When I was small and fevered, Eyes heavy, body weak, She stayed up late beside me, With cool hands and whispered words, Read me stories into the night, Until the monsters lost their grip. She made me better.
When I said, “I can’t,” When fear clutched my lungs like a fist, She saw more in me than I could, Spoke belief into my soul, Tied my shoes, nudged me forward— Refused to let me quit. She made me better.
When I crossed the line, When my words were sharp or selfish, She didn’t look away. With firm love and tear-brimmed eyes, She corrected, shaped, forgave, Taught me that love sets boundaries. She made me better.
She’s gone—but not gone. I see her in the mirror, Hear her in my words, Carry her in my compass When I’m not sure what’s right. Wherever I go— She is with me.
And now I see her legacy Through the eyes of other mothers:
My wife, Loving our kids with a fierce, unshakable joy, A honey badger wrapped in grace, Fighting for their hearts, Holding them when they break. She makes them better.
My daughter, With Mom’s wisdom tucked in her pocket, Now raises little ones of her own, Sharing wonder and warmth, Passing on the quiet strength Of those who came before. She makes them better.
Even Jesus had a mom. She wasn’t perfect—how could she be? But she loved Him, Cradled the Savior of the world, Taught Him how to walk and speak. And maybe—just maybe— Mary made Him better.
When I thank God for my blessings, I’m grateful for the mothers, Who bind wounds and shape souls, Who pray over cribs and never give up on us, Who show us, more than anyone else, What God’s love looks like Wrapped in human skin.
To every mom, stepmom, grandmother, mother-figure, or spiritual mom—thank you for the way you love, serve, and shape the world one soul at a time.
And to those remembering a mother who is no longer here, may today be filled not only with tears, but with warm memories, quiet joy, and the enduring presence of her love.
If this poem touched you or reminded you of a mother in your life, I’d love to hear your story in the comments below. Let’s celebrate them together.
Moms don’t just raise us—they shape us. And through their love, we catch a glimpse of the heart of God.
There’s a peculiar detail tucked into the Resurrection story in Luke 24 — and every time I read it, I stop and think, Wait… what just happened?
It’s the moment on the road to Emmaus, where two followers of Jesus, one named Cleopas and the other unnamed, encounter the risen Christ but don’t recognize Him. He walks with them. Teaches them. Unpacks Scripture from Moses to the Prophets — the ultimate Bible study from the Word Himself.
I wrote a blog post about this five years ago, early in my blogging journey, called “Stumbling Toward Emmaus“. But I didn’t focus on the moment I want to unpack today. Here it is.
Unrecognized Jesus, Cleopas, and his unnamed friend arrive at their destination. Cleopas and his friend invite this stranger to stay for dinner. When Jesus breaks the bread… they seeHim.
And then — poof !— He vanishes.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
What?? Why would Jesus disappear the very moment they realized who He was?
This feels like biblical nonsense. But as I said in the introduction to this series—nothing in Scripture is there by accident. So what is God trying to teach us in this odd little moment?
Did He Really Disappear?
It’s easy to picture this scene through a Hollywood lens: bright light, stunned expressions, and Jesus vanishing into thin air. But maybe there’s more happening than a miraculous disappearing act.
The resurrection marked a shift — Jesus was preparing His followers for the next chapter. He would soon no longer be with them physically, but that didn’t mean He would abandon them. In fact, He was getting them ready to recognize His presence without seeing Him.
Right after they recognized Him, they say:
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Even after His bodily ascension, Jesus promised His presence. And not only that—He promised the Holy Spirit, who would be with them and in them.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth… you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
In other words, Jesus was preparing His followers for life after the Resurrection—a life led by the Spirit, not just by sight. This Emmaus moment is a transition point, teaching us to see Jesus with the eyes of our hearts.
Why Emmaus? Why Them?
There’s something beautifully subversive about Jesus choosing to reveal Himself—not to Peter or John or His family—but to Cleopas and an unnamed companion. These weren’t the apostles or religious leaders. They were ordinary followers, disoriented, discouraged, and wandering.
And Jesus met them on the road.
