Good Friday Reflections
April 3, 2026
By Amy Orr-Ewing
Amy Orr-Ewing offers Good Friday reflections on the events of the crucifixion, looking at how Jesus’ death reveals His love, identity, sacrifice, and life.
Run time for this video is 39 minutes.
https://youtu.be/TozlBSfH1q8?si=7WQ_ARRUVwDCyA38
In Celebration of Easter
April 2, 2026
Quotations on the death and resurrection of Jesus
By Maria Fontaine
Audio length: 10:12
Download Audio (9.3MB)
Here are some beautiful thoughts on the theme of the death and resurrection of Jesus. As Christians, it’s such a core part of our lives, our purpose, our very existence.
I pray that the following quotes can be a powerful reminder of who we belong to and a tool to inspire those who are seeking truth to look to Jesus in their times of need and find everything they have longed for.
Genesis ends with Joseph’s death. Deuteronomy ends with Moses’ death. Joshua ends with Joshua’s death. The Gospels end with Jesus’ resurrection. And that changes everything.—Tony Merida
Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ’s wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation.—Matthew Henry
“What are we to make of Christ?” There is no question of what we can make of Him, it is entirely a question of what He intends to make of us. You must accept or reject the story.—C. S. Lewis
Our God is a God of restoration, not destruction. He is a God of renewal, redemption, regeneration, resurrection. God loves to redo and restore. “I am making everything new!” he announced (Revelation 21:5). Gone will be hospital waiting rooms, gone will be tear-stained divorce papers. Gone will be loneliness, foreclosure notices, and abuse. Gone will be cancer. God will lay hold of every atom, emotion, insect, animal, and galaxy. He will reclaim every diseased body and afflicted mind. “I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).—Max Lucado
(Maria:) The world and the news are constantly throwing death at us. War and disease and poverty, the destructive forces, abound. But Jesus overcame death, He conquered death and rose again, and that is the hope we need to pass on to this suffering world. He lives, and because of that we—and they—can live too!
It cost God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things; but to convert rebellious wills cost Him crucifixion.—C. S. Lewis
Two thousand years ago, in the Middle East, an event occurred that permanently changed the world. Because of that event, history was split. Every time you write a date, you’re using the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the focal point.—Rick Warren
(Maria:) I like that quote. Throughout the course of a day or week, I bet we all find ourselves writing dates with the year included. If every time I did so, it served as a reminder of the resurrection, I would be developing a habit that will help me place greater focus on hope and is therefore a habit that is well worth developing!
Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say
Christ will rise on Easter Day!
—Phillips Brooks
(Maria:) To reflect on how Jesus overcame death at His resurrection is so encouraging today, in the face of the negative, difficult, and evil things of this world. With all the problems of everyday life that each of us has to deal with, we need to know and be reminded that Jesus is with us every step of the way. He has overcome. We can rest in Him even in the midst of life’s battles.
We can afford to follow Him to failure. Faith dares to fail. The resurrection and the judgment will demonstrate before all worlds who won and who lost. We can wait.—A. W. Tozer
The church came into existence not to promulgate some political programme or campaign for moral renovation; but primarily to bear witness to the fact that God had intervened in history, raised Christ from the dead, and that forgiveness of sins could be received in his name.—John Lennox
If a man can predict his own death and resurrection, and pull it off, I just go with whatever that man says.—Andy Stanley
“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men” (Lamentations 3:32–33). Does God ordain? Permit? Plan? Allow? The verb is not so much the important thing as the noun: God. And God is love.—Joni Eareckson Tada
The resurrection completes the inauguration of God’s kingdom. … It is the decisive event demonstrating that God’s kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven. The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it.—N. T. Wright
(Maria:) Just think of that! We’re part of God’s kingdom that He launched on earth through the resurrection. That’s an important vision to keep in front of us. We’re not just people scattered around the world, trying to do the best we can for Him and to survive—we are part of His kingdom. And we are also His ambassadors. That’s a high calling!
Belief in the resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith. It is the Christian faith.—George Carey
The resurrection of Jesus changes the face of death for all His people. Death is no longer a prison, but a passage into God’s presence. Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there. You can nail it to a cross, wrap it in winding sheets and shut it up in a tomb, but it will rise!—Clarence W. Hall
Jesus lives! And because He lives, we live too. Death is conquered. He has overcome! Hallelujah! This life we live now is only the beginning! Let’s keep sharing this grand news with others in this hurting world. He has conquered death, and that is His promise of life for all who believe!—Joni Eareckson Tada
* * *
(Jesus:) My resurrection life within you is more actual energy than you’ve probably ever realized or utilized. You have the Spirit of My Father who raised Me from the dead dwelling within you, and just as He raised Me from the dead, so can He quicken your earthen frame by His Spirit. That’s one of My wonderful truths and promises I’ve given to you, and this resurrection power that is within you through Me has given you the same power to rise above. Claim it as yours!
* * *
(Maria:) Happy Easter to all God’s children! I hope this post uplifts your hearts and focuses your vision on God’s kingdom and your personal invitation to it, delivered to you by Jesus. What a wonderful cause for celebration!
Originally published April 2022. Republished on Anchor April 2026. Read by Debra Lee. Music by Michael Dooley.
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
The Conversion of a Roman Proconsul
April 1, 2026
Treasures
The year this account takes place was approximately AD 45, when the frontiers of the Roman Empire, guarded by its legions, stretched across the world from Britain to Persia. Referred to as the “eternal city” by the Roman poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC, Rome ruled supreme as the seat of all authority and the home of the Caesars.
Fifteen years earlier, a seemingly insignificant Jewish carpenter named Jesus of Nazareth—a man who had claimed to be the Son of God—had started a religious revolution in the far-flung Roman province of Palestine. But His movement appeared to have been crushed when He was arrested and put to death in typical Roman fashion by crucifixion. The incident was soon forgotten, and imperial Rome, in all its splendor and decadent glory, continued unchallenged in its rule of the world.
Our story takes place in Cyprus, which was a key location in the New Testament. Cyprus was the home of Mnason, who is referred to as an “early disciple” and likely one of the first converts at Pentecost (Acts 21:16). The apostle Barnabas was also a native of Cyprus (Acts 4:36).
When persecution arose in Jerusalem, the book of Acts recounts that many Christians were scattered from Jerusalem, and some “traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,” sharing the Christian faith, but only with the Jewish people (Acts 11:19). Some of the believers from Cyprus who went to Antioch (in Syria), began to share the gospel with the Greeks, “telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus,” and “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:20–21).
The apostle Paul took his first missionary journey with Barnabas and John Mark to Cyprus. They sailed from Syria to Salamis on the east end of Cyprus, where they preached in the synagogue (Acts 13:4–5). They then traveled through the whole island, until they arrived at the city of Paphos in the west (Acts 13:6).
It was at this pivotal time in history that Sergius Paulus served as the proconsul of the island of Cyprus, which was the highest-ranking office in this Roman senatorial province. In this capacity he had access to every comfort, luxury, and material pleasure that was available. But he was not satisfied and searched for truth beyond the imperialism and materialism of his day.
Sergius was an intelligent and well-read man, and he had reached the conclusion that the Roman gods and religious ceremonies were empty and meaningless superstitions. In his quest for spiritual truth, he had become associated with a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus (Acts 13:6). This man was also known as “Elymas,” which means “the magician.” In ancient history, magic was practiced for healing diseases, bringing physical blessings, cursing or harming others, and magicians were also called upon to foretell the future.
Sergius had to admit that Elymas seemed to have some kind of spiritual power, and yet, he had no peace. “What really is truth?” he wondered.
It was at this point in time that he heard that some men who were teaching the word of God had been traveling across Cyprus and had arrived in Paphos. The word had spread that these men were teaching about spiritual rebirth and the path to eternal life. Interested in hearing more, Sergius had summoned these strangers to have an audience in his court so that he could hear the word of God (Acts 13:7).
The next day, his thoughts were interrupted by an attendant who said, “Sir, the men have arrived for their appointment.” Sergius left the terrace and went down into his villa to meet them. Three Jews, who introduced themselves as Barnabas, his nephew John Mark, and Paul of Tarsus greeted him. Sergius warmly saluted his close friend and advisor, Elymas the magician, who had also just arrived.
