1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:13,280 S1: It's Resurrection Sunday weekend. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! 2 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,680 S1: But before that wonderful resurrection, there was an agony on 3 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,920 S1: that cross. There was a crowd gathered around it. Just 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,600 S1: who were all of these people there, and what were 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,560 S1: their motives for being there? What is their contribution to 6 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,080 S1: the story of the whole account? These are the questions 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,560 S1: we're about to get into. We started this conversation last 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:32,960 S1: week with Doctor Woodrow Kroll. We're going to resume it 9 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,040 S1: today because it's so important that we understand the characters 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,919 S1: at the Cross of Christ. Right now, a question did 11 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,200 S1: you know that most Jewish people have never heard the gospel? 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,040 S1: It's true. Every week here on the land and the book, 13 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,440 S1: you hear Charlie and I talk about Israel. We talk 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,280 S1: about the Jewish people. And it's important to remember that they, 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,560 S1: like everyone else, need to hear the good news. That's 16 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:55,560 S1: the bottom line. 17 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,959 S2: That's right, John. And that's why life in Messiah, a 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,190 S2: ministry that existed for over 135 years, is devoted to 19 00:01:02,230 --> 00:01:05,429 S2: sharing the gospel with Jewish people around the world. Now 20 00:01:05,430 --> 00:01:08,949 S2: they're offering a gift to moody listeners this free e-book. 21 00:01:09,150 --> 00:01:12,429 S2: Reaching Jewish People for Messiah highlights the need for the 22 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:15,630 S2: gospel among the Jewish people, and will equip you with 23 00:01:15,630 --> 00:01:19,030 S2: practical ways to share the Good News with them. To 24 00:01:19,069 --> 00:01:22,789 S2: receive this free e-book, visit Life in Messiah org and 25 00:01:22,790 --> 00:01:25,670 S2: click on the Moody Radio logo. A sign up today 26 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:28,670 S2: to get your copy. And that's life in Messiah. 27 00:01:30,110 --> 00:01:32,550 S1: And with that, we'll swing our focus toward current events 28 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:35,550 S1: from the Middle East. Last weekend, the world focused on 29 00:01:35,550 --> 00:01:38,590 S1: the resumption of high level nuclear talks between the US 30 00:01:38,590 --> 00:01:41,030 S1: and Iran. How did those talks go? 31 00:01:41,470 --> 00:01:43,709 S2: Well, the first round of indirect talks were said to 32 00:01:43,709 --> 00:01:46,350 S2: have been held in a, quote, positive atmosphere and were 33 00:01:46,350 --> 00:01:50,270 S2: conducive to bridging viewpoints. The indirect talks were then followed 34 00:01:50,270 --> 00:01:54,470 S2: by a brief face to face conversation between the two negotiators, 35 00:01:54,470 --> 00:01:58,620 S2: and both sides agreed to resume the talks again this weekend. However, 36 00:01:58,620 --> 00:02:01,180 S2: the most significant news from the talks is what each 37 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:05,420 S2: side said they're intended to accomplish and not accomplish. Iran's 38 00:02:05,420 --> 00:02:07,900 S2: supreme leader said the talks would only focus on the 39 00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:11,579 S2: nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions. The chief U.S. 40 00:02:11,580 --> 00:02:14,940 S2: negotiator initially said the focus would be to reach agreement 41 00:02:14,940 --> 00:02:20,100 S2: on enrichment verification, not eliminating Iran's nuclear program. That statement 42 00:02:20,100 --> 00:02:24,180 S2: raised concerns in Israel. A day later, he clarified his remarks, 43 00:02:24,180 --> 00:02:27,700 S2: saying any agreement would require Iran to eliminate its nuclear 44 00:02:27,700 --> 00:02:32,380 S2: enrichment and weaponization program. Iran then responded by saying its 45 00:02:32,380 --> 00:02:36,740 S2: right to uranium enrichment is, quote, non-negotiable. This weekend's round 46 00:02:36,740 --> 00:02:39,100 S2: of talks are crucial, and the U.S. needs to be 47 00:02:39,100 --> 00:02:42,500 S2: very careful in stating clearly what will be required for 48 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:45,620 S2: any deal. The goal must be to stop Iran from 49 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:48,740 S2: ever becoming a nuclear threat to Israel, or any other 50 00:02:48,740 --> 00:02:53,100 S2: country in the region. One fact is clear President Trump's 51 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:57,250 S2: 60 day countdown clock on the negotiations is ticking. 52 00:02:57,530 --> 00:03:00,650 S1: Story number two. Reports have surfaced that a cease fire 53 00:03:00,650 --> 00:03:04,049 S1: and hostage deal could soon be reached with Hamas. Is 54 00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:06,250 S1: an end to the conflict imminent, or is this just 55 00:03:06,250 --> 00:03:09,450 S1: another instance of false optimism about to be shattered? 56 00:03:09,730 --> 00:03:11,930 S2: You know, it would be great if the report were true, 57 00:03:11,930 --> 00:03:15,290 S2: but right now it's just hard to be optimistic. According 58 00:03:15,330 --> 00:03:18,370 S2: to the report, both Egypt and Turkey are actively involved 59 00:03:18,370 --> 00:03:21,610 S2: in the negotiations, and President Trump is pushing for the 60 00:03:21,610 --> 00:03:25,650 S2: release of the hostages as part of a broader regional agreement. 61 00:03:25,850 --> 00:03:28,450 S2: Here are some of the supposed details. The US is 62 00:03:28,450 --> 00:03:31,450 S2: pressuring Israel to compromise and agree to a pause in 63 00:03:31,450 --> 00:03:34,930 S2: fighting in exchange for the release of some hostages and 64 00:03:34,930 --> 00:03:37,610 S2: renewed talks to end the conflict. This would be part 65 00:03:37,610 --> 00:03:41,770 S2: of a broader regional agreement that President Trump envisions as a, quote, 66 00:03:41,810 --> 00:03:45,290 S2: grand bargain in the Middle East, and that would eventually 67 00:03:45,290 --> 00:03:50,050 S2: include normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The reconstruction of Lebanon, 68 00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:54,010 S2: Syria and Gaza, and a resolution to the Palestinian issue. 69 00:03:54,290 --> 00:03:57,400 S2: The plan would also included a resumption of aid deliveries 70 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,280 S2: to Gaza and a cease fire, during which a final 71 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,080 S2: long term political framework for Gaza would be developed, and 72 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:10,160 S2: apparently a potential political involvement for Hamas wasn't ruled out. Now, unfortunately, 73 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,040 S2: Hamas rejected the plan Tuesday because it didn't require Israel 74 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,120 S2: to end the war and withdraw from Gaza. The proposed 75 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,440 S2: deal wasn't a good deal for Israel, but pressure within 76 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,200 S2: Israel to bring home the hostages at any cost, along 77 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,359 S2: with pressure from the US, made it a realistic possibility 78 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,359 S2: until Hamas once again rejected it. 79 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,640 S1: Well, Charlie, a significant number of other stories have slipped 80 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,280 S1: under the radar over the past few weeks. So in 81 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,520 S1: our remaining time, let's see how many of these we 82 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:44,479 S1: can cover today. The first focuses on dogs, robots, artificial intelligence, 83 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,480 S1: and modern tunnel warfare. What do all of these have 84 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:48,240 S1: in common? 85 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,640 S2: Well, the American Technion Society recently held a security briefing 86 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,700 S2: with Israel's former national Security Advisor and head of Advanced 87 00:04:56,700 --> 00:05:00,779 S2: Defense Research Institute at the Technion. I watched the briefing 88 00:05:00,779 --> 00:05:04,220 S2: and I found his high level overview fascinating. One item 89 00:05:04,220 --> 00:05:07,380 S2: focused on the evolution of tunnel warfare like that Israel 90 00:05:07,380 --> 00:05:10,340 S2: has faced in Gaza and Lebanon. He said the process 91 00:05:10,339 --> 00:05:13,180 S2: they've developed is to send in a drone, followed by 92 00:05:13,180 --> 00:05:16,580 S2: a robot, then a dog, and finally a soldier. He 93 00:05:16,580 --> 00:05:19,339 S2: added very briefly in passing that they were trying to 94 00:05:19,339 --> 00:05:22,659 S2: get into the mind of the dog to communicate with it. Now, 95 00:05:22,660 --> 00:05:24,940 S2: I might have simply brushed that aside, except for an 96 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:28,020 S2: article that was in the Jerusalem Post on how scientists 97 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:32,500 S2: in Israel are using lasers and artificial intelligence to decode 98 00:05:32,500 --> 00:05:36,660 S2: how dogs smell, using artificial intelligence to analyze the brains 99 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:41,260 S2: of dogs. Israeli scientists are mapping the 100 million sensory 100 00:05:41,260 --> 00:05:44,700 S2: receptor sites in a dog's nasal cavity. By the way, 101 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:47,660 S2: that compares to about 6 million in ours. As humans, 102 00:05:48,140 --> 00:05:52,140 S2: they developed an optical sensor capable of remotely scanning the 103 00:05:52,140 --> 00:05:55,650 S2: brain activity of dogs in three key regions, each of 104 00:05:55,650 --> 00:05:59,810 S2: which play a critical role in how dogs differentiate between smells. 105 00:06:00,050 --> 00:06:03,050 S2: Using the laser sensor, any dog breed can be used 106 00:06:03,050 --> 00:06:05,890 S2: to detect certain scents. This could include the presence of 107 00:06:05,890 --> 00:06:10,690 S2: drugs or people or explosives, and alongside the live dogs, 108 00:06:10,690 --> 00:06:14,810 S2: Israel is also developing robot dogs that can understand natural 109 00:06:14,810 --> 00:06:17,690 S2: language and that are also equipped with sensors to help 110 00:06:17,690 --> 00:06:22,089 S2: soldiers or rescue workers picking their way through all the obstacles. 111 00:06:22,089 --> 00:06:25,170 S2: So all these pieces are converging because of this war 112 00:06:25,170 --> 00:06:26,010 S2: with Hamas. 113 00:06:26,610 --> 00:06:29,730 S1: Last week, you mentioned in passing that Israel and Turkey 114 00:06:29,770 --> 00:06:32,650 S1: were holding talks to try to avoid a military clash 115 00:06:32,650 --> 00:06:34,930 S1: in Syria. How did those talks go? 116 00:06:35,250 --> 00:06:38,250 S2: Well, the first round of talks, which were held in Azerbaijan, 117 00:06:38,450 --> 00:06:41,810 S2: were described by both sides as positive. The goal of 118 00:06:41,810 --> 00:06:44,770 S2: the talks is to reduce tension between the two countries 119 00:06:44,770 --> 00:06:48,210 S2: and to establish a mechanism to prevent conflict in Syria. 120 00:06:48,610 --> 00:06:51,410 S2: The process is still at the very beginning stages, but 121 00:06:51,410 --> 00:06:54,080 S2: the two sides agreed to another round of talks after 122 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,559 S2: the Passover holidays. Each side presented its regional interests, so 123 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,080 S2: the hope is that the two can come to an 124 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,200 S2: agreement that will avoid direct confrontation in the future. Now, 125 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,520 S2: if there's a proverbial fly in the ointment in all 126 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,239 S2: of this, it's the report this week that the US 127 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,640 S2: will begin a phased withdrawal of its forces from Syria 128 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,559 S2: in the coming months. Will Turkey or the Kurds or 129 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,400 S2: Iraqi Shiite militants or the new Syrian government step in 130 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,200 S2: to fill that void? Right now, the answer to that 131 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,160 S2: question just isn't clear. And that gives it a sense 132 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:27,239 S2: of uncertainty. 133 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,200 S1: On April the 9th, the full Senate finally approved Mike 134 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,680 S1: Huckabee as America's new ambassador to Israel. I'm intrigued. Evangelicals 135 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,400 S1: are thrilled. Here's a believer in that role. And that 136 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,640 S1: very fact seems to put off many other American Jews 137 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,560 S1: who are not believers. How significant is his appointment and 138 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,160 S1: when is he scheduled to begin? 139 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,600 S2: Yeah. Huckabee is the first openly evangelical Christian to serve 140 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,310 S2: as an ambassador to Israel, and he brings with him 141 00:07:52,310 --> 00:07:55,190 S2: a long time commitment to the Jewish state and a 142 00:07:55,190 --> 00:07:59,430 S2: strong desire to strengthen ties between the US and Israel. Now, 143 00:07:59,470 --> 00:08:02,190 S2: Huckabee had expressed a desire to be confirmed in time 144 00:08:02,190 --> 00:08:05,750 S2: to celebrate Passover in Israel. The delay in the confirmation 145 00:08:05,750 --> 00:08:08,870 S2: process didn't make that possible, but he is scheduled to 146 00:08:08,870 --> 00:08:12,350 S2: fly to Israel relatively soon. And he said the first 147 00:08:12,350 --> 00:08:14,990 S2: thing he'll do is take a prayer to the Western 148 00:08:14,990 --> 00:08:17,710 S2: Wall that President Trump gave him and placed it there 149 00:08:17,710 --> 00:08:20,670 S2: on behalf of the American people and the president. 150 00:08:21,110 --> 00:08:25,070 S1: One final story. An Arab newspaper reported that Israeli soldiers 151 00:08:25,070 --> 00:08:28,830 S1: released a large number of pigs near the Arab town 152 00:08:28,870 --> 00:08:33,230 S1: of Tulkarem. This supposedly to impart fear and cause damage 153 00:08:33,230 --> 00:08:36,310 S1: to property. So what's the truth behind this story of 154 00:08:36,309 --> 00:08:39,069 S1: a plot to cause panic using pigs? 155 00:08:39,470 --> 00:08:42,630 S2: Well, let's start this way. Could this story be true? 156 00:08:43,230 --> 00:08:48,230 S2: I suppose it's possible, though the story wasn't independently corroborated 157 00:08:48,470 --> 00:08:51,700 S2: in this age of ever present cell phones, it seems 158 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:55,099 S2: highly unlikely that Israel could bring in truckloads of squealing 159 00:08:55,100 --> 00:08:59,459 S2: hogs without anyone noticing or taking a video of it. Now, 160 00:08:59,620 --> 00:09:03,500 S2: could Tukaram be experiencing an invasion of wild boars? Well, 161 00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:07,100 S2: it really could. Several years ago, wild boars in the 162 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:10,540 S2: Jerusalem area terrified the residents of the Jewish town of 163 00:09:10,580 --> 00:09:14,580 S2: Mevaseret Zion. About the same time, the city of Haifa 164 00:09:14,580 --> 00:09:19,180 S2: experienced problems with wild boars running wild through the city streets. 165 00:09:19,380 --> 00:09:22,140 S2: The wild pigs are in the forests and woods, but 166 00:09:22,140 --> 00:09:26,380 S2: the Covid problem brought them out into these empty streets. 167 00:09:26,380 --> 00:09:28,780 S2: And of course, once they found the food sources that 168 00:09:28,780 --> 00:09:32,220 S2: were there, it brings them in in larger numbers. If 169 00:09:32,220 --> 00:09:35,540 S2: boars have been spotted in Tulkarem, they likely came to 170 00:09:35,580 --> 00:09:39,260 S2: town searching for food. Now they can be aggressive. And 171 00:09:39,260 --> 00:09:43,460 S2: one thing for sure they multiply rapidly. So this invasion 172 00:09:43,460 --> 00:09:46,700 S2: in Tulkarem could be a real problem, but I seriously 173 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:50,090 S2: doubt if those pigs were trucked in by the Israeli army. 174 00:09:50,450 --> 00:09:53,010 S1: Charlie, one last question. How much of an impact has 175 00:09:53,010 --> 00:09:57,290 S1: the resumed fighting in Gaza made on Hamas's willingness to negotiate? 176 00:09:57,809 --> 00:10:00,490 S2: Not as much as we might like. Israel has been 177 00:10:00,490 --> 00:10:04,210 S2: trying to pressure Hamas, and certainly they have been. But 178 00:10:04,530 --> 00:10:07,010 S2: they actually have a manpower shortage in the Israeli army. 179 00:10:07,010 --> 00:10:09,370 S2: They're not able to do as much pressure as they'd like. 180 00:10:09,410 --> 00:10:11,170 S2: And of course, they have to be very careful because 181 00:10:11,170 --> 00:10:14,170 S2: there are hostages in certain areas, so they can't go 182 00:10:14,170 --> 00:10:16,610 S2: everywhere that they would like to go. So the reality 183 00:10:16,610 --> 00:10:19,770 S2: is they're putting pressure on. But Hamas is willing to 184 00:10:19,890 --> 00:10:22,969 S2: put up with that pressure. And the world as they 185 00:10:23,010 --> 00:10:27,050 S2: watch the situation in Gaza devolve, is getting more panicked 186 00:10:27,050 --> 00:10:30,089 S2: and putting more pressure on Israel itself. So it's not 187 00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:31,650 S2: working the way Israel had hoped. 188 00:10:32,170 --> 00:10:34,810 S1: Is there a pressure point that Israel could go with it? 189 00:10:34,809 --> 00:10:36,850 S1: They just have not taken advantage of yet. 190 00:10:37,170 --> 00:10:39,849 S2: Only if they're willing to risk the lives of the hostages. 191 00:10:39,850 --> 00:10:42,490 S2: And that's the real issue. They can't do everything they 192 00:10:42,490 --> 00:10:44,370 S2: want to do because of the hostages. 193 00:10:44,370 --> 00:10:47,920 S1: And that's a look at current events, Vance understanding who 194 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,640 S1: the characters at the Cross of Christ really were, their motivations, 195 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,640 S1: and so on. That's our focus next on the land 196 00:10:54,640 --> 00:11:11,760 S1: and the book. Nothing more appropriate at Easter time than 197 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,000 S1: to consider the cast of characters at the cross. This 198 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,400 S1: is the land and the book. I'm John Gager, and 199 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,800 S1: if you were with us last week, Doctor Woodrow Crowe 200 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,960 S1: helped us understand just a few of those characters. But 201 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,720 S1: there are many, many, many. When you actually dig through 202 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,080 S1: the account, read the scriptures for yourself. A surprisingly long 203 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,040 S1: list of characters. We didn't get through them. There's more 204 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,959 S1: to come right now on the land and the book. First, though, 205 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:36,960 S1: I want you to pause with me and think about 206 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,840 S1: another great idea for you and I sharing the love 207 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,720 S1: of Jesus with a Jewish friend or coworker or neighbor 208 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,280 S1: that God has placed across our path. Listen to this 209 00:11:46,059 --> 00:11:49,059 S1: When you and I are building friendships, relationships with our 210 00:11:49,059 --> 00:11:52,460 S1: Jewish friends, there's a point at which we're sharing of ourselves, 211 00:11:52,460 --> 00:11:55,700 S1: of our own lives. And whether that is our faith 212 00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:58,620 S1: or whether it's day to day stuff, I think there's 213 00:11:58,620 --> 00:12:02,140 S1: room for being transparent, don't you think? Let's ask Justin 214 00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:03,939 S1: Crone of Chosen People Ministries. 215 00:12:03,980 --> 00:12:07,700 S3: Yeah. I think we should always be looking for opportunities 216 00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:12,980 S3: to be sharing what is God teaching us in our lives? Yeah. Um, 217 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:15,819 S3: what are we learning? You know, if you're going to church, 218 00:12:15,860 --> 00:12:18,339 S3: if you're listening to Christian radio, if you're reading good 219 00:12:18,340 --> 00:12:22,260 S3: Christian books, you're learning something and hopefully benefiting from what 220 00:12:22,260 --> 00:12:25,380 S3: you're learning. So share that with them. Say, you know, 221 00:12:25,420 --> 00:12:27,700 S3: I was in church this this week and heard a 222 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:30,380 S3: great message on marriage. There's a good chance that your 223 00:12:30,380 --> 00:12:33,540 S3: married friend, your married Jewish friend, might learn just as 224 00:12:33,540 --> 00:12:37,060 S3: much as you will. Um, and so that's what I 225 00:12:37,059 --> 00:12:39,420 S3: would say. I'd take advantage of those opportunities to share 226 00:12:39,420 --> 00:12:39,780 S3: who you are. 227 00:12:39,820 --> 00:12:42,179 S1: You know, it reminds me of a preacher who reminded 228 00:12:42,179 --> 00:12:45,730 S1: me that the original Greek on the construction of Matthew 28. 229 00:12:45,770 --> 00:12:49,329 S1: Go and make disciples. It's actually in your going as 230 00:12:49,330 --> 00:12:51,770 S1: you go make disciples. So what you're saying, Justin, is 231 00:12:52,130 --> 00:12:55,250 S1: as you're having conversation, as you're doing life, you know, 232 00:12:55,290 --> 00:12:56,209 S1: just involve them. 233 00:12:56,210 --> 00:13:00,570 S3: Exactly right. So be authentic about who you are. Live 234 00:13:00,610 --> 00:13:03,770 S3: your life. But while you do it, remember that you 235 00:13:03,770 --> 00:13:07,250 S3: are an ambassador. You are a representative of Jesus and 236 00:13:07,290 --> 00:13:08,970 S3: of the greatest message in the world. 237 00:13:09,010 --> 00:13:11,250 S1: Always great to check in with Justin Crone, who's with 238 00:13:11,250 --> 00:13:14,290 S1: Chosen People Ministries, and his advice for us today on 239 00:13:14,290 --> 00:13:18,050 S1: the land and the book. We are so glad to 240 00:13:18,050 --> 00:13:20,970 S1: be connecting again with Doctor Woodrow Kroll. You heard him 241 00:13:20,970 --> 00:13:23,570 S1: for many years, perhaps on back to the Bible. Maybe 242 00:13:23,570 --> 00:13:25,970 S1: you've read one of his books. He's got a long 243 00:13:25,970 --> 00:13:29,610 S1: and grand tradition serving Christ as president of Davis College 244 00:13:29,610 --> 00:13:32,730 S1: for 23 years, as chairman of the religion department at 245 00:13:32,770 --> 00:13:36,370 S1: Liberty University, all kinds of great achievements. He's led tons 246 00:13:36,370 --> 00:13:38,850 S1: of tourists to the Holy Land, and he set me 247 00:13:38,850 --> 00:13:42,090 S1: on my very first and only archaeological quest in the 248 00:13:42,090 --> 00:13:45,760 S1: Holy Land to somehow find a coin in the dust. 249 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,280 S1: I have yet to achieve that in my trips, Doctor Kroll. 250 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:50,400 S4: There. There. 251 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:53,960 S1: Someday I'd like to. I bought a couple, but I 252 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,280 S1: haven't discovered any. 253 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:55,920 S4: Sure. 254 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,200 S1: Nevertheless, we're glad to have you back. Thanks for being 255 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:00,760 S1: willing to come back to the program. 256 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:02,200 S4: My pleasure. John. 257 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,000 S1: Well, we're looking at the cast of characters at the cross. 258 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,640 S1: And as you pointed out last week, there are far 259 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,520 S1: more than we usually think of. I think it behooves 260 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,520 S1: us to kind of give that a careful look, don't you? 261 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,840 S4: Yeah, it does, because, you know, these are important people. 262 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,439 S4: Some of them are not very well known. Others are 263 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,600 S4: very well known. But they're all important to the story. 264 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,440 S1: Well, very central in the account would be the life 265 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,280 S1: and questionable legacy, if you will, of Herod Antipas. You 266 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,320 S1: called him the man who wanted to be entertained. Let's 267 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:32,280 S1: start with his life. 268 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,560 S4: Herod was a chump. I mean, he was just a 269 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,040 S4: bad guy from the get go. He's the guy who 270 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:45,110 S4: Herod Antipas, who saw his brother Philip's wife, took a 271 00:14:45,110 --> 00:14:49,630 S4: liking to her, had her divorce, his brother, half brother 272 00:14:49,670 --> 00:14:53,150 S4: actually and he married her. So now he has a 273 00:14:53,150 --> 00:14:57,990 S4: wife that was his brother's wife. Without his brother dying, 274 00:14:58,150 --> 00:15:00,910 S4: that was a no no. You know, if Philip had died, 275 00:15:01,430 --> 00:15:04,510 S4: the law of marriage would have come in and he 276 00:15:04,510 --> 00:15:08,070 S4: could have married her. But he was sinning both against 277 00:15:08,070 --> 00:15:11,990 S4: Jewish law and against Roman law. So he's really a 278 00:15:12,030 --> 00:15:15,950 S4: chump from the word go. And, you know, he oversaw 279 00:15:15,990 --> 00:15:21,430 S4: a period of history where Jesus was traveling through Galilee. 280 00:15:21,830 --> 00:15:25,670 S4: And the area that Herod Antipas was in charge of 281 00:15:25,670 --> 00:15:30,830 S4: was up north of Galilee. So he obviously knew Jesus, 282 00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:34,670 S4: but he had never seen Jesus. He'd never seen a miracle. 283 00:15:34,710 --> 00:15:39,270 S4: He'd never seen Jesus teaching. So he was anxious for 284 00:15:39,270 --> 00:15:43,660 S4: Jesus to entertain him. So when when Pilate heard that 285 00:15:43,660 --> 00:15:48,100 S4: Jesus was a Galilean. And since Herod was in town 286 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:53,980 S4: from Galilee, as it was the Passover weekend. Pilate tried 287 00:15:53,980 --> 00:15:58,900 S4: to sneak out of his responsibility and send Jesus to. Herod. 288 00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:02,660 S4: But as we know from the gospel accounts, Herod was 289 00:16:02,660 --> 00:16:05,020 S4: having none of it. All he wanted to do was 290 00:16:05,020 --> 00:16:09,260 S4: to see Jesus meet Jesus and see a miracle. Have 291 00:16:09,260 --> 00:16:13,940 S4: Jesus performed tricks? And as a result, Jesus didn't say 292 00:16:13,940 --> 00:16:18,660 S4: a word. Uh, they finally were disrupted by his lack 293 00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:22,180 S4: of attention to Herod. And as a result, they began 294 00:16:22,180 --> 00:16:24,940 S4: to beat him. And they put his robe on him, 295 00:16:24,940 --> 00:16:27,660 S4: and they sent him back to Pilate. So we have 296 00:16:27,660 --> 00:16:31,340 S4: a guy here who is the son of Herod the Great, 297 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:35,140 S4: but did not have the character of Herod the Great. 298 00:16:35,380 --> 00:16:38,060 S1: Doctor Woodrow Krul's life has been spent either in the 299 00:16:38,060 --> 00:16:41,570 S1: classroom or the recording studio. Today, we're honored that he's 300 00:16:41,570 --> 00:16:44,530 S1: connected with our studio here at The Land and the book. 301 00:16:44,530 --> 00:16:47,810 S1: As we look at some of the characters at the crucifixion. Well, 302 00:16:47,810 --> 00:16:51,730 S1: the Sanhedrin are sometimes, I think, maybe overlooked. We see 303 00:16:51,730 --> 00:16:54,010 S1: them in our ignorance as sort of this, you know, 304 00:16:54,010 --> 00:16:56,650 S1: ruling religious group. But they were more than that. They 305 00:16:56,650 --> 00:16:58,850 S1: were sort of the Supreme Court of ancient Israel, were 306 00:16:58,850 --> 00:16:59,490 S1: they not? 307 00:16:59,690 --> 00:17:03,650 S4: They were indeed. In fact, they were the most powerful 308 00:17:03,650 --> 00:17:08,810 S4: people in Israel, second only to the head of the Sanhedrin, 309 00:17:08,810 --> 00:17:10,970 S4: and that would be the high priest. In this case, 310 00:17:10,970 --> 00:17:14,810 S4: it was Caiaphas. So the sanhedrin's job was to hear 311 00:17:15,130 --> 00:17:19,650 S4: cases from the people brought to them by the lawyers 312 00:17:19,650 --> 00:17:24,290 S4: or the individuals themselves make a decision, and their decision 313 00:17:24,290 --> 00:17:29,169 S4: was final. No appeal. But the Sanhedrin was not exactly 314 00:17:29,170 --> 00:17:34,050 S4: a just group by this time. The poison that Anas 315 00:17:34,090 --> 00:17:38,880 S4: brought to the whole judicial system, the poison that Caiaphas 316 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:43,840 S4: brought to the judicial system also was imbibed by the Sanhedrin. 317 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:49,359 S4: So they're not exactly, uh, an impartial Supreme Court. They've 318 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:54,320 S4: been swayed against Jesus. When Jesus first met the Sanhedrin, 319 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,600 S4: probably around midnight on the day he was crucified, there 320 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,200 S4: were not an entire 70 people there. They only could 321 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,880 S4: get perhaps a quorum together, because in the morning they 322 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,040 S4: had to meet a second time to ratify the decision 323 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,920 S4: of the Sanhedrin. At night and at night, when Jesus 324 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:18,240 S4: was being questioned by them, the Sanhedrin spit in Jesus face. 325 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:23,199 S4: They beat on him. They mocked him. And these are 326 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,879 S4: the religious leaders of Israel. So they're really a corrupt 327 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,040 S4: bunch by this point. They have no understanding of who 328 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,320 S4: it is that they were mocking. 329 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,750 S1: I want to talk about the mob, The Jerusalem mob. 330 00:18:38,230 --> 00:18:41,070 S1: You've described them as pawns of the religious leaders. My 331 00:18:41,070 --> 00:18:43,350 S1: question is, did these people just happen to be at 332 00:18:43,350 --> 00:18:44,830 S1: the right place, at the right time to be part 333 00:18:44,830 --> 00:18:47,910 S1: of this mob, or were they hand-picked, you know, were 334 00:18:47,910 --> 00:18:50,310 S1: they offered a bribe? Or was it more of, you know, 335 00:18:50,350 --> 00:18:51,430 S1: perform or die? 336 00:18:51,790 --> 00:18:54,389 S4: Yeah, I think it's a combination of perhaps all of 337 00:18:54,390 --> 00:18:57,389 S4: those things. Some of them probably were just out in 338 00:18:57,390 --> 00:19:00,430 S4: the street and got caught up in the moment. Others, 339 00:19:00,430 --> 00:19:05,550 S4: I think, were placed there so that the Sanhedrin could 340 00:19:05,590 --> 00:19:09,150 S4: whip up the crowd into a frenzy, make sure that 341 00:19:09,150 --> 00:19:13,190 S4: they chose Barabbas, make sure that they would not accept 342 00:19:13,190 --> 00:19:18,070 S4: anything except crucifixion for Jesus. And the crowd clearly was 343 00:19:18,070 --> 00:19:23,030 S4: manipulated by the Sanhedrin and most importantly, by Caiaphas himself. 344 00:19:23,390 --> 00:19:27,110 S4: There were members of the Sanhedrin in that mob, and 345 00:19:27,470 --> 00:19:31,870 S4: obviously they're there giving directions to the people there. And 346 00:19:31,869 --> 00:19:35,370 S4: as I say, they're whipping them into a frenzy So 347 00:19:35,369 --> 00:19:38,970 S4: that they have the result they want, and that is 348 00:19:39,010 --> 00:19:41,490 S4: for the Romans to crucify Jesus. 349 00:19:41,650 --> 00:19:45,370 S1: What about the actual Roman killing squad? These are these 350 00:19:45,369 --> 00:19:48,409 S1: are elite Roman executioners. What do we need to know 351 00:19:48,410 --> 00:19:49,570 S1: about them, Doctor Kroll? 352 00:19:50,369 --> 00:19:54,729 S4: Uh, you have it, right? They are elite executioners. And 353 00:19:54,730 --> 00:19:58,609 S4: by that I mean these people. These men of the 354 00:19:58,609 --> 00:20:04,409 S4: Roman army were trained specifically to crucify people. And their 355 00:20:04,410 --> 00:20:08,690 S4: one and only job was crucifixion. So they knew exactly 356 00:20:08,690 --> 00:20:11,290 S4: where to put the nails to nail a person to 357 00:20:11,490 --> 00:20:17,090 S4: a cross. The centurion knew exactly where to pierce Jesus side, 358 00:20:17,090 --> 00:20:20,169 S4: to make sure the dart would go into his heart 359 00:20:20,170 --> 00:20:23,890 S4: and kill him if he was still alive. They knew 360 00:20:23,930 --> 00:20:29,330 S4: so much about medicine and so much about killing, and 361 00:20:29,330 --> 00:20:32,570 S4: you put those two things together and you have people 362 00:20:32,570 --> 00:20:37,399 S4: who are dedicated to death, dedicated to seeing that Jesus 363 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,880 S4: dies on the cross and dedicated to making his time 364 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,480 S4: on the cross as painful as they can possibly do it. 365 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:50,240 S4: We know from other historical records others who wrote Josephus 366 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:54,159 S4: and other historians that people would be crucified on the 367 00:20:54,160 --> 00:21:00,800 S4: cross in various positions, not always upright, not always with 368 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,760 S4: head to the ground, but sometimes sideways. Sometimes they would 369 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,080 S4: be crucified backwards. It was a sport to the Romans, 370 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,640 S4: and they would make sure that crucifixion by the killing 371 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:17,200 S4: squad was as painful as public, and as difficult as 372 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,040 S4: it could be for the one that they were crucifying. 373 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,600 S1: We're talking with Doctor Woodrow Kroll, an expert on Roman crucifixion. 374 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,800 S1: You mentioned the Roman centurion. Let's go there because his 375 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,760 S1: story has a happier ending. 376 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,480 S4: Yeah, it does. And I'm so glad for this man. Um, 377 00:21:32,710 --> 00:21:35,909 S4: there are really only two people in the crucifixion story 378 00:21:36,270 --> 00:21:38,510 S4: that do have a happy ending, and that would be 379 00:21:38,510 --> 00:21:42,350 S4: the Centurion and of course, the thief on the cross 380 00:21:42,350 --> 00:21:45,669 S4: who turned to Jesus in faith. His job as a 381 00:21:45,670 --> 00:21:51,630 S4: centurion was to lead a band of soldiers, usually 80, 382 00:21:51,670 --> 00:21:56,109 S4: in the band, uh, sometimes more. The word centurion implies 383 00:21:56,150 --> 00:21:59,230 S4: a hundred. And maybe originally it was a hundred, but 384 00:21:59,270 --> 00:22:02,590 S4: it's a large group of men, and he commands a 385 00:22:02,630 --> 00:22:06,470 S4: lot of respect. He respects his troops. He respects his 386 00:22:06,470 --> 00:22:10,470 S4: killing squad because he knows they are experts at what 387 00:22:10,470 --> 00:22:15,510 S4: they do. And his story is delightful because when he 388 00:22:15,510 --> 00:22:21,389 S4: views Jesus on the cross, when the curtains is severed, 389 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:24,750 S4: when the earthquake occurs, I mean, these are things you 390 00:22:24,750 --> 00:22:27,949 S4: don't just brush aside if you're in the middle of 391 00:22:27,950 --> 00:22:30,630 S4: an earthquake, you know you're in the middle of an earthquake. 392 00:22:30,859 --> 00:22:33,139 S4: And while they had lots of them in this part 393 00:22:33,140 --> 00:22:37,660 S4: of the country, all these things happening simultaneously had an 394 00:22:37,660 --> 00:22:43,179 S4: effect on this centurion. And when he hears Jesus say, father, 395 00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:46,780 S4: forgive them. I think it changed this man's heart. It 396 00:22:46,780 --> 00:22:49,660 S4: changed his life. And as a result, I think he 397 00:22:49,660 --> 00:22:54,459 S4: really and genuinely came to faith in the Savior. And, um, 398 00:22:54,619 --> 00:22:56,979 S4: you know, in church history, there are all kinds of 399 00:22:56,980 --> 00:23:01,140 S4: stories about this man after the crucifixion. None of them 400 00:23:01,140 --> 00:23:06,459 S4: can be verified, but nonetheless, they all point to the, uh, 401 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:10,820 S4: indication that this man, in fact, did become a follower 402 00:23:10,820 --> 00:23:11,820 S4: of Jesus. 403 00:23:12,060 --> 00:23:14,340 S1: There were faithful women there at the cross among them, 404 00:23:14,380 --> 00:23:17,740 S1: of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. 405 00:23:17,780 --> 00:23:18,619 S1: Your thoughts? 406 00:23:19,619 --> 00:23:23,300 S4: Yeah. Some of the women who were at the cross 407 00:23:23,820 --> 00:23:28,580 S4: were very well unknown. You know, Joanna, for example, we 408 00:23:28,619 --> 00:23:31,209 S4: don't know much about her. The other Mary. Who is 409 00:23:31,210 --> 00:23:34,530 S4: the other Mary? Yeah, but Mary Magdalene and Mary, the 410 00:23:34,530 --> 00:23:39,450 S4: mother of Jesus, two very important women, both of them 411 00:23:39,490 --> 00:23:44,970 S4: at the cross. And both of them deserve special recognition. Mary, 412 00:23:45,010 --> 00:23:48,930 S4: the mother of Jesus, is not very often mentioned in 413 00:23:48,930 --> 00:23:53,290 S4: the New Testament. She's mentioned in the birth narrative. She's 414 00:23:53,290 --> 00:23:57,930 S4: mentioned where Jesus is turning water to wine. She's mentioned 415 00:23:57,970 --> 00:24:02,050 S4: at the crucifixion, but we really don't know very much 416 00:24:02,050 --> 00:24:05,770 S4: about her from the New Testament. We actually know more 417 00:24:05,770 --> 00:24:11,650 S4: about Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was infested with these demons, 418 00:24:11,650 --> 00:24:14,970 S4: and Jesus cast them out of her. She was grateful, 419 00:24:15,010 --> 00:24:19,889 S4: of course, but I think she believed the message of Jesus. She. 420 00:24:19,930 --> 00:24:23,090 S4: She was a follower of Jesus, not out of gratitude, 421 00:24:23,090 --> 00:24:27,050 S4: but out of faith. And as a result, everywhere the 422 00:24:27,050 --> 00:24:31,440 S4: disciples went. Mary and some of the other women who 423 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,000 S4: were faithful to the Lord Jesus. They went with them 424 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:39,359 S4: and their responsibility. Their role with all this was, uh, 425 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:43,840 S4: more or less household chores. Um, if, uh, let's say 426 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,720 S4: Peter ripped his robe and needed it stitched. Uh, chances 427 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,040 S4: are one of the ladies with them in the group 428 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,440 S4: would do the stitching. That's why I say their household 429 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:57,440 S4: kind of things. Um, this is a male dominated society. 430 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:02,600 S4: So to have Mary Magdalene as well known as she was, 431 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:06,800 S4: and have the place of recognition in church history as 432 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:11,080 S4: she has, uh, that's a pretty unique thing because in 433 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:15,680 S4: the Roman Empire, women had no say. They couldn't vote. They, 434 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:19,000 S4: you know, they were treated as second class citizens. And 435 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,720 S4: yet here we have Mary Magdalene being praised by Jesus, 436 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,560 S4: which is a very unique thing. 437 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,790 S1: Well, there are many, many, many other characters who were 438 00:25:28,790 --> 00:25:31,949 S1: there at the cross, the crucifixion, and we invite you 439 00:25:31,950 --> 00:25:34,790 S1: to dig into them as you dig into Doctor Crowell's book. 440 00:25:34,990 --> 00:25:37,310 S1: A link to that at our website. The land and 441 00:25:37,350 --> 00:25:40,670 S1: the book. I always feel like I'm, you know, only 442 00:25:40,710 --> 00:25:43,590 S1: halfway getting started when the clock says, we got to quit. 443 00:25:43,590 --> 00:25:45,430 S1: But we'll connect again, brother. 444 00:25:45,590 --> 00:25:47,109 S4: Thank you so much, John. 445 00:25:47,150 --> 00:25:49,710 S1: Doctor Woodrow Kroll here on the land. And the book. 446 00:25:49,710 --> 00:25:52,830 S1: Don't go away. Bible questions and answers. Coming up next 447 00:25:52,830 --> 00:26:07,070 S1: with Doctor Gerald Peterman here on the land and the book. Hey, 448 00:26:07,070 --> 00:26:08,750 S1: it's a great day at the land and the book. 449 00:26:08,750 --> 00:26:11,030 S1: I say it's a great day because you're here with 450 00:26:11,030 --> 00:26:13,590 S1: us and because Doctor Gerald Peterman is with us and 451 00:26:13,590 --> 00:26:16,470 S1: his Bible is open, his smile is ready, and and 452 00:26:16,470 --> 00:26:18,230 S1: your questions are coming in. And we love it. By 453 00:26:18,230 --> 00:26:20,629 S1: the way, you can email any Bible question you have 454 00:26:20,910 --> 00:26:24,430 S1: any old time to the land and the book at Moody's. 455 00:26:25,550 --> 00:26:28,180 S1: That's what this segment is about. It's about you, not 456 00:26:28,180 --> 00:26:32,859 S1: about us. The land and the book at Moody's. You know, 457 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:34,939 S1: before we get to our first stack of questions, though, 458 00:26:34,980 --> 00:26:38,700 S1: Doctor Peterman, you know, most Jewish people have never heard 459 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:42,020 S1: the gospel. And each week we talk about Israel and 460 00:26:42,020 --> 00:26:44,820 S1: the Jewish people. And it's important to remember that they, 461 00:26:45,140 --> 00:26:48,100 S1: like everyone else, need to hear the good news and 462 00:26:48,140 --> 00:26:50,740 S1: life in Messiah. A ministry in existence now for over 463 00:26:50,740 --> 00:26:55,660 S1: 135 years, is devoted to just that sharing the gospel 464 00:26:55,660 --> 00:26:58,420 S1: with Jewish people around the world. And now I think 465 00:26:58,420 --> 00:27:00,659 S1: this is pretty cool, Jerry. They're offering a gift to 466 00:27:00,700 --> 00:27:04,980 S1: moody listeners. This free e-book, Reaching Jewish People for Messiah, 467 00:27:05,020 --> 00:27:08,780 S1: highlights the need for the gospel among the Jewish people 468 00:27:08,780 --> 00:27:11,260 S1: and will equip you with practical ways to share the 469 00:27:11,260 --> 00:27:14,220 S1: Good News with them. To receive this free e-book, visit 470 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:17,260 S1: Life in Messiah. Org. What you're going to want to 471 00:27:17,260 --> 00:27:19,460 S1: do is click on the Moody Radio logo. You can't 472 00:27:19,460 --> 00:27:22,980 S1: miss their life in Messiah org. Click on the Moody 473 00:27:22,980 --> 00:27:26,690 S1: Radio logo and sign up today to get your copy. Well, 474 00:27:26,690 --> 00:27:29,130 S1: let's dive right into our questions, starting with this one 475 00:27:29,130 --> 00:27:32,570 S1: from Cindy. She says, hi Moody Radio and we say hi. 476 00:27:32,609 --> 00:27:35,770 S1: Back to you, Cindy. Indeed. And she wants to know 477 00:27:35,770 --> 00:27:39,770 S1: if Isaiah lived during the times of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz 478 00:27:39,770 --> 00:27:43,530 S1: and Hezekiah. How old would he have been when he died? 479 00:27:43,770 --> 00:27:46,630 S1: She says, I checked some commentaries which said between 65 480 00:27:46,630 --> 00:27:49,050 S1: and 70, but I don't think that works. I just 481 00:27:49,050 --> 00:27:51,090 S1: started a study on Isaiah, and I'm wondering, what do 482 00:27:51,090 --> 00:27:51,690 S1: you think? 483 00:27:51,730 --> 00:27:55,210 S5: Well, thanks for the question. As you rightly mentioned, we 484 00:27:55,250 --> 00:27:58,130 S5: come to Isaiah one and it says the vision of Isaiah, 485 00:27:58,170 --> 00:28:01,050 S5: the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and 486 00:28:01,050 --> 00:28:04,850 S5: Jerusalem during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, 487 00:28:04,890 --> 00:28:08,690 S5: kings of Judah. Now, if we go to the call 488 00:28:08,690 --> 00:28:11,570 S5: of Isaiah in chapter six, we see that almost certainly 489 00:28:11,570 --> 00:28:14,649 S5: that's where he gets called. In that year, King Uzziah died. 490 00:28:14,650 --> 00:28:17,690 S5: I saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and 491 00:28:17,690 --> 00:28:23,050 S5: lifted up. What year did he die? That was 739 BC, 492 00:28:23,430 --> 00:28:26,030 S5: So we don't know how old Isaiah was when he 493 00:28:26,030 --> 00:28:28,070 S5: got this call. I'm just going to start with, say, 494 00:28:28,109 --> 00:28:34,310 S5: 20 to get us going. But King Hezekiah dies around 686. 495 00:28:34,310 --> 00:28:38,430 S5: So if we subtract 686 from 739, which we can 496 00:28:38,430 --> 00:28:42,390 S5: do with our calculator, right? We get 54 years. So 497 00:28:42,390 --> 00:28:46,350 S5: that's pretty close. Around 74, 75 years is the end 498 00:28:46,350 --> 00:28:49,470 S5: of Isaiah's ministry. Now when did he die? We don't 499 00:28:49,510 --> 00:28:51,870 S5: know because the Old Testament doesn't tell us. 500 00:28:51,910 --> 00:28:55,110 S1: All right, well, hope that's somewhat satisfying. Cindy, we'll go 501 00:28:55,110 --> 00:28:58,390 S1: on to Christine's question. She says during a women's Bible study, 502 00:28:58,430 --> 00:29:01,510 S1: we were discussing predestination in the context of the first 503 00:29:01,510 --> 00:29:04,350 S1: chapter of Ephesians, and one woman said that she believed 504 00:29:04,350 --> 00:29:07,709 S1: in protectionism. I'd never heard of this before, so I 505 00:29:07,710 --> 00:29:10,390 S1: had to do some research. It seems to combine the 506 00:29:10,390 --> 00:29:13,950 S1: best parts of Calvinism and Arminianism, making for a more 507 00:29:13,950 --> 00:29:17,470 S1: loving Jesus that doesn't condemn anyone to hell before they're 508 00:29:17,470 --> 00:29:20,430 S1: ever born, but makes it the person's own fault if 509 00:29:20,430 --> 00:29:23,460 S1: they do end up in hell because they didn't choose Jesus. 510 00:29:23,460 --> 00:29:26,140 S1: Can you give me your opinion, your insights on provision? 511 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:28,780 S5: Well, thanks so much for the question. And this can 512 00:29:28,780 --> 00:29:32,100 S5: be a really complex conversation. So I'll cut straight to 513 00:29:32,140 --> 00:29:35,020 S5: the point. On the one hand, I really appreciate what 514 00:29:35,060 --> 00:29:37,380 S5: Doctor Flowers is trying to do, because what Doctor Flowers 515 00:29:37,380 --> 00:29:40,020 S5: is trying to do is to emphasize the fact that 516 00:29:40,020 --> 00:29:42,460 S5: you and I have a God given ability to make 517 00:29:42,460 --> 00:29:45,460 S5: our own choices, and our choices really matter. 518 00:29:45,500 --> 00:29:49,100 S1: We're referring to Doctor Flowers from Trinity Theological Seminary who's 519 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:50,900 S1: teaching this theory? Yes, indeed. Go on. Yeah. 520 00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:53,260 S5: And I want to affirm that as well, that we 521 00:29:53,260 --> 00:29:56,340 S5: make our own real choices as humans. And those choices matter. 522 00:29:56,700 --> 00:29:59,500 S5: I also want to affirm that God is sovereign over 523 00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:04,220 S5: everything that happens, and that somehow our choices and God's 524 00:30:04,220 --> 00:30:07,140 S5: sovereignty can work together. That is a mystery, but I 525 00:30:07,140 --> 00:30:10,060 S5: think we must affirm both of them. But on the 526 00:30:10,060 --> 00:30:12,380 S5: other hand, there are many things about professionalism we can 527 00:30:12,380 --> 00:30:15,700 S5: talk about. I'll just mention one as a focus. Provision 528 00:30:15,700 --> 00:30:19,620 S5: ism asserts that the Holy Spirit does not need to 529 00:30:19,660 --> 00:30:22,930 S5: work in us so that we can hear and understand 530 00:30:22,930 --> 00:30:26,330 S5: the message. The Holy Spirit only works on the outside 531 00:30:26,330 --> 00:30:29,850 S5: of us with some sort of influences. Let's go to 532 00:30:29,890 --> 00:30:32,570 S5: acts chapter 16. What do we find in acts 16? 533 00:30:32,610 --> 00:30:35,930 S5: We find Paul preaching in Philippi. Yes. The first time 534 00:30:35,930 --> 00:30:38,730 S5: the gospel comes to that city, and he goes outside 535 00:30:38,730 --> 00:30:40,850 S5: the city where there's a group of Jewish women by 536 00:30:40,850 --> 00:30:44,090 S5: the river praying, and he starts preaching to them. And 537 00:30:44,090 --> 00:30:47,290 S5: what do we find? We find that the Lord opened 538 00:30:47,290 --> 00:30:50,530 S5: the heart of Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a 539 00:30:50,530 --> 00:30:53,970 S5: seller of purple goods, so that she could pay attention 540 00:30:53,970 --> 00:30:57,530 S5: to what Paul said. That's verse 14 of acts 16. 541 00:30:57,730 --> 00:31:01,050 S5: So in other words, she did believe. She did come 542 00:31:01,050 --> 00:31:05,090 S5: to confess Christ, but God worked in her heart. So 543 00:31:05,090 --> 00:31:07,570 S5: I think it's very important that we affirm that God 544 00:31:07,570 --> 00:31:09,570 S5: works in us so we can come to believe. 545 00:31:09,930 --> 00:31:12,610 S1: That's Doctor Gerald Peterman. This is the land and the book. 546 00:31:12,610 --> 00:31:16,010 S1: We're taking Bible questions from you. You can email yours 547 00:31:16,050 --> 00:31:20,280 S1: to the Land and the book at Moody's. You'll get 548 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,000 S1: a personalized response from Jerry, and then we'll put your 549 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,840 S1: question in the Q, line it up and get it aired. 550 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:29,680 S1: A question now from Christina. Can you recommend some Bible 551 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:31,360 S1: study resources for women? 552 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:35,160 S5: I can because Moody has a big supply. Here are 553 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:41,360 S5: three I can mention. Seeking Him by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth Moody, 2019. 554 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,240 S5: Also by Nancy Lies. Women believe, and the truth that 555 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:46,840 S5: Sets them free. And lastly, a book on the life 556 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:51,240 S5: of Ruth, The Way Home God's Invitation to New Beginnings 557 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:55,080 S5: by Tessa Afshar. Also by Moody. All of these are 558 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,560 S5: super choices. They got study guides to go with them, 559 00:31:57,560 --> 00:31:59,600 S5: so I commend you. Happy studying. 560 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,800 S1: And Tessa has recently been a guest on The Land 561 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:02,520 S1: and the book, so. 562 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:02,880 S5: All the. 563 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:05,200 S1: Better. Yeah, we we think very highly of her ministry 564 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,400 S1: and of course Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth as well. Thank you 565 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:10,800 S1: for that. All right. Brooke's question. She says I'm beginning 566 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:14,000 S1: an expository study in the book of Luke. Question concerning 567 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,910 S1: Jesus possible deeper meanings into some of his phrases. For example, 568 00:32:19,150 --> 00:32:22,110 S1: when you go over chapter 22, verses 16 through 18, 569 00:32:22,110 --> 00:32:26,230 S1: Jesus is talking about the Passover meal and refers to quote, 570 00:32:26,270 --> 00:32:29,390 S1: I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment 571 00:32:29,390 --> 00:32:31,870 S1: in the kingdom of God. And again I will not 572 00:32:31,870 --> 00:32:33,710 S1: drink again of the fruit of the vine until the 573 00:32:33,710 --> 00:32:36,310 S1: kingdom of God comes. Could you expand on the deeper 574 00:32:36,310 --> 00:32:39,510 S1: meanings of the references to the it and fruit of 575 00:32:39,510 --> 00:32:40,110 S1: the vine? 576 00:32:40,390 --> 00:32:43,870 S5: Well, thanks for the question. Let's start with Luke 2215. 577 00:32:44,190 --> 00:32:47,390 S5: Our Lord says, I have earnestly desired to eat this 578 00:32:47,390 --> 00:32:50,070 S5: Passover with you before I suffer. Passover is one of 579 00:32:50,070 --> 00:32:53,910 S5: the three yearly required feasts for all the Jews in 580 00:32:53,950 --> 00:32:57,310 S5: Deuteronomy 16. Then, then our Lord says, for I tell you, 581 00:32:57,310 --> 00:33:00,030 S5: I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled 582 00:33:00,030 --> 00:33:03,270 S5: in the kingdom of God. So here in verses 16 583 00:33:03,270 --> 00:33:07,470 S5: and 17, it refers to the Passover meal. That meal 584 00:33:07,470 --> 00:33:10,430 S5: always looked forward to Christ, and it finds its fulfillment 585 00:33:10,430 --> 00:33:13,830 S5: in Christ. Oh, by the way, in first Corinthians five seven, 586 00:33:13,830 --> 00:33:18,340 S5: Paul says, Jesus, our Passover has been sacrificed for us. 587 00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:22,220 S5: So in Luke 22, this is the last Passover before 588 00:33:22,220 --> 00:33:25,620 S5: Jesus dies. And it's going to be fulfilled in revelation 589 00:33:25,900 --> 00:33:29,060 S5: where the writer says, blessed are those who are invited 590 00:33:29,060 --> 00:33:33,500 S5: to the marriage supper of the lamb. That is revelation 1909. 591 00:33:33,500 --> 00:33:37,540 S5: So lastly, in the Passover, there's actual real wine being drunk. 592 00:33:37,540 --> 00:33:39,780 S5: So he says, the fruit of the vine. That's a 593 00:33:39,780 --> 00:33:42,300 S5: typical Jewish way of referring to wine. 594 00:33:42,860 --> 00:33:45,220 S1: Great answer. Thank you for spelling that out for us. 595 00:33:45,700 --> 00:33:48,740 S1: Eric's question what is the reason why the Lord told 596 00:33:48,740 --> 00:33:52,460 S1: the children of Israel not to eat animal fat described 597 00:33:52,460 --> 00:33:55,460 S1: in Leviticus seven, verse 22. In the Bible, the Lord 598 00:33:55,460 --> 00:33:57,460 S1: also mentioned that the children of Israel should not eat 599 00:33:57,460 --> 00:34:01,300 S1: certain meats such as pork. That's Deuteronomy 14, verse eight. 600 00:34:01,660 --> 00:34:03,940 S1: Eric wants to know, do these commands not to eat 601 00:34:03,940 --> 00:34:07,260 S1: animal fat? Not to eat pork. Apply to Christians today. 602 00:34:07,540 --> 00:34:09,900 S1: He says, I ask these questions since I'm reading a book. 603 00:34:09,900 --> 00:34:13,700 S1: None of these diseases, which implies that people should not 604 00:34:13,700 --> 00:34:16,930 S1: eat animal fat based on what is said in scripture. 605 00:34:16,930 --> 00:34:17,650 S1: Your thoughts? 606 00:34:17,690 --> 00:34:20,169 S5: Oh, this is a very important question. I totally understand it. 607 00:34:20,210 --> 00:34:22,890 S5: A very good set of questions here. So for some 608 00:34:22,890 --> 00:34:25,850 S5: of them, the answer is pretty easy. For others, not 609 00:34:25,850 --> 00:34:30,450 S5: so much. Let's start with blood. Okay. Blood is not 610 00:34:30,450 --> 00:34:33,049 S5: to be eaten. What do we learn from Leviticus and 611 00:34:33,050 --> 00:34:37,050 S5: several different places? Right in the blood is the life. 612 00:34:37,370 --> 00:34:40,290 S5: And the life is given for your atonement. So the 613 00:34:40,290 --> 00:34:43,089 S5: blood is not ours. It belongs to the Lord because 614 00:34:43,090 --> 00:34:46,410 S5: it is given on our behalf for atonement. Now, what 615 00:34:46,410 --> 00:34:48,730 S5: about fat? With fat it's a little bit more difficult. 616 00:34:48,730 --> 00:34:50,850 S5: But there are a couple of places in Scripture where 617 00:34:51,130 --> 00:34:54,969 S5: fat seems to be the best part of something. You 618 00:34:54,969 --> 00:34:59,129 S5: remember when Pharaoh invited Joseph to bring his family down 619 00:34:59,130 --> 00:35:02,089 S5: with him to Egypt, right? And what did the Pharaoh say? 620 00:35:02,090 --> 00:35:05,450 S5: He says, you shall be in the best part of Egypt. 621 00:35:05,450 --> 00:35:08,730 S5: You shall eat the fat of the land. That is, 622 00:35:08,730 --> 00:35:12,089 S5: you're going to be enjoying the best parts. So the 623 00:35:12,090 --> 00:35:15,390 S5: fat is being viewed as the best part, and the 624 00:35:15,390 --> 00:35:18,230 S5: best part belongs to the Lord. The fat belongs to 625 00:35:18,230 --> 00:35:20,750 S5: the Lord. The blood belongs to the Lord. Now there's 626 00:35:20,750 --> 00:35:24,070 S5: a further question. What about pork? And what's wrong with pork? 627 00:35:24,390 --> 00:35:26,390 S5: There are a couple of places in Scripture that associate 628 00:35:26,390 --> 00:35:31,509 S5: pork with pagan religious practices. Read Isaiah 65, verses four 629 00:35:31,550 --> 00:35:37,350 S5: and five and Isaiah 66. Verses three and 1765 four says, 630 00:35:37,390 --> 00:35:40,029 S5: those who sit in tombs and spend the night in 631 00:35:40,030 --> 00:35:43,150 S5: secret places, who eat pig's flesh and the broth of 632 00:35:43,150 --> 00:35:46,910 S5: tainted meat. So there appears to be a connection between 633 00:35:47,230 --> 00:35:51,630 S5: eating pig's meat and having some sort of pagan practice. Lastly, 634 00:35:51,670 --> 00:35:54,550 S5: there's a question about the Christians relationship to the law. 635 00:35:54,870 --> 00:35:58,990 S5: And here's my perspective. The law is just chock full 636 00:35:58,989 --> 00:36:01,509 S5: of wisdom. We can learn a lot from it, but 637 00:36:01,510 --> 00:36:03,149 S5: I take it the only parts of the law that 638 00:36:03,150 --> 00:36:06,870 S5: are obligatory for us are the parts repeated in the 639 00:36:06,870 --> 00:36:07,510 S5: New Testament. 640 00:36:08,110 --> 00:36:11,390 S1: Thank you for that. That's very clarifying. Appreciate it. And again, 641 00:36:11,390 --> 00:36:14,180 S1: if you've got a question, why not get an answer? 642 00:36:14,180 --> 00:36:18,140 S1: As you cruise through scripture, something boggles your mind, troubles 643 00:36:18,140 --> 00:36:21,620 S1: your soul, or just arrests your attention. It's welcome. Fair game. 644 00:36:21,620 --> 00:36:23,980 S1: When you email us at The Land and the Book 645 00:36:24,219 --> 00:36:27,660 S1: at Moody's, our website, by the way, where we've got 646 00:36:27,660 --> 00:36:30,860 S1: information about today's guest and past programs and future programs 647 00:36:30,860 --> 00:36:35,259 S1: and more is the land and the book.org. Well, don't 648 00:36:35,260 --> 00:36:37,580 S1: go away. One more great segment to come. It's Charlie 649 00:36:37,580 --> 00:36:40,420 S1: Dyer and his devotional right here on the land and 650 00:36:40,420 --> 00:36:57,020 S1: the book. Willie Nelson sang about being on the road again. 651 00:36:57,020 --> 00:37:00,140 S1: Scott Peck wrote about the road less traveled. But today 652 00:37:00,140 --> 00:37:03,859 S1: we're about to ponder the road to Calvary. Welcome back 653 00:37:03,860 --> 00:37:06,540 S1: to the land and the book segment for I'm John 654 00:37:06,540 --> 00:37:10,180 S1: Gager with our host, Charlie Dyer. What's ahead in today's devotional, Charlie? 655 00:37:10,380 --> 00:37:13,529 S2: Well, John, it's Easter weekend and we're looking at the 656 00:37:13,530 --> 00:37:14,730 S2: road to Calvary. 657 00:37:14,770 --> 00:37:17,450 S1: Okay, look forward to your perspective on that after we 658 00:37:17,450 --> 00:37:20,210 S1: pause for another experience from somebody who's been to the 659 00:37:20,210 --> 00:37:22,890 S1: Holy Land and shares this testimony with you and me. 660 00:37:27,330 --> 00:37:36,209 S6: Hello. I went to Israel back in 1959. I am 661 00:37:36,210 --> 00:37:41,009 S6: now 77 years old, but I was very fortunate to 662 00:37:41,050 --> 00:37:46,890 S6: go and teach school in Egypt, in Cairo. And over 663 00:37:46,890 --> 00:37:51,650 S6: the Easter holiday, a friend and I were able to 664 00:37:51,690 --> 00:37:57,010 S6: go to Israel. We were able to fly into Israel and, um, 665 00:37:57,170 --> 00:38:01,970 S6: we were able to see the Mount of Olives, Garden 666 00:38:01,969 --> 00:38:06,129 S6: of Gethsemane. Uh, we went to the Dead Sea and 667 00:38:06,130 --> 00:38:09,050 S6: touched our foot into it. We were on a rowboat 668 00:38:09,050 --> 00:38:17,240 S6: across The Jordan River. We went on Easter morning to 669 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:21,200 S6: the Garden Tomb and were able to sit there and 670 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:28,320 S6: quietly just sit there and meditate. I've wished ever since 671 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:31,760 S6: to be able to go back, but yet I still 672 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:37,960 S6: see Jerusalem. I still see the river. Oh thank you. 673 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:43,480 S1: It's Easter weekend and no more fitting a devotional than 674 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:46,120 S1: this one that you've titled The Road to Calvary. Charlie, 675 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:47,120 S1: I'll let you take it away. 676 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,279 S2: Thanks, John. Inside old Jerusalem, the sun's rays reflect off 677 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:54,480 S2: the limestone walls, its brightness giving the city almost a 678 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:57,280 S2: black and white look of an old photograph. And yet, 679 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:00,040 S2: in spite of the heat, the streets during Holy Week 680 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:03,480 S2: are alive with activity. A group of pilgrims wearing brightly 681 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:06,640 S2: colored hats that mark them as tourists snake their way 682 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:10,350 S2: down the traditional Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow traveled 683 00:39:10,350 --> 00:39:13,870 S2: by Jesus on his final journey to Calvary. They walked 684 00:39:13,910 --> 00:39:17,390 S2: carefully down the stone paved streets, its limestone blocks worn 685 00:39:17,390 --> 00:39:20,830 S2: to a slippery smoothness. Every few yards, they step around 686 00:39:20,830 --> 00:39:23,590 S2: a puddle of water or a pile of garbage left 687 00:39:23,590 --> 00:39:26,190 S2: over reminders that people still live and work in the 688 00:39:26,190 --> 00:39:29,790 S2: houses and shops that crowd against the street on every side. 689 00:39:30,150 --> 00:39:33,350 S2: Trying to ignore these distractions, the pilgrims attempt to focus 690 00:39:33,350 --> 00:39:37,030 S2: on the incredible events that unfolded in this tiny city 691 00:39:37,070 --> 00:39:40,310 S2: 20 centuries ago. They want to experience what it was 692 00:39:40,310 --> 00:39:43,109 S2: like during that Passover, when the Lamb of God was 693 00:39:43,110 --> 00:39:45,589 S2: slain for the sins of the world. They try to 694 00:39:45,590 --> 00:39:48,870 S2: imagine the physical pain felt by our Lord, the anguish 695 00:39:48,870 --> 00:39:51,310 S2: and fear of his followers, the harsh shouts of the 696 00:39:51,310 --> 00:39:54,630 S2: guards marching the condemned prisoners to the place of death. 697 00:39:54,950 --> 00:39:58,230 S2: But the cries of vendors calling from shops shatters that 698 00:39:58,230 --> 00:40:03,390 S2: sacred moment. 30 postcards, $1 hand carved olive wood crosses. 699 00:40:03,390 --> 00:40:06,270 S2: You are my first customer. I'll make you a special deal. 700 00:40:06,790 --> 00:40:10,299 S2: Any last hope for pious reflection is shattered when the 701 00:40:10,300 --> 00:40:13,700 S2: group finds the via de la Rosa temporarily blocked by 702 00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:18,860 S2: a Coca-Cola truck making deliveries. At first glance, this commercialism 703 00:40:18,860 --> 00:40:21,980 S2: seems to mock the sacredness of the site. But as 704 00:40:22,020 --> 00:40:24,180 S2: is so often the case in the Middle East, the 705 00:40:24,180 --> 00:40:27,940 S2: profane hawking of religious trinkets is probably closer to the 706 00:40:27,940 --> 00:40:30,939 S2: reality of the day Jesus hung on the cross than 707 00:40:30,940 --> 00:40:33,660 S2: the sacred veil we try to drape over the event. 708 00:40:33,980 --> 00:40:37,420 S2: The day the soldiers marched Jesus through Jerusalem, the streets 709 00:40:37,420 --> 00:40:40,740 S2: were also lined with vendors hoping for a profitable holiday 710 00:40:40,739 --> 00:40:44,300 S2: shopping season. They shouted at those passing by to stop 711 00:40:44,300 --> 00:40:48,300 S2: and shop at their stores, offering the latest in lamps, oil, cloth, 712 00:40:48,340 --> 00:40:51,620 S2: leather and other items needed by the pilgrims coming to 713 00:40:51,660 --> 00:40:55,379 S2: worship at the temple. Likely, the vendors paused briefly as 714 00:40:55,380 --> 00:40:58,980 S2: several condemned criminals were shoved down the street, the wooden 715 00:40:59,020 --> 00:41:02,620 S2: beams of their crosses lashed to their shoulders. Shopkeepers and 716 00:41:02,620 --> 00:41:06,060 S2: shoppers alike retreated into the stores, not wanting to block 717 00:41:06,100 --> 00:41:09,569 S2: the way or attract the attention of these brutal soldiers. 718 00:41:09,770 --> 00:41:13,049 S2: But scarcely had the grotesque parade marched past when the 719 00:41:13,050 --> 00:41:17,049 S2: stores reopened and the bargaining began anew. What was the 720 00:41:17,050 --> 00:41:21,330 S2: day of Christ's crucifixion really like? Jesus was not the quiet, 721 00:41:21,330 --> 00:41:26,050 S2: impassive savior carrying the T-shaped cross while dressed in white. 722 00:41:26,250 --> 00:41:29,330 S2: He was bruised and bloody, caked with dirt and stained 723 00:41:29,330 --> 00:41:32,569 S2: with sweat. The cross beam he was carrying was coarse, 724 00:41:32,850 --> 00:41:35,890 S2: rough hewn, splintered. It was the work of a soldier, 725 00:41:35,930 --> 00:41:40,170 S2: not a craftsman. Its purpose was utilitarian, not aesthetic. It 726 00:41:40,210 --> 00:41:45,250 S2: represented death. Crosses today are too symmetrical, too polished, too shiny, 727 00:41:45,250 --> 00:41:50,170 S2: too perfect. They're more decoration than declaration, more fashion statement 728 00:41:50,170 --> 00:41:53,250 S2: than faith. And Jesus didn't carry his cross to a 729 00:41:53,250 --> 00:41:56,770 S2: grass covered hill far away. The place of crucifixion stood 730 00:41:56,770 --> 00:42:00,169 S2: outside the gate along the road, so those traveling by 731 00:42:00,170 --> 00:42:03,850 S2: could see the ugly horror of capital punishment. And think 732 00:42:03,890 --> 00:42:07,680 S2: twice about defying the government of Rome. The authorities intended 733 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:10,799 S2: for the accusation, posted over the head of the condemned, 734 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:13,439 S2: to be read by those passing by, so they would 735 00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:16,960 S2: know why the individual had to die. This was also 736 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:20,040 S2: a time to practice a crude form of victims rights. 737 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:22,839 S2: Those who had been harmed by the condemned individual could 738 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:26,600 S2: now vent their anger and derision. They could mock, curse, 739 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:28,719 S2: even spit on the one who had caused them such 740 00:42:28,719 --> 00:42:32,880 S2: pain and grief in the past. At Jesus's crucifixion, it 741 00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:36,359 S2: was the religious leaders who rejoiced over the pain and 742 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:40,719 S2: suffering he was experiencing. And yet then, as now, most 743 00:42:40,719 --> 00:42:44,120 S2: simply chose to ignore Christ's crucifixion. Maybe they were too 744 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:48,040 S2: busy shopping, or cleaning, or cooking, or preparing for Passover 745 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:51,280 S2: to notice the brutal parade, or hear the hammer blows 746 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:55,480 S2: as iron nails push through human flesh and embedded in wood. 747 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:59,040 S2: Others perhaps knew and even were troubled by the events 748 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:02,239 S2: of that day, but they were too afraid or distracted 749 00:43:02,239 --> 00:43:05,939 S2: or apathetic to do anything. For whatever reason, the crowd 750 00:43:05,940 --> 00:43:09,219 S2: that gathered around the cross was largely composed of religious 751 00:43:09,219 --> 00:43:13,300 S2: leaders and Roman soldiers. Only a few of Jesus's followers 752 00:43:13,300 --> 00:43:17,980 S2: dared to gather and watch. Before that day ended, Jesus's 753 00:43:17,980 --> 00:43:20,819 S2: lifeless body was pulled from the cross and handed to 754 00:43:20,860 --> 00:43:25,180 S2: Joseph of Arimathea for a hasty burial. The sun was setting. 755 00:43:25,219 --> 00:43:27,700 S2: Passover was at hand, and it was no time for 756 00:43:27,700 --> 00:43:30,820 S2: the smell of death to permeate the homes of Jerusalem. 757 00:43:31,300 --> 00:43:34,299 S2: Jesus died amid two thieves, but he was buried in 758 00:43:34,300 --> 00:43:36,940 S2: the new grave of a wealthy man. And yet, even 759 00:43:36,940 --> 00:43:40,340 S2: in death, he was the subject of controversy. The religious 760 00:43:40,340 --> 00:43:43,339 S2: leaders remembered his promise to rise from the dead, and 761 00:43:43,340 --> 00:43:46,980 S2: asked the Romans to seal and guard the grave. But 762 00:43:46,980 --> 00:43:51,020 S2: Sunday morning brought the declaration of Jesus's victory over sin 763 00:43:51,020 --> 00:43:54,700 S2: and death. God shattered the stillness of the early morning, 764 00:43:54,739 --> 00:43:57,939 S2: shook the earth, rolled away the stone, and posted his 765 00:43:57,940 --> 00:44:01,299 S2: own angelic guards to make sure all who came knew 766 00:44:01,340 --> 00:44:04,650 S2: that he is not here. He has risen just as 767 00:44:04,650 --> 00:44:08,330 S2: he said. My favorite spot in Jerusalem is not the 768 00:44:08,330 --> 00:44:11,250 S2: via de la Rosa, or the church of the Holy Sepulchre, 769 00:44:11,489 --> 00:44:15,370 S2: or even the hill often called Gordon's Calvary. Those are special, 770 00:44:15,370 --> 00:44:18,610 S2: and they're meaningful, and they're haunting in the spiritual hold 771 00:44:18,610 --> 00:44:21,890 S2: they've had on generations of pilgrims. But the spot that 772 00:44:21,890 --> 00:44:25,090 S2: excites me most is the Garden Tomb, and the simple 773 00:44:25,090 --> 00:44:27,969 S2: sign that used to hang on its now removed door, 774 00:44:27,969 --> 00:44:31,210 S2: which read he is not here, for he is risen. 775 00:44:31,690 --> 00:44:34,330 S2: We don't worship the grave. We worship the Son of 776 00:44:34,330 --> 00:44:37,890 S2: God who rose from that grave. Places are important because 777 00:44:37,890 --> 00:44:40,610 S2: they do remind us of the reality of the events 778 00:44:40,610 --> 00:44:44,850 S2: that occurred there. But always remember, our hope rests in 779 00:44:44,850 --> 00:44:48,450 S2: a living Savior, not a cold slab of limestone that 780 00:44:48,450 --> 00:44:51,850 S2: once served as the temporary resting place for his human 781 00:44:51,850 --> 00:44:56,170 S2: body over two centuries ago. Isaac Watts pondered the death 782 00:44:56,170 --> 00:44:59,570 S2: and resurrection of Christ, and the response we as believers 783 00:44:59,570 --> 00:45:03,920 S2: should have to such an incredible act of love. Listen 784 00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:07,680 S2: and reflect on the words he penned. Alas! And did 785 00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:10,960 S2: my Savior bleed? And did my sovereign die? Would he 786 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:13,920 S2: devote that sacred head for such a worm as I? 787 00:45:14,600 --> 00:45:16,720 S2: Was it for crimes that I had done? He groaned 788 00:45:16,719 --> 00:45:23,600 S2: upon the tree. Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree. Well, 789 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:26,960 S2: might the sun in darkness hide and shut its glories in. 790 00:45:26,960 --> 00:45:32,560 S2: When God, the mighty maker died for man the creature's sin. 791 00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:36,080 S2: Thus might I hide my blushing face. While his dear 792 00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:41,160 S2: cross appears. Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt my 793 00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:45,760 S2: eyes to tears. But drops of grief can never repay 794 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:50,160 S2: the debt of love I owe here. Lord, I give 795 00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:53,880 S2: myself away. Tis all that I can do. 796 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:57,239 S1: Thank you, Charlie, for taking us down the road to Calvary. 797 00:45:57,400 --> 00:46:00,200 S1: Maybe for you. It's finally making sense that Jesus died 798 00:46:00,270 --> 00:46:03,350 S1: on that cross, not just because he was some rabble rouser, 799 00:46:03,510 --> 00:46:06,310 S1: but because he was really there to pay for our wrongdoing, 800 00:46:06,310 --> 00:46:09,390 S1: our sins. And you don't know what to do with that. 801 00:46:09,390 --> 00:46:11,430 S1: A friend is willing to pray with you. Explain how 802 00:46:11,430 --> 00:46:14,350 S1: you can know Jesus as your Savior right now. If 803 00:46:14,350 --> 00:46:19,469 S1: you'll just call 888 need him. 888 need him. We 804 00:46:19,469 --> 00:46:21,750 S1: sure appreciate it. When you visit our website, the Land 805 00:46:21,750 --> 00:46:24,910 S1: and Thebook. Org. Do check out the podcast. It's available 806 00:46:24,910 --> 00:46:27,589 S1: not just for you, but your friends as well. And 807 00:46:27,590 --> 00:46:30,870 S1: be sure to email us your question about the Bible prophecy. 808 00:46:30,870 --> 00:46:33,110 S1: Anything that's going on in your your life as you 809 00:46:33,150 --> 00:46:36,150 S1: walk with God. That question is welcome at the land 810 00:46:36,150 --> 00:46:40,910 S1: and the book at Moody. Well, our time has gone. 811 00:46:40,989 --> 00:46:43,549 S1: Been a fun, fast paced hour. Glad to have shared 812 00:46:43,550 --> 00:46:45,310 S1: that with you. I want to say thank you to 813 00:46:45,310 --> 00:46:48,870 S1: our producer, Dan Anderson, our host, Charlie Dyer. I'm John Yeager, 814 00:46:48,870 --> 00:46:51,069 S1: reminding you that the land and the book is a 815 00:46:51,070 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.