I knew of a young mother, who, in the final months of her struggle with cancer, filled a box with letters for her children, each note marked for them to read when they reached life’s milestones and hard moments without her. She knew she wouldn’t be there to encourage her precious ones in person when those moments came, but she intended that her words would convey her love, blessing and presence in their lives.
The box marked “New Testament” is filled with letters for us—Gospels and Epistles—written in the past to God’s children then and to His children yet to come. They include teachings, warnings, encouragement and accounts of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection illuminated by Old Testament references to Him—“As it is written…” They’re rich with hope, conveying the love and presence of Jesus to those the Father has given Him.
John shares the intent of his Gospel: “These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).