Paul says he does teach wisdom—but not the status-seeking wisdom of this age; it’s God’s hidden wisdom revealed in Christ and shared “among the mature.” The rulers of this age proved their blindness by crucifying the Lord of glory, unwittingly advancing God’s eternal plan. For those who love God, He has prepared a glory beyond anything eyes have seen, ears have heard, or hearts could imagine—calling us to cross-shaped maturity, not worldly acclaim.

Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute, astonishing the crowd and prompting speculation that He might be the Messiah. The Pharisees shockingly dismiss the miracle, claiming that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Satan rather than the Spirit. In response, Jesus highlights the division that such accusations represent and delivers a solemn warning that while most sins can be forgiven, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—denying the Spirit’s work—will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come.

Colossians 2:13–15 shows that though we were once dead in sin, God made us alive with Christ by forgiving all our trespasses. At the cross, He canceled the record of debt that stood against us, nailing it to the cross and erasing it forever. In doing so, God disarmed the powers of darkness and publicly triumphed over them, giving believers both freedom from guilt and confidence in Christ’s victory.

John 12:26–37 shows Jesus embracing the cross as the hour of his glorification and the Father’s. Though his soul is troubled, he prays for God’s name to be honored, and a voice from heaven confirms it. At the cross, the world is judged, Satan is cast out, and all people are drawn to Christ—so we are urged to walk in the Light while it is still with us.

Psalm 34 is David’s song of thanksgiving after God delivered him from danger, turning his fear into praise. It invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good,” reminding us that those who seek Him lack no good thing. The psalm assures us that God is near to the brokenhearted, delivers the righteous, and redeems His servants, pointing us to Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s saving care.

Jesus is our great High Priest who not only reigns in majesty but also sympathizes with our weaknesses, having endured every kind of temptation yet without sin. Because He knows our struggles from the inside, we can come boldly—not fearfully—to God’s throne, which is not of judgment but of grace. There, we always find mercy for our failures and strength for our time of need.

Galatians 5 emphasizes that true freedom in Christ is not license for sin but life in the Spirit. Paul contrasts the works of the flesh—such as immorality, idolatry, and strife—with the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, and other virtues. Believers are called to walk by the Spirit, crucifying the sinful nature and living in love that fulfills God’s law.

John warns believers not to love the “world” — understood not as creation or people, but the fallen system opposed to God — because doing so displaces the love of the Father. He defines the world’s allure as three seductive impulses: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Loving these temporary, self-centered desires ultimately clashes with eternal devotion to God.