1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,280 S1: She's a Jewish studies major at Moody Bible Institute. Her 2 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,640 S1: goal to lovingly engage people who are hostile to Jewish 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,680 S1: people to have open and honest conversations. Her courage and 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,760 S1: passion are real. Anna is a student. You'll meet in 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,840 S1: just a few minutes. Welcome to the land and the book. 6 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,560 S1: Our host is a widely respected expert on the Middle East, 7 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,680 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer. How are you doing, Charlie? 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,200 S2: John, I am doing terrific today. Thank you. 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,600 S1: Well, thank you, I'm John Gieger. If we haven't met. 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,440 S1: And you know, Romans 116 says the gospel is to 11 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,199 S1: the Jew first and also to the Gentile. But how 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,960 S1: do you share the gospel with a Jewish person? Because 13 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,120 S1: of cultural, historical and religious differences, it's sometimes kind of 14 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,720 S1: challenging to navigate a gospel conversation with someone from a 15 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,559 S1: Jewish background. You ever wondered how the professionals do it? 16 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,400 S2: Well, that's why John, Life and Messiah, a ministry that's 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,070 S2: been in existence for over 135 years, is devoted to 18 00:01:00,110 --> 00:01:03,230 S2: sharing the gospel with Jewish people around the world. And 19 00:01:03,230 --> 00:01:06,830 S2: now they're offering a gift to moody listeners. This free e-book, 20 00:01:06,830 --> 00:01:10,030 S2: Reaching Jewish People from Messiah, highlights the need for the 21 00:01:10,069 --> 00:01:13,390 S2: gospel among the Jewish people. It will equip you with 22 00:01:13,390 --> 00:01:16,350 S2: practical ways to share the good News with them. Now, 23 00:01:16,350 --> 00:01:20,270 S2: to receive this free e-book, visit Life in Messiah org 24 00:01:20,310 --> 00:01:23,030 S2: and click on the Moody Radio logo. Sign up today 25 00:01:23,030 --> 00:01:26,190 S2: and get your copy. That's life. Messiah. 26 00:01:27,709 --> 00:01:29,990 S1: And now a look at current events from the Middle East. 27 00:01:29,990 --> 00:01:32,149 S1: For the past several weeks, there have been reports of 28 00:01:32,150 --> 00:01:35,910 S1: an imminent hostage deal in Gaza. Even last week, President 29 00:01:35,910 --> 00:01:38,069 S1: Trump said he expected a deal to be signed in 30 00:01:38,069 --> 00:01:42,470 S1: a matter of days. Unfortunately, that deal collapsed before it 31 00:01:42,470 --> 00:01:45,550 S1: could be implemented. Charlie, what happened and why can't all 32 00:01:45,550 --> 00:01:48,910 S1: sides agree to end the war and free the hostages? 33 00:01:49,150 --> 00:01:52,190 S2: Well, you know, the US proposal was accepted by Israel. 34 00:01:52,230 --> 00:01:55,710 S2: It's unfortunate that Hamas rejected it. And then they made 35 00:01:55,710 --> 00:01:59,420 S2: additional demands. The proposal would have provided a 60 day 36 00:01:59,460 --> 00:02:02,500 S2: cease fire. During that time, half of the living and 37 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:05,820 S2: dead hostages would have been returned to Israel in exchange 38 00:02:05,820 --> 00:02:10,419 S2: for a temporary truce and more than a thousand terrorists. Instead, 39 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:14,340 S2: Hamas demanded a seven year ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal 40 00:02:14,340 --> 00:02:17,739 S2: from key parts of Gaza. Cancellation of Israel's new aid 41 00:02:17,740 --> 00:02:21,419 S2: program and a return to the previous program, which Hamas 42 00:02:21,419 --> 00:02:25,980 S2: manipulated to maintain control both Israel and the U.S. rejected 43 00:02:25,980 --> 00:02:29,980 S2: Hamas's new demands. U.S. envoy Witkoff called the response of 44 00:02:29,980 --> 00:02:35,059 S2: Hamas totally unacceptable. Hamas wants to remain in control of Gaza. 45 00:02:35,180 --> 00:02:36,900 S2: To do so, it needs to be in charge of 46 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:40,100 S2: food distribution, and they also want to retain the hostages 47 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:43,060 S2: for as long as possible to keep Israel from launching 48 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:46,660 S2: future attacks. A seven year truce would give them enough 49 00:02:46,660 --> 00:02:50,820 S2: time to rebuild defenses and to recruit and train new fighters. 50 00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:54,340 S2: Israel is expanding its offensive in Gaza. Their goal is 51 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:58,330 S2: to establish control over large sections of the territory and 52 00:02:58,330 --> 00:03:01,410 S2: set up humanitarian aid in those areas to take away 53 00:03:01,410 --> 00:03:05,730 S2: that revenue source from Hamas. Hamas responded by falsely claiming 54 00:03:05,730 --> 00:03:10,010 S2: Israeli attacks on Gaza civilians near the aid distribution centers. 55 00:03:10,250 --> 00:03:13,730 S2: Hamas is also trying to disrupt Israel's plans to provide 56 00:03:13,730 --> 00:03:18,250 S2: that aid. Israel released drone footage showing Hamas fighters firing 57 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:22,930 S2: on civilians. Western news outlets picked up Hamas's claims and 58 00:03:22,930 --> 00:03:28,370 S2: reported that Israel was attacking, though many have now issued retractions. Sadly, 59 00:03:28,370 --> 00:03:31,530 S2: the West continues to condemn Israel for the suffering experienced 60 00:03:31,530 --> 00:03:36,410 S2: in Gaza. There's been a 360% increase in antisemitism in 61 00:03:36,410 --> 00:03:40,010 S2: our country since October 7th. We need to remember the 62 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:43,290 S2: war was started by Hamas when they attacked Israel and 63 00:03:43,290 --> 00:03:46,970 S2: took 250 hostages. And it could have already ended if 64 00:03:46,970 --> 00:03:50,290 S2: Hamas would just agree to release the hostages and lay 65 00:03:50,290 --> 00:03:54,050 S2: down their arms. They're the problem, not Israel. 66 00:03:54,090 --> 00:03:57,440 S1: Charlie, it seems to me that these incidents of falsely 67 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,760 S1: charging Israel is sort of like a prosecuting attorney in 68 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,880 S1: a courtroom scene, you know, alleging some wild thing before 69 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,320 S1: a jury, and he's told he has to stop. But 70 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,240 S1: but the impression is still made, right? 71 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,280 S2: Absolutely, John. And that's the problem the charges make front 72 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,600 S2: page news. The retractions are back further in the news article, 73 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,080 S2: and most people don't see them. So yeah, once the 74 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:18,640 S2: charges are made, they're out there. 75 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,560 S1: All right. A quick follow up in light of the 76 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,320 S1: horrible incident in Boulder, Colorado last weekend, what can we 77 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:28,279 S1: do to help stop the increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Israel 78 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:29,800 S1: actions in our own country? 79 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,240 S2: You know, I think we need to start with prayer, 80 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,200 S2: and people need to be asking God to protect the 81 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,640 S2: Jewish people in our country and in Israel. But in 82 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,520 S2: addition to praying, we need to let our leaders know 83 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:44,160 S2: we support Israel in their war against terrorism. You know, 84 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,640 S2: write or call your local, state and national leaders to 85 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,960 S2: express your outrage over the events like the one in Boulder, 86 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,120 S2: and to demand that our government do what's necessary to 87 00:04:54,260 --> 00:04:58,900 S2: stop all the anti-Semitism and incitement to violence. I'd like 88 00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:02,060 S2: to challenge everyone to take their own personal stand for Israel. 89 00:05:02,260 --> 00:05:05,700 S2: If there's a pro-Israel rally in your area, make plans 90 00:05:05,700 --> 00:05:08,820 S2: to attend and show your support by your presence. Don't 91 00:05:08,820 --> 00:05:12,300 S2: be cowered by fear. There's a quote. It's falsely attributed 92 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:15,500 S2: to Edmund Burke, but it's still worth remembering. The only 93 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:18,020 S2: thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good 94 00:05:18,020 --> 00:05:20,860 S2: men to do nothing. This is really a time for 95 00:05:20,860 --> 00:05:23,220 S2: believers to take a public stand. 96 00:05:23,220 --> 00:05:26,060 S1: That's doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger, you're listening to 97 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:29,180 S1: The Land, and the book we're opening segment is focused 98 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:32,140 S1: on current events from the Middle East. The negotiations between 99 00:05:32,140 --> 00:05:35,260 S1: the United States and Iran also seem to be dragging on, 100 00:05:35,460 --> 00:05:39,060 S1: while reports continue to surface on Iran's growing stockpile of 101 00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:42,979 S1: enriched uranium. Can a deal be reached, or is time 102 00:05:42,980 --> 00:05:45,260 S1: just running out on a diplomatic solution? 