He didn’t appear at the temple. Or atop the Mount of Olives. He came alongside two confused people walking away from Jerusalem, and walked with them, unrecognized.
Why?
Maybe to remind us that He meets us in our questions. In our confusion. In our disillusionment. In our walk away from hope.
And He’s patient enough to walk with us until our eyes are opened.
So… Why Did He Disappear?
Because they no longer needed to see Him to know Him.
The breaking of bread had revealed His identity. The Scriptures He explained had revealed His mission. Their burning hearts had testified to His presence.
He vanished — but He hadn’t left them. He was still with them. Just in a new way.
For Us Today
This story may feel like biblical nonsense on the surface—but it holds such a powerful truth:
We don’t always see Jesus. But that doesn’t mean He’s not there. The burning in your heart—the Spirit stirring in your soul—that’s Him. The Word opened to you, the bread broken, the friend who walks beside you—that’s Him, too.
And He promised He will never leave you.
So as we stumble toward Emmaus in our own lives—wondering what’s next, questioning what just happened, aching to see Jesus—we can remember: He’s walking with us already.
Even if we don’t recognize Him at first.
What about You?
Have you ever experienced a time when you didn’t “see” Jesus—but later realized He had been with you all along?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Also—since this is part of the Making Sense of Biblical Nonsense series—if this reflection resonated with you, or you have other Bible passages that have always puzzled you, let me know. I’d love to explore them in future episodes.
Until next time, may your heart burn within you as He walks beside you — even if your eyes haven’t caught up just yet.
Before we dive into today’s topic, I want to take a minute to introduce this new series. Let me start by clarifying that I would never dare label anything in the Bible as “nonsense.” The Bible is the Inspired Word of God, true and trustworthy from beginning to end.
That said, if I’m being honest, I’ve stumbled across many passages throughout my journey with Jesus that have, at first glance, seemed confusing, puzzling… even nonsensical.
Early in my walk with Christ, I would often wrestle with a confusing verse for a few minutes, then shrug my shoulders and move on, thinking, Well, maybe someday this will make sense. As my faith deepened, I learned to pray in those moments, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what God wanted me to see.
Sometimes clarity came quickly. Other times? Not at all. And I’ve come to be at peace with that.
Here’s Why
God tells us through His prophet Isaiah that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). If the Creator of the universe fits neatly into my human understanding, then He isn’t much of a God, is He?
So, I think it’s OK with God if certain parts of the Bible don’t make sense to us—in other words, if we think they’re nonsense, as long as we never stop trying to understand them, and as long as we don’t discard the rest of the Bible just because some parts of it are hard to understand (as I believe many secular people have done, to the extent that they have even explored the Word of God for themselves).
Anyway, I now believe that every confusing passage will unfold its meaning when God knows I’m ready to receive it—when I need it most.
To be clear, this series is not about poking holes in Scripture. I remain steadfast in my belief that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, the Absolute Truth, even if it contains passages that don’t make sense to me.
This series is about walking together through some of the verses that may have left us scratching our heads—digging deeper, praying for insight, and trusting the Spirit to reveal truth in His perfect timing. I pray that it encourages you—and reminds you that struggling to understand a passage doesn’t mean your faith is broken. It simply means you’re growing, and that you’re persisting in your journey with Him, even through the challenging and confusing parts.
And now, onto today’s post, the first episode:
How Can You Possibly Be Born Again?
One of the most famous — and initially confusing — conversations Jesus ever had was with a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council. In spite of being part of a group of religious leaders who always seemed to be trying to discredit Jesus instead of recognizing Him for who He was, Nicodemus actually seemed to be seeking the Truth and trying to discern whether Jesus really could be the promised Messiah. It’s recorded for us in chapter 3 of John’s gospel.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, curious but cautious. And Jesus doesn’t waste time or mince words, seeming to sense Nicodemus’ seeking heart:
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
It’s a fair question! If you or I were hearing this for the first time, we’d probably ask something similar. And that’s exactly the point: Jesus used a shocking metaphor to crack open a truth that Nicodemus—and all of us—desperately needed to grasp.
To be “born again” is not about biology. It’s about spiritual rebirth. I know the term “born again” has been overused, to the point where we probably skate right past it, no longer pausing to ponder what this really means.
