Resurrection of the Lord

Every once in a while, we witness a moment so full of life that it takes our breath away —
a baby’s first cry, a long-awaited reunion, a sunrise breaking through after a storm. These moments remind us that joy can arrive suddenly, surprising us with hope we didn’t know we were waiting for.

Easter begins with this kind of joy.
A joy that bursts into the world like new life after winter, like light flooding a darkened room. It is joy born not from circumstance, but from the One who stepped out of the tomb and made all things new.
The resurrection is God’s declaration that life has the final word, that love cannot be buried, and that joy is stronger than sorrow.

Psalm 118 proclaims, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
On Easter, this is more than a call to worship. It is an invitation into a whole new reality.
The “day” God has made is resurrection itself.
A new creation. A fresh start for the whole world.

Think of that first resurrection morning. A grieving follower comes to the tomb expecting loss and silence, only to find that what seemed final is undone. The stone is rolled away. Emptiness is transformed into promise. Sorrow turns into wonder as the truth slowly settles in. The crucified one is alive, and nothing will ever be the same.

The resurrection is not God undoing death by force. It is God transforming death itself, filling it with divine life until it can hold us no longer.

This is why we rejoice today.
Because Christ is alive.
Because new life is here.
Because joy has risen with him.

Easter joy is not flimsy.
It does not depend on everything in our lives being perfect or easy.
It is the joy of knowing the risen Christ walks with us, calling us into hope wherever we go.

As we celebrate the resurrection today, let’s reflect together:

Reflect on the empty tomb for a moment. What aspect of Jesus’ character becomes clearer to you? Is it his faithfulness, his power, his compassion, or something else?

As we hold this hope of new life and joy, we return to the story where it all began to unfold in human hearts. On that first Easter morning, grief met grace, and sorrow met the risen one. As we listen now, pay attention to how gently Jesus makes himself known, and how personally he comes to those who seek him.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ 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.” ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew^] ”Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:11–18 NRSV

As we rejoice in the risen Lord, may the life of Christ rise within us.
The One who stepped out of the tomb now walks with us, calling us into joy, into hope, into new creation.
May his resurrection fill our hearts and guide our steps as we live in the light of this glorious day.

Good Friday

Some stories break our hearts. Some stories hold our hearts. But there are a few stories, like this one, that change our hearts forever.

On Good Friday, we gather at the foot of the cross, where the depth of human suffering meets the depth of divine love. Jesus, the innocent one, stands in the place of the guilty. The Son of God enters into the darkest places of human pain, not to condemn, but to redeem. This is not suffering without purpose. This is suffering that leads to exaltation. This is suffering that leads to Jesus being lifted up on the cross, then lifted up to sit at the right hand of his Father in heaven.

In the mystery of God’s kingdom, exaltation is not a reward for strength but the fruit of self-giving love. Jesus is lifted up not in spite of his suffering, but through it. It reveals a truth the world cannot comprehend. At the cross, humiliation becomes the doorway to glory. Surrender becomes the path to victory. In allowing himself to be handed over, Jesus hands over the powers of darkness to defeat. In embracing weakness, he reveals the strength of the Father’s redeeming love. God does not triumph by force, but by transforming suffering into salvation and death into the beginning of new life. Christ’s exaltation shows us that.

On Good Friday, we see a savior who does not turn away from suffering but steps into it to be with us. On the cross, Jesus enters the deepest places of human pain, carrying abandonment, grief, and injustice in his own body. Yet this suffering is not the end of the story. What looks like defeat becomes the place where God’s faithfulness shines most brightly.

The one who is wounded brings healing.
The one who is rejected opens the way of redemption.
The one who is humiliated is the one whom God exalts.

Through the cross, Jesus opens a new and living way for us by revealing the depth of God’s self-giving love. In sharing our suffering all the way to death, he gathers up our pain, our fear, and our failure into his own life. He brings it into the healing presence of the Father. Our salvation does not rest on a punishment being paid, but on the faithful love of Father, Son, and Spirit, who refuse to let brokenness have the final word. Even in the darkest moment, there is already a quiet hint of victory. Good Friday is not the end. It is the turning point where suffering begins to give way to glory. Death begins to give way to life. And the cross becomes the doorway into resurrection hope.