After spreading a banquet of food and dry Cyprus wine before them, they began to talk. Sergius was delighted to find out that not only was Paul a Roman citizen, but that Barnabas was a native of Cyprus. Then Sergius said, “I’ve heard much about your religion, and that King Herod just a little over a year ago killed one of your leaders and imprisoned others, did he not? (Acts 12:1–4). I heard all kinds of evil reports about you at that time, but I wasn’t sure what to believe.
“When I heard that Herod died shortly afterwards—eaten of worms—I began to wonder if your God was judging him (Acts 12:20–23). But on the other hand, your sect is spoken against everywhere!” (Acts 28:22).
Paul answered, “At one time I myself hated Christians so much that I instigated a nationwide persecution against them. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. I broke into their houses and had both men and women thrown into prison. I not only tried to force them to speak against the name of Christ and deny their faith, but I even had them put to death!” (Acts 26:9–11).
Sergius exclaimed, “And now you have become known as the ringleader of this sect. What do you call yourselves?” Elymas sarcastically remarked, “They’re called ‘the sect of the Nazarenes’!” (Acts 24:5).
Barnabas answered, “We prefer to be known as Christians” (Acts 11:26).
As Paul went on to describe how he had been miraculously converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus, Elymas began to see how intently Sergius was listening to their words. Realizing that if his friend the governor converted to Christianity, he would no longer listen to his counsel, Elymas became filled with a jealous rage. Angrily, he interrupted and began to contradict Paul and Barnabas and spoke of the accusations that he had heard about their movement.
Sergius Paulus was confused. He was interested in the doctrine of God’s love and truth of these Christians, yet Elymas had been his close associate and adviser for a long time. Who was he to believe?
When Paul saw that Elymas was trying to turn the governor from the faith, the Holy Spirit came upon him with great power and authority, and he rebuked the magician, saying, “You are an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? The Lord’s hand is upon you, and you will be blind for a time” (Acts 13:10–11).
Immediately Elymas cried out that a dark mist had fallen upon him, and he stumbled about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Sergius was so astonished by this demonstration of God’s power that he was convinced that Paul and Barnabas had been telling him the truth, and he believed their teaching about the Lord. That day, the Roman proconsul asked Jesus Christ to come into his life and make him a new man, and he became a Christian (Acts 13:12).
Sergius Paulus did not throw off his royal robes and join Paul and Barnabas in their missionary journeys, but he determined to do what he could: He would use his power and authority as governor to help the spread of Christianity in the island of Cyprus, and protect the little groups of Christian believers that Paul and Barnabas had already started all across the island, from Salamis to Paphos, which was the seat of the Roman government on the island. Though Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark left Cyprus afterwards to continue preaching the gospel in other regions (Acts 13:13), they would later return to Cyprus to witness the growth of the church as Christianity prospered in the region under the favor and protection of Sergius Paulus.
While the New Testament doesn’t detail Sergius Paulus’s life after his conversion, his story in Acts is significant, as it is the first account of a Roman official converting to Christianity. He was also the first Gentile recorded in the book of Acts to convert after Paul and Barnabas visited Cyprus. The conversion of a high-ranking Roman official like Sergius Paulus to Christianity would have had a great impact on the spread of Christianity in the region. As a man of influence, his newfound faith could have opened doors for evangelism throughout the island and lent credibility to the Christian message.
From a dramatized Bible story series published by the Family International in 1987. Adapted and republished April 2026.
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
The Eyewitnesses
March 31, 2026
A compilation
Audio length: 12:08
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The apostles referred to themselves throughout the New Testament as eyewitnesses. The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection name at least 16 people who were eyewitnesses to the risen Savior. Over a 40-day period, Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3; 13:31). In one of his epistles, Paul recorded that Jesus was seen by over 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom were still alive at the time of his writing (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
The apostle Peter testified: “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
And the apostle John testified: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you” (1 John 1:1–3).
It is difficult to refute eyewitness testimony, especially when those testifying are willing to suffer persecution and even death for what they claim to have witnessed, as Jesus’ first followers were. People don’t give their lives for what they know to be a fabrication.—Keith Phillips
The eyewitness authority of the Gospel accounts
Many skeptics reject the eyewitness authority of the Gospel accounts, even though the early Church selected and embraced the canonical Gospels based primarily on the eyewitness authority of their authors. … As a cold-case detective who examines eyewitness accounts every day, I investigated the accounts in my book, Cold-Case Christianity; A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. My investigation led me to conclude the New Testament gospels should be considered eyewitness accounts for four reasons:
- Eyewitness authority was affirmed by the Gospel authors. The authors of the Gospels proclaimed their authority as eyewitnesses (or as chroniclers of the eyewitnesses), and the earliest believers embraced the traditional authorship of the eyewitnesses. The Gospel authors (and their sources) repeatedly identified themselves as eyewitnesses (2 Peter 1:16–17; John 21:24–25; Luke 1:1–4).
- Eyewitness authority was confirmed by the first believers. The early believers and Church Fathers accepted the Gospel accounts as eyewitness documents. Papias [c. 60 – c. 130 AD] when describing the authorship of the Gospel of Mark, for example, said, “Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not indeed in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ.”…
- Eyewitness authority was foundational to the growth of the Church. The eyewitness authority of the apostles was key to the expansion of the early Church. The apostles were unified in the manner in which they proclaimed Christ. They repeatedly identified themselves, first and foremost, as eyewitnesses (Acts 2:23–24, 32).
- Eyewitness authority was used to validate New Testament writings. Even Paul understood the importance of eyewitness authority. He continually referred to his own encounter with Jesus to establish the authenticity of his office and writings. Paul also directed his readers to other eyewitnesses who could corroborate his claims:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
The Gospels were written as eyewitness accounts within the long and rich evidential tradition of the early Christian community. The early Church placed a high value on the evidence provided by Jesus and the authority of the apostles as eyewitnesses. The Gospels were accepted and affirmed due to their status as eyewitness accounts. This authority was inherent to the Gospels, commissioned by Jesus, affirmed by the Gospel authors, confirmed by the first believers, foundational to the growth of the Church and used to validate the New Testament canon.—J. Warner Wallace1
Witnesses to His majesty
From what we read in 2 Peter 1:16–21, it seems like there were people in the earliest days of the Christian movement who were questioning whether the stories Jesus’ followers were telling could be trusted. However, in these verses Peter stated that what he was sharing with the believers weren’t “clever stories” like a fictional novel. Instead, Peter had witnessed the “powerful coming” of Jesus and [they] “saw his majestic splendour” with their own eyes.
We have an example of what Peter witnessed in the story of Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9). When Jesus went up the mountain with Peter, James, and John, he gave them a glimpse of his heavenly glory as the Son of God while he talked with Moses and Elijah, two of the most important Old Testament prophets. The story sounds like it belongs in a fantasy novel. We don’t normally see people’s faces shine like the sun and their clothes become as white as light while they talk with people who had lived more than a thousand years ago (Matthew 17:2). So when the disciples started telling people about what they saw, I can understand why their audience would be skeptical about what they were being told and question its truth.
That’s why this verse is so important for us, not only in verifying the story of Jesus’ transfiguration but validating the whole Bible. These are not stories people made up for fun. They didn’t make any money out of what they wrote like a modern novelist. Instead, the authors of the biblical books were so convinced about what they saw that they put their lives on the line for it. … That’s what is different about the Bible—it was written by people who had seen the events they had written about, or had talked with people who had witnessed them firsthand, and they were willing to die for the truth of what they had written. …
That is why it is so vitally important for us to remain in God’s word and to be listening to what God is saying through it. These aren’t just some nice stories to tell our kids. They’re not even stories that just teach us to live in good ways or to make good choices. These stories are eyewitness accounts of the glory of God which is revealed in Jesus.
