Finding Hope In The Last Words Of Jesus

Jesus was known for his attention-commanding teachings, but his dying words were extraordinary. Simply uttered, yet profoundly meaningful, they resonate even today with revelations about his spiritual nature, his human character, and his divine mission. Greg Laurie mines each statement for its treasure and presents insightful nuggets that give this compact volume multiplied value as a discussion starter an aid to personal meditation an inspirational gift a tool for outreach Within these pages, devotional readers will find core truths for daily life, and seekers will see a loving call to accept new life in the risen Christ of the cross.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham explores the seven last sayings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, combining rich historical and theological insights to reflect on the true heart of the Christian story. For Jon Meacham, as for believers worldwide, the events of Good Friday and Easter reveal essential truths about Christianity. A former vestryman of Trinity Church Wall Street and St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, Meacham delves into that intersection of faith and history in this meditation on the seven phrases Jesus spoke from the cross. Beginning with “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” and ending with “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” Meacham captures for the reader how these words epitomize Jesus’s message of love, not hate; grace, not rage; and, rather than vengeance, extraordinary mercy. For each saying, Meacham composes an essay on the origins of Christianity and how Jesus’s final words created a foundation for oral and written traditions that upended the very order of the world. Writing in a tone more intimate than any of his previous works, Jon Meacham returns us to the moment that transformed Jesus from a historical figure into the proclaimed Son of God, worshiped by billions.

Includes Study Guide We often hear about the Seven Last Words of Christ. Rarely, though, do we focus in the same way on what Christ said after the Resurrection as he surprised, consoled, rebuked, and inspired his followers through seven powerful encounters--what Shane Stanford calls the Seven Next Words of Christ. "In a warm and intimate way the author uses stories from his own life and experience to make the continuing power of Christ more real and accessible to any earnest believer." -J. Ellsworth Kalas, author of Parables from the Back Side "Shane Stanford demonstrates that the 'seven next words of Christ' are not just ancient sayings but living words. This book left me listening for the next words the risen Christ would speak to me." -Michael E. Williams, editor of The Storyteller's Companion to the Bible "Shane Stanford breathes life into the Easter faith with his lively exploration of the 'Seven Next Words' of Christ, words full of resurrection surprise and vitality that will reinvigorate your faith that 'Christ is Risen, he has risen indeed.'" -William H. Willimon, author of Sinning Like a Christian

Readers will experience a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ thorough examination of what Jesus said, why He said it, and how His powerful words continue to change lives forever.

The very title of the last book of the Bible means "unveiling." Yet this mysterious and confusing book seems to do anything but unveil, especially when we read it on our own. Unlocking the Last Days takes readers through key parts of this misunderstood book, using a verse-by-verse approach that clearly communicates God's truth, warnings, and promises. Both Bible teachers and students will find this book a welcome aid to understanding an intriguing piece of the Scriptures.

"Read but the words of this book and be healed. Dr. Hurley is that remarkable combination of rigorous scientist and profoundly spiritual physician. You would not mind a long wait in his office to tell him your story. But you will likely find it already in these pages with indispensable counsel on how to understand and manage the sorrows and pains of life. You will keep this book and give copies to others." --Eugene Kennedy, author of The Pain of Being Human and My Brother Joseph: The Spirit of a Cardinal and the Story of a Friendship Coping with illness is never easy, but we can find hope in the midst of our suffering when we look to Jesus, the ultimate physician. In Facing Pain, Finding Hope, Dr. Daniel Hurley explores what he calls "the intimacy of suffering and faith." It is a place where afflicted people encounter the Jesus of the Gospels--a doctor with no rushed appointment schedule, no need of malpractice insurance. Dr. Hurley shows how an intimate reading of the Gospels can open new horizons of healing for people coping with illness. Through this book, he invites sufferers--and those who live with them--into a dialogue with Jesus the healer.

Loss comes to each of us, without fail. Scripture can serve as a companion to us in the grief we bear and ultimately in our surrender to our compassionate God. Through this set of insightful reflections on the stories of Ruth and Naomi, the death and raising of Jesus’ friend Lazarus, and the promise of a new heaven and earth, Laura Kelly Fanucci invites us to a deepening experience of God’s healing presence in our lives.