1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,400 S1: What's really happening in Israel today. How is the country 2 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,680 S1: responding after the war? Is tourism finally responding? What if 3 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,040 S1: we had an on site set of eyes? Well we do. 4 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,880 S1: Welcome to the land and the book from Moody Radio. 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,040 S1: I'm John Yeager with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, who 6 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,440 S1: reports today from Israel. Good to connect with you, Charlie. 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,920 S2: John, it's great connecting with you. 8 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,800 S1: And all the way from Israel. We're really glad to 9 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,279 S1: get your report. And we're going to get to some 10 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,080 S1: of those top stories first, though. It's easy to overlook 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,680 S1: the fact that everybody, everybody needs to hear the gospel, 12 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,960 S1: including Jewish people. And every week you hear us talking 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,640 S1: about different ways we can show the love of Jesus 14 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,680 S1: to our Jewish friends and neighbors. But, Charlie, there's a 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,959 S1: special resource that listeners should be taking advantage of, right? 16 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,960 S2: That's right, John, and life in Messiah, you know, ministry 17 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,390 S2: that's been in existence for over 135 35 years is 18 00:01:00,390 --> 00:01:03,190 S2: devoted to sharing the gospel with Jewish people around the world. 19 00:01:03,350 --> 00:01:05,990 S2: That's why they're offering a gift to moody listeners. It's 20 00:01:05,990 --> 00:01:09,470 S2: a free e-book, Reaching Jewish People for Messiah, and it 21 00:01:09,470 --> 00:01:12,270 S2: highlights the need for the gospel among the Jewish people. 22 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:15,270 S2: It will equip you with practical ways to share the 23 00:01:15,270 --> 00:01:18,069 S2: good news with them. Now, to receive this free e-book, 24 00:01:18,110 --> 00:01:22,149 S2: visit life.in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio logo. 25 00:01:22,390 --> 00:01:26,590 S2: Sign up today to get your copy. That's life in Messiah. 26 00:01:28,110 --> 00:01:30,589 S1: Thank you Charlie. And now a look at current events 27 00:01:30,590 --> 00:01:33,910 S1: stories unfolding in the Middle East. Charlie, now that you 28 00:01:33,910 --> 00:01:36,709 S1: are back in Israel with a busload of tourists, what 29 00:01:36,709 --> 00:01:40,509 S1: are your initial impressions? How is the country doing following 30 00:01:40,550 --> 00:01:42,030 S1: two years of war? 31 00:01:42,390 --> 00:01:45,750 S2: Well, John, I'll give you kind of a scattershot approach here. 32 00:01:45,830 --> 00:01:48,870 S2: Let me say the weather has been decent now. It changes. 33 00:01:48,870 --> 00:01:52,110 S2: In fact, this weekend it began, uh, having some rain, 34 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:54,630 S2: which is good for Israel. You know, that's a blessing 35 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:57,590 S2: from God. And thankfully, we're at the Dead Sea, so 36 00:01:57,590 --> 00:02:00,700 S2: that's not a real hardship on us, but the country 37 00:02:00,740 --> 00:02:04,020 S2: is doing remarkably well. I guess I'd say, all things considered. 38 00:02:04,260 --> 00:02:06,580 S2: You know, most tourists don't spend time in the areas 39 00:02:06,580 --> 00:02:09,380 S2: that were along the border with Gaza or Lebanon. So 40 00:02:09,380 --> 00:02:12,859 S2: everything looks well, looks to our tourists normal. Now, there 41 00:02:12,860 --> 00:02:15,820 S2: was some destruction from Iranian missiles in Tel Aviv, but 42 00:02:15,860 --> 00:02:18,260 S2: we didn't spend time there. We didn't see any of that. 43 00:02:18,260 --> 00:02:21,220 S2: It wasn't a problem. Now the average tourist, he's just 44 00:02:21,220 --> 00:02:25,020 S2: going to see a normal events happening now. The infrastructure 45 00:02:25,020 --> 00:02:28,540 S2: is still a little bit, uh, loose, I guess would 46 00:02:28,540 --> 00:02:30,419 S2: be the kind of reminds you of a car that 47 00:02:30,419 --> 00:02:32,780 S2: wasn't driven for a long time. You know, the tire 48 00:02:32,780 --> 00:02:35,620 S2: pressure is low. The battery has to be jumpstarted. Right? 49 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:37,980 S2: Once the engine gets turned over and starts to life, 50 00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:40,859 S2: it'll be okay. But we're finding there's been a few hiccups, 51 00:02:40,900 --> 00:02:44,459 S2: a few glitches as hotels get back online as as 52 00:02:44,460 --> 00:02:48,460 S2: restaurants get put back together. But that's improving and I 53 00:02:48,460 --> 00:02:52,019 S2: think it'll continue to improve in the weeks and months ahead. 54 00:02:52,380 --> 00:02:54,300 S2: The leader's guide I use for the trip has a 55 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:57,290 S2: detailed day by day itinerary. If you could see mine 56 00:02:57,290 --> 00:02:59,530 S2: right now, John, it's covered in red with all the 57 00:02:59,530 --> 00:03:03,010 S2: last minute revisions we had to make. Yeah. I tell people, 58 00:03:03,169 --> 00:03:05,250 S2: the goal for the leader is to make the trip 59 00:03:05,250 --> 00:03:08,169 S2: look like, as smooth as a duck on water. You 60 00:03:08,169 --> 00:03:10,290 S2: look at the duck, it seems serene, but just underneath 61 00:03:10,290 --> 00:03:12,970 S2: the surface, it's paddling furiously to get where it needs 62 00:03:12,970 --> 00:03:15,609 S2: to go. And that's what's true on all trips. But 63 00:03:15,610 --> 00:03:18,650 S2: this time it's a little more so. But the reality is, 64 00:03:18,690 --> 00:03:21,530 S2: we're having a great time. It's the kind of challenge 65 00:03:21,530 --> 00:03:25,609 S2: that makes a day interesting. And frankly, the people here 66 00:03:25,650 --> 00:03:28,970 S2: are excited to see tourists. We're getting a royal treatment 67 00:03:28,970 --> 00:03:29,769 S2: from everyone. 68 00:03:30,169 --> 00:03:33,089 S1: Well, you use the word tourists. And I'm curious, what 69 00:03:33,090 --> 00:03:36,290 S1: is the general impression you have about tourist volume? Are 70 00:03:36,290 --> 00:03:38,610 S1: you beginning to finally see some groups, or is it 71 00:03:38,610 --> 00:03:39,610 S1: a bit sparse yet? 72 00:03:40,210 --> 00:03:44,930 S2: It is sparse. Today we were pictured Megiddo. We were 73 00:03:44,930 --> 00:03:48,890 S2: the only bus at Megiddo when we were on Mount Carmel. 74 00:03:48,930 --> 00:03:53,210 S2: On at Musharaka. Uh, there was a group there of six, uh, 75 00:03:53,210 --> 00:03:56,600 S2: besides our group of 47, uh, Lunch, we had the 76 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,480 S2: place to ourselves. So, uh, there's just, uh, places as 77 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,360 S2: we travel through Israel on almost on a day by 78 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,080 S2: day basis where you could say, okay, there's some tourists, 79 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,160 S2: but not enough, uh, they are desperate to have the tourists, 80 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,320 S2: which is why they're so excited every time we show up. 81 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,680 S1: This is the land in the book from Moody Radio 82 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,240 S1: with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, speaking to us today 83 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,000 S1: from Israel this Sunday, your first stop is the Iron 84 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,840 S1: Age fortress of Arad, between the Dead Sea and Beersheba. 85 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,480 S1: A recent article in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology focused 86 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,600 S1: on a study of 100 inscribed pottery shards that have 87 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,320 S1: been unearthed there. What was the point of the article? And, uh, 88 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,719 S1: what can we learn from it? 89 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,240 S2: Well, you know, I found the article fascinating. These bits 90 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,880 S2: of inscribed pottery were found a while back, back in 91 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,520 S2: the 1960s, but two archaeologists decided to take another look 92 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,440 S2: at them with a focus on numeracy, that is, the 93 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,240 S2: ability to understand and manipulate numbers. The text date to 94 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,860 S2: the time just before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, and 95 00:04:56,860 --> 00:04:59,700 S2: the scholars analyzed the different dates and numbers found in 96 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:03,180 S2: the inscriptions. And based on what they discovered, they're proposing 97 00:05:03,180 --> 00:05:06,900 S2: that the soldiers there followed a 30 day calendar with 98 00:05:06,940 --> 00:05:10,900 S2: six day supply cycle, allowing for five cycles each month. 99 00:05:11,140 --> 00:05:13,820 S2: Now I find the last part of their story somewhat controversial, 100 00:05:13,820 --> 00:05:16,900 S2: since it assumed that a six day cycle had somehow 101 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:20,420 S2: replaced a seven day week. That's part of Israel's calendar 102 00:05:20,420 --> 00:05:23,380 S2: from the earliest times. But I do see two observations 103 00:05:23,380 --> 00:05:26,300 S2: they make that are significant. First, they viewed the typical 104 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:29,180 S2: month as having 30 days. An actual lunar month is 105 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:31,740 S2: 29 to 30 days, but that in the book of 106 00:05:31,740 --> 00:05:33,980 S2: Daniel and the Book of Revelation, the ideal month was 107 00:05:33,980 --> 00:05:36,779 S2: viewed as 30 days. And this seems to confirm that. 108 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:40,260 S2: The second fascinating fact is that the pottery shards not 109 00:05:40,260 --> 00:05:43,020 S2: only show a high degree of literacy among the troops 110 00:05:43,020 --> 00:05:45,700 S2: who were assigned to guard this small outpost, it also 111 00:05:45,700 --> 00:05:49,540 S2: shows a high level of understanding of timekeeping and numbers. 112 00:05:49,980 --> 00:05:53,450 S2: The shards track issuing, receiving and recording goods like wine 113 00:05:53,450 --> 00:05:55,610 S2: and bread and grain, and as well as the timing 114 00:05:55,650 --> 00:05:59,450 S2: of their distribution. So it really it shows they understood math, 115 00:05:59,450 --> 00:06:02,530 S2: they kept good track of time. And that's for the 116 00:06:02,570 --> 00:06:05,090 S2: average person. They had a higher degree of literacy than 117 00:06:05,089 --> 00:06:06,610 S2: most people have assumed. 118 00:06:06,930 --> 00:06:10,650 S1: I note that desalinated water from the Mediterranean is finally 119 00:06:10,650 --> 00:06:13,890 S1: flowing into the Sea of Galilee. What impact is this 120 00:06:13,890 --> 00:06:17,770 S1: having on Israel's water resources? What's the country feeling like? 121 00:06:18,250 --> 00:06:21,450 S2: It's going to have a major impact on Israel's water resources. 122 00:06:21,690 --> 00:06:25,210 S2: They've had two years now of below average rainfall. And John, 123 00:06:25,210 --> 00:06:26,849 S2: you would be surprised the water level in the Sea 124 00:06:26,890 --> 00:06:29,490 S2: of Galilee has dropped down, actually, to what they call 125 00:06:29,490 --> 00:06:31,650 S2: the lower Red line. Now, that's the level where they 126 00:06:31,650 --> 00:06:34,970 S2: stopped pumping water from the lake into the national water carrier. 127 00:06:34,970 --> 00:06:38,050 S2: In fact, based on long range forecasts for this winter, 128 00:06:38,250 --> 00:06:41,210 S2: the water authority expects to pump only 10% of the 129 00:06:41,210 --> 00:06:43,970 S2: water from the lake that it would normally pump during 130 00:06:43,970 --> 00:06:46,409 S2: a normal year. Now, in the past, that would mean 131 00:06:46,450 --> 00:06:50,290 S2: a water rationing and also pumping additional water from the 132 00:06:50,290 --> 00:06:54,880 S2: underground aquifers. but the six desalination plants now in operation, 133 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,880 S2: along with the seventh due to come online in 2027, 134 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,679 S2: are now meeting 70 to 80% of the country's drinking 135 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,279 S2: water needs. And as you mentioned just this past month, 136 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:08,280 S2: excess water from those desalination plants began flowing into the 137 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:12,960 S2: Sea of Galilee. The water authorities, pumping about 5000m³ of 138 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,800 S2: desalinated water per hour into the Sea of Galilee. Now, 139 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,880 S2: that's not enough to fill it, but it's enough to 140 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,160 S2: keep the level from falling to critically low levels. The 141 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,800 S2: water flowing into the lake is very high quality. In fact, 142 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,760 S2: it's higher than the lake's natural water quality. So there's 143 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,680 S2: no negative environmental impact right now. And when we stood 144 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,160 S2: up on Mount Arbel earlier this week, I looked at 145 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,440 S2: the lake. You could tell the water level is low, 146 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,080 S2: but it's encouraging to know the current level will be 147 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,600 S2: maintained to keep it from dropping further. And should God 148 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,360 S2: bless them with an abundance of rain this winter, uh, 149 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,800 S2: then that hopefully will raise the lake to a more 150 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,230 S2: historic levels, which would definitely be a blessing for all 151 00:07:51,230 --> 00:07:53,630 S2: of Israel. In fact, I told our group, we're praying 152 00:07:53,630 --> 00:07:56,550 S2: for rain every night while we're here in Israel and 153 00:07:56,550 --> 00:07:58,670 S2: then it can rain day and night once we leave. 154 00:07:58,870 --> 00:07:59,550 S2: That's right. 155 00:08:00,270 --> 00:08:02,390 S1: Well, tell me, where is the actual insertion point of 156 00:08:02,430 --> 00:08:04,230 S1: that water? Is it to the north? It would be 157 00:08:04,230 --> 00:08:06,190 S1: my guess. Is it near Tiberius, where many of our 158 00:08:06,190 --> 00:08:08,630 S1: listeners have been? Where is it flowing? In? 159 00:08:08,830 --> 00:08:12,470 S2: Just south of the kibbutz. So it would be north 160 00:08:12,470 --> 00:08:15,870 S2: of Tiberius. South of Naveglitazar. It's an old river bed there, 161 00:08:15,870 --> 00:08:18,270 S2: and they've diverted the water to come down and into 162 00:08:18,270 --> 00:08:19,710 S2: that riverbed. Into the sea. 163 00:08:20,350 --> 00:08:22,350 S1: Time for one more story here on the land and 164 00:08:22,350 --> 00:08:25,710 S1: the book. In this opening segment, archaeologists in northern Israel 165 00:08:25,710 --> 00:08:29,270 S1: have uncovered the world's oldest home for the elderly. Tell 166 00:08:29,270 --> 00:08:31,430 S1: us about this unusual discovery, Charlie. 167 00:08:31,710 --> 00:08:33,750 S2: Yeah, well, like much of the world, modern Israel is 168 00:08:33,750 --> 00:08:36,590 S2: also starting to cope with an ever growing elderly population. 169 00:08:36,630 --> 00:08:39,030 S2: And so when archaeologists found this, they found it to 170 00:08:39,030 --> 00:08:42,270 S2: be exciting. And I did, too. University of Haifa researchers 171 00:08:42,270 --> 00:08:45,510 S2: discovered a mosaic medallion in hippos on the east side 172 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:48,309 S2: of the Sea of Galilee with the inscription, peace be 173 00:08:48,309 --> 00:08:50,620 S2: with the elders, and we might read that and assume 174 00:08:50,620 --> 00:08:52,740 S2: it's referring to the elders or rulers of a church. 175 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:55,500 S2: But the inscription was found in a residential area of 176 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:57,980 S2: the city, not in one of the seven churches that 177 00:08:57,980 --> 00:09:01,140 S2: had been uncovered there. The archaeologists determined that the mosaic 178 00:09:01,140 --> 00:09:04,660 S2: was at the entrance to a communal and spiritual institution 179 00:09:04,660 --> 00:09:07,459 S2: that was integrated into the fabric of the city. They 180 00:09:07,460 --> 00:09:10,620 S2: connect the mosaic and the inscription to the Christian influence 181 00:09:10,620 --> 00:09:13,900 S2: within that city. In other words, it provided one of 182 00:09:13,900 --> 00:09:17,380 S2: the earliest material testimonies in the Holy Land showing how 183 00:09:17,380 --> 00:09:21,660 S2: the Christian community began assuming responsibilities for care, though it 184 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:23,980 S2: might be a stretch to call it the world's oldest 185 00:09:24,020 --> 00:09:28,100 S2: known nursing home, as they've done, the excavations do show 186 00:09:28,140 --> 00:09:31,420 S2: Christian influence in that early city in two ways building 187 00:09:31,420 --> 00:09:35,339 S2: places of worship and building a facility that demonstrated care 188 00:09:35,340 --> 00:09:38,020 S2: for the elderly. And that shouldn't be too surprising to us. 189 00:09:38,059 --> 00:09:40,980 S2: You know, Paul wrote in one Timothy five about honoring 190 00:09:40,980 --> 00:09:43,980 S2: and assisting widows. This seems to be an example of 191 00:09:43,980 --> 00:09:46,980 S2: a town that took those words and put them into practice. 192 00:09:47,179 --> 00:09:50,130 S1: And that's a look at current events from Israel. Charlie Dyer, 193 00:09:50,170 --> 00:09:53,530 S1: our host, is there now. Appreciate that update, Charlie. If 194 00:09:53,530 --> 00:09:55,570 S1: it's been a while since you visited our website, we 195 00:09:55,610 --> 00:09:59,929 S1: welcome you there. It's the land and the book information 196 00:09:59,929 --> 00:10:04,210 S1: about today's programs, past programs, future programs, all there at 197 00:10:04,210 --> 00:10:07,130 S1: the land and the bookstores, as well as links to 198 00:10:07,170 --> 00:10:09,490 S1: books that Charlie has written. If you have yet to 199 00:10:09,490 --> 00:10:12,610 S1: take advantage of our podcast, it's there too. A great 200 00:10:12,610 --> 00:10:15,050 S1: way to enjoy the program yourself listening at the time 201 00:10:15,050 --> 00:10:17,170 S1: of your choice. Or you can share us with your 202 00:10:17,170 --> 00:10:20,410 S1: friends as well, and you'll find the podcast at the website. 203 00:10:20,410 --> 00:10:25,609 S1: The land and the book. That's the land and the bookstores. 204 00:10:26,570 --> 00:10:29,209 S1: The conversation you need to hear is just ahead on 205 00:10:29,210 --> 00:10:32,730 S1: segment two of The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 206 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,760 S1: Should Christians support the modern state of Israel? How should 207 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,240 S1: we view Israel, the Jewish people and the church? What 208 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,520 S1: makes Israel so special? We're hearing a lot of questions 209 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,640 S1: like these in our day. So how should Christians think 210 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,360 S1: about Israel? Does the Bible really offer a clear roadmap 211 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,760 S1: on any of this? Short answer yes, and we hope 212 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,760 S1: you'll stick around for an energizing conversation straight ahead. This 213 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,720 S1: is the land and the book. I'm John Gager, inviting 214 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,120 S1: you to think creatively with me about how you and 215 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,559 S1: I can share the love of Jesus with a Jewish coworker, neighbor, 216 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,640 S1: or friend. Listen to this. If you're going to share 217 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,080 S1: Jesus with a Jewish friend or any friend, you can't 218 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,240 S1: really do the story justice apart from the crucifixion. And 219 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,959 S1: the crucifixion, of course, involves blood. But how do we 220 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,520 S1: respond when our Jewish friends tell us that blood sacrifice 221 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,240 S1: is no longer necessary? Wes Taber is with life in Messiah. 222 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,640 S3: We agree that without a temple and priesthood, sacrifice is 223 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,780 S3: no longer possible. But what makes us think it's no 224 00:11:45,780 --> 00:11:49,020 S3: longer necessary? We understand the God of Israel is the 225 00:11:49,020 --> 00:11:52,220 S3: one who established the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system 226 00:11:52,220 --> 00:11:54,740 S3: that required blood for atonement, for the life of the 227 00:11:54,740 --> 00:11:56,700 S3: flesh is in the blood, and I've given it to 228 00:11:56,740 --> 00:11:58,819 S3: you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, 229 00:11:58,820 --> 00:12:00,860 S3: for it is the blood, by reason of the life 230 00:12:00,860 --> 00:12:03,939 S3: that makes atonement. We also find in the Old Testament 231 00:12:03,940 --> 00:12:06,420 S3: God's promise of one who will make atonement. 232 00:12:06,740 --> 00:12:09,380 S1: So where do we go in the scriptures to point 233 00:12:09,420 --> 00:12:11,660 S1: our Jewish friends to biblical truth? 234 00:12:12,179 --> 00:12:14,860 S3: Well, the clearest description of Messiah's atoning work is found 235 00:12:14,860 --> 00:12:17,939 S3: in Isaiah 53, but pointers to Messiah can be found 236 00:12:17,940 --> 00:12:21,620 S3: throughout the Old Testament. Check out Moody's Handbook of Messianic Prophecy. 237 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,460 S1: Thoughts from West Tabor, who is with life in Messiah, 238 00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:28,500 S1: joining us today on the land and the book. He 239 00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:31,900 S1: was raised in an observant Jewish home in Brooklyn, New York, 240 00:12:32,059 --> 00:12:35,300 S1: the son of Holocaust survivors. As a high school student, 241 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:38,380 S1: he became a follower of Jesus the Messiah and began 242 00:12:38,380 --> 00:12:42,340 S1: teaching the Bible almost immediately. Today, Doctor Michael Redlich is 243 00:12:42,340 --> 00:12:46,090 S1: the host of Moody Radio's Open Line program, answering listener 244 00:12:46,090 --> 00:12:49,970 S1: Bible questions. He's written a number of great books, including 245 00:12:49,970 --> 00:12:54,690 S1: his newest, How Should Christians Think About Israel from Moody Publishers. 246 00:12:54,929 --> 00:12:57,010 S1: He happens to be one of our very favorite guests 247 00:12:57,010 --> 00:12:59,930 S1: at the land and the book. So it's time we said, 248 00:12:59,929 --> 00:13:01,890 S1: welcome back, Michael Redlich. 249 00:13:02,130 --> 00:13:03,930 S4: Well, thank you so much for having me. It's great 250 00:13:03,929 --> 00:13:04,650 S4: to be with you. 251 00:13:04,690 --> 00:13:06,730 S1: So let me start by asking what is different about 252 00:13:06,730 --> 00:13:10,530 S1: today's America than a generation ago? It seems to me 253 00:13:10,570 --> 00:13:14,570 S1: a seismic shift has taken place. Antisemitic attitudes in America 254 00:13:14,570 --> 00:13:17,650 S1: have always been present, but largely, you know, kind of 255 00:13:17,690 --> 00:13:22,130 S1: restrained to a sort of a nasty whisper. Now, anti-Semitism 256 00:13:22,130 --> 00:13:26,130 S1: is a loud and proud scream from almost every corner 257 00:13:26,130 --> 00:13:28,970 S1: of the culture. What has changed, Michael? 258 00:13:29,410 --> 00:13:32,090 S4: Well, I grew up and I always knew there was anti-Semitism, 259 00:13:32,090 --> 00:13:34,650 S4: but it was way on the fringes of both the 260 00:13:34,650 --> 00:13:39,210 S4: right and the left. What has happened, I believe, is 261 00:13:39,610 --> 00:13:43,720 S4: the antisemitic attitudes of the fringe have begun to move 262 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:49,000 S4: more into the mainstream. And that's what's so troubling. I 263 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,240 S4: thought that was over. But no, what has happened on 264 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:56,360 S4: the fringe has moved towards the centre, and it's heartbreaking 265 00:13:56,360 --> 00:14:00,000 S4: and it's moving into there is a very positive attitude 266 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:05,240 S4: about Jewish people, particularly post-Holocaust among evangelicals in America. And 267 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,840 S4: now there seems to be a hostile attitude growing again 268 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,280 S4: among some evangelicals. I don't want to say all and 269 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:15,680 S4: in particular against Israel. I think what has happened is 270 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:21,880 S4: there's sort of a this war with Hamas has somehow 271 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:27,240 S4: perpetrated the idea that somehow Israel is callous or heartless, 272 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,960 S4: and there are people who call me and they are 273 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,680 S4: saying things that are just simply not true because of 274 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,000 S4: all the propaganda in the media. And the propaganda is 275 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,230 S4: actually emanating from Hamas, a terrorist group. 276 00:14:42,390 --> 00:14:44,670 S1: All right, to the heart of this conversation, how should 277 00:14:44,670 --> 00:14:47,910 S1: Christians think about Israel? What about the modern state of 278 00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:51,870 S1: Israel and contemporary Jewish people? Are we to think, are 279 00:14:51,870 --> 00:14:54,590 S1: they related to the biblical Kingdom of Israel and the 280 00:14:54,590 --> 00:14:57,630 S1: ancient Jewish people of the scriptures? Where's the proof? 281 00:14:58,230 --> 00:15:00,310 S4: Well, I think it's so interesting that there are people 282 00:15:00,310 --> 00:15:02,190 S4: who say, is the modern state of Israel related to 283 00:15:02,230 --> 00:15:04,790 S4: the Kingdom of Israel. And of course, we look at 284 00:15:04,790 --> 00:15:09,790 S4: the ancient Kingdom of Israel, and it was a theocracy 285 00:15:09,830 --> 00:15:14,150 S4: governed by God. Today we have in Israel a democracy. 286 00:15:14,190 --> 00:15:17,750 S4: It is not governed by God. It's a secular nation. 287 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:21,830 S4: And then secondly, it's not a monarchy, as it was 288 00:15:21,830 --> 00:15:25,070 S4: under King David and the other kings of Israel and Judah, 289 00:15:25,070 --> 00:15:28,510 S4: but rather it is a democracy with a prime minister. 290 00:15:28,550 --> 00:15:33,350 S4: It's not a monarchy at all. What's similar is in 291 00:15:33,390 --> 00:15:36,750 S4: biblical days, it was the nation state of the Jewish people, 292 00:15:36,750 --> 00:15:39,910 S4: of the people of Israel. Today it is the nation 293 00:15:40,020 --> 00:15:43,620 S4: state of the Jewish people. So when we say, is 294 00:15:43,620 --> 00:15:46,700 S4: it the same? Yes, it is. In that sense, it 295 00:15:46,740 --> 00:15:50,220 S4: remains the nation state that God promised to the Jewish people. 296 00:15:50,660 --> 00:15:53,420 S4: Now other people say, well, no, the Jewish people today 297 00:15:53,460 --> 00:15:56,940 S4: aren't even the Jewish people of the Bible. And there's 298 00:15:56,940 --> 00:15:59,700 S4: two arguments that people make. They want to say the 299 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:02,020 S4: church is the new Israel. Which one of the things 300 00:16:02,020 --> 00:16:04,180 S4: in this book that I've written, how should Christians think 301 00:16:04,180 --> 00:16:07,460 S4: about Israel? There's a section of it where I try 302 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:10,660 S4: to make the case biblically that the Jewish people, the 303 00:16:10,660 --> 00:16:13,540 S4: people of Israel, remain the people of Israel, that there's 304 00:16:13,540 --> 00:16:16,820 S4: been no change in that, that the church is not 305 00:16:16,820 --> 00:16:20,060 S4: the new Israel. The church has not replaced Israel. That's 306 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:22,300 S4: one part of it. And then there's others that make 307 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:24,780 S4: a genetic case. And they say that and this is 308 00:16:24,780 --> 00:16:29,300 S4: rooted in long term anti-Semitism. But they say that Jewish 309 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:33,580 S4: people are not the physical descendants of the people of 310 00:16:33,740 --> 00:16:36,780 S4: Israel in the Bible, that they are some sort of 311 00:16:36,820 --> 00:16:42,890 S4: European group that adopted Judaism in the Middle Ages, and 312 00:16:42,930 --> 00:16:48,290 S4: they are the people of Israel. However, genetic studies. Scientific 313 00:16:48,290 --> 00:16:52,970 S4: studies show that Jewish people around the world, whether they 314 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:56,050 S4: are the Mizrahi Jews, the Jews of the Arab world, 315 00:16:56,330 --> 00:17:01,090 S4: the Sephardim, the Jewish people in the Mediterranean world, or 316 00:17:01,530 --> 00:17:07,130 S4: the Ashkenazim, the Jewish people of Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, 317 00:17:07,130 --> 00:17:11,250 S4: those areas, and these Jews all have the same genetic 318 00:17:11,250 --> 00:17:14,970 S4: breakdown that comes from the Middle East, and they have 319 00:17:14,970 --> 00:17:17,969 S4: the same genetic source, I should say. And as a 320 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:21,250 S4: result of that, their DNA proves that there is one 321 00:17:21,250 --> 00:17:25,889 S4: people that are the people of Israel. And it's unfortunate 322 00:17:25,890 --> 00:17:29,889 S4: people just they don't care about the evidence. They just 323 00:17:29,890 --> 00:17:31,169 S4: make it up as they go. 324 00:17:31,369 --> 00:17:34,930 S1: Doctor Michael Redlich has written the important Moody Publishers book, 325 00:17:34,970 --> 00:17:38,560 S1: How Should Christians Think About Israel? We're honored to talk 326 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,120 S1: with him today on the land and the book. Seems 327 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,960 S1: to me Genesis 12 three is really a biblical cornerstone 328 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:46,920 S1: for this conversation. I'm going to ask you to quote 329 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,000 S1: that verse, then answer the question, how do we know 330 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,760 S1: this verse still applies today? 331 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,639 S4: The verse says, I will bless those who bless you 332 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,040 S4: and the one who curses you will I curse the 333 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,600 S4: one who thinks lightly of you? Will I think lightly of. 334 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,639 S4: And that was promised to Abraham. It's interesting that it's 335 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,680 S4: passed on. It's not limited to Abraham. There are some 336 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,600 S4: people who want to say that that is just something 337 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,520 S4: for Abraham, but it's passed on to the other patriarchs. 338 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:17,080 S4: And ultimately this covenant is given to Israel. What I 339 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,520 S4: think is so interesting when we come to the book 340 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,200 S4: of Romans, it talks about the gifts and calling of 341 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:28,840 S4: God are irrevocable. It talks about that in Romans 1128 342 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:32,160 S4: and 29. Talk about that. Jewish people, even in unbelief, 343 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:37,270 S4: remain chosen, elect and beloved for the sake of the fathers. 344 00:18:37,270 --> 00:18:39,630 S4: So even though Jewish people don't believe in Jesus, for 345 00:18:39,630 --> 00:18:43,110 S4: the most part there are exceptions like me. There is 346 00:18:43,109 --> 00:18:47,350 S4: clarity that the Jewish people remain God's special people, that 347 00:18:47,350 --> 00:18:50,190 S4: he chose to be his mediators of the God of Israel, 348 00:18:50,230 --> 00:18:53,869 S4: to proclaim the God of Israel to the world. However, 349 00:18:53,869 --> 00:18:57,830 S4: in Romans nine, where it talks about Jewish people who 350 00:18:57,869 --> 00:19:01,230 S4: don't believe, and the reason I can say that is 351 00:19:01,230 --> 00:19:03,910 S4: Paul says, I could give myself up, I would. I 352 00:19:03,950 --> 00:19:06,230 S4: wish I could be a curse so they could be 353 00:19:06,230 --> 00:19:09,470 S4: part of God's eternal family. So he's talking about Jewish 354 00:19:09,470 --> 00:19:12,629 S4: people and unbelief. He's talking about Jewish people who don't 355 00:19:12,630 --> 00:19:15,670 S4: believe in Jesus. And then what does he say about them? 356 00:19:15,990 --> 00:19:20,350 S4: He says that and he uses a present tense that 357 00:19:20,390 --> 00:19:23,910 S4: what belongs to these Jewish people. Well, he's talking about 358 00:19:23,910 --> 00:19:26,550 S4: the gifts and calling of God that are irrevocable. He 359 00:19:26,550 --> 00:19:29,830 S4: says they are Israelites, and to them belong or to 360 00:19:29,869 --> 00:19:33,989 S4: them are the adoption. That's where God says, Israel is 361 00:19:33,990 --> 00:19:38,129 S4: my son in Exodus chapter four. Uh, the glory. That's 362 00:19:38,130 --> 00:19:41,650 S4: the presence of God, the the Shekinah glory of God, 363 00:19:41,690 --> 00:19:44,770 S4: the covenants. That's the Abrahamic covenant, which includes I will 364 00:19:44,770 --> 00:19:47,530 S4: bless those who bless you, curse the one who curses you, 365 00:19:48,050 --> 00:19:52,330 S4: the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service 366 00:19:52,570 --> 00:19:56,609 S4: and the promises. The promises of the Messiah belong to 367 00:19:56,609 --> 00:20:00,770 S4: the Jewish people. The promises of the land belong to 368 00:20:00,810 --> 00:20:04,170 S4: the Jewish people. This is all present tense. The forefathers, 369 00:20:04,170 --> 00:20:08,530 S4: the patriarchs, are theirs, and from them by physical descent 370 00:20:08,530 --> 00:20:11,730 S4: came the Messiah, who is God over all. That's Romans 371 00:20:11,770 --> 00:20:14,010 S4: nine four and five. It's so crucial to see this 372 00:20:14,010 --> 00:20:16,689 S4: and what I think is heartbreaking about this rise of 373 00:20:16,690 --> 00:20:22,090 S4: anti-Semitism among Christians is that it is Jesus who is 374 00:20:22,090 --> 00:20:27,050 S4: the Israelite par excellence, the Jewish person, the best Jew 375 00:20:27,050 --> 00:20:30,170 S4: of all. And how heartbreaking it must be to him 376 00:20:30,369 --> 00:20:36,000 S4: to see followers of him somehow thinking less of Jewish 377 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,040 S4: people and having a bad attitude toward them. 378 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,120 S1: But what an important discussion we're having today on the 379 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,760 S1: land and the book. I can't think of anything more 380 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,160 S1: urgent than answering the question, how should Christians think about Israel? 381 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,040 S1: Michael Redlick has written a book for Moody Publishers by 382 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,120 S1: that same title, and we thank you for joining our conversation. 383 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,800 S1: I'm John Gager. You know, one of the chapters in 384 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:02,000 S1: your book, Michael, is titled Correcting Spiritual Identity Theft. What 385 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,360 S1: is this theft that has taken place and what should 386 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:05,280 S1: be done about it? 387 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,520 S4: Well, you know what identity theft is that where someone 388 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,560 S4: takes another person's identity and claims it as their own 389 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,199 S4: to take advantage of them? Well, I think there's a 390 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,879 S4: spiritual identity theft happening, and that is that the church 391 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:23,520 S4: has claimed the promises that God made to Israel, and 392 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:28,520 S4: that's what some have called replacement theology today after the Holocaust. 393 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:33,150 S4: Many have abandoned replacement theology in name, but they now 394 00:21:33,150 --> 00:21:37,150 S4: call it fulfillment theology or expansion theology. And what they 395 00:21:37,150 --> 00:21:41,150 S4: say is that the promise to Israel has expanded to 396 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:45,230 S4: be the church. Well, uh, that's just same old, same old. 397 00:21:45,230 --> 00:21:49,149 S4: It's replacement theology. But what I did is, of course, 398 00:21:49,150 --> 00:21:51,310 S4: there are some verses that people use. They want to 399 00:21:51,310 --> 00:21:55,030 S4: read the New Testament back into the old and say 400 00:21:55,030 --> 00:21:58,629 S4: that the church was always the object of the promises, 401 00:21:58,630 --> 00:22:02,149 S4: that the church actually began with Abraham, and that the 402 00:22:02,150 --> 00:22:06,550 S4: church is Israel always has been. And as a result 403 00:22:06,550 --> 00:22:09,150 S4: of that, I went through the passages in the book 404 00:22:09,190 --> 00:22:11,390 S4: and I hope people will take a time, get their 405 00:22:11,390 --> 00:22:14,389 S4: Bibles out, follow along. I try to show the verses 406 00:22:14,390 --> 00:22:20,430 S4: that are used to justify this replacement. Really don't teach 407 00:22:20,430 --> 00:22:23,149 S4: that at all. One of the more interesting points is 408 00:22:23,310 --> 00:22:28,550 S4: that 73 uses of the word Israel in the New Testament, 409 00:22:28,710 --> 00:22:33,700 S4: every one of them refers not to spiritual Israel, as 410 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:37,660 S4: it's often called, but actual physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, 411 00:22:37,660 --> 00:22:40,820 S4: and Jacob. Never once is it used of the church, 412 00:22:41,020 --> 00:22:43,139 S4: and I go through the verses that are alleged to 413 00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:45,180 S4: be so, but that's what it is. I think it's 414 00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:49,780 S4: so important that we recognize that God has given irrevocable 415 00:22:49,820 --> 00:22:53,220 S4: gifts and an irrevocable calling to the Jewish people, and 416 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:56,140 S4: he will fulfill every promise he has made to them. 417 00:22:56,300 --> 00:22:58,260 S4: Now the church has a great status. I don't want 418 00:22:58,260 --> 00:23:01,619 S4: to undermine that. God is really, really faithful to the church. 419 00:23:01,619 --> 00:23:05,580 S4: But here's what we know. Romans eight ends by saying 420 00:23:05,580 --> 00:23:07,620 S4: that nothing will separate us from the love of God, 421 00:23:07,619 --> 00:23:11,820 S4: which is in the Messiah, Jesus. And then Romans nine 422 00:23:11,859 --> 00:23:13,660 S4: through 11, some people have said, doesn't fit the book 423 00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:16,540 S4: of Romans well, it fits perfectly because there's no unseen 424 00:23:16,580 --> 00:23:20,540 S4: objector that says, wait, what about the Jews? What about Israel? 425 00:23:20,540 --> 00:23:24,220 S4: Didn't God abandon them? And the answer there is no. 426 00:23:24,220 --> 00:23:26,980 S4: He vindicates God and shows that God is faithful to 427 00:23:27,020 --> 00:23:30,610 S4: his promises. Why is this so important? Because God is 428 00:23:30,609 --> 00:23:33,449 S4: faithful to Israel, we can be assured, as members of 429 00:23:33,450 --> 00:23:35,650 S4: the Body of Christ that he will be faithful to 430 00:23:35,690 --> 00:23:36,609 S4: us as well. 431 00:23:37,410 --> 00:23:41,130 S1: I was intrigued with another of your book's chapters, Blessing Israel. 432 00:23:41,130 --> 00:23:44,250 S1: What's in it for me? Well, apart from the obvious 433 00:23:44,250 --> 00:23:46,850 S1: selfishness and the question, what is the answer, Michael? 434 00:23:47,290 --> 00:23:50,409 S4: Well, I think it's so crucial to understand, you know, 435 00:23:50,450 --> 00:23:55,090 S4: everybody's listening to Whyy-fm. That's their favorite radio station. What's 436 00:23:55,090 --> 00:23:57,570 S4: in it for me? And I think there is a 437 00:23:57,570 --> 00:24:01,530 S4: personal aspect to it. It's what I just mentioned in 438 00:24:01,530 --> 00:24:05,050 S4: Romans nine through 11. It talks about that we can 439 00:24:05,050 --> 00:24:08,010 S4: be assured of God's faithfulness to us because of his 440 00:24:08,010 --> 00:24:12,290 S4: faithfulness to Israel, gives us spiritual security also personal peace. 441 00:24:12,290 --> 00:24:15,850 S4: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who 442 00:24:15,850 --> 00:24:19,090 S4: love thee. That's what Psalm 122 six says, but the 443 00:24:19,090 --> 00:24:24,050 S4: word there for prosper has to do with actually not 444 00:24:24,050 --> 00:24:29,560 S4: material prosperity, but a peace, a solidity, a quietness that 445 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,280 S4: we can have in our own lives. That's the kind 446 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:36,080 S4: of prosperity. It's talking about emotional security. And so I 447 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,160 S4: think that praying for the peace of Jerusalem has a 448 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,600 S4: promise with it of emotional stability that comes to us. 449 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,080 S4: And then there's a promise in Genesis 12 three, I 450 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,160 S4: will bless those who bless you. And that's how I 451 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,119 S4: end the book. And it's interesting because I have a 452 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,440 S4: friend you may have talked with him in the past, 453 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:52,879 S4: Doctor Michael Van Laningham. 454 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:53,360 S1: Sure. 455 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,480 S4: One of my dearest friends, and he asked if he 456 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,760 S4: could contribute, and he wrote his own personal testimony about 457 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,000 S4: how he believes his love for Israel and the Jewish 458 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,480 S4: people has been especially blessed by God. And I thought 459 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,240 S4: his little testimony, he wrote, which is about two pages long, 460 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:12,840 S4: I said, this is so good. I'm going to with 461 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,040 S4: him talking about how God has blessed Mike and his 462 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:20,960 S4: wife Sue, because of God calling them to love the 463 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,440 S4: Jewish people. You know, he's been a pastor. He's been 464 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,680 S4: a professor at a Bible college. He's not Jewish himself, 465 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:28,990 S4: but he's obeyed God's word about this. 466 00:25:29,590 --> 00:25:32,149 S1: Well, there is so much more to think about to 467 00:25:32,190 --> 00:25:35,310 S1: read about in this book. How should Christians think about Israel? 468 00:25:35,630 --> 00:25:38,350 S1: It's a very readable book. I really want to emphasize that. 469 00:25:38,350 --> 00:25:41,990 S1: Not a huge, weighty dictionary of things. Check it out, 470 00:25:41,990 --> 00:25:45,709 S1: a link at our website. The land and the book. Michael, 471 00:25:46,270 --> 00:25:47,790 S1: thank you as always, a pleasure. 472 00:25:48,070 --> 00:25:49,470 S4: Thank you so much for having me. 473 00:25:49,790 --> 00:25:52,270 S1: Up next, Gerald Peterman is here with answers to your 474 00:25:52,270 --> 00:25:55,510 S1: Bible questions. That's next on the land and the book. 475 00:26:06,910 --> 00:26:10,670 S1: Welcome back. Or maybe it's welcome. You just tuned in. Hey. Welcome. 476 00:26:10,670 --> 00:26:13,390 S1: Either way, I'm John Yeager. This is the land and 477 00:26:13,390 --> 00:26:16,550 S1: the book across from me. Moody Bible Institute professor doctor 478 00:26:16,550 --> 00:26:18,189 S1: Gerald Peterman. How's your day going? 479 00:26:18,230 --> 00:26:19,430 S5: Oh, really? Well so far. 480 00:26:19,590 --> 00:26:21,629 S1: And we're looking forward to it getting better as we 481 00:26:21,630 --> 00:26:24,470 S1: get to some questions that have come in from our listeners. First, though, 482 00:26:24,510 --> 00:26:27,380 S1: did you know that most Jewish people have never heard 483 00:26:27,380 --> 00:26:30,540 S1: the gospel. Each week we talk about Israel and the 484 00:26:30,540 --> 00:26:33,980 S1: Jewish people, and it's so important to remember that they, 485 00:26:34,020 --> 00:26:37,060 S1: like everyone else, need to hear the good news. Well, 486 00:26:37,060 --> 00:26:39,820 S1: life in Messiah, a ministry in existence now for over 487 00:26:39,820 --> 00:26:44,220 S1: 135 years, is devoted to sharing the gospel with Jewish 488 00:26:44,220 --> 00:26:47,139 S1: people around the world, and they're offering a gift to 489 00:26:47,180 --> 00:26:51,980 S1: moody listeners. Now, this free e-book, Reaching Jewish People for Messiah, 490 00:26:52,220 --> 00:26:55,300 S1: highlights the need for the gospel among the Jewish people, 491 00:26:55,460 --> 00:26:58,340 S1: and it's going to equip you with practical ways for 492 00:26:58,340 --> 00:27:01,020 S1: you to share the good news with them. Sound good? 493 00:27:01,060 --> 00:27:03,500 S1: You can receive this free e-book when you visit Life 494 00:27:03,500 --> 00:27:07,540 S1: in Messiah. Click on the Moody Radio logo and sign 495 00:27:07,540 --> 00:27:10,460 S1: up today to get your copy. All right, we'll start 496 00:27:10,460 --> 00:27:13,860 S1: with Bill's question. He says. I recently heard an astrophysicist 497 00:27:13,859 --> 00:27:17,860 S1: and a theologian who both support the day age theory, 498 00:27:18,100 --> 00:27:23,380 S1: suggesting that Adam's exclamation in Genesis 223 was at long last, 499 00:27:23,420 --> 00:27:26,210 S1: this is bone of my bones. From that, they claimed 500 00:27:26,210 --> 00:27:28,729 S1: that there was a long period of time on the 501 00:27:28,730 --> 00:27:30,050 S1: sixth day. What do you think? 502 00:27:30,490 --> 00:27:32,970 S5: Well, I don't think there was a long period of time. 503 00:27:32,970 --> 00:27:36,250 S5: In case our listeners are not familiar with day age theory, 504 00:27:36,490 --> 00:27:39,969 S5: it's something like this. Six days of creation or six 505 00:27:40,010 --> 00:27:44,050 S5: ages and the ages could be hundreds, thousands, maybe millions 506 00:27:44,050 --> 00:27:47,890 S5: years old. I don't think so, but I've never actually 507 00:27:47,890 --> 00:27:51,010 S5: heard this question before, so I love that. When that happens, 508 00:27:51,290 --> 00:27:56,050 S5: let's remind ourselves of the context. In Genesis two. Adam 509 00:27:56,050 --> 00:28:00,410 S5: is created and he's alone. And then we hear for 510 00:28:00,410 --> 00:28:04,290 S5: the first time God say, not good. He needs a 511 00:28:04,330 --> 00:28:09,250 S5: vital helper. And so some options are brought to him, 512 00:28:09,250 --> 00:28:12,770 S5: and no one is found as a suitable helper until 513 00:28:12,810 --> 00:28:17,610 S5: God crafts the woman out of Adam's side and then 514 00:28:17,690 --> 00:28:20,609 S5: brings her to Adam. And then what do we find? 515 00:28:20,650 --> 00:28:24,710 S5: This is bone of my bones. flesh of my flesh. 516 00:28:24,710 --> 00:28:28,310 S5: But the important thing to remember is this word. This 517 00:28:28,310 --> 00:28:31,669 S5: is or at last, that actually has nothing to do 518 00:28:31,710 --> 00:28:36,790 S5: with time. It's this instance as opposed to any other instance. 519 00:28:37,030 --> 00:28:40,110 S5: This occurrence, as opposed to any other occurrence. There were 520 00:28:40,110 --> 00:28:44,910 S5: some options. And none of the options are this option. 521 00:28:45,230 --> 00:28:48,790 S5: So this one is the right one. It's kind of 522 00:28:48,830 --> 00:28:49,910 S5: like what Adam is saying. 523 00:28:50,270 --> 00:28:52,670 S1: Well, we've kicked things off with that question there from Bill, 524 00:28:52,670 --> 00:28:55,030 S1: and I hope that was helpful. Bill. We would welcome 525 00:28:55,030 --> 00:28:57,989 S1: your question with an email to the land and the 526 00:28:57,990 --> 00:29:03,350 S1: book at Moody, the land and the book at Moody. 527 00:29:05,150 --> 00:29:08,190 S1: Joan takes us to Exodus 12, verses one through seven, 528 00:29:08,470 --> 00:29:11,670 S1: which say that the lamb will be selected 14 days 529 00:29:11,670 --> 00:29:15,990 S1: before Passover. Some people are saying, what lamb? Anyway, in 530 00:29:15,990 --> 00:29:18,710 S1: other books it goes on to say four days. Why 531 00:29:18,710 --> 00:29:20,310 S1: the difference in the number of days? 532 00:29:20,590 --> 00:29:23,860 S5: Well, I think there's maybe some confusion that comes in here, 533 00:29:23,860 --> 00:29:28,420 S5: because Passover is the 14th day of the month. But actually, 534 00:29:28,420 --> 00:29:32,300 S5: there's only one law about the timing. Timing of the 535 00:29:32,300 --> 00:29:35,500 S5: selection of the lamb, timing of the sacrifice of the lamb. 536 00:29:35,500 --> 00:29:40,300 S5: There's only one law. Exodus 12 verse three says, till 537 00:29:40,300 --> 00:29:42,660 S5: all the congregation of Israel that on the 10th day 538 00:29:42,660 --> 00:29:45,740 S5: of the month, that is the first month of the year, 539 00:29:46,340 --> 00:29:49,940 S5: every man shall take a lamb, according to their father's house, 540 00:29:50,100 --> 00:29:52,780 S5: a lamb for the household. Okay, good. Then a few 541 00:29:52,780 --> 00:29:55,820 S5: verses later we come to verse six, and you shall 542 00:29:55,820 --> 00:29:58,460 S5: keep it until the 14th day of the month. Then 543 00:29:58,460 --> 00:30:02,260 S5: the whole assembly will slaughter the lamb at twilight. That is, 544 00:30:02,260 --> 00:30:05,220 S5: you select it on the 10th day. You sacrifice it 545 00:30:05,220 --> 00:30:08,700 S5: on the 14th day. That is, there's only a four 546 00:30:08,740 --> 00:30:11,980 S5: day waiting period, not a 14 day waiting period. Hope 547 00:30:11,980 --> 00:30:12,620 S5: that's helpful. 548 00:30:12,660 --> 00:30:15,500 S1: Okay. Well, Cooper wants to know, do you think there 549 00:30:15,500 --> 00:30:20,620 S1: is any sin or sins plural? Including intentionally teaching heresy, 550 00:30:20,810 --> 00:30:25,330 S1: denying Christ or violating first Timothy five eight that, if committed, 551 00:30:25,330 --> 00:30:28,090 S1: would indicate someone is unsaved at the time they commit 552 00:30:28,090 --> 00:30:28,810 S1: that sin. 553 00:30:30,490 --> 00:30:34,450 S5: I really appreciate this question, because I know that there 554 00:30:34,490 --> 00:30:37,050 S5: are times when all of us realize we've done something 555 00:30:37,050 --> 00:30:40,570 S5: incredibly stupid, and so we're wondering, are we genuine or not? 556 00:30:40,850 --> 00:30:44,410 S5: So I really appreciate this question. The short answer is, 557 00:30:44,690 --> 00:30:47,610 S5: I don't know of any verse of Scripture that talks 558 00:30:47,610 --> 00:30:50,930 S5: about a particular sin which, if committed, lets us know 559 00:30:50,930 --> 00:30:54,090 S5: we weren't saved. But that's a negative response. Let me 560 00:30:54,090 --> 00:30:57,210 S5: tell you what I do know. I do know that 561 00:30:57,210 --> 00:31:01,610 S5: Jesus says every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, 562 00:31:01,610 --> 00:31:04,850 S5: but blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. And 563 00:31:04,850 --> 00:31:06,890 S5: whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will 564 00:31:06,890 --> 00:31:09,810 S5: be forgiven. But whoever speaks a word against the Holy 565 00:31:09,810 --> 00:31:12,530 S5: Spirit will not be forgiven. But we should also keep 566 00:31:12,530 --> 00:31:16,490 S5: in mind that blasphemy is not something of the heart. 567 00:31:16,970 --> 00:31:20,200 S5: Blasphemy is something of the mouth. That is, we must 568 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:25,840 S5: do it verbally. Let's go to this passage that concerns 569 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:30,200 S5: our questioner. First Timothy five eight. Remember what that says. 570 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:33,479 S5: If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially 571 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:36,400 S5: if the members of his household, he has denied the 572 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:40,760 S5: faith and is worse than an unbeliever. That sounds horrible. 573 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,800 S5: What is the faith here? To deny the faith is 574 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:48,200 S5: to deny what Christianity teaches. If you do not take 575 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,400 S5: care of your household so loved mom and dad, you're 576 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:55,320 S5: not abiding by what Christianity teaches. Now, what does Paul 577 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,240 S5: mean when he says you're worse than an unbeliever? Oh, 578 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:00,280 S5: that is a great question. And it plagued me for 579 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,840 S5: quite some time. And then I kept reading authors from 580 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,680 S5: the ancient world. I would read authors who believe in Zeus. 581 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:08,800 S5: I would read authors who believe in Apollo. In other words, 582 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:13,280 S5: I'd read authors, polytheists, pagans. And what do they all 583 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:16,760 S5: say in the ancient world in the first century? Even 584 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,950 S5: if you're a pagan, you really believed you had to 585 00:32:19,950 --> 00:32:22,270 S5: be committed to Mom and Dad, and you had to 586 00:32:22,270 --> 00:32:26,070 S5: be committed to their financial security and take care of them. 587 00:32:26,590 --> 00:32:29,470 S5: In other words, if you as a Christian, don't take 588 00:32:29,470 --> 00:32:32,070 S5: care of your parents, you're worse than a pagan. And 589 00:32:32,070 --> 00:32:34,150 S5: that was true in the ancient world. I think it's 590 00:32:34,150 --> 00:32:35,190 S5: true of the modern world. 591 00:32:35,830 --> 00:32:38,230 S1: If you just joined us, that's Doctor Gerald Peterman of 592 00:32:38,270 --> 00:32:41,870 S1: Moody Bible Institute faculty, and he's answering questions, as he 593 00:32:41,870 --> 00:32:44,590 S1: does every time this week on the land and the book. 594 00:32:44,830 --> 00:32:47,630 S1: We'd welcome your question at the land and the book 595 00:32:47,670 --> 00:32:52,750 S1: at Moody. Dick says the author of Genesis makes the 596 00:32:52,750 --> 00:32:56,790 S1: claim that Noah was perfect in his generations as Genesis 597 00:32:56,790 --> 00:32:59,870 S1: six nine. How did he know that there's nothing contained 598 00:32:59,870 --> 00:33:02,990 S1: in Genesis that would validate that claim? Is it just 599 00:33:02,990 --> 00:33:06,110 S1: possible the author may have known more than he bothered 600 00:33:06,110 --> 00:33:06,950 S1: to record? 601 00:33:07,150 --> 00:33:10,310 S5: Yes, I think it's just possible. I think Dick is 602 00:33:10,310 --> 00:33:12,590 S5: starting to answer his own question and do a good 603 00:33:12,590 --> 00:33:17,420 S5: job with it. When Moses writes Genesis, he's giving us 604 00:33:17,820 --> 00:33:21,620 S5: spiritual truth for sure, and he's also giving us theological truth. 605 00:33:21,620 --> 00:33:26,140 S5: He's both a theologian and an historian, but we should 606 00:33:26,140 --> 00:33:31,380 S5: know something about historians. And we get this from John's Gospel. 607 00:33:31,380 --> 00:33:35,620 S5: John says, this is chapter 20, verses 30 and 31. 608 00:33:36,220 --> 00:33:39,140 S5: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of 609 00:33:39,140 --> 00:33:42,540 S5: his disciples which are not written in this book, but 610 00:33:42,540 --> 00:33:45,300 S5: these were written so that you might believe that Jesus 611 00:33:45,340 --> 00:33:47,540 S5: is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by 612 00:33:47,540 --> 00:33:50,700 S5: believing you may have life in his name. So in 613 00:33:50,700 --> 00:33:53,500 S5: other words, what is John saying? He's saying, I know 614 00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:56,380 S5: a bunch of stuff I'm not telling. This is always 615 00:33:56,380 --> 00:33:59,380 S5: the way it is. So here's what I conclude about 616 00:33:59,380 --> 00:34:03,900 S5: Genesis six nine. Noah was perfect in his generation. Moses 617 00:34:03,940 --> 00:34:06,060 S5: wants us to believe that we need to believe it, 618 00:34:06,060 --> 00:34:08,580 S5: but Moses is not telling us how he knows it, 619 00:34:08,980 --> 00:34:10,260 S5: and I'm okay with that. 620 00:34:10,540 --> 00:34:13,940 S1: Uh. Good question. Chris says, to what extent should Christians 621 00:34:13,980 --> 00:34:20,090 S1: be wary of using the various artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, 622 00:34:20,090 --> 00:34:24,410 S1: Gemini or Perplexity. He goes on, I've encountered fellow believers who, 623 00:34:24,450 --> 00:34:27,410 S1: while using other tech, tend to shy away from AI 624 00:34:27,450 --> 00:34:30,970 S1: for a variety of reasons. Now I've embraced the use 625 00:34:30,969 --> 00:34:33,770 S1: of AI, Chris says, but I try to be careful 626 00:34:33,810 --> 00:34:36,610 S1: how I use it. In any case, what is your 627 00:34:36,610 --> 00:34:40,170 S1: view of how a Christian should or should not use AI? 628 00:34:40,770 --> 00:34:43,130 S5: Well, I really appreciate this. Not a Bible question, but 629 00:34:43,130 --> 00:34:46,970 S5: I think it's an important question. I understand why some 630 00:34:47,010 --> 00:34:49,730 S5: are wary of artificial intelligence and it can be used 631 00:34:49,730 --> 00:34:53,290 S5: very poorly many times. But it looks like Chris is 632 00:34:53,290 --> 00:34:56,330 S5: trying to avoid those bad uses. Let me mention 2 633 00:34:56,330 --> 00:34:59,410 S5: or 3 things we should keep in mind that AI, 634 00:34:59,570 --> 00:35:02,050 S5: for the most part, can only give you what's already 635 00:35:02,050 --> 00:35:05,049 S5: out there. It can't make up stuff. So if what's 636 00:35:05,050 --> 00:35:06,770 S5: out there isn't any good, this is all you're going 637 00:35:06,810 --> 00:35:12,250 S5: to get. Furthermore, we can use AI with a bad motive. 638 00:35:12,290 --> 00:35:13,969 S5: Let me give myself as an example. 639 00:35:13,969 --> 00:35:15,109 S1: I can't wait to hear this now. 640 00:35:15,150 --> 00:35:19,710 S5: Yeah, well, I have often been very tempted to use 641 00:35:19,710 --> 00:35:22,390 S5: AI to help me construct a lecture or to help 642 00:35:22,390 --> 00:35:25,350 S5: me construct a sermon. So far, thanks be to God. 643 00:35:25,350 --> 00:35:28,750 S5: I've avoided that, but the temptation is really there because 644 00:35:28,790 --> 00:35:33,029 S5: it could circumvent hours of work. And what do I 645 00:35:33,030 --> 00:35:34,870 S5: keep coming back to? What does the Holy Spirit keep 646 00:35:34,870 --> 00:35:38,870 S5: saying to me? You should give those hours of work, 647 00:35:39,230 --> 00:35:43,310 S5: because this means the message will percolate in you and 648 00:35:43,310 --> 00:35:46,870 S5: it'll become part of you. Rather than taking somebody else's 649 00:35:46,870 --> 00:35:51,509 S5: thoughts and giving them to us, give us yours. So 650 00:35:51,510 --> 00:35:52,630 S5: I hope that's helpful. 651 00:35:52,670 --> 00:35:53,989 S1: Yeah. You know, I want to pick up on that 652 00:35:53,989 --> 00:35:56,790 S1: for just a moment. For whatever reason, God has placed 653 00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:58,629 S1: me in a season of life where I'm preaching pretty 654 00:35:58,630 --> 00:36:03,430 S1: regularly and I'm slow to understand that this is not 655 00:36:03,430 --> 00:36:08,109 S1: just a Bible talk, it's a lifestyle. God intends for 656 00:36:08,110 --> 00:36:11,029 S1: this to, as you say, percolate, to influence me, to 657 00:36:11,070 --> 00:36:12,230 S1: shape my life. 658 00:36:12,390 --> 00:36:15,180 S5: Oh, John, thanks for phrasing it better than I did. 659 00:36:15,180 --> 00:36:20,299 S5: That is. How can I feel the importance of this message? 660 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:22,779 S5: How can I understand the importance of it? How can 661 00:36:22,780 --> 00:36:26,220 S5: I know that my listeners will be challenged to obey 662 00:36:26,219 --> 00:36:29,340 S5: the way they should, unless I've been through that process myself? 663 00:36:29,460 --> 00:36:32,820 S5: So my message needs to be deep from within my heart, 664 00:36:32,860 --> 00:36:35,700 S5: not shallow from the surface of a program. 665 00:36:36,260 --> 00:36:39,020 S1: Well, great questions as always. Thank you for writing those. 666 00:36:39,020 --> 00:36:41,180 S1: Thank you for sharing them. And if you'd like to 667 00:36:41,180 --> 00:36:42,980 S1: get in on all of this, you can, with a 668 00:36:42,980 --> 00:36:45,779 S1: quick email, get that question to Doctor Peterman when you 669 00:36:45,780 --> 00:36:49,700 S1: email us at The Land and the Book at Moody. 670 00:36:51,020 --> 00:36:54,180 S1: Don't go away. One more segment, Charlie Dyer's devotional next 671 00:36:54,180 --> 00:37:09,779 S1: here on the land and the book. It's one of 672 00:37:09,780 --> 00:37:14,009 S1: the most scenic spots in all of Israel, Caesarea Philippi 673 00:37:14,250 --> 00:37:17,090 S1: up north, where it tends to be cooler and greener. 674 00:37:17,730 --> 00:37:20,290 S1: And Charlie, I understand that's the site for your devotional 675 00:37:20,290 --> 00:37:20,810 S1: coming up. 676 00:37:21,090 --> 00:37:22,930 S6: It is. John, we're going to head to the base 677 00:37:22,930 --> 00:37:23,810 S6: of Mount Hermon. 678 00:37:23,850 --> 00:37:26,330 S1: Okay. I'm looking forward to that. This is the land 679 00:37:26,330 --> 00:37:28,770 S1: and the book, by the way, segment four brings us 680 00:37:28,770 --> 00:37:32,410 S1: Charlie's devotional every week faithfully. Before we get to that, 681 00:37:32,410 --> 00:37:34,930 S1: this Holy Land experience. Check this out. 682 00:37:39,210 --> 00:37:41,770 S7: Let me just say that as as a follower of 683 00:37:41,770 --> 00:37:46,650 S7: Jesus Christ, we are commanded to love what he loves. 684 00:37:47,450 --> 00:37:50,730 S7: And there is no doubt from studying the Bible that 685 00:37:50,890 --> 00:37:54,930 S7: God in Jesus Christ love this land, love the people 686 00:37:54,930 --> 00:37:58,890 S7: in this land. And before I came here, of course, 687 00:37:58,930 --> 00:38:00,810 S7: you know, we wanted to come here because we wanted 688 00:38:00,810 --> 00:38:03,970 S7: to see what God loved. But now we've seen, we've 689 00:38:03,969 --> 00:38:07,210 S7: seen the land. We've seen the people. We've seen so 690 00:38:07,210 --> 00:38:10,569 S7: much that it is going to be now, uh, of 691 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:12,920 S7: course we'll continue to love Israel, but we'll do it 692 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:16,480 S7: in a just a real way. And I'm looking forward 693 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,520 S7: to coming back. I don't know when that might happen 694 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:20,920 S7: or how that might happen, but I just know I 695 00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:24,680 S7: of course, eventually we'll all be here forever. That's true. 696 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:28,359 S7: But before then, uh, if the Lord tarries, I. I'm 697 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:30,080 S7: just looking forward to the next trip. 698 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,240 S1: Charlie, I'll hand it over to you. 699 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,600 S2: Well. Thanks, John. Uh, we're continuing our eight part series 700 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:41,520 S2: entitled Great Confessions of the Bible. The series focuses on 701 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:46,080 S2: memorable lines spoken by prominent biblical heroes at pivotal moments 702 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:49,719 S2: in history. Today, we're transitioning from the Old Testament to 703 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:55,279 S2: the New Testament and exploring a beautiful yet unexpected location. Now, 704 00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:58,759 S2: if Israel was defined as extending from Dan to Beersheba, 705 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:03,560 S2: then our destination today lies just beyond Israel's northern border. 706 00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:07,160 S2: Even though we're technically still within the land God promised 707 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,069 S2: to his people, we're standing next to the foothills of 708 00:39:10,070 --> 00:39:13,109 S2: Mount Hermon, so close that our view up to the 709 00:39:13,150 --> 00:39:18,149 S2: summit is blocked. Our destination is Caesarea Philippi, formerly known 710 00:39:18,150 --> 00:39:21,950 S2: as Paneas or Pan's Place, during the time of Alexander 711 00:39:21,989 --> 00:39:24,830 S2: the Great. However, the name was changed by one of 712 00:39:24,830 --> 00:39:28,990 S2: Herod the Great's sons for political reasons. After Herod's death, 713 00:39:28,989 --> 00:39:31,950 S2: his kingdom was divided among his children, but they all 714 00:39:31,950 --> 00:39:36,270 S2: ruled under Rome's authority. Herod Philip, who controlled the region 715 00:39:36,270 --> 00:39:38,950 S2: between Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee on the 716 00:39:38,950 --> 00:39:42,710 S2: east side of the Jordan River, followed in his father's footsteps. 717 00:39:42,989 --> 00:39:45,270 S2: Herod the Great had built a magnificent city on the 718 00:39:45,270 --> 00:39:49,390 S2: coast and named it after the Roman emperor Caesar. Caesarea 719 00:39:49,390 --> 00:39:53,190 S2: had grown into a strategic Roman seaport, and as a result, 720 00:39:53,190 --> 00:39:56,910 S2: inspired by his father's legacy, Herod Philip decided to dedicate 721 00:39:56,910 --> 00:39:59,589 S2: a city to Caesar in his area as well. He 722 00:39:59,590 --> 00:40:02,230 S2: constructed his new city at the base of Mount Hermon 723 00:40:02,230 --> 00:40:07,190 S2: and named it Philip's City to Caesar Caesarea Philippi. Several 724 00:40:07,190 --> 00:40:10,820 S2: years later, Jesus led his disciples to this largely pagan 725 00:40:10,820 --> 00:40:13,820 S2: and Gentile region. Was he trying to avoid the large 726 00:40:13,820 --> 00:40:17,459 S2: crowds that had been following him in Galilee, perhaps? Or 727 00:40:17,460 --> 00:40:20,540 S2: was he seeking to avoid the prying eyes of Herod Antipas, 728 00:40:20,580 --> 00:40:24,020 S2: the ruler of Galilee, whose spies were reporting on Jesus's 729 00:40:24,020 --> 00:40:29,100 S2: growing popularity? Well, that's also possible. Or Jesus might simply 730 00:40:29,100 --> 00:40:31,900 S2: have needed time away from the crowds to be alone 731 00:40:31,900 --> 00:40:35,580 S2: with his inner circle of disciples. Regardless of the reason 732 00:40:35,580 --> 00:40:39,060 S2: Jesus brought his disciples to this region of Caesarea Philippi, 733 00:40:39,340 --> 00:40:42,420 S2: a place where he wasn't surrounded by throngs of people, 734 00:40:42,460 --> 00:40:44,980 S2: a place where he could speak more freely and openly 735 00:40:44,980 --> 00:40:48,700 S2: with them as the good teacher he was. Jesus's first 736 00:40:48,700 --> 00:40:52,420 S2: action was to administer a pop quiz to assess the situation. 737 00:40:52,660 --> 00:40:56,100 S2: He asked his disciples questions to gauge the people's understanding 738 00:40:56,100 --> 00:40:58,899 S2: of his ministry. Who do people say that the Son 739 00:40:58,900 --> 00:41:02,140 S2: of Man is? Jesus had been speaking and ministering for 740 00:41:02,140 --> 00:41:05,259 S2: some time, but what impact was his ministry having on 741 00:41:05,260 --> 00:41:08,170 S2: the hearts of the people? What had they grasped and 742 00:41:08,170 --> 00:41:12,250 S2: what had they missed? The disciples answers accurately reflected what 743 00:41:12,250 --> 00:41:15,890 S2: they'd heard, though they might seem puzzling to us. Some 744 00:41:15,890 --> 00:41:19,530 S2: suggested Jesus was John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still 745 00:41:19,530 --> 00:41:22,810 S2: others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Now, the people 746 00:41:22,810 --> 00:41:27,450 S2: didn't actually believe Jesus was the reincarnation of John the Baptist, 747 00:41:27,450 --> 00:41:31,770 S2: Elijah or Jeremiah. So how are we to interpret their responses? Well, 748 00:41:31,770 --> 00:41:34,609 S2: nearly everyone in Judea had heard of John the Baptist, 749 00:41:34,610 --> 00:41:37,690 S2: though most had likely never seen him. Then word spread 750 00:41:37,690 --> 00:41:41,049 S2: that John had been imprisoned and killed. But could those 751 00:41:41,050 --> 00:41:44,610 S2: reports be inaccurate? Some who had seen and heard Jesus 752 00:41:44,610 --> 00:41:48,009 S2: simply assumed the earlier rumors had been false. He must 753 00:41:48,010 --> 00:41:51,650 S2: be John the Baptist. Others replied, no, John the Baptist 754 00:41:51,650 --> 00:41:55,529 S2: is dead. However, the prophet Malachi instructed us to watch 755 00:41:55,530 --> 00:41:58,569 S2: for another prophet like Elijah, a prophet who will call 756 00:41:58,570 --> 00:42:01,810 S2: the nation to repentance. This must be the new Elijah 757 00:42:01,810 --> 00:42:05,719 S2: prophesied by Malachi. And still others said he might not 758 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:09,319 S2: be the prophet predicted by Malachi, but he's certainly a prophet. 759 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:12,759 S2: His passion, emotion and willingness to stand up to the 760 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:17,600 S2: religious leaders reminds us of Jeremiah. Despite the differing opinions 761 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:21,200 S2: on the exact identification, they all agreed on one fact 762 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,800 S2: Jesus was undoubtedly a prophet. He was sent from God 763 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:28,120 S2: with a message for their generation. The people were close, 764 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:31,319 S2: but as the old expression goes close, only counts in 765 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:35,120 S2: hand grenades and horseshoes. Jesus then asked the same question 766 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:38,320 S2: of his disciples, but who do you say that I am? 767 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:41,400 S2: This could have been an awkward moment for the disciples 768 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:45,880 S2: had not. Simon Peter blurted out his answer without hesitation. 769 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:49,480 S2: Peter shouted, You're the Christ, the son of the living God! 770 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,040 S2: Peter's words are today's great confession, and that confession was 771 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:58,520 S2: so significant that Jesus responded by blessing Peter and connecting 772 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:01,879 S2: his words to the rock solid foundation on which the 773 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,660 S2: church would be built. We rushed to Jesus's response so 774 00:43:05,660 --> 00:43:08,460 S2: quickly that we often miss what Peter actually said in 775 00:43:08,500 --> 00:43:13,380 S2: that confession. Why were his words so significant in Matthew 16? 776 00:43:13,420 --> 00:43:17,339 S2: Peter's confession has two parts. Let's examine each one. The 777 00:43:17,340 --> 00:43:20,739 S2: first part of Peter's confession was you are the Christ. 778 00:43:21,060 --> 00:43:25,460 S2: The word Christ isn't Jesus's last name, as some mistakenly believe. 779 00:43:25,700 --> 00:43:28,780 S2: It's not a name, but a descriptive title. The Greek 780 00:43:28,780 --> 00:43:32,620 S2: word Christos means anointed, and it's the Greek equivalent of 781 00:43:32,620 --> 00:43:37,180 S2: the Hebrew word mashiach, which means Messiah. Peter was correct. 782 00:43:37,180 --> 00:43:41,700 S2: Jesus wasn't just a prophet. He was Israel's promised Messiah, 783 00:43:41,940 --> 00:43:44,459 S2: the King from the line of David, destined to reign 784 00:43:44,460 --> 00:43:49,460 S2: over Israel. However, Peter then added his second observation Jesus 785 00:43:49,460 --> 00:43:53,420 S2: wasn't just Israel's promised Messiah. He was also the son 786 00:43:53,420 --> 00:43:56,700 S2: of the living God. Jesus was more than just a 787 00:43:56,700 --> 00:44:00,140 S2: mere human king. He was born in Bethlehem, as Micah 788 00:44:00,180 --> 00:44:03,490 S2: the prophet had predicted. But Micah went on to say 789 00:44:03,690 --> 00:44:06,210 S2: his goings forth are from long ago, from the days 790 00:44:06,210 --> 00:44:10,009 S2: of eternity. Jesus wasn't just a good man or even 791 00:44:10,010 --> 00:44:14,290 S2: a great man. He was the eternally divine Son of God. 792 00:44:14,650 --> 00:44:18,610 S2: Peter's confession was indeed remarkable, and that's why Jesus said 793 00:44:18,610 --> 00:44:22,450 S2: Peter hadn't come to that conclusion through human reasoning alone. 794 00:44:22,770 --> 00:44:25,290 S2: Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but 795 00:44:25,290 --> 00:44:28,690 S2: my father, who is in heaven. Well, as we prepare 796 00:44:28,690 --> 00:44:32,050 S2: to depart, what lesson can we take with us from 797 00:44:32,050 --> 00:44:36,970 S2: Peter's great confession? I think it's the importance of spiritual insight. 798 00:44:37,250 --> 00:44:41,009 S2: Many in that era had read the Hebrew Scriptures, listened 799 00:44:41,010 --> 00:44:46,250 S2: as Jesus taught, and witnessed his miraculous works. However, they 800 00:44:46,250 --> 00:44:51,130 S2: still didn't have spiritual discernment. Peter, on the other hand, 801 00:44:51,330 --> 00:44:55,530 S2: grasped the reality of who Jesus was, which set him 802 00:44:55,530 --> 00:44:59,250 S2: apart from almost everyone else. Now, as we get ready 803 00:44:59,250 --> 00:45:02,040 S2: to say goodbye, let me pose a question to you? 804 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:05,160 S2: Have you been able to assemble all the pieces of 805 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:09,200 S2: the spiritual puzzle? Who is Jesus to you? Is he 806 00:45:09,239 --> 00:45:13,240 S2: merely a remarkable individual, or has God enlightened your mind 807 00:45:13,239 --> 00:45:16,800 S2: and heart, enabling you to recognize that he is the Messiah, 808 00:45:16,960 --> 00:45:20,719 S2: prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Divine Son of 809 00:45:20,719 --> 00:45:25,760 S2: God existing from eternity past? If you've not yet done so, 810 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:30,160 S2: why not make Peter's confession your own right now? This 811 00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:33,600 S2: is the perfect time to place your trust in Jesus, 812 00:45:33,640 --> 00:45:37,720 S2: the Messiah and God's eternal Son as your personal Lord 813 00:45:37,719 --> 00:45:38,600 S2: and Savior. 814 00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:40,640 S1: And you can do that with a simple prayer. It 815 00:45:40,640 --> 00:45:44,400 S1: might go like this. Dear Lord, I know I've messed up. 816 00:45:44,680 --> 00:45:47,359 S1: I'm a sinner, and I believe that you died on 817 00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:50,960 S1: the cross for me to pay for my wrongdoing. Would 818 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:53,439 S1: you please forgive me? Help me turn away from this 819 00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:56,239 S1: garbage and have you in charge of my life from 820 00:45:56,239 --> 00:46:00,790 S1: this day forward? Be my Savior, I pray in Jesus name. Amen. 821 00:46:01,670 --> 00:46:04,270 S1: Love to hear from you if you have made that choice, 822 00:46:04,270 --> 00:46:07,030 S1: prayed that prayer or one like it, you can connect 823 00:46:07,030 --> 00:46:09,270 S1: with us with an email to the land and the 824 00:46:09,270 --> 00:46:14,670 S1: book at. That's the land and the book at Moody's. 825 00:46:16,190 --> 00:46:18,230 S1: And that's the same email address you use to get 826 00:46:18,230 --> 00:46:21,189 S1: us a Bible question. Doctor Gerald Peterman is always glad 827 00:46:21,190 --> 00:46:23,950 S1: to take your questions, and you can email yours to 828 00:46:23,989 --> 00:46:28,310 S1: the land and the book at Moody's, our website. The 829 00:46:28,310 --> 00:46:31,110 S1: land and the book is a great place to visit 830 00:46:31,110 --> 00:46:35,270 S1: for information about today's program, past programs, future programs, and 831 00:46:35,270 --> 00:46:37,950 S1: a whole lot more, you'll find us again at The 832 00:46:37,950 --> 00:46:43,070 S1: Land and the book thanks to our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. 833 00:46:43,110 --> 00:46:46,390 S1: I'm John Yeager with a salute to our producer, Dan Anderson. 834 00:46:46,670 --> 00:46:49,350 S1: And thanks to this station for carving out airtime for 835 00:46:49,350 --> 00:46:52,509 S1: the land and the book, a production of Moody Radio, 836 00:46:52,550 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.