When we connect with these stories, the Holy Spirit fills us with the glory of God which Jesus reveals to us and drives out the darkness in our hearts and minds. We can then bring the glory of God which we encounter in Jesus—his love, mercy, grace, and all the goodness of God—into the lives of other people and into what can often be a very dark world. As the glory of God shines in us through the presence of Jesus by his Spirit, we can bring his glory into all the circumstances of life and all the situations we might find ourselves in.—St. John’s Lutheran Church2
Not a cleverly invented story
Cleverly invented stories and creatively doctored photos … abound in every venue. I am increasingly skeptical as there is a proliferation of internet and email hoaxes. It doesn’t take much to concoct a hoax and put up a web site or email it to scores of people. Then it’s spread through forwarded email, which often directs the reader to “send this to everyone in your address book.”
Some have a certain believability about them; a “cleverly invented story.” Others are so absolutely ludicrous that it strains any credibility of the one sending it. … Free tickets to Disney World, promised blessings and veiled curses if you don’t forward on that spooky but spiritual sounding chain letter, inheritances passed on to you from strangers, bizarre stories, etc.
But Peter declares, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). What a tremendous assurance of the firm foundation our faith is grounded upon. Peter had some amazing eyewitness experiences with our Lord and he was determined that, after he departed this life, his hearers and readers would not forget the stories and essential teachings he shared (2 Peter 1:15). …
It’s so important that we never grow weary of hearing the fundamental teachings of our faith even as we grow in spiritual wisdom and maturity. That’s a powerful deterrent to the many cleverly invented stories we are subjected to year after year. …
Today let us receive rich assurance as we consider these things and remain the true defenders of the “faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?—Stephen C. Weber3
Published on Anchor March 2026. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso. Music by John Listen.
1 J. Warner Wallace, “4 Reasons We Should Accept the Gospels As Eyewitness Accounts,” Cold-Case Christianity, April 8, 2016, https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/4-reasons-we-should-accept-the-gospels-as-eyewitness-accounts/
2 “Clever Stories or Eyewitness Accounts? (2 Peter 1:16-21),” St. John’s Lutheran Church, March 3, 2020, https://ttglutheran.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/clever-stories-or-eyewitness-accounts-2-peter-116-21/
3 Stephen C. Weber, “Not A Cleverly Invented Story!” dailyencouragement.wordpress.com, August 12, 2008, https://dailyencouragement.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/not-a-cleverly-invented-story/
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
The Resurrection of Jesus—Part 2
March 30, 2026
By Peter Amsterdam
Audio length: 11:27
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After seeing the resurrected Jesus, the women followed His instructions to go and tell the disciples that He was alive. The Gospel of Luke tells us that the disciples didn’t believe what the women had said, as “these words seemed to them an idle tale” (Luke 24:10–11).
“But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened” (Luke 24:12).Though the disciples didn’t believe, Peter went to the tomb anyway, looked at the situation, and returned home marveling.
Luke goes on to recount events surrounding two disciples, neither of whom was one of the eleven apostles, who were traveling, possibly heading back to their homes.
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him (Luke 24:13–16).
This is the only mention of Emmaus within Scripture, so it is uncertain exactly where it was. As they were on their way, the two disciples engaged in discussion about recent events. It had been a difficult time. Jesus had been arrested, condemned to death, hung on a cross, and buried, but then three days later, His tomb was empty. Since they were leaving Jerusalem, perhaps they were heading home to return to their previous lives.
However, the unexpected happened. While they were talking together about all that occurred, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them, though they were kept from recognizing Him. In the Gospel of John we find a similar situation, where Jesus’ disciples didn’t recognize the risen Christ, as “Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus” (John 21:4). Mary Magdalene also didn’t initially recognize the risen Christ: “She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus” (John 20:14).
Jesus entered into a conversation with the two disciples who were walking along the road.
And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (Luke 24:17–18).
Cleopas was rather shocked at Jesus’ question. It was hard for him to believe that anyone coming out of Jerusalem could not know what had happened over the past days, as Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were so public.
And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened” (Luke 24:19–21).
Cleopas and the other disciple had believed in Jesus and had high hopes for Him and His ministry; however, after all that transpired with His arrest and crucifixion, they were disappointed. Though He did mighty things during His ministry, including raising the dead, He was rejected by the chief priests and rulers, who were responsible for His being condemned to death, as they had handed Him over to the Romans for crucifixion.
It had been three days since Jesus’ crucifixion—the three days He had predicted throughout the Gospels (Luke 9:21–22; Matthew 20:17–19).
The two disciples then summarized what Luke wrote in the first part of this chapter about the women going to the tomb and finding that Jesus was not there:
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see (Luke 24:22–24).
This account included the empty tomb, the appearance of the angels, and the message that Jesus was alive. However, these two said that the disciples who had gone to the tomb found it empty; they did not see Jesus. Jesus responded to their account by saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25–26)
In referring to the two disciples as foolish and slow of heart to believe, Jesus was making the point that they weren’t understanding what was obvious. Jesus pointed out that there was much Old Testament teaching on this, as He referred to “all” that the prophets had spoken. He stated what the two disciples should have known from Scripture, that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to come into His glory, as it says in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:5–7).
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Jesus continued to explain to Cleopas and the other unnamed disciple what all of Scripture (the Old Testament) had to say about the promised Messiah, Jesus.
As Jesus and the two disciples approached the town of Emmaus, Jesus acted as if He was going to continue on, perhaps heading to the next town. Because it was late in the day and would soon be dark, the disciples urged Him to remain with them. Jesus agreed, and “when he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:28–31).
When the two disciples reclined at the table with Jesus, they still didn’t know that it was Him. Once their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, He disappeared. Throughout the Gospels, we are told that Jesus appeared and disappeared among the believers after His resurrection. (See Luke 24:36; John 20:19.)
After Jesus disappeared, the two disciples said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’” (Luke 24:32). Once the two disciples knew that it was Jesus who had been with them, they expressed the effect that His presence and words had on them with great emotion.
They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:33–35).
The two disciples wanted to pass on the news that they had seen Jesus, so they reversed course and returned to Jerusalem. But before they had a chance to give their account, another report came. They were told, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
As they were talking about these two encounters with the risen Christ, “Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’” But the apostles and the others with them were surprised and scared, thinking that they had seen a spirit (Luke 24:36–37). In order to calm them, Jesus asked them two questions.
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet (Luke 24:38–40).
Jesus instructed the disciples to look at His hands and feet, to see the wounds He bore from being crucified. This passage, as well as one from the book of John (John 20:25), shows that Jesus was nailed to the cross and not just tied to it. Besides looking at His wounds, He instructed them to touch Him, as He wanted them to see that He had a body of flesh and bones and was not a disembodied spirit.
And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them (Luke 24:41–43).
In asking for something to eat and sitting at the table with them eating a meal, Jesus demonstrated that He wasn’t a ghost or some sort of phantom. It also shows evidence that Jesus truly rose from the dead. He appeared to them, spoke with them, and ate with them. There was no question about His resurrection from death.
“Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled’” (Luke 24:44). Jesus’ reference to my words that I spoke to you referred not to His general teaching, but rather His teaching regarding His death and resurrection.
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:45–47).
Through Jesus’ explanation, the disciples better understood Scripture’s teaching about His death and resurrection, in contrast to earlier on when they lacked in understanding due to some things being concealed or hidden from them (Luke 9:45, 18:34).
Another point He makes is that “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.” The future of God’s plan is expressed here: The message of repentance and forgiveness is to be proclaimed everywhere. Jesus’ instruction was that they begin their mission in Jerusalem, and then eventually move beyond, to take the gospel to all the world.
Jesus goes on to say, “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48). The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. They were commissioned to share their personal experience of the risen Christ, and their mission was to proclaim the message to all nations—as is the mission of His disciples today. As followers of Jesus, we, too, are all called to “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).
Originally published July 2022. Adapted and republished March 2026. Read by Jon Marc.
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
23: The New Heaven and New Earth (part 1)
A Study of Revelation: Revelation Chapter 21
A Study of Revelation
David Brandt Berg
1981-05-01
Revelation chapter 21: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away: and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues”—that is the wrath of God—“and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” Like a diamond, in other words.
“And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations”—or twelve levels—“and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
“And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and height of it are equal.”—12,000 furlongs, or 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long, and 1500 miles high!