So, let’s unpack it a bit and see if we can re-infuse the term with the rich and deep meaning Jesus intended for it.
When a baby is born, it enters an entirely new world — one it had no power to create, and one it cannot survive in on its own. It cannot understand that world, nor can the baby control it.
Everything must be provided for a newborn baby: nourishment, protection, love, guidance. Birth is a radical break from what came before. It’s no wonder that one of a baby’s first actions outside the womb is to scream its head off. I always wonder if they’re trying to say, “Put me back! I liked things the way they were!”
But you can’t do that. Birth is a beginning. A starting-over. A brand-new life.
Jesus was telling Nicodemus—and telling us—that following Him isn’t about tweaking our old life, polishing it up a bit, or trying harder to be good. It’s about receiving a completely new life from God. A life so new that it requires a spiritual birth, as real and as complete as our physical birth.
We sometimes hear people say, “I’m trying to be a better person” or “I’m working on getting my act together.” But Christianity isn’t about self-improvement or cleaning up your act. It’s about dying to the old self—and being born again into the new.
Jesus uses other confusing metaphors to describe this, too:
Dying to ourselves (Luke 9:23)
Taking up our cross and following Him (also Luke 9:23)
We’ll unpack those powerful yet confusing ideas more fully in a future episode of this series.
But for today, the key is this: Being born again means surrendering the idea that we can fix ourselves—and receiving, by faith, the brand-new life that only God can give.
If this post resonated with you, or even if it stirred new questions, I’d love to hear from you!
And since this is the first episode of Making Sense of Biblical Nonsense, I’d also love your feedback about the idea of the series itself. If you like it, let me know — and if there are particular passages that have always left you scratching your head, suggest them! I’d love to explore them together in future episodes.
You can leave a comment below or send me a message — I’d be honored to hear your thoughts.
Until next time, keep seeking, keep asking, and keep trusting that in His perfect time, God will make all things clear.
…or so we thought. He even said it: “It is finished”. We buried Him in a borrowed tomb, Sealed it with immovable stone. Dead is dead.
Right?
But wait! Some say the tomb is empty. Angels tell us that He's not here. How can that be?
Who is this Man, Who walks out of His grave?
I mean, wasn’t it a little strange, This Savior of ours talking about Dying and rising from the dead, Warning us that we would mourn While the world rejoices, but then Our grief would turn to joy? Was He our Sacrificial Lamb of God, Pulling our sins from the depths so He could take our punishment, or Judah’s Lion, roaring unafraid In evil’s face, defeating death and hell and Our addictions?
What does He mean, Light in the darkness, The Bread of Life, Wellspring of Living Water, quenching all thirst?
Yeah, not everything He says and does Makes sense.
Even so, We celebrate Him who Taught us to love others by Returning to us who abandoned Him, Making us breakfast in the midst of our hopelessness, Restoring the one who denied knowing Him. Taught us to love God by Revealing His glory through surrender, Convincing us that even death obeys our Father, Showing us that resurrection is God’s answer to loss,suffering. Taught us to love ourselves by Giving us grace before we cleaned up, Naming us brothers and sisters, not traitors, Giving us new life and purpose beyond our failures. Has overcome my brokenness, Is overcoming my brokenness, Will always overcome our brokenness.`
No, none of this makes sense, But here we are. Truth rarely fits in a box. It is finished, and yet We’re just getting started. Somehow, He is risen! Through God’s power to make all things new, He is risen indeed! And because of that— So are we.
Crucify Him! Away with Him! Who is He to come in the Name Of the Lord?
We strip His garments off To shame the so-called King. We shout, we sneer, we raise our fists— But did we ever really know the One we condemned? Who does He think He is?
I mean, wasn’t it a little strange, This Savior of ours— Silent before His accusers, Carrying His own cross, Climbing not a throne of gold, But a hill of death? What sort of savior is that? He can’t even save Himself…
But not everything He does Makes sense anyway.
