Hope Bolinger

One of the most frustrating characters in the story of Joseph is the cupbearer who spends time in prison with Joseph. As soon as he is released, he forgets about Joseph.

Many of us know about the physical manna the Israelites ate in the desert. But what about the hidden manna in Revelation? What exactly is this?

Many of us have a slight familiarity with Zipporah, Moses' wife from Midian. But did he also marry a Cushite named Tharbis? 

Our modern, 21st-century culture is always ready to empower the bold. So it can be difficult for us to read passages like Matthew 5:5 that encourage us to be meek. What does it mean that "blessed are the meek" and what does that look like in our everyday lives? 

In Matthew 12:31, Jesus mentions "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit," saying that this sin will not be forgiven. That's a frightening statement! But what exactly is this sin against the Holy Spirit, and should we as Christians be worried about accidentally committing it? As believers, the answer is no. But you should still be aware of what this sin is, and what Jesus meant about it.

We hear a lot about the word Antichrist these days. People have speculated from US Presidents to billionaires as to who the person could be. As Christians, we should know that during the reign of the Antichrist, it will likely be clear to us who the Antichrist is. As we do not have a clear case for the personhood of the Antichrist, we do not yet know who he or she may be. However, we can prepare ourselves to know when this person will cease control and come against God's people. 

So let's explore what the Bible has to say about the Antichrist (and antichrist types that have preceded), the characteristics of the Antichrist, and how we can be aware when antichrists and false prophets come and attempt to sway us away from Jesus Christ.

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Has God called you to something daunting? Do you feel as if you cannot complete the task he has sent you to do. Fear not! We have loads of examples from the Bible of heroes who feared they didn't have what it took to face giants. Let's look at four examples of these heroes of the faith and apply the lessons learned to our own lives when it comes to the tasks that God has set before us.

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“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).

 Tetelestai, it is finished. We've no doubt heard these words during a Good Friday service or during our reading of the Gospels. But why does Jesus say it? And why does he reserve this as his last and final words? "It is finished" indicates he has consumed the cup of God's wrath, and through his sacrifice, the bridge between God and sinful man had been established.

The Context Surrounding John 19:30

When we look at the context of this verse and what led up to it, this quote from St. Peter's Anglican Church says it best:

"Before the arrest of Jesus by the Romans, Jesus prayed His last public prayer, where He asked the Father to glorify Him even as He had glorified the Father. He prayed to 'finish the work you have given me to do” (John 17:4). The work of Jesus is to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19:10) and to provide atonement for sinners whom Jesus died to reconcile to God (Romans 3:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). None but the Lord God could accomplish and say with the authority of the God-Man, “It is finished” (John 19:30)."

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One of the oddest and most famous passages in Ezekiel (found in chapter 37) has inspired numerous Sunday school lessons, sermons, and even a song. In the chapter, the prophet Ezekiel is led by God into a valley filled with bones. The Lord instructs Ezekiel to prophecy to the bones, telling them that God “will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin” (Ezekiel 37:5-6).

Although the Bible has been known for some odd imagery, especially within the book of Ezekiel, this vision in particular has one of the most bizarre metaphors in all of Scripture. What do the dry bones symbolize, what’s the historical context of this vision, and why does this matter for us now?

For those not familiar with Good Friday, this day remembers when more than 2000 years ago Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. The events kicked off at the beginning of Holy Week when Jesus rode into Jerusalem.