103 00:05:45,660 --> 00:05:49,180 S2: Well, time could be running out. Two reports surfaced recently 104 00:05:49,180 --> 00:05:52,700 S2: showing Iran's actions don't match their words. The first was 105 00:05:52,700 --> 00:05:56,650 S2: from Austria's domestic intelligence service. They warned that efforts to 106 00:05:56,690 --> 00:06:00,890 S2: stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons have so far been ineffective, 107 00:06:00,890 --> 00:06:04,650 S2: and that Iran's nuclear program is well advanced. The second 108 00:06:04,650 --> 00:06:08,330 S2: report was from the International Atomic Energy Agency, and it 109 00:06:08,330 --> 00:06:13,089 S2: said Iran is in violation of its non-proliferation obligations. Iran's 110 00:06:13,089 --> 00:06:17,490 S2: stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity has increased to 111 00:06:17,529 --> 00:06:22,730 S2: over £900. They're the only non-nuclear weapon state in the 112 00:06:22,730 --> 00:06:27,370 S2: world with uranium enriched to that level. £92 of uranium 113 00:06:27,370 --> 00:06:30,770 S2: at 60% purity can be further enriched to produce one 114 00:06:30,770 --> 00:06:35,970 S2: nuclear bomb, meaning Iran has amassed enough 60% enriched uranium 115 00:06:36,250 --> 00:06:39,130 S2: to produce 9 to 10 nuclear weapons in a very 116 00:06:39,130 --> 00:06:42,690 S2: short period of time. The US presented a proposal to 117 00:06:42,730 --> 00:06:46,610 S2: Iran that included construction of a uranium enrichment facility in 118 00:06:46,610 --> 00:06:49,650 S2: the Middle East to provide Iran and other Arab nations 119 00:06:49,650 --> 00:06:53,280 S2: with 3% enriched uranium, which would be all that they 120 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,520 S2: would really need. Then, while the sites being constructed, Iran 121 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,240 S2: would halt all production in its current underground facilities and 122 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,680 S2: would open those aboveground to inspection. Unfortunately, it appears Iran 123 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,760 S2: won't agree to those terms unless the facility is actually 124 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,800 S2: located in Iran. Israel's concerned that Iran is simply trying 125 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,360 S2: to run out the clock while continuing to enrich more uranium, 126 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:20,000 S2: advance its missile technology, and build even more underground facilities. 127 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,560 S2: Israel has held off attacking at the urging of President Trump, 128 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,680 S2: but at some point, probably in the very near future, 129 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,000 S2: Iran will either need to agree to halt enrichment and 130 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,640 S2: eliminate its stockpile of uranium or Israel. And hopefully, with 131 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,280 S2: the help of the US, will attack to eliminate it themselves. 132 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,520 S1: Israel's military arsenal includes the Iron Dome, David's Sling and 133 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,640 S1: Arrow missile systems. We've also learned about the soon to 134 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:49,120 S1: be deployed ion beam laser system, but Israel recently announced 135 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:53,390 S1: it had also deployed and as yet unnamed, many ion 136 00:07:53,430 --> 00:07:56,950 S1: beam which some have referred to as the light beam. Litv. 137 00:07:57,230 --> 00:07:59,470 S1: What exactly is this system and how does it work? 138 00:07:59,670 --> 00:08:02,990 S2: Yeah, this system is Israel's response to the rising threat 139 00:08:02,990 --> 00:08:06,350 S2: from unmanned aerial drones. During its war in the North, 140 00:08:06,350 --> 00:08:10,710 S2: Hezbollah fired more than 300 drones into Israel. These drones 141 00:08:10,710 --> 00:08:13,590 S2: only cost a few hundred dollars each. But using the 142 00:08:13,590 --> 00:08:15,910 S2: Iron Dome or David's Sling to try and bring them 143 00:08:15,910 --> 00:08:19,590 S2: down cost Israel tens of thousands of dollars per missile. 144 00:08:19,870 --> 00:08:22,310 S2: The ion beam is the ultimate solution, but the breadth 145 00:08:22,310 --> 00:08:25,950 S2: of targets it's designed to face have delayed its final deployment. 146 00:08:25,950 --> 00:08:29,030 S2: And that's when Israel decided to develop a smaller, portable 147 00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:32,390 S2: version of the ion beam to target the threat from drones. 148 00:08:32,390 --> 00:08:34,470 S2: It's small enough to be mounted on a vehicle and 149 00:08:34,470 --> 00:08:37,630 S2: deployed where needed. And though the concept was announced back 150 00:08:37,630 --> 00:08:40,550 S2: in October, what Israel didn't make public at the time 151 00:08:40,550 --> 00:08:43,990 S2: was that the system was already being deployed and tested 152 00:08:43,990 --> 00:08:46,590 S2: in the field, using just a few dollars worth of 153 00:08:46,590 --> 00:08:50,060 S2: electricity per shot. The system has proven to be effective 154 00:08:50,059 --> 00:08:53,620 S2: in shooting down armed drones. It downed dozens of drones 155 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:56,980 S2: from Lebanon during the testing phase. And now the advantage 156 00:08:56,980 --> 00:08:59,620 S2: swings to Israel, since Israel's cost to shoot down the 157 00:08:59,620 --> 00:09:02,420 S2: drones is less than what it actually cost the enemies 158 00:09:02,420 --> 00:09:05,740 S2: to buy them. Israel's war against Hezbollah and, of course, 159 00:09:05,740 --> 00:09:08,900 S2: the war in Ukraine between them and Russia has demonstrated 160 00:09:08,900 --> 00:09:12,300 S2: the rapid advance of drone warfare. Now Israel has an 161 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:16,059 S2: answer to such drones that's both reliable and cost effective. 162 00:09:16,059 --> 00:09:18,260 S2: So watch for other countries to seek out this new 163 00:09:18,260 --> 00:09:21,140 S2: system from Israel to add to their own arsenals. 164 00:09:21,740 --> 00:09:25,020 S1: Well, the debate over drafting the ultra orthodox into the 165 00:09:25,020 --> 00:09:29,500 S1: army remains a hotly contested issue throughout Israel. Most Israelis 166 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:32,100 S1: are in favor of having everyone serve in the army, 167 00:09:32,260 --> 00:09:35,699 S1: while the ultra-Orthodox have threatened to leave the coalition and 168 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:39,059 S1: bring down the government unless a law exempting most of 169 00:09:39,059 --> 00:09:42,220 S1: them isn't passed. So where do things now stand? 170 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:44,980 S2: Well, they're starting to really come to a head right now. 171 00:09:45,020 --> 00:09:48,410 S2: You know, there are about 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men between the 172 00:09:48,410 --> 00:09:51,130 S2: ages of 18 and 24 who would be eligible for 173 00:09:51,130 --> 00:09:56,410 S2: military service. But since last summer only about 1400 have enlisted. 174 00:09:56,770 --> 00:09:58,929 S2: Those now serving in the military are watching to see 175 00:09:58,929 --> 00:10:01,570 S2: if the government will give in to the ultra-Orthodox to 176 00:10:01,610 --> 00:10:04,370 S2: keep the government going, or require them to shoulder their 177 00:10:04,370 --> 00:10:07,490 S2: fair share of the burden to protect Israel. Right now, 178 00:10:07,490 --> 00:10:11,050 S2: the head of the United Torah Judaism party issued an ultimatum, 179 00:10:11,050 --> 00:10:14,170 S2: saying the ultra-Orthodox members of the coalition will resign from 180 00:10:14,170 --> 00:10:18,130 S2: the government if an exemption law isn't passed soon. That 181 00:10:18,130 --> 00:10:20,770 S2: would bring down the government and force new elections. So 182 00:10:20,809 --> 00:10:23,810 S2: they really are facing a crisis point right now. And 183 00:10:23,809 --> 00:10:27,330 S2: this is something that could break within the next days, weeks, 184 00:10:27,330 --> 00:10:29,490 S2: certainly not more than a month. So we'll have to 185 00:10:29,490 --> 00:10:30,810 S2: watch and see what happens. 186 00:10:30,809 --> 00:10:33,010 S1: Charlie, if you had to guess, where do you think 187 00:10:33,010 --> 00:10:33,850 S1: this will land? 188 00:10:34,130 --> 00:10:36,089 S2: I think Netanyahu will try and do everything he can 189 00:10:36,130 --> 00:10:39,170 S2: to keep the coalition together. But at some point, the 190 00:10:39,170 --> 00:10:41,770 S2: rest of the government, the people are going to say, no, 191 00:10:41,809 --> 00:10:44,450 S2: enough is enough. Everyone needs to serve. 192 00:10:44,929 --> 00:10:47,040 S1: Well, coming up here on the land and the book 193 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,000 S1: caring for Jewish People. What does it mean to lovingly 194 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,880 S1: engage people who are hostile to Jewish people? To have 195 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,240 S1: open and honest conversations? That's next on the land and 196 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:14,000 S1: the book. Kids and their parents don't always see eye 197 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,680 S1: to eye. But even in believing households when it comes 198 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,920 S1: to the nation of Israel, younger people and their parents 199 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,079 S1: or younger people, and older people in general often have 200 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,760 S1: vastly different opinions. What's creating the gap and is there 201 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:28,560 S1: a way to bridge it? I think you'll love the 202 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,800 S1: conversation we've got next. I'm John Gager. This is the 203 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,120 S1: land and the book. By the way, how are you 204 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,080 S1: doing at reaching out to your Jewish friends and neighbors 205 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,640 S1: with the gospel of Christ? Here's a quick idea. You 206 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,439 S1: ever wonder what Jewish people believe happens when we die? 207 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,540 S1: West Haber is with life in Messiah. What are the 208 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:47,939 S1: thoughts there? 