Even so, We mock Him who Told us to love others with impossible demands: Love my neighbor as much as I love myself, Hang out with people who aren’t like me, Pray for my enemies. Told us we should love a God who Let my loved one die, Lets bad things happen to good people, Doesn’t answer my prayers like I think He should. Told us to love ourselves even though We don’t always do or say the right thing, We can’t live up to His standards, We cling to our addictions more than Him. Spoke uncomfortable, inconvenient truths, Set captives free but couldn’t free Himself, Let our brokenness nail Him to the cross.
What a waste, What a fool! He claimed to be God, but God doesn’t die. It is finished…
Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name Of the Lord!
We lay our cloaks down To honor our saving King, We sing, we shout, we raise our palm branches— But do we really know the One we praise? Who is this?
I mean, wasn’t it a little strange, This King of ours— Riding not a war horse, But a borrowed donkey, Entering not through the Eastern Gate, The gate of victorious kings, But through the Sheep Gate, The entrance for sacrificial lambs?
But not everything He does Makes sense anyway.
Even so, We celebrate Him who Taught us to love others by Showing us, Touching the untouchable, Washing the filth from our feet, from our hearts. Taught us to love God by Showing us, Talking to Him, listening for His voice Helping us see how much He loves us. Taught us to love ourselves by Restoring dignity to me, to broken people, Calling you and me His children, not outcasts, Reminding us that God made us in His image. Set us free with keys of truth, Released us from our bondage, Shattered the lies we’ve learned to live with.
What a King, What a Savior! May He reign forever! Hosanna!
No, I’m not talking about myself. That title is a nod to a humorous old country song—but it takes on a whole new meaning when I think about Jesus.
Lately, thanks in part to watching The Chosen (my favorite TV show), I’ve been paying closer attention to the way Jesus interacts with people in the Gospels. Again and again, I see someone who relates to others from a place of radical humility. There is no trace of arrogance, no hint of, “I created you, so get it together” or “I’m better than you.” Instead, I see someone who enters into the pain and struggles of others, someone who truly sees them and lifts them up as though they are His equal.
And that amazes me. Because Jesus is the greatest Person who has ever lived or ever will live. He created humanity from a lump of clay. He made you and me and everything we can see. He is God incarnate. It doesn’t get any greater than that. If anyone had the right to assert superiority, it was Him. Yet He chose humility.
Why? Why is that important?
That’s what I’d like to expore today.
The Humility of Jesus
Jesus’ life and ministry were marked by humility from the very beginning. He was born not in a palace but in a stable (Luke 2:7). He lived as a carpenter’s son in a backwater town. When He launched His ministry, He didn’t choose to associate with the powerful, but with fishermen, tax collectors, and sinners.
In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul captures this beautifully:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Jesus humbled Himself, even when it cost Him everything. This is the kind of humility, of sacrificial love, that God wanted us to see when He hatched His plan to rescue and redeem the world.
Humility in Action
One of the most powerful examples of Jesus’ humility comes in John 13, when He washes His disciples’ feet. This was a task reserved for the lowest servant in a household. Yet the Son of God, the greatest Man who ever lived, knelt down, wrapped a towel around His waist, and scrubbed the filth from the feet of those who would shortly abandon Him.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
Another example is how Jesus treated the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). He didn’t shame her. He didn’t lecture her. He defended her dignity and gently told her to go and sin no more. He restored her—the opposite of what the religious leaders had in mind to do with her.
Time and again, Jesus humbled Himself to lift others up. Whether it was healing lepers, touching the unclean, dining with outcasts, or offering forgiveness, He consistently put others first.
Humility in a Self-Exalting World
In today’s culture, humility often gets lost. Or worse yet, it is discouraged. Social media, resumes, and personal branding all encourage us to showcase our strengths, achievements, and highlight reels. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-promotion.
But through Jesus’ example, the Kingdom of God turns that upside down. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus says:
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
As C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, true humility isn’t about self-deprecation, as so many people tend to consider humility these days. A common paraphrase of his point puts it this way:
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Attributed to C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
All of this gets to the heart of why God thought this was an important characteristic to model for us: it’s about seeing others as God sees them, stepping into their shoes, and offering grace, compassion. The best way we can share God’s love to others is by putting their needs above our own.
That takes loads of humility.