That is a very big city: 1500 miles in each direction (2400 km), wide, long, and high, with about 5280 feet to the mile. That’s almost beyond comprehension! Such a city would cover half of the United States, all of Europe, or half of Africa, and extend far above the stratosphere, higher than many of the satellites which are fired into space.
“And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits”—that’s 216 feet high (about 75 meters)—“according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.” Two hundred and sixteen feet high, that’s pretty high. That’s higher than most men would be able to climb, a sheer wall or cliff. That’s the equivalent of about a 25-story building. “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” This is a sort of golden crystal glass, transparent.
“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones: The first foundation was jasper.” That’s diamond. “The second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony (sparkling quartz); the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx (striped onyx); the sixth, sardius (ruby); the seventh, chrysolite (olivine); the eighth, beryl (magic crystal aquamarine); the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus (green emerald or jade); the eleventh, a jacinth (amber); the twelfth, an amethyst (clear purple quartz)” (Revelation 21:1–20). These are precious jewels of all colors of the rainbow. What a city!
Each level of the foundations of this wall was composed of a different kind of precious stone. Imagine a wall 216 feet high of 12 levels, each about 18 feet or two stories high, each level a solid diamond, a solid emerald, a solid amethyst, etc.—A wall 1500 miles long and 1500 miles wide, a total of 6000 miles long, completely around the city. Six thousand miles of solid diamonds, 6000 miles of solid emeralds, 6000 miles of solid rubies, etc. Man has never seen such beauty, such riches, such luxuries, such wealth of precious stones as you’re going to see in the day of the Heavenly City come down to earthl! Even the wall is gorgeous. The wall alone would be enough to thrill the heart of any connoisseur of precious stones.
But the wall is nothing compared to the city itself, one gigantic beautiful crystal golden city—a huge pyramid 1500 miles wide and long. That’s 1500 miles each direction, and 1500 miles high. Commercial planes fly from 30,000 to 40,000 feet up, from six to seven or eight miles high. The Holy City is going to be not a mere six or seven or eight miles high; it is going to be 1500 miles high and 1500 miles square, covering an area of 2.25 million square miles at the base.
Some critics and skeptics have said, “Well, if heaven is to contain all of the billions of souls who have passed on through 6,000 years of history, even the few billion who were saved, how’s it going to hold so many people?” You can figure it out for yourself if you’re a good mathematician or you have a calculator handy. Figure this pyramid’s volume by squaring the base and multiplying it by one-third the height—1500 miles by 1500 miles by 500 miles—and you’ll find it contains about 1.125 billion cubic miles.
Verse 21: “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several (single) gate was of one pearl.” Can you imagine a gate of such a city with a wall 216 feet high? The gates in any way comparable to the size of the wall would have to be at least large enough to permit a man to pass standing erect, and probably on horseback, which would add at least another four feet, probably 10 or 12 feet high at the least, if not bigger.
Can you imagine a pearl with a diameter of 10 or 12 feet? That’s the size of the gates, each gate a pearl, 12 gates altogether, three gates on each side of the city, north and south, east and west. Being gates, they must be made for the purpose of going in and out of the city.
So we, the rulers of this earth in that day, will be able to pass through these gates of pearl, each gate a single beautiful huge pearl. Think of that! But not those on the outside; they’re excluded from the city because they have a lot to learn. They were unsaved, and they’re still in the process of learning righteousness and being healed of their sins. It’s in the Bible.
Verse 21: “And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” The gold of this earth is not transparent and it doesn’t look like glass; it’s very heavy, solid. The gold of the city will be transparent glass like golden crystal.
Verse 22: “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” You say, “Here’s a contradiction in the Scripture, a mistake. John saw a temple in heaven; he even saw the Ark in the temple. He saw the altar in the temple and the souls under it, several glimpses of the temple in heaven.” Yes, he did, but that was before this time—before the new earth, before this holy city came down from God out of heaven to the earth so that God can dwell among men, His temple.
This gigantic, amazing city, 1500 miles square and 1500 miles high, has no temple, no church, no cathedral, no synagogue, no mosque. Before this time John saw a temple in heaven, but now in the final marvelous, eternal city of God there is no temple. Why?
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” God Himself and His Son are the temple of it; they are the place of worship. You’re going to worship in the Lord without benefit of buildings or temples or synagogues or mosques or cathedrals or churches.
God is against temple worship, and the great temple that He allowed to be built was destroyed. It was only built because David wanted it, Solomon insisted, and so the Lord allowed them to build Him a temple, though they themselves acknowledged that it was ridiculous to think that they could build Him a house that He could dwell in, when not even the whole universe could contain Him (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6).
He later said, “I want to live in the hearts of men, I want to live in your heart. The Father seeketh such to serve Him. For the kingdom of God cometh not with observation, but the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20–21). For Jesus said, “The time is coming and now is when ye shall neither worship God here nor there, but everyone that worships the Lord shall worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21–24). That’s the place of worship, in your heart and in His truth, His Word.
If you’re saved, you’ll not spend eternity in heaven. You’ll go up to be in heaven with the Lord until the Rapture and the Resurrection occurs at the end of the Tribulation, but then we’re going to come back to earth.
He’s going to purify and completely purge the surface of the earth with fire and destroy the atmospheric heavens and bring a new heaven and a new earth, where we’re going to be forever. Not up in faraway space, but right here on the earth in this new earth and this new heaven. (to be continued)
Antichrist Wars Before the Covenant
David Brandt Berg
1986-05-02
The Antichrist may already be in power when he signs the seven-year pact, the covenant. We usually think of the Antichrist’s rule beginning with the covenant, but that isn’t necessarily so. It’s possible he will be in power for more than seven years.
It’s a little ridiculous to suppose that he would have enough power to get the world to sign the seven-year covenant unless he already had enough power and influence to persuade them to sign that covenant. He’s not just some nobody who suddenly stands up and offers the world the solution on a silver platter without already being known and having some influence and some power. Otherwise they wouldn’t listen to him. So he’s got to get into some position of power before that, and from reading over Daniel 11 again, I’m convinced that he is even having wars before he finally persuades them to sign the covenant.
In Daniel 11, verse 21, that’s where he really begins. “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.”
(Verse 22:) “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him.” He carries on a war or God knows how many wars or against whom, in order to establish his worldwide power. “And shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.” Here again, we remember that they will be broken, not him. “And yea, he’s also the prince of the covenant.” That doesn’t necessarily mean the covenant’s been made yet; it could be just identifying him as the one being talked about, although it’s quite possible this is when the covenant is made.
(Verse 23:) “And after the league made with him, he shall work deceitfully.” Now this probably implies the covenant, “the league made with him.” “For he shall come up and shall become strong with a small people.”
(Verse 24:) “He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and the spoil, and riches.” Spoil is something you rob from somebody. Prey is something you usually kill. And he takes it by the arms of a flood. In other words, he’ll come in with arms like a flood; he’ll conquer.
It says, “They shall be overflown from before him, and shall be broken.” There are arms, he comes in like a flood, they’re overthrown, they’re broken. And then they’re apparently forced to sign a covenant or a league, “the league made with him.”
Then he stirs up his great army against the king of the south, and it sounds like he defeats him. But then they sit down and lie at one table and make some kind of pact. Maybe that’s the covenant. The covenant is made, but it is made by force. The first league is forced. Then sitting down at the same table with the king of the south that he’s just defeated, that’s obviously a forced covenant, if that’s the covenant. Whichever one it is, it’s got to be by force, by war, or threat of war, or by the preponderance of arms.
This idea that there can’t be any war before the covenant is signed is a misconception. There are already a bunch of wars, and apparently he’s going to come to power with more show of force. When the Antichrist arises, he’s apparently going to be powerful enough to be feared by the religions, and that’s why they insist that he confirm the covenant. Then he goes on with his climb to power and his war with the south, and when he’s finished that and made peace, he is ready to attack the covenant and break it and introduce the Tribulation.
But just how and when he’s revealed, or just exactly how and when he signs the covenant and with whom, these are points that are not too clear. It’s clear that they’re going to happen, but it’s not too clear when. It appears to me to be fairly clear that he’s got to be a world leader before he can sign such a covenant with all the religions of the world. Therefore I don’t see how his signing of this covenant could be secret, because to have any effect it’s got to be known worldwide, both by him and by the religions.