209 00:11:47,980 --> 00:11:51,420 S3: Wes well, as with so many questions about Jewish belief, 210 00:11:51,420 --> 00:11:55,660 S3: there's no single answer. The Jewish secular materialists, like their 211 00:11:55,660 --> 00:11:59,460 S3: Gentile counterparts, don't believe we're spiritual beings. There's no soul 212 00:11:59,460 --> 00:12:02,300 S3: that lives on, in their view. Somewhere in the Middle Ages, 213 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:07,059 S3: the idea of gilgul nefesh, the transmigration of souls, developed. 214 00:12:07,100 --> 00:12:11,100 S3: It's a kind of reincarnation. Religious Jews who study Kabbalah 215 00:12:11,140 --> 00:12:14,380 S3: may hold this view even today. But for most Jewish people, 216 00:12:14,380 --> 00:12:17,940 S3: likely including your neighbor or coworker, the idea of the 217 00:12:17,980 --> 00:12:21,339 S3: afterlife is not very clear. They may assent to a 218 00:12:21,380 --> 00:12:25,220 S3: Gan Eden, an unidentified Edenic Paradise, in the future, but 219 00:12:25,300 --> 00:12:27,260 S3: resist the idea of an eternal hell. 220 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:29,820 S1: Okay, Wes, how does all this help us, though, as 221 00:12:29,860 --> 00:12:31,300 S1: we're trying to evangelize? 222 00:12:31,580 --> 00:12:33,860 S3: Well, we can ask if it were possible to know 223 00:12:33,860 --> 00:12:36,340 S3: what God has planned for us in the afterlife. Would 224 00:12:36,340 --> 00:12:38,700 S3: you be interested? And we begin with the idea of 225 00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:43,220 S3: resurrection in the Old Testament. Job 1925. Psalm 16, verses 226 00:12:43,220 --> 00:12:47,490 S3: 8 to 11. Isaiah 16, 19 and 20. Daniel 12 227 00:12:47,530 --> 00:12:50,609 S3: two and three. And then, of course, we point to Yeshua, 228 00:12:50,610 --> 00:12:52,690 S3: who is the resurrection and the life. 229 00:12:52,730 --> 00:12:56,010 S1: John 11 boy, those are great scriptures, great points. And 230 00:12:56,010 --> 00:12:58,250 S1: we say thank you to Wes Tabor, who is with 231 00:12:58,250 --> 00:13:02,770 S1: life in Messiah. So you're a college student looking for 232 00:13:02,770 --> 00:13:06,210 S1: work over the summer. What kind of work? Anna Caswell 233 00:13:06,210 --> 00:13:10,689 S1: works for a small contracting business where she welds custom staircases, 234 00:13:10,690 --> 00:13:14,890 S1: railings and other architectural projects. But her real passion is 235 00:13:14,890 --> 00:13:17,850 S1: to weld the message of hope and Christ to Jewish 236 00:13:17,850 --> 00:13:20,810 S1: people everywhere. Anna is a Jewish studies major at the 237 00:13:20,809 --> 00:13:24,690 S1: Moody Bible Institute, but she considers Northwest Indiana her home. 238 00:13:25,010 --> 00:13:27,570 S1: She loves spending time at the beach, spending time with 239 00:13:27,570 --> 00:13:31,090 S1: a good book, and spending time eating sushi. We're glad 240 00:13:31,090 --> 00:13:33,290 S1: to welcome her to the land and the book. Thanks 241 00:13:33,290 --> 00:13:34,449 S1: for stopping by, Anna. 242 00:13:35,490 --> 00:13:36,970 S4: So nice to be here. Thanks, John. 243 00:13:37,010 --> 00:13:40,010 S1: So you said in your bio that your favorite books 244 00:13:40,010 --> 00:13:43,800 S1: of the Bible right now are Titus and Jeremiah. quite different. 245 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,839 S1: One Old Testament, one new. What about them draws you in? 246 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,280 S4: Well, Titus is so short, and as a busy student, 247 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,600 S4: it's just so nice to be able to see the 248 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,880 S4: whole book and see what he's really saying. And yeah, 249 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,040 S4: there's just so much wisdom in that book and in Jeremiah, 250 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:06,079 S4: it's so full of prophecies that are being fulfilled and 251 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,240 S4: that have been fulfilled. And one of the things that 252 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,640 S4: I love about Jewish studies is how you see that 253 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,800 S4: God's heart is the same in the Old Testament and 254 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:16,960 S4: the New Testament. So reading a book from the old 255 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,360 S4: and the new like, that just really helps me see 256 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,560 S4: that God has been the same yesterday and today. 257 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:23,480 S1: And forever. 258 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:24,280 S4: And forever. 259 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,440 S1: Yeah. Across every page of Scripture. 260 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:26,760 S4: Yes. 261 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,760 S1: Well, listeners might be wondering, what exactly is the Jewish 262 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,000 S1: Studies major at Moody Bible Institute? 263 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,440 S4: Yeah, it's a really unique major. I didn't know about 264 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,080 S4: it when I came to Moody. I came in as 265 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,680 S4: intercultural studies, and then I met a Jewish student on campus, 266 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,590 S4: and she was so passionate about the Jewish people and 267 00:14:43,590 --> 00:14:46,190 S4: Jewish culture. And I think a lot of Christians aren't 268 00:14:46,190 --> 00:14:50,750 S4: aware of the history of, you know. The conflict between 269 00:14:50,910 --> 00:14:53,870 S4: the groups and Jewish people have been marginalized a lot 270 00:14:54,030 --> 00:14:55,870 S4: in history. And so it was just such an eye 271 00:14:55,910 --> 00:14:59,710 S4: opening thing to see how the gospel hasn't always been 272 00:14:59,750 --> 00:15:01,910 S4: the good news to the Jewish people in the way 273 00:15:01,910 --> 00:15:05,870 S4: that it should have been. So Jewish Studies at Moody 274 00:15:05,870 --> 00:15:09,830 S4: is learning about how, like the history of the Jewish people, 275 00:15:09,870 --> 00:15:11,870 S4: beyond kind of what we learn in the Bible, you know, 276 00:15:11,910 --> 00:15:14,590 S4: we know the Old Testament, and then we know, like 277 00:15:14,630 --> 00:15:17,870 S4: the apostles and the New Testament, but you learn all 278 00:15:17,870 --> 00:15:22,590 S4: the way from Abraham to the Intertestamental period, like the Maccabees. 279 00:15:22,590 --> 00:15:25,590 S4: And what happened in, in that period and then beyond, 280 00:15:25,630 --> 00:15:27,470 S4: like what happened to the Jewish people after the temple 281 00:15:27,470 --> 00:15:31,430 S4: was destroyed, and how they've continued their community and, and 282 00:15:31,430 --> 00:15:35,470 S4: the interactions with the church, interactions in different lands. You know, 283 00:15:35,510 --> 00:15:38,230 S4: it's just it's amazing to see that even though maybe 284 00:15:38,230 --> 00:15:41,660 S4: some of us are not aware as Christians of that history. 285 00:15:41,980 --> 00:15:45,260 S4: God has really preserved the Jewish people in such a way. 286 00:15:45,660 --> 00:15:48,540 S4: So learning the Jewish history, learning the history of modern Israel, 287 00:15:48,580 --> 00:15:50,860 S4: how it came to be, and kind of the political 288 00:15:50,860 --> 00:15:54,940 S4: situation now learning about the Holocaust history is really important. Um, 289 00:15:54,940 --> 00:15:58,220 S4: there's also a Jewish religious thought kind of learning about 290 00:15:58,220 --> 00:16:02,180 S4: the Talmud and what it's like in Judaism to study 291 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:05,540 S4: the Hebrew Scriptures and how they do that. And yeah, 292 00:16:05,540 --> 00:16:08,060 S4: that's been amazing as well, just to see another side 293 00:16:08,060 --> 00:16:11,540 S4: of interpretation of the scriptures that we love so much. 294 00:16:11,660 --> 00:16:14,420 S1: So Anna Caswell is a Jewish Studies major at the 295 00:16:14,420 --> 00:16:17,820 S1: Moody Bible Institute, joining us today on the land and 296 00:16:17,820 --> 00:16:20,380 S1: the book, how does all the book learning and classroom 297 00:16:20,380 --> 00:16:24,340 S1: content become practical? How do you turn theory and theology? 298 00:16:24,340 --> 00:16:28,020 S1: And as you've already said, history into something of kingdom values, 299 00:16:28,020 --> 00:16:30,900 S1: something that's fuel in your tank for actual ministry? 300 00:16:31,060 --> 00:16:34,980 S4: Um, I think that one of the most amazing things 301 00:16:34,980 --> 00:16:38,620 S4: that Jewish Studies has given me is this sense that 302 00:16:38,620 --> 00:16:43,050 S4: But God works in many ways, and that even when, 303 00:16:43,090 --> 00:16:46,090 S4: you know, we have one framework of how he's worked 304 00:16:46,090 --> 00:16:48,210 S4: in our life or the community that we grew up in, 305 00:16:48,530 --> 00:16:52,850 S4: he's working in so many other communities, and this message 306 00:16:52,850 --> 00:16:58,210 S4: of mercy and forgiveness and redemption is set up, you know, 307 00:16:58,250 --> 00:17:00,930 S4: because that's God's heart from the beginning. And so you 308 00:17:00,930 --> 00:17:03,450 S4: see those themes in Judaism, and I think a lot 309 00:17:03,450 --> 00:17:07,290 S4: of Christians don't realize that it's all there. And so 310 00:17:07,290 --> 00:17:09,570 S4: that has made it so practical for me just to 311 00:17:09,570 --> 00:17:15,410 S4: see that studying Jewish thinkers and realizing like what life 312 00:17:15,410 --> 00:17:18,890 S4: is like in a minority community, it just helps you 313 00:17:18,890 --> 00:17:21,930 S4: realize how you can share the gospel in a way 314 00:17:21,930 --> 00:17:25,890 S4: that is meaningful and not, you know, just kind of presumptuous. 315 00:17:25,930 --> 00:17:28,250 S1: Yeah. So it sounds like you're saying it's giving you 316 00:17:28,290 --> 00:17:32,410 S1: context for sharing that gospel. We know what the gospel is. 317 00:17:32,410 --> 00:17:34,369 S1: You have a heart to share it, but there's a 318 00:17:34,369 --> 00:17:37,170 S1: certain way to do it with certain communities that make 319 00:17:37,170 --> 00:17:38,840 S1: you more effective as a communicator? 320 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,560 S4: Yeah, definitely. Yeah. 321 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,719 S1: Well, you have observed that there is a disconnect between 322 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:48,000 S1: young believers and older believers regarding Israel's role today. Let's 323 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,080 S1: start with a breakdown on each group. What do older 324 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,920 S1: believers think about Israel? Maybe that is emphasized less by 325 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:55,080 S1: younger believers? 326 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,720 S4: Hmm. I mean, I can't speak for everyone, obviously. 327 00:17:57,760 --> 00:17:58,199 S1: Sure, sure, sure. 328 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,280 S4: There's many Christians on both sides, which I think is 329 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,920 S4: really interesting right now because it's very polarized issue. And 330 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,760 S4: I think whichever side you're on, you feel strongly about it, 331 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:08,639 S4: you know, or you maybe you don't know, but I've 332 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,720 S4: seen a lot of older people who, you know, really 333 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,359 S4: believe that Christians should support Israel because it's part of 334 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,480 S4: the end times prophecy. And they're realizing, you know, just 335 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:22,080 S4: the way God has worked so miraculously in Israel. And so, 336 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,200 S4: because it's the land where Jesus walked, it's like, obviously, 337 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,160 S4: you know, need to support. We need to. Yeah. 338 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,440 S1: Okay. And let's talk about younger evangelicals now who are 339 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:35,960 S1: by statistics, by the way, pulling away from their past, uh, 340 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:37,710 S1: Assumed support of Israel. 341 00:18:38,430 --> 00:18:41,750 S4: Yeah, I think it's because a lot of the discussion 342 00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:44,830 S4: around Israel, as I said from the older perspective, is 343 00:18:44,830 --> 00:18:47,590 S4: very theological. It's very like, you know, this is the 344 00:18:47,590 --> 00:18:50,670 S4: land of Jesus, and it touches their heart in that way. 345 00:18:50,670 --> 00:18:53,030 S4: And I think that also touches a lot of young 346 00:18:53,030 --> 00:18:56,590 S4: Christians hearts. But because the narrative is much more political 347 00:18:56,590 --> 00:18:59,910 S4: from the sources that we're kind of inundated with on 348 00:18:59,910 --> 00:19:03,990 S4: social media, I think engaging with Israel from a political 349 00:19:03,990 --> 00:19:06,910 S4: front as well as that Christian perspective, but that's going 350 00:19:06,910 --> 00:19:10,470 S4: to be a lot more powerful just knowing that there's 351 00:19:10,470 --> 00:19:12,189 S4: a lot of research to be done. There's a lot 352 00:19:12,190 --> 00:19:14,430 S4: of like looking at both sides. And because it's so 353 00:19:14,430 --> 00:19:18,470 S4: polarized right now, I think young people have a tendency to, 354 00:19:18,790 --> 00:19:20,590 S4: you know, feel like they need to pick a side. 355 00:19:20,869 --> 00:19:24,350 S4: And there's a lot of real emotional rhetoric around the 356 00:19:24,350 --> 00:19:26,670 S4: whole issue because it is it's war. It's very emotional. 357 00:19:26,670 --> 00:19:29,950 S4: There's there's deaths and as there should be emotions. But 358 00:19:30,310 --> 00:19:33,190 S4: I think that in order to bridge that gap, we 359 00:19:33,190 --> 00:19:35,890 S4: need to be talking at the same level, which is 360 00:19:35,930 --> 00:19:39,330 S4: kind of like what really is the political situation and 361 00:19:39,330 --> 00:19:44,370 S4: how can we separate that from anti-Semitism, which is really rising. 362 00:19:45,570 --> 00:19:47,689 S1: All right. Because you're you're younger. Let me invite you 363 00:19:47,690 --> 00:19:49,969 S1: to take a shot at us older folks. What do 364 00:19:49,970 --> 00:19:56,090 S1: you think? Maybe we are saying wrong doing wrong forgetting, ignoring. 365 00:19:56,690 --> 00:19:58,530 S1: How are we speaking to young people in a way 366 00:19:58,530 --> 00:20:01,250 S1: that we're not speaking to them? On the subject of Israel, 367 00:20:01,250 --> 00:20:03,810 S1: what what could we tweak in your judgment, that might 368 00:20:03,810 --> 00:20:06,170 S1: make the communication a little more powerful? 369 00:20:07,130 --> 00:20:10,129 S4: I think what means a lot to young people is 370 00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:14,650 S4: this idea of standing up for people who don't have 371 00:20:14,650 --> 00:20:18,170 S4: a voice, and I think the narrative in the media 372 00:20:18,170 --> 00:20:20,810 S4: is that, you know, in some ways the Palestinians don't 373 00:20:20,810 --> 00:20:22,570 S4: have a voice. And so I think that's appealing to 374 00:20:22,609 --> 00:20:27,850 S4: my generation because, you know, we really do care about representation. 375 00:20:28,050 --> 00:20:30,530 S4: And these are things that mean a lot to us 376 00:20:30,530 --> 00:20:35,080 S4: in ways. And so I think the awareness that truly 377 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,879 S4: Jewish people in the United States, Israel, within the world, 378 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,520 S4: they are a marginalized group. And the creation of Israel 379 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,639 S4: was a result of, you know, things that transpired in 380 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:49,720 S4: the Holocaust and this idea of the self-determination, the right 381 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,920 S4: to self-determination of the Jewish people that I think is 382 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,840 S4: a piece that's missing in a lot of young people's narratives. 383 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,159 S4: But maybe it's also missing in older people's narratives because they, 384 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,800 S4: you know, they they don't know that history either. But 385 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,879 S4: that is something that really touches the hearts, I think, 386 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,760 S4: of people who care about standing up for the marginalized. 387 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,680 S1: Yeah, I get it. And I think that's a godly 388 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:15,320 S1: thing to care about representation, I really do. Where I 389 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,720 S1: think a disconnect comes for me is that there seems 390 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:23,679 S1: to be very little sense on some younger perspectives that 391 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:28,400 S1: the Jewish people need representation, that the entire Islamic world, 392 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:35,310 S1: Palestinian world, Arab world vastly outnumbers Numbers vastly out, owns geography. 393 00:21:35,590 --> 00:21:38,510 S1: And so it's ironic that the Jewish people are on 394 00:21:38,510 --> 00:21:43,030 S1: the defense and underrepresented, it seems to me. Uh, your 395 00:21:43,030 --> 00:21:43,710 S1: take on that. 396 00:21:43,750 --> 00:21:46,790 S4: No, I absolutely agree. And I think from what I've 397 00:21:46,790 --> 00:21:49,070 S4: heard from talking to some people that I know, like, 398 00:21:49,109 --> 00:21:52,430 S4: there's kind of this shock from a lot of young 399 00:21:52,470 --> 00:21:56,229 S4: Jewish students who have always had those core values of 400 00:21:56,550 --> 00:22:00,070 S4: standing up for people who need help. And in Jewish culture, 401 00:22:00,070 --> 00:22:02,469 S4: there's a lot of that outreach and a lot of 402 00:22:02,510 --> 00:22:06,550 S4: that humanitarian work. And so now to find that that's 403 00:22:06,550 --> 00:22:10,030 S4: not acknowledged and they truly are being the target of 404 00:22:10,030 --> 00:22:13,590 S4: a lot of racially motivated violence is just kind of 405 00:22:13,630 --> 00:22:16,430 S4: a shock. And so I think it's something that we 406 00:22:16,430 --> 00:22:17,670 S4: all need to consider. 407 00:22:17,910 --> 00:22:21,830 S1: Yeah, I think part of the issue too is emotion 408 00:22:22,030 --> 00:22:26,710 S1: and cause, and those are great things are often separated 409 00:22:26,710 --> 00:22:30,710 S1: from facts. And younger people will get a lot of 410 00:22:30,750 --> 00:22:35,460 S1: their quote, facts or information from sources that really don't 411 00:22:35,460 --> 00:22:37,179 S1: represent the truth, it seems. 412 00:22:37,220 --> 00:22:39,740 S4: Yeah, I think this might be the heart of the issue, 413 00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:41,660 S4: kind of in both groups. And I think it has 414 00:22:41,660 --> 00:22:45,300 S4: to do with the way that we all consume media. 415 00:22:45,540 --> 00:22:48,540 S4: And I think this is relevant for older people as well, who, 416 00:22:48,580 --> 00:22:51,580 S4: you know, whether our our media is different, like maybe 417 00:22:51,580 --> 00:22:56,379 S4: it's Instagram versus Facebook or it's YouTube versus, you know, 418 00:22:56,420 --> 00:22:59,940 S4: TikTok or something. But all of these medias are working 419 00:22:59,940 --> 00:23:03,619 S4: with an algorithm where it shows you more of what 420 00:23:03,660 --> 00:23:05,980 S4: resonates with you. And so I think when you go 421 00:23:05,980 --> 00:23:08,340 S4: in a certain direction, like I've seen some of my 422 00:23:08,340 --> 00:23:11,420 S4: friends on, on either sides, looking at their social media 423 00:23:11,420 --> 00:23:17,700 S4: feed is like almost the same content but completely opposite messages. Right? 424 00:23:17,980 --> 00:23:19,980 S4: So it's like, whatever you believe, you kind of get 425 00:23:19,980 --> 00:23:21,540 S4: that more and more and more. And then you have 426 00:23:21,540 --> 00:23:24,700 S4: this view that how can anyone not see what I 427 00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:27,420 S4: see when I see it so often and it's so clear. 428 00:23:27,420 --> 00:23:29,700 S4: And so I think that's one of the disconnects between 429 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:33,130 S4: older people who maybe see how important Israel is and 430 00:23:33,130 --> 00:23:35,930 S4: how important it is to stand against anti-Semitism in their feed. 431 00:23:35,930 --> 00:23:38,490 S4: And they get a lot of that along with, you know, 432 00:23:38,650 --> 00:23:42,090 S4: American values and a lot of Christian values, which are 433 00:23:42,090 --> 00:23:45,250 S4: all good things. But maybe in the younger people's feed, 434 00:23:45,250 --> 00:23:48,290 S4: they're not getting that and they're getting a different narrative. 435 00:23:48,410 --> 00:23:51,250 S4: And so I think it just isolates us in a 436 00:23:51,250 --> 00:23:53,530 S4: bad way, I think because it's short form content and 437 00:23:53,530 --> 00:23:58,010 S4: it's not this conversation, it's not these cross perspectives. So 438 00:23:58,010 --> 00:24:02,330 S4: I think just having conversations across those lines, really like 439 00:24:02,330 --> 00:24:05,450 S4: the generation gap would help so much. But that's happening 440 00:24:05,450 --> 00:24:06,250 S4: less and less. 441 00:24:06,890 --> 00:24:09,330 S1: So how can we pray for you as a student, 442 00:24:09,369 --> 00:24:11,210 S1: a Jewish studies major at Moody, Anna. 443 00:24:11,770 --> 00:24:14,129 S4: I think you can just pray for me that I 444 00:24:14,170 --> 00:24:16,730 S4: will know what to do beyond this, because this whole 445 00:24:16,730 --> 00:24:19,970 S4: experience at Moody has been wonderful and I've learned so 446 00:24:19,970 --> 00:24:24,770 S4: much about Christian theology, but also Jewish culture and Jewish 447 00:24:24,770 --> 00:24:27,290 S4: theology as well. And so I'm really interested in doing 448 00:24:27,290 --> 00:24:31,399 S4: more study, more sociological study. So just praying for direction 449 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,600 S4: and how to do that, how to do that. Well 450 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:35,560 S4: I would really appreciate prayer. Thank you. 451 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:37,280 S1: And we'll pray along those lines. But let me just 452 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:40,520 S1: say right here, um, I think you have a future 453 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,640 S1: in more conversations like this. You have a delightful way 454 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:48,160 S1: of presenting a viewpoint and not, you know, being obnoxious 455 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:52,200 S1: and helping older people understand what younger people are thinking 456 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,800 S1: in an engaging way and how they're getting their information. 457 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:56,919 S1: And I think you need to have a lot more 458 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:58,080 S1: of those conversations. 459 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,119 S4: That's so kind. I really appreciate this because there's a 460 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:03,240 S4: lot of things that I don't know, and sometimes I 461 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,000 S4: feel like it's hard to speak when I don't know 462 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,800 S4: all the facts and I don't know exactly, you know, 100% 463 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,000 S4: on one side or the other. But I think that 464 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,680 S4: sometimes stops us from having these conversations. And so I 465 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,400 S4: just appreciate to be on here, you know, even at 466 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:21,800 S4: whatever point I'm at. But the lack of conversation is 467 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,760 S4: really the problem. So even when you don't know one 468 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:27,280 S4: side or the other, like just that encouragement to do 469 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,790 S4: the research and to to talk to somebody who might 470 00:25:29,790 --> 00:25:33,350 S4: not agree with you, because maybe they are not 100% either. 471 00:25:33,390 --> 00:25:36,270 S1: But talk to them lovingly. Respectfully. Kindly. 472 00:25:36,310 --> 00:25:36,790 S4: Right. 473 00:25:36,830 --> 00:25:38,629 S1: Shouldn't Christians be the kindest of all? 474 00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:40,350 S4: Absolutely. Absolutely. 475 00:25:40,350 --> 00:25:42,750 S1: Thank you for the conversation. We sure love your heart, Anna. 476 00:25:42,950 --> 00:25:44,670 S1: God's doing great things in your life. 477 00:25:44,670 --> 00:25:46,670 S4: Thank you so much, John. It's so nice to be here. 478 00:25:46,710 --> 00:25:49,109 S1: Up next on the land and the book, a fresh 479 00:25:49,109 --> 00:25:51,830 S1: look at some fresh questions and I think you're going 480 00:25:51,869 --> 00:25:54,429 S1: to love it. As Doctor Peterman returns here on the 481 00:25:54,430 --> 00:26:08,190 S1: land and the book. What time is it? You know 482 00:26:08,190 --> 00:26:11,710 S1: what time it is. Time for questions and answers. Welcome 483 00:26:11,710 --> 00:26:14,830 S1: back to the land and the book segment three I'm 484 00:26:14,830 --> 00:26:17,670 S1: John Jaeger, always excited to be with you and with 485 00:26:17,670 --> 00:26:20,550 S1: Doctor Gerald Peterman. If you're new to him, he's a 486 00:26:20,550 --> 00:26:22,950 S1: faculty member here at Moody Bible Institute, a guy who 487 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:25,710 S1: knows the world loves sharing answers with you as you 488 00:26:25,710 --> 00:26:30,060 S1: email your questions to the land and the book at Moody's. 489 00:26:31,100 --> 00:26:35,060 S1: That's the land and the book at Moody's. We'll get 490 00:26:35,060 --> 00:26:37,979 S1: to today's stash of questions after we take a look 491 00:26:37,980 --> 00:26:41,380 S1: at Romans 116, which says the gospel is to the 492 00:26:41,380 --> 00:26:44,340 S1: Jew first and also to the Gentile. But how do 493 00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:48,740 S1: you share the gospel with a Jewish person because of cultural, historical, 494 00:26:48,740 --> 00:26:52,340 S1: and religious differences? It's sometimes kind of challenging to to 495 00:26:52,380 --> 00:26:56,060 S1: navigate a gospel conversation with someone from a Jewish background. 496 00:26:56,060 --> 00:26:58,820 S1: You ever wondered how the quote professionals do it? 497 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:01,740 S5: To answer this question, our friends at Life in Messiah 498 00:27:01,740 --> 00:27:05,100 S5: want to mail you samples of their tracks their staff 499 00:27:05,140 --> 00:27:07,939 S5: use as they share the gospel. This will serve a 500 00:27:07,980 --> 00:27:11,859 S5: dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting the gospel, 501 00:27:11,859 --> 00:27:14,660 S5: and also supplying you with tracks you can share with 502 00:27:14,660 --> 00:27:18,100 S5: your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life in Messiah's Prayer is 503 00:27:18,100 --> 00:27:20,419 S5: that these tracks will help further the spread of the 504 00:27:20,460 --> 00:27:24,020 S5: gospel among the Jewish people. To receive this helpful assortment 505 00:27:24,020 --> 00:27:26,889 S5: of tracks, All you need to do is visit Lifan 506 00:27:28,650 --> 00:27:31,850 S5: and click on the radio button for more information. That's 507 00:27:31,890 --> 00:27:36,370 S5: Lifan Messiah. Don't miss out on this great opportunity. 508 00:27:36,410 --> 00:27:39,730 S1: Okay, great sample gospel tracks. I like that idea. Here's 509 00:27:39,730 --> 00:27:43,050 S1: Debbie's question to start things off. Is there a book 510 00:27:43,050 --> 00:27:47,250 S1: that will harmonize all four Gospels, especially the Gospel of John? 511 00:27:47,609 --> 00:27:50,410 S5: Oh, I love doing this. Looking at the four Gospels together. 512 00:27:50,450 --> 00:27:53,210 S5: Moody publishers has a great one that's now out of print, 513 00:27:53,210 --> 00:27:55,610 S5: but you can probably get a used copy. It is 514 00:27:55,609 --> 00:27:59,850 S5: called A Harmony of the Gospels, with explanations and essays 515 00:27:59,850 --> 00:28:03,970 S5: by Robert Thomas and Stanley Gundry. It's from 1978, but 516 00:28:03,970 --> 00:28:06,090 S5: if you can't find it and it might be hard 517 00:28:06,090 --> 00:28:12,330 S5: to find, I recommend the Harmony of the Gospels by Holman, 2007. 518 00:28:12,369 --> 00:28:12,729 S1: Okay. 519 00:28:12,770 --> 00:28:13,609 S5: Happy reading. 520 00:28:13,650 --> 00:28:17,490 S1: Two options there. Happy reading indeed. A question from Charles 521 00:28:17,530 --> 00:28:21,409 S1: Nehemiah chapter eight tells of the Israelites celebrating the Feast 522 00:28:21,410 --> 00:28:25,510 S1: of Tabernacles. Verse 17 states. And all the assembly of 523 00:28:25,510 --> 00:28:28,790 S1: those who had returned from the captivity made booths and 524 00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:31,750 S1: dwelt in the booths. For from the days of Joshua 525 00:28:31,790 --> 00:28:34,030 S1: the son of nun, to that day the people of 526 00:28:34,030 --> 00:28:37,109 S1: Israel had not done so. Does this mean the Israelites 527 00:28:37,109 --> 00:28:40,350 S1: had not celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles at all for 528 00:28:40,350 --> 00:28:41,590 S1: those 1000 years? 529 00:28:41,630 --> 00:28:43,950 S5: Oh, it's good for us to ask that question. I 530 00:28:43,950 --> 00:28:46,910 S5: think Doctor Brian O'Neill does a really good job on 531 00:28:46,910 --> 00:28:51,070 S5: this question in his moody Bible Commentary entry. If we 532 00:28:51,070 --> 00:28:55,110 S5: read Nehemiah eight, the verses themselves don't say this was 533 00:28:55,110 --> 00:28:58,150 S5: the first time they celebrated in centuries. Reading the rest 534 00:28:58,150 --> 00:29:00,870 S5: of the Old Testament, we see accounts of various feasts 535 00:29:00,870 --> 00:29:06,229 S5: of tabernacles throughout Israel's history. Judges 21, verse 19, first 536 00:29:06,230 --> 00:29:10,070 S5: Samuel one, verse three, first Kings eight, verse two. I 537 00:29:10,070 --> 00:29:12,830 S5: take it that the celebration of booths had not been 538 00:29:12,830 --> 00:29:16,989 S5: celebrated like this. That is with great joy, as we 539 00:29:16,990 --> 00:29:20,870 S5: see in verse 17 since the days of Joshua. So 540 00:29:21,030 --> 00:29:22,820 S5: I don't think it's been a thousand years, but I 541 00:29:22,820 --> 00:29:26,180 S5: think it has been a long time since it was 542 00:29:26,180 --> 00:29:28,060 S5: so joyfully celebrated. 543 00:29:28,260 --> 00:29:32,140 S1: Okay. Interesting question. Thank you. Charles. This one from Debbie. 544 00:29:32,180 --> 00:29:34,740 S1: We know that Elijah was taken up to heaven in 545 00:29:34,740 --> 00:29:38,140 S1: a chariot of fire, and Enoch was taken up to God. 546 00:29:38,380 --> 00:29:41,300 S1: Jesus said in John chapter three that no one had 547 00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:44,180 S1: ever been to heaven except the one who had descended 548 00:29:44,180 --> 00:29:48,459 S1: from heaven, meaning himself. So where did Elijah and Enoch go, 549 00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:50,700 S1: if this is true? I know you may not know 550 00:29:50,700 --> 00:29:52,660 S1: the answer to the question. We may not know until 551 00:29:52,660 --> 00:29:54,140 S1: we get to heaven, but I'd like to hear your 552 00:29:54,140 --> 00:29:55,300 S1: thoughts on the matter anyway. 553 00:29:55,340 --> 00:29:57,980 S5: Oh, thanks for the question, Debbie, I appreciate that. When 554 00:29:57,980 --> 00:30:00,660 S5: Jesus is talking to Nicodemus in John three about being 555 00:30:00,660 --> 00:30:04,580 S5: born again, Nicodemus wonders about the things Jesus says. How 556 00:30:04,580 --> 00:30:07,220 S5: can they be true? And then Jesus says in John 557 00:30:07,220 --> 00:30:11,860 S5: 312 that he is saying something basic or earthly. I've 558 00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:14,500 S5: told you an earthly truth. He says, If I've told 559 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:17,300 S5: you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you 560 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:20,780 S5: believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has 561 00:30:21,130 --> 00:30:25,730 S5: ascended into heaven, except he who descended the Son of Man. 562 00:30:25,770 --> 00:30:30,890 S5: So only from heaven can godly truths be found. Who 563 00:30:30,890 --> 00:30:34,410 S5: has gone up there and come back? Elijah didn't do that. 564 00:30:34,730 --> 00:30:37,890 S5: Who has come down from there with the news we need? 565 00:30:38,330 --> 00:30:40,930 S5: That's our Lord Jesus. So that's the comparison. 566 00:30:40,930 --> 00:30:42,130 S1: Jesus and only Jesus. 567 00:30:42,130 --> 00:30:45,010 S5: Jesus and only Jesus has been there and come down 568 00:30:45,010 --> 00:30:45,490 S5: to tell. 569 00:30:45,490 --> 00:30:48,050 S1: Us I'm loving these questions and yours is welcome, by 570 00:30:48,050 --> 00:30:50,970 S1: the way, with a quick email to the land and 571 00:30:50,970 --> 00:30:55,810 S1: the book at That's the Land and the book at 572 00:30:57,050 --> 00:30:58,970 S1: Doctor Petermann. Let me, let me ask us to take 573 00:30:58,970 --> 00:31:01,010 S1: about a month to get an answer back from you. 574 00:31:01,050 --> 00:31:02,650 S5: Anywhere from two days to a week. 575 00:31:02,690 --> 00:31:04,770 S1: Okay. That's not bad. That's pretty good. And say. 576 00:31:04,810 --> 00:31:06,210 S5: Well, if the Lord gives me strength. 577 00:31:07,650 --> 00:31:08,170 S1: Anyway. 578 00:31:08,210 --> 00:31:09,890 S5: What time is it? It's a good time. 579 00:31:09,930 --> 00:31:12,970 S1: That's right. Here's John's question. He wants to know where 580 00:31:12,970 --> 00:31:15,730 S1: is the quote, Israel of God? You see that phrase 581 00:31:15,730 --> 00:31:18,890 S1: in Scripture? Where is the Israel of God? Where are 582 00:31:18,890 --> 00:31:22,080 S1: there distinctively Messianic Jewish congregations? 583 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,160 S5: Well, I just love John's question. I had to do 584 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:26,320 S5: some research to get an answer for this. By God's 585 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:31,880 S5: great mercy, there are many distinctively Messianic Jewish congregations around 586 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:36,560 S5: the world. They hold services in Hebrew and English. Other languages. 587 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,480 S5: In North America, you can see the Union of Messianic 588 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:46,680 S5: Jewish congregations. You emjc and they unite many congregations in Israel. 589 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:51,680 S5: Messianic congregations are all over, some in Hebrew, some in English, 590 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,880 S5: and there are many messianic congregations. Thanks be to God 591 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:59,320 S5: around the world, Europe, South America, Asia. God is working 592 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:00,400 S5: in his people. 593 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:03,280 S1: And those are wonderful, wonderful churches assemblies to be a 594 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:07,239 S1: part of messianic congregations. We've visited one several times with 595 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,600 S1: our land and the book team and God's doing great 596 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:13,320 S1: things there. From mark this question, I have heard some 597 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:16,959 S1: people mention that in Genesis one, in the King James Version, 598 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,630 S1: the days of creation are listed as the first day, 599 00:32:20,630 --> 00:32:24,430 S1: the second day, while other translations use a day. Well, 600 00:32:24,430 --> 00:32:27,030 S1: I checked it all out online with an interlinear Bible 601 00:32:27,030 --> 00:32:29,790 S1: at Blue Letter Bible, and it uses the word the. 602 00:32:30,270 --> 00:32:33,870 S1: Does this use of a take away from Yahweh being 603 00:32:33,870 --> 00:32:34,710 S1: the creator? 604 00:32:34,950 --> 00:32:37,229 S5: Well, Mark has really made me think and do some research. 605 00:32:37,230 --> 00:32:40,990 S5: I appreciate that the short answer is no. Saying a 606 00:32:41,030 --> 00:32:44,150 S5: day does not take away from Yahweh being creator. We 607 00:32:44,150 --> 00:32:46,990 S5: know he is creator of all things by his great power. 608 00:32:46,990 --> 00:32:51,190 S5: But now let's go back to Genesis. Since Genesis is 609 00:32:51,190 --> 00:32:54,590 S5: written in Hebrew, if we look at the original language, 610 00:32:54,590 --> 00:32:58,709 S5: we find day one and then day two, and then 611 00:32:58,710 --> 00:33:01,510 S5: day three for all six days. Now, of course, Hebrew 612 00:33:01,510 --> 00:33:03,110 S5: is a very different language. It has a different way 613 00:33:03,110 --> 00:33:07,190 S5: of constructing things. But if we look in English translations, 614 00:33:07,190 --> 00:33:11,190 S5: most of them have day one, day two, and day 615 00:33:11,190 --> 00:33:13,870 S5: three closely following the Hebrew text. As a matter of fact, 616 00:33:13,870 --> 00:33:17,380 S5: I looked at 12 different English translations and most of 617 00:33:17,380 --> 00:33:20,580 S5: them go with day one, day two, day three. So 618 00:33:20,580 --> 00:33:24,300 S5: to paraphrase it, most English translations, including the New International 619 00:33:24,300 --> 00:33:26,620 S5: Version and the English Standard Version and even the New 620 00:33:26,620 --> 00:33:30,820 S5: Living Translation, are going with first day. Second day, just 621 00:33:30,820 --> 00:33:31,940 S5: like in the KJV. 622 00:33:32,460 --> 00:33:36,180 S1: Mike's question takes us to mark chapter eight, where Jesus 623 00:33:36,180 --> 00:33:40,140 S1: heals a blind man. However, Mark makes it appear like 624 00:33:40,140 --> 00:33:43,300 S1: it took Jesus two attempts in order to restore this 625 00:33:43,300 --> 00:33:46,940 S1: guy's sight. Obviously, Jesus is all powerful and could have 626 00:33:46,940 --> 00:33:49,060 S1: done it the first time. Why do you think Jesus 627 00:33:49,060 --> 00:33:51,620 S1: didn't heal him perfectly the very first time? 628 00:33:51,660 --> 00:33:55,940 S5: Mhm. Yes. Love this question too. First, we should point 629 00:33:55,940 --> 00:33:58,460 S5: out that before we get to this place in Mark eight, 630 00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:03,460 S5: Jesus has done several miracles and so incredibly powerful. So 631 00:34:03,620 --> 00:34:06,220 S5: casting out the demons. A man with a withered hand 632 00:34:06,220 --> 00:34:09,739 S5: in the tabernacle. He only takes one time and boom! 633 00:34:09,780 --> 00:34:12,859 S5: There's a healing. Now let's ask what's going on in 634 00:34:12,860 --> 00:34:16,450 S5: the context of Mark, especially in Mark eight, just before 635 00:34:16,450 --> 00:34:19,970 S5: this passage where he heals the blind man, we find 636 00:34:19,969 --> 00:34:24,610 S5: out that the disciples themselves are blind. They don't understand. 637 00:34:24,850 --> 00:34:27,930 S5: And only in Mark. Not in Matthew, not in Luke, 638 00:34:27,930 --> 00:34:30,370 S5: not in John. Only in Mark do you find the 639 00:34:30,370 --> 00:34:34,569 S5: Lord Jesus. Quote Isaiah six about blindness and not seeing, 640 00:34:34,570 --> 00:34:38,609 S5: and applies it to the disciples. But then later you 641 00:34:38,650 --> 00:34:41,730 S5: keep following Mark's gospel and they understand more. And you 642 00:34:41,730 --> 00:34:44,170 S5: keep following Mark's gospel and they understand more. So I 643 00:34:44,170 --> 00:34:47,290 S5: take it that healing this blind man in two stages 644 00:34:47,290 --> 00:34:49,969 S5: is kind of an illustration of what's going to happen 645 00:34:50,330 --> 00:34:54,130 S5: to the disciples and their sight. They're going to gradually 646 00:34:54,130 --> 00:34:56,250 S5: come into greater insight. 