As we stand before the cross today, let’s reflect together:

Where do you need to trust that God is saving you, working redemption even in the painful places of your story?

[Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52:13–15; 53:4-5 NRSV]
¹³ See, my servant shall prosper;
    he shall be exalted and lifted up,
    and shall be very high.
¹⁴ Just as there were many who were astonished at him^[a]
    —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
    and his form beyond that of mortals—
¹⁵ so he shall startle many nations;
    kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
    and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

⁴ Surely he has borne our infirmities
    and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
    struck down by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions,
    crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
    and by his bruises we are healed.

As we remember the cross, may our hearts be drawn into the mystery. It’s a mystery of a love so deep that Jesus chose to walk with us even into death.
The one who suffers with us is the one who leads us into life.
The one who is humbled is the one in whom God’s glory is revealed.
May this shared journey of suffering and love hold us in the sorrow of Good Friday.
May the Spirit gently open our eyes to the dawn of resurrection hope.

Maundy Thursday

There are moments when love is revealed in ways so simple, so humble, that they take our breath away. On the night before his death, Jesus gathered his closest friends for a meal that would change everything. What began as the familiar Passover supper became the doorway into a deeper mystery. The doorway to a love that pours itself out, a Savior who kneels instead of conquers, a King who serves instead of demanding to be served.

In this quiet upper room, Jesus took the posture of a servant, washing the dust from the disciples’ feet, including the feet of the one who would betray him. And then, with bread in his hands and redemption in his heart, he revealed himself as our Passover Lamb. Jesus is the one whose self-giving love delivers us from sin and death.

Maundy Thursday invites us into the heart of a story rooted in ancient memory. For generations, God’s people gathered at Passover to remember the lamb that was slain. They remembered the blood that marked their deliverance. And they remembered the God who rescues and redeems. The psalms sung that night echoed through the temple courts as the paschal lambs were offered. Then the psalm echoed again around tables where families ate the lamb in full, remembering God’s faithfulness. As God’s ancient people acted out a future deliverance, the lamb was consumed completely — nothing left behind.

And now, in the upper room, Jesus reveals that he is the fulfillment of that promise.
He takes the bread and says, “This is my body.”
He takes the cup and says, “This is my blood of the covenant.”
He becomes the Lamb we receive, the Lamb who sustains, the Lamb who frees.

Then he kneels.
He washes their feet.
He shows that the love of God is not distant or demanding. It is humble, kneeling, cleansing, and self-giving.

Peter resists at first, unable to imagine a Messiah who stoops so low. But Jesus insists. Jesus gives himself to us fully, enabling us to follow him.

As we enter this holy night, let’s reflect together:

1. Where is Jesus inviting you to receive his self-giving love instead of relying on your own strength?
2. How might his example of humility reshape the way you serve others this week?

³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

John 13:3–15 NRSVA

As we remember Jesus’ final night with his disciples, may we receive his love with open hands and humble hearts.
The one who kneels to serve is the one who saves, the Passover Lamb who delivers us into life.
May his humility shape our worship, and may his self-giving love lead us all the way to the cross and the joy beyond it.

Palm Sunday

Crowds once filled the streets of Jerusalem, waving branches and shouting “Hosanna!” as Jesus rode into the city. Their voices rose with hope, longing for a king who would restore, redeem, and rescue. But beneath the sound of celebration was another path unfolding, a path Jesus already knew well.

Palm Sunday is not only a moment of triumph.
It is the doorway into Holy Week, the beginning of the journey of love that leads to the cross.

Jesus entered Jerusalem with full awareness of what awaited him. He would face betrayal, suffering, abandonment, and death. Yet he came willingly. He came for us, moved by compassion deeper than we can imagine. He was determined to confront evil with the only force able to defeat it. Self-giving love.

Psalm 31 gives us language for the inward experience of suffering. It is as if the psalmist’s words rise from the very places where fear grips the heart and sorrow weighs down the soul.