Following the Humble King
But as followers of Christ, we are called to model our lives after His. Of course, that’s never easy. God knows this is a challenge for us. I think that’s why it was so important to Him that Jesus model this behavior for us, show us that we can live lives of humility.
He also knows we’ll mess it up more often than not. But He extends us more grace than we can ever imagine, and asks us to try to do better next time.
Wrestling with Humility
I have to confess here that this has always been a struggle for me. Thankfully, God has blessed me with family members and friends who are so much better at this than I’ll ever be. Through their examples and frequent “gentle” reminders from my journies through the Bible, I am often reminded that this is the way Jesus calls us to interact with those around us.
In case it’s helpful to you, here are some of the questions I ask myself when I am struggling to embrace humility:
When I’m tempted to judge someone else, can I recall to mind a time when I struggled with the very issue that just tripped them up?
Am I willing to serve others without recognition?
Can I celebrate others without comparing myself?
Will I admit when I’m wrong and ask for forgiveness? (my wife will attest to how especially hard this one is for me…)
Do I listen more than I speak?
Can I picture where I’d be, what kind of person I’d be if God hadn’t extended me grace more times than I can count?
When I’m tempted to think of myself or my accomplishments as great, can I picture how “great” I or my accomplishment would be if God hadn’t given me the abilities and opportunities He has? In other words, how “great” would I be if God hadn’t blessed me the way He has?
These are examples of the the daily opportunities I have to walk in humility, just as Jesus did. Do any of these hit close to home for you?
Call to Action
What would it look like for you to embrace humility—the humility that Jesus demonstrated—today?
Maybe it means apologizing first, even when you’re not entirely at fault. Maybe it means celebrating someone else’s success without envy. Or maybe it’s simply choosing to listen more intentionally, putting someone else’s needs ahead of your own.
Take a moment and ask Jesus:
Lord, where in my life do You want to cultivate more humility? Help me to follow Your example, to serve others, and to love without needing to be seen.
Then pay attention to where He leads you. Because in His Kingdom, the humble are the ones who reflect His glory best.
If you’ve seen humility modeled in a powerful way or have a story about how God has used humility to grow your faith, I’d love to hear it in the comments. Let’s continue this journey together—following our humble, loving Savior, who truly is great.
Yesterday I went with my wife and father-in-law to the theater to see Part 1 of The Chosen, Season 5. The theatrical release is combining episodes, so Part 1 is comprised of episodes 1 and 2. This season focuses on Holy Week, the days that start with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and lead up to His crucifixion. For those of us watching from a modern perspective, it’s easy to approach the story knowing how it ends—with Jesus rising from the dead on Easter morning. But if we try to put ourselves in the shoes of His original disciples, the story becomes much more troubling and confusing.
They followed Jesus for the same reason we do—because they believed He was the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by God to redeem His people. However, as the show demonstrates, their understanding of what that meant was very different from the truth. Many of them believed that the Messiah would overthrow their Roman oppressors and establish a kingdom on earth. Yet Jesus kept talking about uninspiring things, like grains of wheat having to die to multiply, and even hinting that He Himself would have to die. What kind of Savior and Leader is this who is asking them to trust Him?
God’s Ways Are Higher
Jesus knew that following Him would not always make sense to us. He asks us to trust that He knows what He is doing, even when it doesn’t look like it. Thousands of years before Jesus’ earthly ministry, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah with this reminder:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
It’s not always easy to accept that God sees the bigger picture, especially when life is confusing or painful. But the Bible is filled with stories of people who had to trust God’s higher ways—even when those ways made no sense to them. I think one of the reasons these stories are included in the Bible is to show us that we can—and should—trust God even when it doesn’t seem to make sense to do so.
Stories of Trusting God Through Confusion
Abraham and Sarah
Abraham (then called Abram) waited 25 years for God to fulfill His promise that Abraham and Sarah (at the time called Sarai) would become a great nation (see Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 15:1-6). Sarah was well past child-bearing age, making God’s promise seem impossible (see Genesis 17:15-21, Genesis 18:9-15, Genesis 21:1-7). And yet, Isaac was born.