647 00:34:56,450 --> 00:35:00,089 S1: Okay, so Jesus is using this for their benefit, not 648 00:35:00,090 --> 00:35:04,089 S1: as a somehow, you know, limitation or, you know, something that, 649 00:35:04,130 --> 00:35:04,690 S1: you know. 650 00:35:04,730 --> 00:35:05,210 S5: Oh, John. 651 00:35:05,210 --> 00:35:07,130 S1: Lessen his his ability to create miracles. 652 00:35:07,130 --> 00:35:09,570 S5: Yeah. Thanks for phrasing it that way. He's the blind 653 00:35:09,570 --> 00:35:12,770 S5: man doesn't suffer at all, right? Right. He gets his healing. 654 00:35:12,770 --> 00:35:16,790 S5: But then the disciples, from watching. They get an illustration 655 00:35:16,830 --> 00:35:18,750 S5: of what's going to happen with them as. 656 00:35:18,750 --> 00:35:19,989 S1: Time goes on. You said it better than I did. 657 00:35:19,989 --> 00:35:20,270 S1: Thank you. 658 00:35:20,310 --> 00:35:20,910 S5: For I doubt. 659 00:35:20,910 --> 00:35:24,110 S1: That. Carol takes us to the Old Testament, which mentions 660 00:35:24,110 --> 00:35:28,470 S1: many battles resulting in the deaths of thousands. What and 661 00:35:28,469 --> 00:35:32,029 S1: how were that many bodies disposed of? And are there 662 00:35:32,030 --> 00:35:34,029 S1: records of massive burial sites? 663 00:35:34,469 --> 00:35:36,669 S5: Sorry to say, this is a really good question, for 664 00:35:36,670 --> 00:35:39,070 S5: which I do not have a really good answer. Yeah, 665 00:35:39,110 --> 00:35:41,790 S5: there's nothing specific in the Old Testament about how these 666 00:35:41,790 --> 00:35:46,629 S5: burials got done. And the oldest mass burial sites we 667 00:35:46,630 --> 00:35:49,149 S5: can find in Israel date to the Roman period. So 668 00:35:49,150 --> 00:35:51,950 S5: they're a thousand years too young. Yeah. So I'm sorry 669 00:35:51,950 --> 00:35:53,750 S5: to say I don't know. 670 00:35:53,910 --> 00:35:56,430 S1: Yeah, but think of the manpower that would be required. 671 00:35:56,469 --> 00:35:57,989 S6: It just really would. I mean. 672 00:35:57,989 --> 00:36:00,390 S1: Even if you went with massive graves, how big does 673 00:36:00,390 --> 00:36:02,550 S1: a hole have to be for tens of thousands. 674 00:36:02,550 --> 00:36:03,069 S6: Of bodies? Right? 675 00:36:03,110 --> 00:36:05,189 S5: Right. If we just go to Second Kings, we find 676 00:36:05,190 --> 00:36:08,750 S5: a time when God annihilates the Assyrian army with well 677 00:36:08,750 --> 00:36:10,710 S5: over 100,000 people. 678 00:36:10,750 --> 00:36:10,989 S6: Yeah. 679 00:36:10,989 --> 00:36:13,580 S5: What happened to all these bodies? I don't. 680 00:36:13,580 --> 00:36:13,900 S6: Know. 681 00:36:14,180 --> 00:36:17,300 S5: But that is that is a massive undertaking for sure. 682 00:36:17,820 --> 00:36:19,779 S1: Well, there are so many things to ponder as you 683 00:36:19,780 --> 00:36:23,620 S1: open Scripture and just know that your question is welcome anytime. 684 00:36:23,780 --> 00:36:26,220 S1: You can email us at the land and the Book 685 00:36:26,380 --> 00:36:31,060 S1: at Moody. That's the land and the book at Moody. 686 00:36:32,300 --> 00:36:34,219 S1: We want to remind you, we've got a podcast there 687 00:36:34,219 --> 00:36:37,020 S1: that lets you listen to this program again or share 688 00:36:37,020 --> 00:36:39,739 S1: it with a friend, all your friends. And it's easy 689 00:36:39,739 --> 00:36:43,379 S1: to find it at the land and the book, the 690 00:36:43,380 --> 00:36:47,819 S1: land and the book at the website. Information about our guests, 691 00:36:47,860 --> 00:36:51,739 S1: past programs, future programs, and more. So great links as 692 00:36:51,739 --> 00:36:54,020 S1: well to other ministries at Moody. That's why we invite 693 00:36:54,020 --> 00:36:56,380 S1: you to visit us often, if you would. At The 694 00:36:56,380 --> 00:37:00,660 S1: Land and the book. Charlie's devotional is coming up next 695 00:37:00,700 --> 00:37:17,250 S1: right here. Everybody likes a hometown hero. We favor the 696 00:37:17,250 --> 00:37:20,729 S1: home team. Love the home crowd. But our devotional today 697 00:37:20,730 --> 00:37:23,810 S1: on the land and the book is about a hometown boy, 698 00:37:24,290 --> 00:37:25,650 S1: Charlie Dyer. Where are we headed? 699 00:37:25,890 --> 00:37:28,730 S2: We're heading to Nazareth and to Luke, chapter four. 700 00:37:28,850 --> 00:37:31,969 S1: Okay, going to look at the hometown boy in our devotional. 701 00:37:31,969 --> 00:37:34,529 S1: Not before we pause for a testimony from somebody who's 702 00:37:34,530 --> 00:37:36,730 S1: traveled to the Holy Land and wants to share this 703 00:37:36,770 --> 00:37:38,050 S1: impression with you and me. 704 00:37:42,410 --> 00:37:45,730 S7: Uh, this is Ross from Minnesota. I'm privileged to be 705 00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:48,770 S7: here in Israel with Charlie Dyer. And the biggest thing 706 00:37:48,810 --> 00:37:51,609 S7: to me is just that how small the area is 707 00:37:51,650 --> 00:37:55,009 S7: and how the many miracles that Jesus performed in such 708 00:37:55,010 --> 00:37:58,050 S7: a small area. And we got the privilege to walk 709 00:37:58,090 --> 00:38:02,410 S7: in his paths and and everything, and we just liked 710 00:38:02,410 --> 00:38:06,770 S7: it so much. And the area was so close and everything. 711 00:38:06,770 --> 00:38:09,650 S7: So I'm proud to be here in Israel with Charlie. 712 00:38:10,210 --> 00:38:13,920 S8: Hi, I'm Tony Williams and I'm from Aledo, Texas, and 713 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:16,759 S8: I've wanted to come to Israel my entire life and 714 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:19,719 S8: finally got to do it. And it has been the 715 00:38:19,719 --> 00:38:24,360 S8: most incredible experience. Anybody that is afraid to come, don't 716 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:27,120 S8: be afraid because you feel so safe when you're here. 717 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,160 S8: And the people are wonderful. The place is wonderful. If 718 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:33,080 S8: you want the Word of God to come alive, come 719 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:35,240 S8: because it changes everything. 720 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:40,479 S1: Luke chapter four is our text. And Charlie, we're talking 721 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,279 S1: about the hometown boy. I'm looking forward to your devotional. 722 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:46,560 S2: Okay, well, we're standing at the mount of precipice on 723 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,520 S2: the edge of the Nazareth Ridge. It's an unusually clear day, 724 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:52,719 S2: and we have a magnificent view in all directions. To 725 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:55,920 S2: our north is the city of Nazareth itself. No longer 726 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:58,560 S2: a small village at the bottom of a shallow valley. 727 00:38:58,680 --> 00:39:01,040 S2: The city has forced its way up the hillsides and 728 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:04,719 S2: over the top of the ridgeline on every side. Turn 729 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:07,040 S2: to the east and there's Mount Tabor, with the village 730 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:11,030 S2: of Daburiyya, named for the prophetess Deborah guarding its base. 731 00:39:11,390 --> 00:39:13,710 S2: A little farther to the south is the hill of Moreh, 732 00:39:13,910 --> 00:39:16,870 S2: with the village of Nain clearly visible on the hillside. 733 00:39:17,030 --> 00:39:19,670 S2: This is the town where Jesus raised to life a 734 00:39:19,710 --> 00:39:23,069 S2: widow's son. On the other side of the hill is Shunem, 735 00:39:23,070 --> 00:39:26,509 S2: where Elisha also raised a young boy from death to life. 736 00:39:26,630 --> 00:39:29,230 S2: And beyond the hill of Moreh in the distance is 737 00:39:29,230 --> 00:39:33,549 S2: Mount Gilboa, where Gideon shows his 300 men. As we 738 00:39:33,550 --> 00:39:36,989 S2: turn toward the southwest and look out across the Jezreel Valley, 739 00:39:36,989 --> 00:39:40,710 S2: we see Mount Carmel stretching out toward the Mediterranean. The 740 00:39:40,710 --> 00:39:44,029 S2: monastery that marks the location of Elijah's conflict with the 741 00:39:44,030 --> 00:39:47,630 S2: prophets of Baal is barely visible. That's that little dot 742 00:39:47,670 --> 00:39:51,029 S2: of white on its summit. Standing here at this one spot, 743 00:39:51,070 --> 00:39:54,510 S2: we can literally gaze out over the physical and spiritual 744 00:39:54,510 --> 00:39:58,510 S2: mountain peaks that define much of Israel's history. But let's 745 00:39:58,510 --> 00:40:01,549 S2: turn back and look at Nazareth. In Jesus's day, it 746 00:40:01,550 --> 00:40:04,830 S2: was a small village, and yet this village had a synagogue. 747 00:40:04,950 --> 00:40:08,259 S2: And Luke four records the story of Jesus returning to 748 00:40:08,300 --> 00:40:11,739 S2: Nazareth to speak at that synagogue. By now his fame 749 00:40:11,739 --> 00:40:14,980 S2: had begun to spread throughout Galilee. The people of Nazareth 750 00:40:14,980 --> 00:40:18,140 S2: had heard stories about this miracle worker who had grown 751 00:40:18,140 --> 00:40:20,420 S2: up in their midst. They were excited to hear what 752 00:40:20,420 --> 00:40:22,420 S2: he had done and eager to have him back in 753 00:40:22,460 --> 00:40:26,420 S2: their synagogue, sharing the Word of God. The attendant handed 754 00:40:26,420 --> 00:40:29,299 S2: Jesus the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, opening it to 755 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:32,940 S2: the portion we know as Isaiah 61. Jesus began to 756 00:40:32,980 --> 00:40:36,300 S2: read Isaiah's prophetic message. We don't know if this passage 757 00:40:36,300 --> 00:40:39,180 S2: was assigned to be read that day, or whether Jesus 758 00:40:39,180 --> 00:40:41,859 S2: selected it himself, but we do know he read a 759 00:40:41,860 --> 00:40:44,819 S2: short portion of the text less than two verses in 760 00:40:44,820 --> 00:40:47,819 S2: our Bibles, before closing up the scroll and handing it 761 00:40:47,820 --> 00:40:50,420 S2: back to the attendant. The spirit of the Lord is 762 00:40:50,420 --> 00:40:52,819 S2: on me, because he has anointed me to preach good 763 00:40:52,820 --> 00:40:55,500 S2: news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim 764 00:40:55,500 --> 00:40:59,259 S2: freedom for the prisoners and recovering of sight for the blind, 765 00:40:59,300 --> 00:41:02,100 S2: to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the 766 00:41:02,100 --> 00:41:05,940 S2: Lord's favor. Every eye in that small synagogue must have 767 00:41:05,940 --> 00:41:09,810 S2: been focused intently on him, wondering what he would do next. 768 00:41:09,850 --> 00:41:12,810 S2: Would he deliver one of his already famous messages? Would 769 00:41:12,810 --> 00:41:15,850 S2: he begin healing the many sick and suffering? Certainly, the 770 00:41:15,850 --> 00:41:18,089 S2: synagogue seemed to have more than the usual number of 771 00:41:18,090 --> 00:41:21,770 S2: such people today. Jesus broke the silence with words that 772 00:41:21,770 --> 00:41:26,930 S2: were simple yet dramatic. Today, this scripture is fulfilled in 773 00:41:26,930 --> 00:41:31,410 S2: your hearing. The crowd's initial response was positive. They sensed 774 00:41:31,410 --> 00:41:35,330 S2: his words were gracious, perhaps prophetic. Certainly Jesus said that 775 00:41:35,330 --> 00:41:38,730 S2: today these very words were being fulfilled in the village 776 00:41:38,730 --> 00:41:43,089 S2: of Nazareth. But the crowd's initial impression quickly soured when 777 00:41:43,090 --> 00:41:47,330 S2: Jesus exposed the real motive behind all their excitement. Surely 778 00:41:47,330 --> 00:41:51,049 S2: you will quote this proverb to me, physician, heal yourself. 779 00:41:51,290 --> 00:41:53,609 S2: Do here in your hometown what we have heard you 780 00:41:53,610 --> 00:41:57,290 S2: did in Capernaum. It seems the people weren't really focused 781 00:41:57,290 --> 00:42:01,170 S2: on the message. They were waiting for the miracles. Jesus 782 00:42:01,170 --> 00:42:03,890 S2: then drove home the truth of his statement with two 783 00:42:03,890 --> 00:42:08,840 S2: illustrations taken from the same general geographical area. It's almost 784 00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:11,560 S2: as if he mentally turned his back on Nazareth to 785 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:15,239 S2: gaze south across the Jezreel Valley. Two other great prophets 786 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:19,399 S2: walk through that valley in Old Testament times Elijah and Elisha. 787 00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:23,120 S2: Jesus brought up an uncomfortable truth from the lives of 788 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:26,360 S2: both prophets to reveal the real heart problem that needed 789 00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:30,840 S2: healing in Nazareth. Many Jewish widows were starving in Elijah's day, 790 00:42:31,239 --> 00:42:33,399 S2: but the only widow to whom he was sent was 791 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:36,760 S2: a Gentile. And many Jewish people were afflicted with leprosy 792 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:39,799 S2: and Elisha's day. But the only person he healed of 793 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:44,520 S2: leprosy was a Gentile. What's Jesus's point in using these 794 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:48,040 S2: two illustrations? First, he used them to expose the crowd's 795 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:51,719 S2: improper motives for wanting him in town. They were there 796 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:55,320 S2: for the miracles, not the message. Forget the long sermon. 797 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:59,359 S2: Just show me the free food and physical healing. Second, 798 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:02,319 S2: he exposed their prejudice against those who were not of 799 00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:05,419 S2: their nationality or Only or religion. They were happy with 800 00:43:05,420 --> 00:43:09,060 S2: Jesus as long as he came to heal their broken bodies, 801 00:43:09,260 --> 00:43:12,940 S2: but squandering God's blessing on Gentiles, on people who worshiped 802 00:43:12,980 --> 00:43:16,580 S2: other gods. Such a thought was repugnant to them. They 803 00:43:16,580 --> 00:43:20,020 S2: hated the thought and the one who dared suggest it. 804 00:43:20,300 --> 00:43:23,100 S2: The people got so angry they dragged Jesus out of 805 00:43:23,100 --> 00:43:25,620 S2: the synagogue. And that brings us back to the mount 806 00:43:25,620 --> 00:43:28,820 S2: of precipice, on the edge of the Nazareth Ridge. Standing 807 00:43:28,820 --> 00:43:31,580 S2: at this spot helps bring the anger of the people 808 00:43:31,580 --> 00:43:35,180 S2: into sharper focus. We're standing over a mile from the 809 00:43:35,180 --> 00:43:38,060 S2: center of the village where the synagogue must have been. 810 00:43:38,100 --> 00:43:40,980 S2: Yet Luke records that the people dragged Jesus out of 811 00:43:40,980 --> 00:43:43,500 S2: the town and to the brow of the hill on 812 00:43:43,500 --> 00:43:45,739 S2: which the town was built, in order to throw him 813 00:43:45,739 --> 00:43:48,660 S2: down the cliff. This was not simply a matter of 814 00:43:48,660 --> 00:43:51,980 S2: some angry people escorting Jesus out of the synagogue and 815 00:43:52,020 --> 00:43:54,779 S2: walking a few steps to reach the edge of the village. 816 00:43:55,060 --> 00:43:58,300 S2: The sheer distance they traveled paints for us a picture 817 00:43:58,300 --> 00:44:01,980 S2: of a hostile mob pushing and shoving Jesus out of 818 00:44:01,980 --> 00:44:04,890 S2: the synagogue, out of the village itself, and then an 819 00:44:04,890 --> 00:44:08,049 S2: additional mile uphill to the edge of the cliff to 820 00:44:08,090 --> 00:44:12,169 S2: push him off to his death. Miraculously, Jesus was able 821 00:44:12,170 --> 00:44:14,810 S2: to walk right through the crowd and go on his way. 822 00:44:15,330 --> 00:44:17,969 S2: How was he able to do this? We're not told. 823 00:44:17,969 --> 00:44:20,529 S2: And frankly, that's not the key point of the story. 824 00:44:20,850 --> 00:44:23,330 S2: The major issue is the reality that the hearts of 825 00:44:23,330 --> 00:44:27,009 S2: the people of Nazareth were as small as the village itself. 826 00:44:27,330 --> 00:44:29,890 S2: At first they were happy to see Jesus, but only 827 00:44:29,890 --> 00:44:32,690 S2: because of the miracles they hoped he would perform for them. 828 00:44:32,969 --> 00:44:35,810 S2: They missed the significance of his message that he was 829 00:44:35,810 --> 00:44:39,290 S2: the Messiah who had come to fulfill God's prophetic word, 830 00:44:39,530 --> 00:44:41,969 S2: and they had lost sight of the greater truth that 831 00:44:41,969 --> 00:44:45,250 S2: the Messiah and the nation of Israel had been called 832 00:44:45,250 --> 00:44:48,410 S2: to be a light to the Gentiles. As we turn 833 00:44:48,410 --> 00:44:51,490 S2: from Nazareth and begin to hike down the steep path 834 00:44:51,489 --> 00:44:54,690 S2: into the Jezreel Valley, what lesson can we carry with 835 00:44:54,690 --> 00:44:58,850 S2: us in our knapsack? Perhaps the most significant lesson, as 836 00:44:58,850 --> 00:45:02,080 S2: followers of Christ is to make sure we don't forget 837 00:45:02,080 --> 00:45:05,160 S2: why God has placed us here on earth, just as 838 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:07,880 S2: God called Israel to be a light to the Gentiles. 839 00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:11,399 S2: So he has called us to make disciples of all nations. 840 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:14,239 S2: It's not about the miracles we expect God to give 841 00:45:14,239 --> 00:45:17,640 S2: to us. It's about the service he expects to receive 842 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:22,520 S2: from us. In his 1960 inaugural speech, President John F 843 00:45:22,520 --> 00:45:26,440 S2: Kennedy uttered those famous words ask not what your country 844 00:45:26,440 --> 00:45:29,080 S2: can do for you. Ask what you can do for 845 00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:34,560 S2: your country. Let's rephrase that line for today. Stop focusing 846 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:37,279 S2: on what you want God to do for you, and 847 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:41,240 S2: focus instead on what you ought to be doing for him. 848 00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:44,480 S1: Thank you Charlie. You know, we we talk about Jesus 849 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:48,120 S1: on this broadcast as our Messiah. Jesus is our Savior. 850 00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:51,200 S1: And maybe today it's finally clicking in place for you 851 00:45:51,239 --> 00:45:54,239 S1: that you don't know Jesus in that way. Charlie, what's 852 00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:57,760 S1: a prayer that someone might pray to receive Jesus even now? 853 00:45:58,080 --> 00:46:00,790 S2: That's a very simple one. They can pray something like, Lord, 854 00:46:00,790 --> 00:46:03,230 S2: I get it now. I understand that you're God's son. 855 00:46:03,230 --> 00:46:05,469 S2: You came to earth to live a perfect life, and 856 00:46:05,469 --> 00:46:07,310 S2: then you went to the cross to die, to pay 857 00:46:07,310 --> 00:46:10,029 S2: for my sins. And right now, Lord, I want to 858 00:46:10,030 --> 00:46:13,190 S2: place my trust for my salvation in him. Forgive me 859 00:46:13,190 --> 00:46:15,509 S2: of my sins. Give me eternal life because of what 860 00:46:15,510 --> 00:46:18,070 S2: your son did for me. And if they simply pray 861 00:46:18,070 --> 00:46:20,630 S2: something like that, God will do a work in their heart. 862 00:46:20,790 --> 00:46:23,350 S1: Thank you Charlie, and we'd love to connect with you further, 863 00:46:23,350 --> 00:46:25,989 S1: by the way. Email us at. The land and the 864 00:46:26,030 --> 00:46:30,629 S1: book at Moody's. The land and the book at Moody's. 865 00:46:31,630 --> 00:46:33,710 S1: I should mention if you'd like to talk with someone 866 00:46:33,710 --> 00:46:37,430 S1: about this conversation, knowing Jesus, a volunteer is always glad 867 00:46:37,430 --> 00:46:40,149 S1: to talk with you. Answer your questions and pray with 868 00:46:40,150 --> 00:46:44,350 S1: you at eight, eight, eight need him eight need him. 869 00:46:44,830 --> 00:46:46,750 S1: Our time is gone, but we thank you for hanging 870 00:46:46,750 --> 00:46:49,670 S1: out with us today. I'm John Geiger, our host, Charlie Dyer. 871 00:46:49,830 --> 00:46:52,549 S1: The land and the book is a production of Moody Radio, 872 00:46:52,590 --> 00:46:54,910 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.