and branches teaching for just one other example of Jesus being ‘the life,’ the resurrection of Lazarus comes to mind. Lazarus had been dead for four days. As Jesus proclaimed himself to be ‘the resurrection and the life,’ he demonstrated God’s power through him to miraculously reverse death and even decay. This incredible event foreshadowed the final resurrection and restoration of all humanity.

Ultimately, Jesus is ‘the life’ because through him, death is overturned and eternal connection with the Father becomes possible. His life defines our purpose and our spiritual fruitfulness. Marked by love, it proves we truly “abide” in him.

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We all know God IS love, and that because He loves His human creation, He sent Jesus to redeem us all from sin and death. We also know Jesus taught us to love our enemies and to pray for those people who despitefully take advantage of us. So, according to the gospel, love is a clear centerpiece of how God’s plan works and how we are to emulate Jesus in relation to our enemies. But what about those people we just may not like? You know, those individuals who are just irritating, who might see the world differently than we do and who always seem to be on the other side of issues. Can we just tolerate them – just “go along to get along” – or do we have to “love” them? If we do have to love them, what does that even look like?

The first step towards understanding and applying this concept is recognizing that love is absolutely central to God’s plan. 1 Corinthians 13 is known as “the love chapter,” as it gives several pointed descriptions of how the benevolent and selfless kind of agape love behaves. The fact that most of us don’t have what we would consider to be mortal enemies doesn’t mean we don’t struggle with loving individuals who irritate us or hold opposing views.

This chapter on selfless love distinguishes between positive traits (patience, kindness, rejoicing in truth) and negative traits (jealousy, arrogance, selfishness and keeping score of wrongs). It highlights that patience involves self-restraint and forbearance, allowing us to respect others even when differences arise. Kindness, beyond simple niceness, is described as “active” generosity, encouraging us to be useful to those we struggle with. We need to think about the challenges we may have applying these very positive traits to those we may not really like.

It does NOT express jealousy, which can manifest as resentment or unhealthy competition. Love does NOT boast, which elevates oneself at the expense of others. It is NOT arrogant, having an internal sense of self-centered superiority. Selfless love does NOT provoke, keep score, or act in any inappropriate way.

As Christians, we really need to rethink how we view difficult people, recognizing that every life matters. Since Jesus died for all, we are called to reflect his love – even toward those we find difficult. Our practical challenge is to actively demonstrate patience, kindness and humility every day with everyone.

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Of the many experiences Jesus had the night before his crucifixion, his time in the Garden of Gethsemane stands out as a place of contrast and transition. When Jesus and his eleven apostles entered the garden, it was a welcoming place of peace and solitude. He told eight of them to stay together and to watch and pray. He took Peter, James and John further into the garden. It was there Jesus additionally asked these three friends to watch and pray, for he was experiencing grief, distress and sorrow. Jesus’ visit to this beautiful garden would now become the place of a pleading prayer to his Father. 

Jesus’ reliance on prayer as he prepared for the trials ahead was profound. His prayers revealed his desire to avoid separation from God, as well as the silence required during accusations of blasphemy. In the distress of praying over these things three times, he demonstrated faith, discipline, obedience and resilience, modeling a path for Christians to follow. Meanwhile, his closest friends failed to provide the support Jesus sought, which highlights our human frailty.

When Judas arrived to betray him, Jesus calmly embraced his destiny, showing dignity and control even as betrayal unfolds. Jesus responded to Judas’ kiss of friendship as the sign of betrayal – not with anger and emotion – but with a clear and undaunted focus. He essentially told Judas to finish what he had started.

It was only a short time later that upon observing what was happening, Peter leaped into action. He grabbed a sword and wounded the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus again stepped up and stopped the violence. His message was again clear and simple as he emphasized peace over violence. He them healed the injured man.

The entire Garden of Gethsemane experience reveals Jesus’ willing sacrifice, his steadfastness in the face of betrayal and suffering, and his unwavering commitment to God’s will. It invites observers to ponder how they might face challenges with the same godly grace and discipline. The Garden of Gethsemane serves as a powerful testament to Jesus’ humanity, faith and submission, offering profound lessons on resilience, prayer and trust in divine purpose.