Later, Abraham faced an even harder test when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the very child through whom the promise was supposed to come. It made no sense. But Abraham obeyed, trusting that God would provide. And God did, replacing Isaac with a ram at the last possible moment (see Genesis 22:1-18).
Moses
When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses protested (see Exodus 3:1-22, Exodus 4:1-17). He had difficulty speaking and couldn’t understand why God would choose him for such a massive task. Then, after Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go (see Exodus 5-12), they faced the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit. It looked like the end.
But God made a way—parting the sea for His people to pass through. What seemed impossible was made possible (see Exodus 14:1-31).
David
David was anointed as the next king of Israel while Saul still held the throne (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13). Years passed between David’s anointing and the moment he actually became king. During that time, Saul repeatedly tried to kill him (see 1 Samuel 18-26).
It must have seemed absurd for David to trust God’s promise in the face of so much danger. But he held on, and in time, God’s plan was fulfilled (2 Samuel 5:1-5).
Other Examples
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery (Genesis 37), and imprisoned (Genesis 39-41). But God used every hardship to position him to save countless lives during a famine (Genesis 41-47).
Esther risked her life by approaching the king to save her people. She didn’t know how it would turn out, but she trusted God to be in control (Esther 2-7).
Mary and Martha wept at the death of their brother Lazarus, not understanding why Jesus delayed in coming. But Jesus showed them that even death was not beyond His power (John 11:1-44).
Trusting God through Personal Struggles
None of us probably has to look far to find our own examples of situations where Jesus has called us to trust Him even though it made no sense. For me, there have been moments when I’ve had to stand by, feeling helpless, while loved ones battled illnesses and passed away. While I trust that they’re restored to full health now and celebrating with Jesus, I still miss them deeply.
I’ve lost jobs that I thought were secure. At the time, it made no sense that I was the one let go. And yet, I ended up in better situations each time. Looking back, I can see God’s hand, even when I couldn’t see it in the moment.
I’ve also done my best to raise my children, hoping to spare them from making the same mistakes I did. But I’ve had to watch them stumble, choosing their own path. It’s painful to see them struggle, but I’m learning to trust that God is still at work in their lives, just as He was in mine.
The list goes on, but I’ll move on to keep this from getting too long.
Trusting God in the Unknown
Through all of these situations, Jesus has asked me to trust Him. He’s spoken seemingly nonsensical words about wheat dying to multiply when I wanted answers about healing, jobs, or family restoration.
But even when I can’t see the purpose, I am learning to trust. Each time I step out in faith, I grow a little stronger, a little more rooted in the belief that God is in control. And even when I still feel overwhelmed like the disciples did during Holy Week, I find comfort in His promise, delivered through His Apostle Paul:
Trusting Jesus even when it doesn’t seem to make sense is not easy. But it is worth it. Each time we choose to trust Him, we strengthen our relationship with Him. We allow Jesus to reach through pain and confusion to give us His peace, to guard our hearts and minds.
The same Jesus who walked with His confused disciples through Holy Week walks with us today. He is still trustworthy. He is still working for our good. And He is still leading us toward the most nonsensical idea of them all: Easter. His victory over death. His resurrection and new life.
Call to Action
What about you? Have you faced situations where it made no sense to trust God, only to see Him come through in unexpected ways? Are you in the middle of one of those seasons right now, waiting for the breakthrough, for it all to make sense?
I’d love to hear your story. Share in the comments below how God has walked with you through confusing times. And if you’re struggling to trust Him now, I invite you to pray:
Jesus, help me trust You, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Let’s encourage one another to hold on to the One whose ways are higher than ours.
Temptation is something we all face. It comes in many forms—subtle, seductive, persistent—and often targets us where we’re weakest.
Does it mean there’s something wrong with us, with our faith, if (when) we face temptation? No, it means we’re human. God gave us free will so we could choose to be in a relationship with Him. The downside of that responsibility, though, is that we are allowed to make bad choices, which I do more often than I wish I did. How about you?
So how should we respond when temptation jumps out from behind the bush directly in front of us? Scripture gives us two contrasting examples: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Jesus in the wilderness.
Two Encounters, Two Outcomes
In the first two chapters of Genesis, God creates the world and all the living things in it, and then He makes the pinnacle of His creativity: Adam and Eve. God declares it all good, and everything is awesome. The first humans get to hang out in paradise with God.