You can hear the ache as he prays, “Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.”
His strength slips, his hope fades, and he confesses, “My life is spent with sorrow.”
The pain becomes so deep that he feels invisible to the world around him, saying, “I am forgotten like one who is dead.”

These are not distant cries from an ancient voice.
They echo through the story of Jesus as he walks toward the cross.

Jesus knows the weight of sorrow.
He knows the sting of betrayal.
He bears the burden of humanity’s pain in his own body.

But the psalm does more than name suffering.  It declares trust in the God who saves.
“But I trust in you, Lord… You are my God… Let your face shine upon your servant.”

This is the heart of Holy Week.
In Jesus, we see that suffering does not have the final word.
Evil does not win.
Death does not hold dominion.

Jesus’ faithful obedience and unwavering trust in the Father reveal a deeper truth.
The Kingdom of God triumphs over the kingdom of evil not by force, but through sacrificial love.

Today, as we enter Holy Week, we prepare to hear the Passion of Christ. It’s the story of his trial, his suffering, his crucifixion. It’s the story of the fierce compassion that carried him through every moment.

Palm Sunday invites us to hold celebration and sorrow together. It invites us to trust that Jesus walks toward suffering in order to redeem the world and overthrow evil from within.

As we begin this sacred week, let’s reflect together:

What step of humility or compassion might Jesus be inviting you to take as you follow him into Holy Week?

⁹Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief.
¹⁰ My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
    and my bones grow weak.
¹¹ Because of all my enemies,
    I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
¹² I am forgotten as though I were dead;
    I have become like broken pottery.
¹³ For I hear many whispering,
    “Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
    and plot to take my life.

¹⁴ But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
¹⁶ Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:9–16 (NRSV)

As we enter Holy Week, may our hearts be softened and our spirits attentive to the depth of Christ’s compassion.
The one who prayed in anguish is the one who walks with us in love and triumphs on our behalf.
May his journey shape ours as we follow him, by his Spirit, toward the hope of resurrection.

Speaking of Life 5018 | Two Kinds of People in the World
Greg Williams

Have you ever heard someone say, “There are two kinds of people in the world”? This is usually followed by a joke or some oversimplified statement about people.

Here is one that does both: “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who put everyone into two groups… and those who don’t.”

Well, I guess that was someone’s attempt to make fun of the idea of dividing people into two groups. But it’s no laughing matter when people are depersonalized by such groupings. Surely there is more to being an individual than the generalizations often attached to group labels.

Some group labels do have an element of truth to them: “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who live as if they belong to Christ, and those who don’t.” This is similar to a “two kinds of people in the world” statement found in the Bible.

Although it is not worded exactly like that, let’s notice how Paul puts it in the book of Romans.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 
Romans 8:6-9 (ESV)

Unlike many “two kinds of people in the world” statements, this one is not depersonalizing. In fact, it is intended to do just the opposite. Paul can make this division between two groups because he is basing it on reality. When God came in human form, he chose all of humanity. All people were created to belong to Christ and have abundant life in him.

But not everyone believes that or wants it yet. However, there is no other option left for us. We either live by the truth of who we were created to be, or we choose to live a lie, which amounts to no life at all. So, Paul is encouraging us to embrace the life we have in Christ and live it out. That is a personalizing life. That is a meaningful life that carries forward into eternity.

Paul reminds us that no matter how many kinds of people there are, there is no life outside our life in Christ, who is continuing to pursue, draw, and embrace all of humanity to himself. Embrace the one who has embraced you.

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 5017 | He Sees the Heart
Jeff Broadnax

I once saw someone wearing a t-shirt that said, “I don’t know why judges get paid so much. I judge everyone for free!” Unfortunately, this funny line has a lot of truth in it. Human beings are often quick to judge others and place labels on them. If we do not see a person as part of our group, we can be tempted to overlook his or her wisdom, experience, personality, value, and ability to change and we place them into a little box whenever it is convenient.

We can disregard another’s humanity, dismissing them with labels like liberal, conservative, millennial, boomer, vaxer, anti-vaxxer, not to mention racial and ethnic labels. Many times, we do this unconsciously and without even thinking. Other times, we may consciously harbor bad feelings towards others because of how we were taught or how we interpret our life experiences.

God knows about this human tendency; however, he does not share it. In the book of 1 Samuel, God sent Samuel the prophet to the house of Jesse with an important task. One of Jesse’s sons was to be anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel, but God did not tell the prophet which son to anoint. Jesse brought seven impressive-looking sons before Samuel, yet God rejected them all. Eventually, God chose David to be the next king — the youngest son who was almost forgotten and looked the least how Samuel imagined a king should look. As Samuel viewed the first seven sons, God spoke these words to him:

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

We can often be like Samuel and incorrectly judge a person’s value by superficial things.

Like Samuel, none of us can see others clearly because we cannot see what lies in a person’s heart. The good news is that Jesus Christ can. As Christians, we must learn to rely on Jesus and see others through his eyes, which are filled with compassion, empathy, and love.

We cannot hope to have healthy relationships with our neighbors by relating to them without acknowledging Christ’s relationship with them. When we see them as belonging to him, we seek to love our neighbor as Christ loves them. This is the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples in the Upper Room.

Jesus loves each and every one of us. This is our most important label. To him, this is the identity that defines us. He does not judge us by one aspect of our character, but by who we are becoming in him. We are all beloved children. While that might not make a funny t-shirt, it is the truth by which Christ-followers live.

I’m Jeff Broadnax, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 5016 | Busy Work
Greg Williams

Have you ever been assigned “busy work?” I despise doing “busy work?” It’s the type of work that doesn’t have a purpose except to keep you…well…busy. Sometimes this happens on a job where the boss feels like he needs to keep the employees working even though there is nothing left to do. I understand some busy work was necessary to keep employees employed during the pandemic, but I am easily frustrated with busy work – I want to be productive.

Suffering can sometimes seem like busy work; it can take up a lot of our time and keeps us from accomplishing the goals we have. And there is no getting around suffering; it is something we all face. And for someone like me, I get can get frustrated at the lack of productivity that suffering can induce. But perhaps during those times of suffering, there is a different way to be productive.

We know we will suffer, Jesus himself told us we would. He doesn’t bring suffering to us, but he wanted us to be aware it would come. Then he told us he came to take our suffering upon himself. And he did. He took (and continually takes) all our suffering, including our self-inflicted suffering, to the cross, and redeems it for his own good purposes toward us. The totality of our sufferings are now his which he took through death into resurrected life.

Because of this, our sufferings are now Christ’s own sufferings which we can endure with hope, knowing they will be used to contribute to the ultimate purpose he has for us. But what does this have to do with feeling like suffering is busy work – keeping us from being productive?

Paul addresses this in a rather shocking manner. He speaks of suffering as a point of rejoicing. He tells us that suffering, because of what Jesus has done, can actually produce something important:

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Suffering is a part of our broken world. Paul doesn’t mean we will enjoy suffering or that we should go looking for it. But, when it comes our way, which inevitably will, we can be assured that Jesus will meet us in our afflictions. This is why we can rejoice.  Because our suffering is not lost, through Christ our suffering is redeemed. We can anticipate the good work the Lord is doing in us, through all our circumstances. It’s not a time of busy work – where we are just waiting for the suffering to end – it’s a time of God producing good fruit in us.

Just as Christ learned through his suffering, we too are formed more into the image of Christ through our suffering.

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 5015 | Blessed to Be a Blessing
Cara Garrity

There is a popular old hymn called “Count Your Blessings”.
The chorus simply says: 

“Count your blessings, name them one by one. 

Count your blessings, see what God hath done. 

A friend of mine shared a story of how he was reminded about counting his blessings while stocking greeting cards at grocery stores. In one store, the greeting card section was right near one of the checkout lines and he could hear the checker give a compliment to every person that went through his line. My friend also noticed there were several people in this checkout lane, and not many in others.

He decided to buy something and the checker quickly complimented him on his new haircut. My friend then asked the checker how his day was going. The checker responded by saying, “Oh man, I am blessed!” To which my friend responded, “Yeah, I’m doing good as well.” The checker then said, “I didn’t say I was doing good. I said I am blessed.” My friend appreciated the reminder, smiled, and admitted that he was also, indeed, blessed.  

In Genesis 12, we see a story of blessing-happy God. This story is the pivotal moment in the history of the nation of Israel and would become equally important to the whole world. 

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 
Genesis 12:1-3

In this passage of scripture, we see the word “blessing” five times, making God’s intention to bless both Abraham and the whole world abundantly clear to Abraham. Although God had the power to accomplish his will, because of who he is, he invited Abraham to participate to follow where the Spirit led. And where he went, he went with the blessing of God and the promise that through him all people would be blessed.  

This promise has been fulfilled in the person, and work of Jesus Christ. He took upon himself the consequences for the sin of mankind. He has taken our darkness and has restored us to fellowship with our Heavenly Father. 

Paul says this in his letter to believers in Galatia:

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” 
Galatians 3:14

We have been abundantly blessed in Christ Jesus, whom we follow by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every day is a walk with God to leave behind our old ways and walk into a life that is blessed beyond measure.  

Like Abraham before us, we have been sent out into this world to make a blessing-happy God known to others. It’s so much easier to be a blessing to others when you know how much you have been blessed.

Like the hymn reminds us, let us count our many blessings and see what God has done.

I’m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.

Easter Preparation – Led by the Spirit

Journeys of transformation often begin in a place of testing. The wilderness is not a place of punishment. It is a place of preparation. It is where noise fades, distractions fall away, and truth rises to the surface. Easter Preparation reflects this posture of reorienting our hearts to depend on Christ.

After his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There, among the rocks and silence, he faced hunger, loneliness, and temptation. Yet he was not alone. The same Spirit who descended on him in the waters now strengthened him in the desert.

In the wilderness, Jesus was tempted to take control, to prove his power, and to seek glory apart from the Father. But he chose trust over control, obedience over pride, and worship over compromise.

The wilderness became a space where faith was refined and identity affirmed.
We, too, are led into wilderness seasons, not to be abandoned, but to be strengthened.

In these forty days, we remember that life is not sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. In Christ, our hunger becomes dependence, our struggle becomes formation, and our emptiness becomes space for grace.

As we begin this season of Easter preparation, let’s reflect together:

• Where might the Spirit be leading you into a wilderness of trust and renewal?
• How is God inviting you to rely on his word more deeply in this season?
  

¹ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 
² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11

In every wilderness, God is near. The Spirit who led Jesus now leads us, the word that sustained him now sustains us, and the love that strengthened him now strengthens us. As we walk this path of preparation, may our hearts be renewed, our faith deepened, and our lives anchored in the steadfast love of God.

Transfiguration Sunday – Seeing His Glory

Some moments change everything. They lift the veil, revealing what has always been true but unseen. The mountain of transfiguration was one of those moments.

Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There, in a flash of divine radiance, the ordinary gave way to glory. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became dazzling white. Heaven touched earth, and the fullness of God’s light broke through.

On that mountain, the disciples saw Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus, the law and the prophets finding their fulfillment in him. Then a voice from the cloud declared, “This is my Son, the beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.”

In that holy moment, fear and wonder collided. The disciples fell to the ground, overwhelmed by glory. But then, Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”

The radiance of Christ is not meant to stay on the mountain; it shines into the valleys of our everyday lives. Transfiguration reminds us that glory and grace are not separate; they meet in Jesus.

As we remember the transfiguration, let’s reflect together:

• Where have you caught glimpses of God’s glory in your own journey?
• How can we, as the Church, reflect the light of Christ to those walking in uncertainty or fear?

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1-9

In the light of Christ, we see who God is, and who we are. The same glory that shone on the mountain now lives in us through the Spirit.

As we step from the mountaintop into the valley, may our eyes remain open, our hearts attentive, and our lives radiant with the love of Jesus.

Speaking of Life 5011 | Better Well Done…
Cara Garrity

There is a saying that goes, “Better well done than well said.” This phrase wisely reminds us that words can sometimes be empty, and our actions often say much more about who we are. As believers, we can say we love God and our neighbors, but what is the evidence of that love? Have we created spaces for our neighbors to feel the love of Christ through us? Or do we offer them words without the actions to back up those words?

When Paul was used by God to share the gospel with the people of Corinth, he took an unexpected approach for a preacher and teacher. Notice what he says:

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Instead of using flowery words or trying to say the right thing, Paul shared his own testimony and tried to demonstrate God’s power and love. Paul trusted in God and the power of the gospel, rather than in his own ability to convince others. He was his full, authentic self and was unashamed before God and other people. We might say that Paul practiced “better well done than well said” by relying upon Jesus’ ‘well done’ rather than his own ‘well said’.

You see God is not a God of empty words and promises. In the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, every word and promise of God is fulfilled. In him is also humanity’s perfect response to God. When we put our confidence in the perfect word and deed of Christ rather than our own, we are invited into a faith that is more than empty words.

Instead of trying to say the right words to convince others to believe in the gospel, we are free by the Spirit, to authentically share our stories and invite others to experience the kingdom alongside us for themselves.

While human wisdom may fail and human words may turn up empty, Jesus – the Word of God made flesh – both well said and well done – will never fail or turn up empty. We are invited to depend on and point one another to his Word, and not our own. It is then that we testify of God instead of ourselves.

Ray Anderson wrote, “The test for truth in a Christian is what the world sees in us of Jesus Christ, not what other Christians see in us as a Christian.” Let us be led by the Spirit in living authentic lives that glorify Jesus.

I’m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 5010 | The Who Question
Heber Ticas

Psalm 15 seems to be obsessed with a “who” question. Namely, who can be in God’s presence? That’s a big question and the psalmist explores the answer with a series of “who” statements.

Remarkably, the Psalm is able to repeat some form of the word “who” thirteen times in only five verses. That’s a poetic feat for any person in my opinion.

See if you can count all the “who’s” as I read Psalm 15:

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.
Psalm 15:1-5

Were you able to count all the “who’s?” Clearly, the writer of this psalm wants to answer the “who” question. But his answer does not give us any names of who can be in God’s presence. However, he does give us a lot of descriptions of the heart and character of the “who” in question.

When we read this psalm, we may wonder if we fit the “who” descriptions and qualify to be one who can be in God’s presence. If we are honest with ourselves, we will have to admit that we do not measure up to the psalmist’s descriptions. Unfortunately, the answer to the question of “who can be in God’s presence” would be, “Not me?”

However, that doesn’t answer the question of who can. We must read beyond this Psalm to find the ultimate answer to the “who” question. The only one who fits all the descriptions perfectly in this Psalm would be the person of Jesus Christ found in the Gospels. Like Psalm 15, the entire Bible is concerned about answering the question of “who?” Even Jesus asked us the same question when he asked, “Who do you say that I am?”

The answer to that question ends up being very good news for us who know we do not qualify to be in God’s presence. Jesus is the one who has always been in God’s presence as God’s very own Son. He has come as the answer to Psalm 15, standing in for us so we can stand in God’s presence by the Spirit, enjoying the Father as the Son does.

I’m glad the psalmist asked the who question. And more so, I’m glad the Father sent Jesus as the answer.

Mi nombre es Heber Ticas. Hablando de Vida.

Speaking Of Life 5009 │ Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Michelle Fleming

As a small child, I was a little afraid of the dark. This is a common fear for most young children, and experts attribute it to a toddler’s growing cognitive abilities—including the development of the imagination. The dark becomes a place where monsters live, and fear creeps into a child’s mind.

As adults, we know we need the dark for good health, and light exposure at night can affect our bodies’ internal sleep rhythms and hormones, like melatonin. Children, though, have to develop trust that darkness can be good for us.

In scripture, God’s presence is sometimes referred to as light and God’s absence as darkness. This can give us a mistaken impression of what the faithful Christian walk looks like. We can mistakenly think that when we experience doubt or difficulties, we are in darkness and God has left us. One biblical passage that shows the wide range of the Christian experience is Psalm 27. It begins like this:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; who shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27: 1 (NRSV)

This is what we think of when we define faith in God. We believe that in this world of great beauty and great suffering, God is with us, and we don’t need to be afraid. But the truth is, we often are afraid or worried. Does that mean our faith is weak?