God bless and keep you to the end! Or as far as the Lord wants you to go. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Copyright © May 1986 by the Family International
The Finish Comes Fast
March 27, 2026
By Tim Keesee
More than once, I’ve had such close calls with death that I felt the thinness of the wall between this world and the next. Those moments on the edge of my mortality—whether underwater or in a war zone—were at first breathtaking with suddenness and then sobering with what-ifs. But I was too busy living to think much about dying, and soon those close calls were in the rearview mirror.
However, my latest death threat is no near-miss. Nor can I outrun it. Successive cancer diagnoses in 2019, 2020, and 2021 have struck hard. My situation, though, is no different from what all of us will face because cancer is just another way to die. And one kindness from God I’ve seen (and I can count many of his kindnesses to me in this stretch of my journey) is that cancer has given me a clearer focus on the finish line.
(Read this article here.)
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-finish-comes-fast
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
Friends and Disciples
March 26, 2026
Words from Jesus
Audio length: 10:00
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No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.—John 15:15
When I was on Earth‚ I was considered by many to be a great teacher, and people came from afar to hear My words. My disciples reverenced My teachings, and respected and loved Me. I not only taught them and guided them into truth and eternal life, but I also gave them My time and My friendship.
They saw that I loved each of them personally and cared about their hearts, what they thought‚ and their physical well-being. I understood them, and they were My friends, those I entrusted with continuing the mission that I had come to Earth to fulfill. And as I prepared to give My life for the salvation of humanity, I told My disciples that I no longer called them My servants but My friends.
There is no greater love than this, that a man gives His life for His friends, and everyone who loves and follows Me and My Word is My friend (John 15:13–14). My disciples knew they could seek out My assistance, counsel, support and prayer as often as they needed it, and likewise you can come to Me for your every need. For I am your Good Shepherd, Friend, and Savior.
Loving God first
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he [Jesus] asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”—Mark 3:33–35
I know and experienced during My earth life how difficult it is when your family members and relatives do not understand your faith in Me. At one point when the crowd that followed Me was so great that My disciples and I couldn’t make time to eat, My family sought to forcibly take me away and even thought I was out of My mind (Mark 3:20–21).
You may find that some of the people who know you have a harder time receiving your witness. I once told the disciples that a prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own home (Mark 6:4). The unbelief of people in My hometown was so great that I did not do many mighty works among them (Matthew 13:53–58).
I have called you to love your neighbor as yourself—including your family and relatives. But I have also called you, as My disciple, to make your love for Me your first priority, which means putting Me first in your life (Luke 14:26). So seek first My will and My kingdom, and trust that all the rest will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).
Traveling dark roads
For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.—Hebrews 2:17–18
As your high priest, I am filled with compassion and understanding for everything that you experience in life. I understand the pain of loss, defeat, and suffering, and the times when you feel overwhelmed and don’t see the way forward. I understand the depths of sorrow and loss you experience over losing those you care deeply for.
I have loved you from the foundation of the world, and chose to suffer and die for your eternal redemption (Ephesians 1:4–6). When you weep in anguish at what you see as the loss of the things most dear and precious to you, know that I understand your pain and loss and I empathize with your weaknesses and struggles (Hebrews 4:15). During the dark times, have faith that as you place your trust in Me and commit all your cares to Me, I will bring you through the difficulties, loss, and failure you face in life. Through these times, you will gain priceless gifts of compassion, love for others, and the ability to sympathize with people through your experience.
My disciples traveled some of the darkest roads in preparation for fulling the commission I had for them. Peter experienced the ultimate shame in denying that he even knew Me before becoming a fearless witness and worker of miracles in My name. Paul persecuted My early disciples before I appeared to him and called him to be a powerful witness and leader of My church. From their weakness and failure, I transformed them into great testimonies of faith and witnesses in My name.
So remember My disciples who went before you and consider the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. My power to transform lives is the same—yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:7–8). Take hope and remember that even when you are in the depths of despair or going through dark and difficult times, I am always with you and will bring you through every time of difficulty and draw you closer to Me.
A plan and a purpose
I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.—Philippians 1:6
When you are facing challenging times, keep your eyes on your heavenly future. Trust that I have a purpose and a plan in everything you experience, even if you are not able to see or understand it. Remember the words I cried out to My Father during the dark hours before My suffering and death when I asked Him if it were possible for Him to remove this cup of My suffering from Me. “Nevertheless, not My will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
I took strength in the knowledge that My sufferings were not worthy to be compared with the glory that was to be revealed through My death, resurrection, and ascension (Romans 8:18). And you, My children, can know that the things you endure in this world are not worth comparing to the place I have prepared for you so that where I am, you may be also (John 14:3). As I am glorified in My Father, so you will be glorified in Me (John 17:4–10).
Therefore, be encouraged. Walk on, knowing that there is a plan for your life and what you experience and that you have a purpose and a calling. Let this knowledge fill your heart and cause you to stand strong in your faith and trust in Me no matter what comes your way. I will bring the good work I began in your life to completion. It will be worth it all—every trial, every sacrifice, and every difficulty when you finish your life’s mission and fully enter into My eternal love and joy.
Originally published July 2005. Adapted and republished March 2026. Read by Reuben Ruchevsky. Music by Michael Dooley.
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
Saved by a Tract
March 25, 2026
By Curtis Peter van Gorder
“In scattering divine literature, we liberate thistledown, laden with precious seed, which, blown by the winds of the Spirit, floats over the world. The printed page never flinches, never shows cowardice, it is never tempted to compromise, it never tires, never grows disheartened. It travels cheaply, and requires no hired hall. It works while we sleep, it never loses its temper, and it works long after we are dead. The printed page is a visitor which gets inside the home, and stays there. It always sticks to what it has said and never answers back. It is bait that is left permanently in the water in our attempt to be fishers of men.”—D.M. Panton
A local fellowship that I work with here in Dresden, Germany, received a donation of about 10,000 publications to distribute. It had testimonies from a wide range of people: from ex-porn stars to showbiz celebrities who had all come to Christ. The man who sponsored this project is a wealthy shoe manufacturer who discovered Christ through a tract. His plan was to print enough of these papers to put one in every mailbox in Germany. (In the United States, this is illegal and can result in fines, but here in Germany it is allowed if there isn’t a sticker on the mailbox saying that they don’t want anything other than mail. It is good to check out the laws of your land.)
Our fellowship group, along with other churches in the area, coordinated efforts so that each had a certain area to cover. This was also done in other cities throughout Germany. Maps were drawn up, areas were assigned, and out we went. We went out regularly to distribute these publications and our own tracts as well.
About 80% of the people in the fellowship I work with are immigrants from Iran who have fled a repressive regime and have become Christians. As they are still learning the local language, this was a good opportunity for them to participate and share their faith with Germans.
I thought that this approach might be a way for some of us who, for various health or other reasons, can’t get out so much. Of course, there are pros and cons to this method of placing tracts in mailboxes. One pro is that the people receiving the gospel literature can look it over before either accepting or rejecting the message, whereas if they see someone in the street distributing tracts, they might be in a hurry or not really know what it is or be pressured to ignore it by friends, etc. Of course, the cons are that the recipient doesn’t see your happy smile and they might throw the lit away as junk mail. However, regardless of how you distribute tracts, they are powerful tools to go where you can’t and will continue to speak even when we are not present in person. Truthfully, God can use a tract to touch people no matter how they get it.
Many people have been impacted by the power of gospel tracts who never met the distributor of the tract, such as Hudson Taylor. At 17 he wandered into his father’s library, and not wanting to dive into one of the lengthy tomes on the shelves, he picked up a tract that was on the desk. Hudson was struck by the insight that Christ had finished the work of our salvation. This revelation led him to accept Christ and go on to serve the Lord faithfully for 51 years in China.
Stories abound about the power of a tract. Sadhu Sundar Singh was passing out Gospels of John on a train. He gave it to one passenger who angrily ripped it up and tossed the pieces out the window. A man walking on the tracks picked up one of the bits, which contained the words “The Bread of Life” in his native language. He was intrigued by this phrase and wondered what it meant. Eventually, he found out it was from the New Testament and read the whole story in John chapter six. He was so moved that he became a pastor and evangelist for that area.
An atheist received a tract in his postbox that proclaimed, “Prepare to meet thy God!” He was about to burn it in disgust but decided it would be clever to send it on as a practical joke to his fellow atheist friend. However, his plan backfired because the tract touched the one who received it so much that he converted and came to faith. He passed it on to another friend, who also came to faith in the Lord.
Whether you are lowly or great, you can pass out tracts. Queen Mary of Britain (1867–1953) made it a habit to pass out tracts in her travels from place to place.
A chief’s son from the kingdom of Arakan, which is about 250 miles from Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma), received a gospel tract which he could not read. He found a missionary who taught him, and in 48 hours he was able to read the tract. He took a basket full of tracts and returned to his home, where he attempted to preach the gospel to his people. As he was a man of influence, many came to hear him, and he baptized over 1,500 people. The cost to print that tract was one cent, a truly worthwhile investment!
Here are some quotes on the effectiveness of gospel tracts, which I drew from an article online:
John Wesley wrote: “God does nothing but in answer to prayer, and even they who have been converted to God without hearing of a Bible, were converted by the instrumentality of a tract.”
Jonathan Edwards, a leader of the “Great Awakening,” also saw the potential of tracts to reach beyond local communities. He wrote: “By means of … printed discourses, not only many in the neighborhood, but others in distant places, may be instructed and warned.”
George Whitefield, a powerful Christian preacher and evangelist during the Great Awakening, placed great importance on the distribution of gospel tracts. He said: “We must use the printing press for the glory of God. Gospel tracts are a good means to awaken sinners, and to confirm and establish those who are seeking the Lord.”
In a sermon he preached in 1739, Whitefield said: “I love those souls that are of a public spirit. I love those who publish abroad the gospel by sermon or tract. The latter are, I think, too much neglected. Why should we not scatter them everywhere? They are like the leaves of the tree of life, for the healing of the nations.”
In his autobiography, George Müller wrote: “I am convinced that thousands upon thousands of tracts have been blessed to the conversion of sinners, and to the edification and comfort of saints.”
Charles Spurgeon, a famous Baptist preacher and evangelist in the 19th century, was a strong advocate for the use of gospel tracts. He once said: “Tracts are more useful than sermons, because most people will read a tract when they will not come to hear a sermon.”
In a sermon he preached in 1873, Spurgeon said: “Tracts are one of the most useful forms of literature, and we ought to use them continually. They scatter the good seed far and wide; they bring truth home to men’s business and bosoms, and thus they work wonders.”1
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“There’s no telling what one tract can do or how far it will go. The message in a tract can make a difference in a person’s life, no matter who they are or what their lifestyle or career.”—Maria Fontaine
“A simple tract can change someone’s life for eternity. When you hand a tract to that person who passes you on the street, you could literally be playing a part in saving their soul. Maybe you don’t have time to talk to them, or you don’t speak their language, but if you’re faithful to hand them a tract, you have played a part in giving them a chance to know Me and find eternal salvation.”—Jesus
PS: Here is a link to an Anchor post with an article on the subject.
1 “Gospel Tracts: A Long and Famous History,” Chick Publications, https://www.chick.com/battle-cry/article?id=Gospel-Tracts-A-Long-and-Famous-History.
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
You Are a Unique Creation of God
March 24, 2026
A compilation
Audio length: 10:36
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Understanding that God has intricately designed each of us with care and purpose should lead us to a deeper sense of gratitude and worship. This awareness helps us appreciate the love and attention God has invested in our creation, motivating us to live in a way that honors Him. It also reinforces our self-worth, reminding us that we are valuable and intentional creations of God, and it gives us purpose, knowing that the God who created us did not do so without intention and purpose. When we live according to God’s ways with the plans He has for us, life goes best (John 15:1–17).
Understanding that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made motivates us to treat every person with kindness and respect, knowing that they too are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. This perspective encourages us to value the uniqueness of others, embracing their differences and showing love, seeing them the way God sees them. It also prompts us to be sources of encouragement, emphasizing the worth of those around us and supporting them in recognizing the beauty of how God created them. Whether through words or actions, we can reflect God’s love and purposes by honoring the divine craftsmanship in each person we encounter.—CompellingTruth.org1
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There’s nobody in the world just like you. I made everyone different—your looks, feelings, talents, and relationships. Don’t look negatively at yourself and focus on your failings and shortcomings and what you think is your less-than-perfect body, abilities, or personality. Comfort yourself, knowing that I bestowed on you gifts that I chose just for you. Use those gifts to glorify Me.
I made you and created you as a unique vessel. You are a creation of My choosing, a creature of My forming, a vessel fit to fulfill My plan. The gifts and talents that you have are valuable in My kingdom. Find your own strengths, what I have bestowed on you, and use them for My glory, for you will stand alone before Me. I don’t compare you with anyone else.
Can you see that I created you just the way you are? You are as a brilliant bright sunflower that I’ve planted in good ground. You stand so strong and tall and give glory all around.
You may look at the rose and think that flower to be fairer still. Or perhaps you think your fragrance is lacking when compared with that beautiful bloom. Do you look at the violets and marvel at their deep colors and wonder where you went wrong, for you are only yellow? Do you see the tulips that seem so perfect and complete, and wonder why you are not as defined or petite? Perhaps you see the poppies and their soft, sweet petals, and wonder why yours are not more refined? Do you look upon the vines and think that they have a much simpler life—so free from pain or strife—they look so lovely and gain ground so quickly?
Do you eye the bougainvillea, the carnations and daffodils, and wonder why I’ve not made you like one of their kind? Yes, I could have made you as any one of these. I could have given you a different color, a different shape or size. I could have given you a different fragrance, a different purpose in life. I could have given you all of this. But you see, My child, I didn’t; I wanted you just the way you are—you are beautiful in My eyes.
You’re each unique and special. I do not look upon you as “the masses.” I look upon you as a unique individual, as a unique flower in My beautiful, glorious garden.—Jesus
*
There are many manifestations of the Lord’s great love for each of us. He called and chose each of us. The Lord manifests His loving hand in our lives in the way He takes care of the personal details that concern us individually. The Lord wants you to know that you are unique and special to Him, and He cares in a very intimate way for all the details of your life, which are different from those of anyone else.—Maria Fontaine
*
You can mass produce many things—cars, furniture, plastic bottles, etc.—but you can’t mass produce disciples. One-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work when you’re trying to help people become more like Jesus. God wired each of us with a unique SHAPE. The Bible says, “You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). Our creator specially designed each and every one of us. The unique ways God made us affect everything about us—including how we fulfill God’s purposes.
SHAPE is an acrostic that describes our uniqueness. God gave us Spiritual gifts, Heart (passions), Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. No one else in the world has the same mix of those five attributes as you do. A person’s God-given SHAPE helps them identify where they can best serve the body of Christ. But our uniqueness is about much more than how we serve. In fact, our SHAPE affects how we worship, fellowship, evangelize—and how we grow. …
People grow differently. Some people learn by listening. If they hear it, they get it. Others learn through reading. Still others grow best when they’re discussing truth with other believers. We also know that many people grow by rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Don’t give them the latest book on prayer; pray with them. Give them opportunities to serve. That’s how they grow. …
The best way to help the most people grow is through multiple reinforcements. That’s why I strongly believe in spiritual-growth campaigns. These short-term campaigns have multiple components, such as devotional reading, small group discussion, memory verses, ministry projects, and more. You teach the same truth through hearing it, reading it, talking about it, discussing it, doing it, and memorizing it. … As you engage them in different ways, you’ll see people who have stalled spiritually for years start growing.
[One] tool we’ve used is a spiritual health assessment, where you can evaluate your growth progress. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves. This tool gives people a tangible way to look into their spiritual lives. We’ve found this tool helps just about everyone, but it’s particularly good for those God wired to be more introspective.