Sadly, though, it only takes until the third chapter for the wheels to fall off the paradise bus. In Genesis 3, we see Adam and Eve encounter temptation through the cunning of the serpent:
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
With just a few words, Satan introduced doubt, reframed God’s command, and focused Eve’s attention on what was forbidden. Eve and Adam were surrounded by abundance, yet the enemy drew their focus to the one thing they couldn’t have.
Tragically, they gave in. They listened, rationalized, and acted on the lie.
Fast forward to Matthew 4. Jesus, after 40 days of fasting, was physically at His weakest. And right at that moment, Satan attacked Him.
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Satan tempted Jesus with food, pride, and power—each one targeting a genuine human need or desire. And yet, Jesus did not yield.
Why not?
Jesus Didn’t “Cheat”
I used to think Jesus had an advantage we don’t have—that being fully God, He couldn’t possibly fall into sin. But if that were the case, what would be the point of recording His temptation?
Hebrews 4:15 gives us a critical insight:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
Jesus was fully God, yes. But He was also fully human. He felt hunger. He experienced fatigue. He faced the same kinds of temptations we do—but He resisted.
Rooted in Truth
So how did He do it?
Every time Satan presented a temptation, Jesus responded the same way: with Scripture.
“It is written…” “It is also written…” “Away from me, Satan! For it is written…” – Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 (NIV)
Jesus didn’t reason with the devil. He didn’t weigh his options. He didn’t rely on feelings or circumstances. He stood on the truth of God’s Word.
Even when Satan twisted Scripture to serve his own ends, Jesus knew the full context. He discerned the lie behind the half-truth.
Standing on God’s word, Jesus was able to rise above the gravitational pull of temptation and resist Satan’s strategic justifications.
Why This Story Matters
Jesus’ temptation isn’t just a historical account. It’s a model for how we should handle temptation in our own lives.
Jesus came to show us that resisting temptation is possible. He didn’t just resist as God—He resisted as a man empowered by the Spirit and armed with the Word.
And if He could do it without relying on His God-ness, so can we.
Our Strategy for Resistance
Paul offers a practical framework in Ephesians 6: The Armor of God.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Just as Jesus wielded Scripture in the wilderness, we are called to do the same.
When temptation strikes:
Refuse to entertain it.
Recognize it for what it is.
Refute it with Scripture.
Not Behavior Modification
There’s something I want to make sure is clear: the point of following Christ isn’t behavior modification. God isn’t interested in robotic obedience or sinless performance for its own sake. His desire is for our hearts. As I wrote in last week’s blog, the reason God calls us to resist sin is because He wants freedom for us—not bondage. He wants us to enjoy paradise with Him, at peace and unencumbered by sin.
Sin entangles us. It lies to us. It draws us into shame and chains us with guilt.
But God’s love doesn’t disappear when we make bad choices. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), God waits patiently, watching the horizon for our return. The moment we return to Him begging to be forgiven, He runs to meet us, overflowing with grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
Conclusion: Learning from the Second Adam
Where Adam failed, Jesus prevailed. Jesus, often referred to as the “Second Adam” in Christian theology, came to undo what the first Adam had done.
Adam was surrounded by paradise, full and nourished—yet he fell.
Jesus was alone in the desert, hungry, and weak—yet He stood firm.
Why? Because He was rooted in the Word and led by the Spirit.
So the next time temptation comes your way, remember: you’re not powerless. Jesus showed us how to fight back. We just need to be ready to reach for our sword.
Call to Action: Practice the Pattern of Resistance
Temptation is inevitable, but defeat isn’t.
This week, take time to:
📖 Identify your most common temptations. 📘 Find at least one Scripture verse to counter each one. 🙏 Ask Jesus to give you the strength to resist, just as He did. 🛡️ Put on the full armor of God daily—and don’t forget your sword!
💬 Have you ever faced a moment when Scripture helped you resist temptation? Share your story in the comments—we grow stronger when we learn from each other!
Pilate’s question wasn’t a sincere search for understanding—it was dismissive, cynical, and reflective of a world where truth had already begun to lose its meaning.
