Who We Are
In a culture drifting from biblical truth, the church must re-anchor itself in its divine calling. This message affirms that believers are mastered by an unrivaled Master—Jesus Christ—and are messengers of an unchanging manifesto—the Word of God. Amid moral confusion and cultural hostility, the church is called to clarify its identity, mission, and commitment to truth. The foundation of the church is not Peter, but Christ Himself, and His promise is that even the gates of hell will not overcome His church. In stormy times, we are called not to retreat, but to shine brighter—faithful, unshaken, and resolved.
Timeless Reactions to the Crucifixion
Jesus’ death prompted powerful and varied responses. Religious leaders felt relieved, believing they had eliminated a threat. The crowd, realizing their error, left in shame and regret. Jesus’ followers stood at a distance, overcome with grief and confusion. Yet one Roman centurion responded in faith, declaring Jesus the Son of God. His insight marked the first post-crucifixion worship—and it came not from a disciple, but from a Gentile soldier. This moment reveals that the cross demands a response from everyone. For some, it brings denial or sorrow. For others, like the centurion, it brings reverence and life-changing belief.
The Only Way to Live and Die
Jesus’ final words from the cross, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit,” reveal the heart of true faith: complete trust in God. This declaration marked the fulfillment of His mission, the voluntary surrender of His life, and the certainty of eternal security for all believers. At His death, supernatural signs—the tearing of the temple veil, a powerful earthquake, and the resurrection of saints—confirmed His victory and the new access believers now have to God. The message is clear: salvation rests solely on Christ’s finished work, and the Christian life is one of daily surrender. This is not just how to die in faith—it’s how to live.
Mission Accomplished
Jesus' triumphant cry, “It is finished” (Greek: tetelestai), declared the complete fulfillment of His mission. Unlike all others who leave life with unfinished goals, Jesus alone accomplished every purpose: fulfilling prophecy, canceling the record of our sin, and defeating Satan. This single word was used in everyday life to declare a task completed, a debt paid, or a masterpiece finished. Jesus’ death wasn’t a moment of defeat, but a victorious declaration that salvation is fully secured. His final words offer assurance that the work of redemption is done—forever—and nothing needs to be added.
When the Water of Life Became Thirsty
With the simple cry, “I thirst,” Jesus revealed profound truths about His identity and mission. This moment unveils His full humanity, as the Creator of water now experiences thirst. It displays His humility, asking a favor from His enemies. It fulfills Scripture, aligning His suffering with prophecy. And it serves as an invitation—highlighting that only Jesus, the Living Water, can truly satisfy the soul’s deepest thirst. From His parched lips flows an eternal offer: come and drink freely from the well of salvation, where thirst is quenched forever.
Forsaken
As Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” He revealed the full weight of bearing humanity’s sin and enduring separation from the Father. The supernatural darkness reflected God’s judgment and sorrow over sin, paralleling the plague of darkness before Passover. Jesus became our substitute, experiencing God’s wrath so we wouldn’t have to. This cry from the cross demonstrates both God’s inflexible justice and His boundless mercy. Because Jesus was forsaken, all who trust in Him are promised they will never be. The invitation to accept Him remains open—while there is still time.
Caring from the Cross
Even in agony on the cross, Jesus ensured the care of His mother, entrusting her to His disciple John. This act of compassion reveals Jesus’ deep love, fulfilling Scripture and modeling selfless care. Though His own family had rejected Him, Jesus honored His mother and anticipated the formation of a new spiritual family. His example reminds us to care for others, expect division because of faith, and pursue reconciliation through Christ. We are called to honor both our earthly families and our spiritual family in Christ.
A Deathbed Conversion
As Jesus hung on the cross, a dying thief turned to Him in faith and received the promise of paradise that very day. This moment reveals that salvation comes by grace through faith—not by good works or religious rituals. The thief admitted his guilt, recognized Jesus’ innocence, and trusted in Christ’s coming kingdom. Jesus’ response—“Today you will be with me in paradise”—confirms the immediacy of salvation, the reality of life after death, and the boundless reach of God’s mercy. No one is too far gone, and it’s never too late to turn to Christ—until it is.
"Father, Forgive Them"
In this powerful message, Stephen Davey reflects on Jesus’ first words from the cross: “Father, forgive them.” Jesus, in the midst of unimaginable suffering, prayed not for judgment but for mercy—even for His executioners. This prayer reveals His routine of communion with the Father, His request for humanity’s forgiveness, and His reasoning based on their ignorance. It fulfills prophecy, models divine love, and calls each of us to receive His grace and extend forgiveness to others. Jesus' words aren’t just historical—they’re personal: “Father, forgive [your name here].”
Hunger
This lesson from Philippians 3:10–11, titled “Aiming Higher . . . Pressing Onward – Part 3,” unpacks Paul’s deep hunger for intimacy with Christ. Paul expresses four passionate desires: to know Christ more deeply, live for Him more dynamically, suffer with Him more dependently, and look for Him more eagerly. True spiritual growth, Paul teaches, is driven by appetite—an intense longing for closeness with Christ that shapes every part of life. The lesson urges believers to identify what dulls their hunger for God and to pursue a deeper, ongoing relationship marked by obedience, intimacy, and eternal perspective.