Also, to help people who particularly enjoy being in nature, we created a prayer garden, where they can go to pray after every service. But the tools aren’t as important as the principle. You can’t make cookie-cutter disciples. Though we all go through a discipleship process, everyone grows in different ways and at different rates. Look for ways to expand the opportunities for people to grow in the unique ways God has wired them.—Pastors.com2
Published on Anchor March 2026. Read by Debra Lee. Music by Michael Fogarty.
1 “What does it mean to be fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)?” Compelling Truth, https://www.compellingtruth.org/fearfully-and-wonderfully-made.html
2 “The Fallacy of One-Size-Fits-All Discipleship,” Pastors.com, https://www.pastors.com/free-resources/the-fallacy-of-one-size-fits-all-discipleship
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
The Resurrection of Jesus—Part 1
March 23, 2026
By Peter Amsterdam
Audio length: 09:02
Download Audio (8.2MB)
Throughout His ministry, Jesus foretold His death and His resurrection. We read in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus “began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). Although Jesus’ words seem quite clear to us now, the events that transpired show that the disciples didn’t fully understand what He had meant.
Each of the four Gospels tells of the women who came to Jesus’ tomb early on Sunday morning. The Gospel of Luke explains that earlier, after the women saw the tomb where Jesus’ body was placed, “they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). The Gospel of Mark says that “when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him” (Mark 16:1). Once the Sabbath day ended (at sunset on Saturday), the shops would reopen and the women would be able to purchase the spices needed to anoint Jesus’ body.
All four Gospels tells us that the large stone which covered the entrance to the tomb where Jesus had been laid on Friday was rolled away. The book of Matthew provides additional detail:
Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men (Matthew 28:2–4).
Only the Gospel of Matthew mentions the earthquake occurring at that time. He indicates that the reason there was an earthquake was because an angel of the Lord came from heaven and rolled away the stone.
Besides the stone being rolled back, each of the Gospels tells of the presence of heavenly beings near the tomb. While the Gospel of Matthew speaks of the angel of the Lord, the Gospel of Luke says: “When they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel” (Luke 24:3–4).
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that those who were guarding the tomb saw the angel of the Lord, “And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2–4). The guards who were there to guard the dead man (Jesus) themselves became like corpses in the presence of the angel. In contrast, the One who had died was now risen.
We read in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke that the angel (or angels) spoke to the women and instructed them not to be afraid. They then told them the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead.
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:5–6). (See also Mark 16:5–6; Luke 24:5–8.)
We are told that the women remembered Jesus’ words about His crucifixion and His rising on the third day. They went back and told the apostles, who, we are told, “did not believe them” (Luke 24:8–11).
In the Gospel of John, the account centers on Mary Magdalene. Upon seeing that the stone had been taken away from the entrance to the tomb, the first thing Mary Magdalene did was to run to town to tell Peter and the other disciple (probably John) that someone had taken Jesus’ body out of the tomb. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:1–2).
When Peter came to the tomb, he “saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (John 20:3–10).
The disciples then went back to their homes. Once they had left, Mary, who stood weeping outside the tomb, stooped to look inside the tomb. “And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him’” (John 20:11–13).
Each of the four Gospels (as well as the book of Acts) gives an account of Jesus’ appearances to His disciples—both women and men—after His resurrection. In Matthew’s account, when some of the women disciples went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, they found the tomb empty. They were met by an angel who instructed them to go to the apostles and tell them that Jesus was alive and that He was going to Galilee, where they would see Him (Matthew 28:6–7).
After the angel had instructed them to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive, the women “departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples” (Matthew 28:8). That the women departed with fear indicates that they were in awe of having been visited by a heavenly visitor.
Having seen an angel and received a message to give to the disciples, the women were then met on the road by the resurrected Jesus Himself.
And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” (Matthew 28:9–10).
It’s hard to imagine the joy and wonderment they felt at seeing the risen Jesus. In falling at His feet and worshiping Him, they showed that they understood that He was more than a mere man. It also shows that Jesus’ risen body was a real body; this wasn’t just a vision or an apparition. The women understood that He was divine.
Jesus repeated the angel’s command, Don’t be afraid, and also repeated the instructions that they should “go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
In the Gospel of Matthew, the women were present at all of the important events of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They were at the cross when He died, they were the first ones at His tomb, and they were the first to see the risen Lord.
While the women were on their way to tell the disciples to go to Galilee as they were instructed to do in the account in the Gospel of Matthew, some of the guards entered the city and told the chief priests what had happened (Matthew 28:11). Normally the guards would go to their own officers to report events which had occurred, but Pontius Pilate had put the Roman guards at the disposal of the Jewish leadership, to whom they now reported (Matthew 27:64–65). Perhaps the guards were somewhat relieved that they didn’t have to report to their Roman superiors, as they would have to confess that they had not prevented the removal of a body from a tomb that was under their watch.
Upon hearing from the guards, the chief priests and elders decided that the best course of action was to bribe the guards so that they would lie about what had happened. We read that “they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,” and in accepting the bribe, the soldiers agreed to lie about what had happened (Matthew 28:12–14). Sleeping while on guard duty was a major dereliction of duty in the Roman army, so telling their superiors that the disciples came during the night while they slept and stole him away was quite risky, though for the large sum of money they were offered, they apparently decided it was worth the risk. “So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day” (Matthew 28:15).
At the time the Gospel of Matthew was written (probably sometime after AD 70), the false story that the disciples had come in the night and stolen His body from the tomb while the guards slept would have been circulating for about 35 years. Despite attempts to conceal Jesus’ resurrection, over two thousand years later, more than two billion people celebrate Easter each year the world over.
Originally published June 2022. Adapted and republished March 2026. Read by Jon Marc.
Copyright © 2026 The Family International
158 – Jesus—His Life and Message: John 14: The Helper
Jesus—His Life and Message
Peter Amsterdam
2021-06-15
(You can read about the intent for and overview of this series in this introductory article.)
John chapter 14, which we started going over in the previous article, continues with Jesus speaking to His disciples just prior to His arrest and trial. Earlier, He had spoken to them about believing in Him. He had also given the disciples a wonderful promise:
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.1
While Jesus continued instructing His disciples, He changed the topic in verse 15 as He began to speak to them about the Holy Spirit.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.2
Jesus began this short segment with an “If” clause: If you love me, you will keep my commandments.3 He reminded His disciples that if they truly loved Him, their love would be shown by their keeping His commandments. He makes this point again in verse 21. His language echoes the language of the Old Testament, where God speaks of showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.4
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.…5
Soon, Jesus would no longer be physically with the disciples, but in His place, the Father was going to send another Helper who would remain with them permanently. In this translation (ESV, and also NAS and NAU), it says that the Father will send a Helper; other translations refer to a Comforter (KJV), Counselor (NIV, CSB), or Advocate (NLT, TNIV). The Helper will be with believers forever; the Holy Spirit will not be taken away.
…Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.6
The Advocate is now referred to as the “Spirit of truth.” This is interesting, as Jesus had just described Himself as “the truth,” and earlier in this Gospel we read that “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”7 Truth is connected to the Trinity.
Jesus then contrasted the attitude of the world with that of the disciples when it comes to their attitude toward the Spirit. The world neither sees, meaning that they do not perceive, nor can they accept the Spirit. They are unaware of the Spirit’s activities, presence, or existence, and therefore they don’t enter into relationship with the Holy Spirit. However, believers do know the Holy Spirit because the Spirit dwells within them.
Jesus went on to speak of the way He would manifest Himself to His disciples.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.8
Three times in this Gospel Jesus has spoken about going away from His disciples.9 Earlier in this chapter, He stated that after going away He would return. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.10 In that instance, His coming again is understood to be referring to His second coming. However, in this instance, when Jesus says the world will see me no more, but you will see me, He is speaking about His resurrection, His rising from the dead. Though He would die, He would also rise from the dead and once again physically be with His disciples.