Fast-forward to today, and it seems we’ve taken this question to heart in ways Pilate never imagined. Our culture has drifted to a place where people talk about “my truth,” as if truth were something personal, fluid, and subjective—something that can shift based on perspective or feelings.
But is that what truth really is? Or have we lost sight of what truth was always meant to be?
The Erosion of Absolute Truth
Our modern world increasingly rejects absolute truth in favor of relativism—the idea that truth is different for everyone. The problem? This mindset crumbles under its own weight.
If truth is relative, then nothing can be trusted. What happens when one person’s “truth” contradicts another’s? What happens when someone’s “truth” is harmful or deceptive? If truth is merely personal preference, then right and wrong cease to have meaning.
Jesus didn’t claim to be a truth—He claimed to be thetruth. Truth, by its very nature, is fixed, unchanging, and absolute.
The Subtle Danger of Moral Relativism
Moral relativism—the belief that morality is fluid and personal—has crept into our thinking in more ways than we realize. It’s not always blatant rebellion; sometimes, it’s small compromises that add up over time.
Truth can sometimes have sharp edges, and we’re tempted to file them down.
We tell ourselves things like: ✔ “This sin isn’t that bad.” ✔ “God understands—everyone does this.” ✔ “That’s just how I was raised.” ✔ “I know what the Bible says, but this is different.”
The moment we start rationalizing sin, we have begun shaping our own version of truth—a truth that makes us more comfortable but ultimately leads us away from God’s best for us.
Jesus warned us of this, reminding us what the truth is meant to do for us:
The truth doesn’t restrict us—it liberates us. But if we redefine truth to fit our own desires, we’re no longer living in freedom. We’re living in self-deception.
How Do We Fix This?
So, if we find ourselves drifting into this kind of thinking, how do we course correct?
1. Develop a Conversational Intimacy with Jesus
Jesus is not just the source of truth—He is Truth. When we develop an ongoing dialogue with Him, we invite Him to gently correct our thinking.
A simple prayer like “Jesus, show me where I’m compromising truth” can lead to conviction, clarity, and a renewed mind.
We should ask things like: 🔹 Where have I filed down truth’s sharp edges to fit my desires? 🔹 Where have I allowed culture’s opinions to override God’s Word? 🔹 What lies have I unknowingly embraced?
When we keep these conversations open and honest, Jesus will redirect us back to what is real. He will help us allow the truth to set us free.
2. Immerse Yourself in THE Truth: God’s Word
The best way to recognize a counterfeit truth is to be intimately familiar with the real thing. As Jesus prays for His disciples (and for us):
If we aren’t grounded in God’s Word, we will unintentionally absorb the shifting “truths” of our culture. But when we read scripture daily, it shapes our hearts, minds, and discernment.
Even five minutes a day in the Bible can: 📖 Strengthen our ability to recognize deception. 📖 Remind us that God’s truth is eternal, not circumstantial. 📖 Keep our hearts aligned with what God says, not what culture says.
3. Surround Yourself with People Who Value Truth
We were never meant to figure this out alone. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
When we have truth-seeking friends, mentors, and church communities, we have accountability. They can help us see when we’re drifting and encourage us to stay rooted in God’s truth.
4. Ask God for Boldness
Living by absolute truth in a culture that celebrates relativism isn’t easy. It takes courage to stand firm when the world tells you to compromise.
Truth is worth standing for, even when it’s unpopular.
Conclusion: The Truth Will Set You Free
Pilate stood before the embodiment of truth and still asked, “What is truth?”
How often do we do the same? How often do we look directly at what God has said and still entertain doubt, compromise, or cultural narratives that contradict it?
Truth is not subjective. It’s not something we get to redefine to fit our lives. It is who Jesus is.
So let’s commit to seeking and standing on His truth, even when it challenges us, even when it’s difficult, and even when the world tells us otherwise.
Because truth doesn’t chain us—it sets us free.
💬 Next Steps
🔥 Where have you seen moral relativism creep into our culture? 💬 Have you ever caught yourself rationalizing sin instead of confronting it with truth?
Master's Canvas - Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter 