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Great Sacrifice
W. T. Stead, an innovative English journalist at the turn of the 20th century, was known for writing about controversial social issues. Two of the articles he published addressed the danger of ships operating with an insufficient ratio of lifeboats to passengers. Ironically, Stead was aboard the Titanic when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912. According to one report, after helping women and children into lifeboats, Stead sacrificed his own life by giving up his life vest and a place in the lifeboats so others could be rescued.
There is something very stirring about self-sacrifice. No…
The Hollywood Hills Cross
One of the most recognizable images in the US is the “HOLLYWOOD” sign in Southern California. People from all over the globe come to “Tinseltown” to gaze at cement footprints of stars and perhaps catch a glimpse of celebrities who might pass by. It’s hard for these visitors to miss the sign anchored in the foothills nearby.
Less well known in the Hollywood hills is another easily recognized symbol—one with eternal significance. Known as the Hollywood Pilgrimage Memorial Monument, this 32-foot cross looks out over the city. The cross was placed there in memory of Christine Wetherill Stevenson, a wealthy heiress…
Surprised!
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), an Italian artist, was known for his fiery temperament and unconventional technique. He used ordinary working people as models for his saints and was able to make viewers of his paintings feel they were a part of the scene. The Supper at Emmaus shows an innkeeper standing while Jesus and two of His followers are seated at a table when they recognize Him as the risen Lord (Luke 24:31). One disciple is pushing himself to a standing position while the other’s arms are outstretched and his hands open in astonishment.
Luke, who records these events in his…
The motive behind Jesus laying down his life
Why we do something is as important as how we do something. That’s because motive matters. Today on “Discover the Word,” we talk about Jesus’s motive for laying down His life on the cross. Hebrews 12 tells us that it was “for the joy that was set before Him.” But what was that joy? It’s all wrapped up in the words “It is finished.” Listen to the Good Friday edition of “Discover the Word.”
Three-Word Obituary
Before Stig Kernell died, he told the local funeral home that he didn’t want a traditional obituary. Instead, the Swedish man instructed them to publish only three words noting his passing: “I am dead.” When Mr. Kernell died at age 92, that’s exactly what appeared. The audacity and simplicity of his unusual death notice captured the attention of newspapers around the world. In a strange twist, the international curiosity about the man with the three-word obituary caused more attention to his death than he intended.
When Jesus was crucified, the Lord’s obituary could have read, “He is dead.” But after 3…
The perfect sacrifice completed on the cross
Jesus’s death on the cross appeared to be a failed rescue mission. Yet, His final words, “It is finished,” meant the perfect sacrifice had been completed once and for all. Today on “Discover the Word,” we will explore the ancient Jewish context of sacrifice. It will give you a deeper understanding of Christ’s atonement for your own sins. That’s today on “Discover the Word”!
The Olive Press
If you visit the village of Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee, you will find an exhibit of ancient olive presses. Formed from basalt rock, the olive press consists of two parts: a base and a grinding wheel. The base is large, round, and has a trough carved out of it. The olives were placed in this trough, and then the wheel, also made from heavy stone, was rolled over the olives to extract the oil.
On the night before His death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. There, in the garden called Gethsemane, He…
Dashed expectations
Everyone experiences dashed expectations. We expect things to finish one way, but they turn out completely different. Today on “Discover the Word,” we will discuss how the Jewish people had trouble accepting Jesus as the Messiah because they expected Him to come as a conquering king. Instead, He came as a suffering servant. Join the discussion today on “Discover the Word”!
What is the Mark of A Great Man?
Exactly a year ago, my country lost a remarkable man. Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding prime minister, passed away at the age of 91 on 23 March, 2015, after battling severe pneumonia.
Touching the lives of those around us
This week, we’re remembering how Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for our sins. But today on “Discover the Word,” we will discuss how part of Jesus’s mission was also to touch the lives of people in front of Him, day by day, moment by moment. And that’s our mission too, it’s all part of fulfilling the work He’s called us to do. An insightful conversation today on “Discover the Word”!
A magnificent masterpiece of finishing well!
In the first-century Roman world, to be crucified meant your life did not “finish well.” Only the worst of criminals were executed on a cross. Today on “Discover the Word,” we begin a new study for Easter called, “It Is Finished.” Jesus’s crucifixion was a horrible picture that turned into a magnificent masterpiece that gives us hope that we can finish well! Join us today on “Discover the Word”!
“Leave this innocent man alone”
Pontius Pilate definitely felt pressure from two factions when deciding what to do with Jesus . . . Caesar and the Jewish religious leaders. But Pilate’s wife also presented a third option . . . which was to “leave this innocent man alone.” Today on “Discover the Word,” join us for another eye-opening conversation.
What is truth?
What is truth? Do you know who first asked that famous question? Well, today on “Discover the Word,” we begin a new study called “Pontius Pilate.” And you guessed it—Pilate was the one who, at Jesus’s trial, was confused and tormented by that question. Find out why on “Discover the Word”!
Editor’s Picks: Top 3 Articles | Heaven & Hell
It’s time to remember the greatest act in history. It’s the day God stretched out his hands to show His unconditional love for us. It’s a truth that has lifted our spirits in our deepest grief, darkest moments and everyday living.
Lifeblood
Mary Ann believed in God and His Son Jesus, but she struggled with why Jesus had to shed His blood to bring salvation. Who would think of cleansing something with blood? Yet the Bible says, “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood” (Heb. 9:22). That, in Mary Ann’s opinion, was disgusting!
Then one day she had to go to a hospital. A genetic condition had altered her immune system, and doctors became alarmed when the illness started attacking her blood. As she was in the emergency room she thought, If I lose my blood, I will die. But…