Let’s consider some other verses in the same Psalm:

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! ‘Come’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Psalm 27:7-9 (NRSV)

These verses seem to be a sharp contrast to the over-the-top faith of the first verse. Here, the psalmist speaks of his pain and his fear, but he isn’t worried that his lament will drive God off. Instead, the psalmist helps us understand that part of faith is believing in God’s faithfulness even when that faithfulness doesn’t feel present. Even in the midst of doubt.

Trust in God doesn’t prevent hardship or keep us from experiencing times when God feels distant. We can find examples in the Bible, like this one, or in the lives of the early church fathers that illustrate how we can experience what has been called “the dark night of the soul.” God understands that faith and doubt are not opposites. In fact, questioning our faith can often lead to growth and transformation. Like light and dark, faith and doubt need each other.

When we were small children, we had to learn that the dark would not hurt us. We had to understand that we needed darkness to sleep and to be healthy. Similarly, as Christians, we learn that doubt and questioning can be our means toward growth in our relationship with God.

“Being afraid of the dark” is a normal part of faith. Let us continue to grow in our understanding that the Light of our Salvation, our living Triune God, is always there to lead us from darkness into his light.

I’m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 5008 | More Than I Can Say
Greg Williams

Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison wrote a song called “More Than I Can Say” back in 1959. And it went on to be performed by Leo Sayer, who rode the song to the top of the billboards back in the 80s.

The lyrics were simple and repetitive. Here are the opening lines:

I love you more than I can say

I’ll love you twice as much tomorrow

Oh, love you more than I can say

Set to a catchy tune, this song will get stuck in your head for days. In addition, we can all identify with the experience of loving someone or something “more than we can say.”

Or, maybe it’s more than that. Perhaps this little ditty resonates with us at a far deeper level.

After all, praising comes quite easy for us does it not? Have you ever been startled by a streaking star shooting through the night sky that made you shout, “Wow! Look at that”? Or maybe the sighting of that rare double rainbow after a storm that turns everyone’s attention skyward with utterances of “oohs” and “ahhs.” It seems praise comes naturally when we are encountered with something amazing or beautiful.

“More Than I Can Say” may have been written back in 1959 but this is not the first time a songwriter has attempted to praise someone beyond words. Look at this lyric in Psalm 40 which is a thanksgiving Psalm:

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
Psalm 40:5 (ESV)

When we come to know God for who he truly is, we too will be compelled to praise him “more than we can say.” That’s the blessed life we are created for. Praising God for all eternity means we are in the presence and in a relationship with One who is praiseworthy beyond words. We come to know this God only in Jesus Christ, who reveals this Father to us by the Spirit. The more we come to know our Triune God, the more our praise will naturally pour forth. And scripture indicates that this song of praise will get stuck in our heads for all eternity. After all, God is good…well…more than I can say.

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Baptism of Our Lord

Water holds the power to shape and renew. It softens hard soil, restores what is dry, and sustains every living thing. In baptism, water represents the meeting place between heaven and earth.

On the banks of the Jordan, Jesus stepped into the waters not because he needed cleansing, but because we do. This is the Incarnation: Jesus, fully God and fully human, was baptized on behalf of all mankind. He entered our story, identifying fully with humanity, so that we might share fully in his life.

Jesus rose from the water, the heavens opened. The Spirit descended like a dove, resting on him, and a voice from heaven spoke words of love and affirmation:
“This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

In that moment, the world witnessed what had always been true: the Son in perfect communion with the Father and the Spirit, revealing our shared identity in him.

Through baptism, we are reminded that we belong to this divine love. We are God’s beloved children, called to reflect the light of Christ wherever we go.

As we remember the baptism of our Lord, let’s reflect together:

• Where in your life do you need to be reminded that you are God’s beloved?
• How might the Holy Spirit be inviting you to live out your baptismal calling this week?
  

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
³ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
⁴     he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
Isaiah 42:1-4 NIV

In these waters, heaven still opens. The Spirit still descends. The Father still speaks.
You are God’s beloved child, chosen, called, and sent to live in the light of his love.