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The vision on the Mount of Transfiguration was one of those magnificent events in the life of Jesus that gives us some insight into just how remarkable his earthly ministry was. This vision had everything – it had Jesus’ very appearance changed to one of brightness and glory. It had the appearance of two Old Testament powerhouses who were talking with this glorious version of Jesus. It had the booming voice of God from heaven. And then it had the sudden removal of all these amazing elements and the world suddenly became normal again. In the midst of all of the glory and splendor shown here, we need to ask some simple questions. First, why did this happen? Second, what can we take away from this for our own benefit and understanding?

Peter, James and John were given a unique privilege when Jesus invited them to go with him when he went up to a mountain to pray. He must have been praying for a long time because the account tells us that they fell asleep. Upon awakening, they saw a vision – a bright, glorious and shocking vision. There before them was Jesus, only he did not look like the man they knew. In this vision, his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were bright and white beyond anything they had ever seen. To add to this sensational spectacle, they saw Moses and Elijah standing there talking to Jesus about his coming crucifixion. This certainly was not what they expected when Jesus had invited them to join him on this mountain! The vision accelerated, as it next included being engulfed in a bright cloud and hearing the booming voice of God proclaiming Jesus as His beloved son. This part terrified them. The next thing they knew, it was all over.

First, what are Moses and Elijah doing here? We know they weren’t really there, as the resurrection had obviously not yet begun. Jesus had previously told us that no man had yet ascended up to the Father. Their appearance in this vision had to symbolize something significant, but what was it? Why were they talking to Jesus about his crucifixion? And what about the booming voice from heaven? What was the reason for all of this incredible drama?

Check out our January 20, 2025 podcast, “What Really Happened on the Mount of Transfiguration?” for answers. We put what the apostles were told a week before the event into perspective to help us understand what they were supposed to learn. Next, we consider what Moses and Elijah represented and why their specific likenesses were used in this message. We also explore the connection between this event and only other time in the Bible that Jesus, Moses and Elijah are linked. And then, of course, there was the voice from heaven. Join us as we walk through this fascinating event and find the inspiring answers to our questions!

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Christians differ on a lot of things, and sometimes these differences can be troublesome. The basics we all agree on are centered on Jesus. We believe he died for our sins, and we believe he came to give his truest followers the opportunity to be in heaven with him. We also believe he is the Messiah. As a matter of fact, we look at the Old Testament prophecies and have a hard time comprehending why those of the Jewish faith aren’t able to recognize his Messiahship. It seems obvious! Obvious until we realize a few startling scriptural facts. First, the label “Messiah” is only used twice in the Old Testament. It is only used twice in the New Testament as well. This means that what we see as overtly obvious, may in fact be more hidden than we ever thought. So, what do we do now?

The word translated “Messiah” only twice in the Old Testament is used 37 other times. Because this word simply means “anointed” or “consecrated,” it actually applies to many individuals. The priests of the Jewish Law were “anointed.” Kings of Israel were “anointed.” As a matter of fact, King Saul was one of those anointed ones. When Saul was pursuing David to kill him and David had opportunities to do Saul harm, his reaction was always the same. He continually repeated that he would not touch the Lord’s anointed.

This tells us the position of being one anointed by God is a very special designation. It shows us they have been chosen to do God’s work and represent His way. So, does this minimize our Christian perspective of THE Messiah? Does it make him just another chosen one in a long line of chosen ones? While the short answer is “of course not,” this answer certainly needs a lot of explanation. By digging into many Old Testament prophecies, we learn that Messiah is represented in many different ways. While rarely called the Messiah, he is often described as a king, a priest, a shepherd and a lawgiver. The list goes on.

This understanding helps us to see the comprehensiveness of exactly who Messiah is and what he stands for. However, there are other issues. According to the perspective of some Jewish faithful, Jesus could not be the Messiah due to several points. First, they claim the genealogies given in Matthew and Luke have a variety of problems that would disqualify Jesus. Second, they state that because Jesus died, it means he failed, and that failure disqualifies him as well. What do we do with all of this? Check out our December 18, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Know Jesus is the Promised Messiah? (Part I)” for answers. We open several prophecies, put scriptures in context and uncover the deep truths of how Jesus is plainly shown as THE Messiah. There are inspiring scriptural discoveries here you don’t want to miss!