In saying yet a little while, Jesus indicated that He was not referring to events in the far future, but rather was speaking about what was to happen soon. After His soon-coming crucifixion, the world would see Him no more. However, in that day, after His resurrection, His disciples would see Him. In the book of Acts we are told that after Jesus rose from the dead, He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.11
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was the guarantee that His disciples (and all future believers) would not be overcome by death. Because I live, you also will live. Since Jesus rose from the dead, all believers will live forever—a point that Jesus made earlier in this Gospel. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.12
When saying, In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you, Jesus was referring to the literal day of His resurrection. Once the disciples saw the risen Jesus, and had spent 40 days with Him, they would understand more fully about Christ’s indwelling in the Father and the mutual indwelling of Christ and believers. Jesus was in His Father and the disciples were in Jesus as He was in them.
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.13
Those who make Jesus’ commands their own, who take them into their hearts and souls, are the ones who love Him. He speaks not only of “having” the commandments but also of “keeping” them. This points to the importance of obeying Jesus’ teachings and making them part of our daily lives. Those who do are those who love Him, and those who love Him are loved by the Father. It is to these that Jesus says He will manifest Himself. He doesn’t explain this further, but makes the point that in some way He will manifest Himself to those who love Him.
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”14
According to two lists of the disciples (Luke 6:14–17 and Acts 1:13), this Judas is referred to as the son of James. Some commentators say that he may be the same person as Thaddeus, who is mentioned in other lists of the apostles.15 This Judas asked a question that was probably on the minds of the others. He wanted to know what it meant that Jesus would manifest Himself to the disciples but not to the world. Judas likely had standard Jewish thinking in that he expected the Messiah to show his glory in the eyes of all the people, and it was sounding like something had changed.
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”16
Earlier Jesus made the point that real love is expressed in deeds.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.17
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.18
Those who love Jesus will keep His word, meaning that they obey His word in their daily lives, rather than just having knowledge of His word. He also stated that those who love Him and keep His word will be loved by the Father, and that both the Father and the Son will make our home with him. Such a home is not a temporary place to lodge, but a permanent dwelling. Jesus was saying that believers will experience the presence of God in their lives.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.19
Jesus also pointed out the reverse or negative side. Those who don’t love Jesus will not keep His words, His teaching. This Gospel views love as something practical rather than as something emotional. Love involves obedience. Jesus stresses that His words, the things He teaches, are not His own but are the Father’s. He has said this several times throughout this Gospel.
My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.20
I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.21
I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.22
The Son, who was sent by the Father, delivers the Father’s message.
Note
Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
1 John 14:13–14.
2 John 14:15–17.
3 John 14:15.
4 Exodus 20:6.
5 John 14:16.
6 John 14:17.
7 John 4:23–24.
8 John 14:18–20.
9 John 13:33, 36; 14:2–4.
10 John 14:3.
11 Acts 1:3.
12 John 6:57.
13 John 14:21.
14 John 14:22.
15 Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18.
16 John 14:23.
17 John 14:15.
18 John 14:21.
19 John 14:24.
20 John 7:16.
21 John 8:28.
22 John 12:49.
Copyright © 2021 The Family International.
Fear Thou Not, for I Am with Thee
David Brandt Berg
1990-03-01
God’s Word tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof” (Psalm 46:1–3).
That’s His promise, amen? He is our refuge and strength, and through the trying days that now are and shall yet come, He is “a very present help in trouble.” If we love Him and if we’re obeying Him and keeping His commandments, the Lord is very concerned about helping and preserving and protecting us.
Just read the Bible and you’ll see story after story of how marvelously the Lord protects and keeps His children. Once in a while they got in trouble and they suffered some, but He always delivered them! He doesn’t say that you’re never going to have any trials or afflictions, but He promises He’ll deliver you out of them all (Psalm 34:19).
God may allow a test now and then just to see how much faith we’ve got, how determined we are, how much patience we have. He sometimes allows troubles as a testing and trial to see how much knowledge of the Word we have, and how much we’ll stand on the Word.
Once, when I was concerned and worrying about the future, He answered me with a question: “Will I not care for My own?” What an encouragement from the Lord! “Will I not care for My own?” The Lord is able to keep us through anything and everything. He will care for us. In fact, He won’t let a hair of your head be touched without His permission. “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of Mine eye” (Matthew 10:30; Zechariah 2:8).
Lord, You are our deliverer, our strong fortress in whom we hide, our strong tower in which the righteous hide. You are our strength. You promised, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1), and we know that’s the best protection there could possibly be. So we put our faith and trust in You, in Jesus’ name, amen.
“Hedged about”
Don’t ever forget, we are surrounded by the angels of God. We are hedged in, as the Devil himself said about Job. The Devil complained to God about Job, “How can I touch him? You’ve got him fenced in! You’ve got him so hedged in, I can’t even reach him, I can’t even touch him” (Job 1:10). God has placed a hedge of angels around us too.
“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7). So thank God for the great company of angels!
When it looked like the prophet Elisha was cornered and surrounded by an entire army of his enemies, his servant became very worried and upset, as it looked like a truly impossible situation. “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, ‘Alas, my master! How shall we do?’” (2 Kings 6:15).
But the prophet answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them! And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16–17).
So that’s something that we need to remember and constantly thank the Lord for—His marvelous, miraculous, supernatural protection! Thank God for His angels that encamp round about us.
Precious hiding place,
Blessed hiding place,
In the shelter of His love.
Not a doubt nor fear,
When my Lord is near,
For I’m sheltered in His love.
—Avis M. Christiansen, 1918
Pray without ceasing
Keep close to the Lord and constantly claim His protection, always asking the Lord to keep you, and bless and protect you, because lots of things can happen that are totally beyond your control, but not the Lord’s!
“Men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1), God’s Word says. And He says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus said, “Watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41). He didn’t say that for no reason. He not only knew you would need it, but it’s one way the Lord has of trying to keep you close to Him, in His presence continually, and constantly dependent upon Him and His protection and provision.
Your best protection is to stay strong in the Lord and the Word and in prayer and the Spirit. Jesus Himself said, “A strong man armed keepeth his goods in peace” (Luke 11:21). What did Jesus mean by that? To be strong is to be watchful and to be wise. Not just physically, but to be strong in spirit, strong in prayer.
“Fear not”
When people get upset and worried about things, we often say, “Don’t worry about it!” If anybody could say that to us, it’s the Lord. “Don’t worry about it! You’re My child, and I’m going to take care of you no matter what happens.”
Just trust the Lord, and He’ll take care of you. He never fails, no matter what the conditions. He says, “Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust” (Psalm 40:4).
Once, when I was very burdened about something I cried out, “Lord, what should we do?” Instead of telling me what to do, He told me what not to do. I wasn’t asking the Lord for a scripture; I wanted to know what to do. But He simply told me, “Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).
That’s a verse I’ve gotten before, but it was certainly an encouragement from the Lord at that time. So whatever you do, don’t be afraid. Be like King David, who exclaimed, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid” (Psalm 56:11). Keep your faith in the Lord and trust the Lord and know that the Lord is in control, and nothing’s going to happen but what the Lord allows.
The Lord’s going to take care of us, whatever happens, and He’s going to do what He wants to do. God is in control, and nothing happens to His children without His permission, and all things that He allows will eventually work together for our good. Praise the Lord!
Lord, help us not to worry or fear, but only to fear You and love You and follow and obey You. You said, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26). Help us to remain at peace in You, Lord. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Help us not to worry about any of the waves and winds and billows that we face. Help us just to look to You, and keep our eyes on You and trust You. We know You work everything out for the best somehow. All things, Lord, shall work together for good to us who love You. In some way it’s all going to work together for our good, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord is our refuge!
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His Love o’er shaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from all worry and care,
Safe from the world’s tribulations,
Nothing can harm me there.
Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge,
Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages,
Ever my trust shall be!
—Franny Crosby, 1868
Copyright © March 1990 by The Family International
Why Do You Exist? I Know the Answer.
March 20, 2026
By Granger Smith
What is your purpose in God’s story? Tonight I only have three points to make. Number one: I’m going to answer the question “Who are you?” Number two: I’m going to answer the question “What is your purpose?” And then, number three: “Who is He?” Are you ready to dive into this?
Run time for this video is 32 minutes. The sermon ends at the 26:30-minute mark, and it goes on from there to inviting people to receive Jesus.
https://youtu.be/3ICzPL-Wr3c?si=2G_3zFP_3MTpo2ao
Copyright © 2026 The Family International