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If you were going to die tomorrow, how would you spend your day today? Jesus faced that very serious question 2,000 years ago. His answer was obvious. He would spend that entire evening with those whom he was closest to. He would prepare them, teach them and encourage them, for what was coming would be shocking and horrifying. The world of the disciples would be shattered, and he wanted them to be as ready as their imperfect minds could allow them to be. What he taught them that night through his words and actions was extraordinary. Even though it is not possible for us to get our arms around the depth of Jesus’ compassion, wisdom, love and clarity of mind, we are going to try anyway. What we find is pure spiritual inspiration.

The Gospel of John, Chapters 13-16 are a unique view into the heart and mind of Jesus the night before he was taken to be crucified. They represent a detailed recounting of the several hours that Jesus had with his most faithful disciples in the upper room and beyond. John began writing his record of these events with a specific introduction. He told us that Jesus knew it was his time to die, and even more significantly, he told us Jesus knew he was going back to the Father. How could he know he was going back to the Father when he had not yet withstood the horrors of crucifixion? How could he know he wouldn’t break under pressure?

It is hard to exactly determine how Jesus knew he wouldn’t break under the pressure of the cross. It is much easier to understand what he was doing with that knowledge in final hours of freedom as a man. Jesus used these precious final hours of freedom to protect and prepare followers.  He protected them by telling them of the trials they would face in the immediate future. Knowledge is power if we choose to apply it and the disciples were given that power. Even though they all faltered, the power of Jesus’ words provided a solid foundation for them to all recover upon.

He knew these individuals who were with him the night before his crucifixion would be the very foundation pillars of Christianity. So, he taught them. He taught them how to be leaders when he washed their feet. He taught them what the price of Christianity was by foreshadowing their coming persecution.  He taught them how connected they were through the illustration of the vine and the branches. He taught them about the role God’s spirit would play in their everyday lives. He taught them to love one another as he loved them.

These lessons barely scratch the surface. Check out our March 29, 2021 podcast, “How did Jesus Prepare His Disciples for His Death?” for more.  No group of followers were ever given so much to work with.  Join us as we uncover their lessons and join them in being prepared!

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Two of the most dramatic lives recorded in the Bible belong to Moses and Jesus. The heroics of Moses life extended over a lifetime of 120 years, whereas Jesus’ heroics were all accomplished within a 33-year lifetime. Despite the dramatic time differences, there are startling similarities between these two deliverers. Moses’ life was recorded and detailed in four Old Testament books of the Bible. Jesus’ life was recorded and detailed in four New Testament books. Both of them were plainly or prophetically referenced throughout the entire Bible. They each executed the two greatest deliverances in the history of mankind – Moses walked his people out of Egypt, and Jesus ransomed the entire human race from sin. This all just scratches the surface! As we look into specific events of Moses’ life as deliverer of a nation, we will see inspiring revelations into the life of Jesus as deliverer of the world. Comparing Moses to Jesus makes for a revealing Bible study, as there is an extensive list of striking similarities between the two.

Moses told Israel there would come a prophet from among them who would be like him. The Bible unequivocally tells us he was speaking about Jesus. This revelation by Moses invites us to investigate the significant comparisons between these two leaders. By Moses prophesying that Jesus would be like him, it stands to reason that Moses’ life would a be pattern for Jesus’ life. Sure enough, we find that the similarities from the beginning to the end of these two lives are staggering.

For example, think about the simple comparisons between these two lives in relation to their birth and infancy. Both Moses and Jesus were born at times when Israel was not a free nation. They were both were born to parents who were faithful to God. As infants, both of their lives were under threat by the present governing powers of their time. Even though Moses was raised as an Egyptian prince, his birth parents had a powerful influence on him. Parenting and nurturing a deliverer is no easy task, and God chose parents who were up to the task. Moses grew up, left Egypt and renounced his Egyptian upbringing. Jesus was taken to Egypt for protection from Herod and literally came out of Egypt just as Moses did.

Check out our February 1, 2021 podcast, “What Does Moses the Deliverer Teach Us About Jesus?” for more. We compare the characters of Moses and Jesus and look at their leadership. This episode even includes a comparison of some of the miracles they each performed.

There are many reasons, not the least of which is to remind us that God always had a plan. God foreshadowed the actions and responses of Jesus as the world’s savior in Moses’ life as deliverer of Israel.  The message here is one of great comfort. God has everything in His ultimate control. He does not need to make things up as He goes; rather, He creates His plan and watches it unfold!

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Easter Sunday is a widely celebrated holiday. It is a day that represents life. For Christians, it represents life in its highest form because it is about the resurrection of Jesus. It is far too easy to lose the deep meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory in the commotion and fanfare of Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny and Easter chocolate. As Christians, we know Jesus’ resurrection was a world-changing experience, but was it a personal, life-changing experience for me? How does the fact of Jesus being in heaven again with God affect me every day? To trace the kind of changes his resurrection can have on us, we need to look at the kind of effect it had on some who were there and experienced it first-hand. What did they see? What did they change?

Being a witness to the most sensational events in human history has to have an impact! Never in the experience of mankind had anyone ever been killed, raised from the dead and come back as a being with spiritual powers. Further, no one else had ever walked among others and then was raised to heaven before many witnesses. In this episode, we highlighted the experiences of a few who were there for the whole thing. They were followers of Jesus, they saw the crucifixion, they heard about the empty tomb and they had encounters with the risen Lord. In a very short period, their faith went from shattered to sure.

Just one of theses examples is the account of the two disciples walking to Emmaus on the day Jesus’ tomb was discovered to be empty. Sad and confused, they walked that seven-mile trek and tried to piece together the crucifixion with their dashed hopes for the future. As the story relates, a stranger observed their sorrow and began to walk along with them. He shared prophecies and reasoning that helped then to see these events as God’s will. We know that this stranger was Jesus himself, but their eyes were initially shielded from that truth. Once they found out, their lives were changed!

Even though I wasn’t there to physically witness these events, I am here now to be a spiritual witness to these things. What kind of changes can I see in myself as I embrace the reality of Jesus being raised? He is now at the right hand of God, so where does that put me? Has my life been clearly and outwardly transformed as a result of what I see?

Check out our April 13, 2020 podcast, “Jesus is Raised. How Does that Change Me?” for more. We continue to break down the story of the road to Emmaus as well as several others. How did Jesus ease his followers into acceptance of his miraculous resurrection? How did they grow and respond as a result? And again, what about me? How can I daily learn to live Jesus’ resurrection?

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Love your enemies. Once you dig down to the deepest meaning of this phrase it is perhaps one of the most daunting tasks ever put upon anyone. Jesus not only taught us in detail how to love our enemies, he showed us in living color how to profoundly care for them. He literally “walked the walk” – all the way to Calvary. As we look back upon the death and resurrection of Jesus, we will pause and consider his applying the principle of selfless, sacrificial love and then transforming it into a timeless reality. How did Jesus show devotion to those who were devious and hostile, attachment to those who antagonized him and affection for those who became his adversaries? Why should we love our enemies?

When you define loving your enemies you think about wanting what is best for them, about wishing them no harm and about acting in a way that shows these desires.  To see the power of Jesus’ example in fulfilling these qualities, we need to focus on the details of how he actually engaged those who stood against him, as well as the results of that engagement.  One of many great examples of this would be his conversations with Pilate on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.  Here was Jesus, being accused of things he simply did not do.  He stood before Pilate as an already-condemned man according to the Jewish leadership of Jerusalem.  Pilate was the one man who could have stopped the conspiracy.  He was the one authority who could have said, “No, I will not consent to the crucifixion of an entirely innocent man.”

The interchange between them is both fascinating and revealing.  Pilate questioned Jesus with several relevant inquiries.  Jesus answered him with specific kinds of answers designed to be respectful, reveal pertinent truth but not bargain or plead for his life or for justice.  Jesus told Pilate all he needed to know regarding who he was and what he stood for.  Pilate heard and then feared, for he knew the wrath of Jesus’ accusers was both blind and ferocious.  While Jesus’ life was hanging in the balance of the power of the governor’s position, Jesus reminded Pilate that he was merely a man and had his authority only because God himself allowed him to.  So, Jesus told Pilate what he needed to know and Jesus allowed Pilate to cave in to the fury of his accusers.  Jesus showed him respect, gave him truth and accepted his spineless decision.

In our April 2, 2018 podcast, “Condemned to Death, How did Jesus Love His Enemies?” we talked about the details of this account as well as several others.  What we found was a pattern of calm wisdom applied by Jesus.  At every turn he protected those around him, gave the opportunity for truth to be seen and hypocrisy to be exposed.  The telling and conversation about these stories sets your table for an inspiring look at who Jesus really is as well as a profound understanding of what it means to love your enemies. Listen in and see for yourself!

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