1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,600 S1: When was the last time anyone heard anything from Gaza 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,520 S1: that was good? You're about to. On today's program, Tom 3 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,880 S1: Doyle has stories of God at work in Gaza. You'll 4 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:23,040 S1: hear about people finding Christ lives being transformed. Welcome to 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,799 S1: the land and the book from Moody Radio, where we 6 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:27,400 S1: invite you to kind of take a break from your 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,960 S1: news feed for the news that matters most. God is 8 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,680 S1: at work, including in the Middle East. Hi, I'm John Gager, 9 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,920 S1: joined once again by the always ready, always reading Doctor 10 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,520 S1: Charlie Dyer, the lifelong student of the Middle East. He's 11 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,600 S1: been there, by the way, more than a hundred times. 12 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,000 S1: Good to connect again, Charlie. 13 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,440 S2: Oh, John, it's always good to connect with you. 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,120 S1: Well, the question is important. What does Passover mean for 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,040 S1: us as believers in Jesus? Some might remember the story 16 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:58,080 S1: from the book of Exodus, but there is so much 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,029 S1: more to it. Did you know, for example, that the 18 00:01:01,030 --> 00:01:04,309 S1: Last Supper was actually a Passover meal? And not only 19 00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:07,830 S1: did Jesus and his disciples celebrate Passover, but it also 20 00:01:07,830 --> 00:01:10,910 S1: foreshadowed his death on the cross for our redemption. 21 00:01:11,190 --> 00:01:15,069 S2: Passover is an amazing connection point with our Jewish friends, 22 00:01:15,150 --> 00:01:18,830 S2: both around the world and across the street. Jewish people 23 00:01:18,830 --> 00:01:22,229 S2: have been keeping this feast for thousands of years. Understanding 24 00:01:22,230 --> 00:01:25,630 S2: the importance of this holiday and its history. Helps you 25 00:01:25,630 --> 00:01:28,710 S2: better understand these precious people. And what better way to 26 00:01:28,750 --> 00:01:32,470 S2: learn than to experience a Passover Seder yourself? If you've 27 00:01:32,470 --> 00:01:36,190 S2: never celebrated Passover, our friends at Life in Messiah would 28 00:01:36,190 --> 00:01:39,270 S2: love to partner with you in hosting a Seder experience. 29 00:01:39,510 --> 00:01:43,190 S2: Every year, their staff engage churches and small groups in 30 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:46,830 S2: an interactive Messiah in the Passover Seder, where you can 31 00:01:46,830 --> 00:01:50,470 S2: taste and see the redemption story. If you're interested in 32 00:01:50,510 --> 00:01:53,790 S2: having someone come lead a Seder in your area, visit 33 00:01:53,790 --> 00:01:57,110 S2: Life in Messiah org and click on the radio button 34 00:01:57,110 --> 00:02:00,419 S2: there to learn more. That's life in Messiah. 35 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:04,660 S1: Always plenty going on in the Middle East. Let's dig 36 00:02:04,660 --> 00:02:07,140 S1: into a look at the current events from the week. 37 00:02:07,340 --> 00:02:11,059 S1: What's the latest, Charlie, on the smoldering tension with Iran? 38 00:02:11,260 --> 00:02:15,060 S1: Could the situation explode into open conflict with a U.S. attack? 39 00:02:15,060 --> 00:02:18,139 S1: Or is a diplomatic solution still possible? 40 00:02:18,540 --> 00:02:21,380 S2: You know, John, as we're recording this program, the decision 41 00:02:21,380 --> 00:02:24,060 S2: on whether the U.S. will attack Iran is still up 42 00:02:24,060 --> 00:02:27,100 S2: in the air. President Trump has been pressuring them to 43 00:02:27,139 --> 00:02:30,620 S2: stop their attacks against their own people. And initially it 44 00:02:30,620 --> 00:02:33,540 S2: seemed as if the pressure had worked. However, more recent 45 00:02:33,540 --> 00:02:37,460 S2: reports coming out of the country suggest Iran's forces murdered 46 00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:42,419 S2: as many as 36,000 protesters. If that's true, it would 47 00:02:42,419 --> 00:02:46,180 S2: be the largest massacre of civilians in Iran's modern history, 48 00:02:46,580 --> 00:02:51,339 S2: and Iran's judiciary publicly vowed no leniency on protesters who've 49 00:02:51,340 --> 00:02:56,340 S2: been arrested. Earlier this week, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, 50 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:59,650 S2: along with its strike group, arrived in the Indian Ocean 51 00:02:59,650 --> 00:03:03,089 S2: near Iran. The US has also positioned other aircraft and 52 00:03:03,090 --> 00:03:07,050 S2: ships in the region to offer both offensive and defensive support, 53 00:03:07,050 --> 00:03:10,210 S2: should a strike be called. Iran is threatening to unleash 54 00:03:10,210 --> 00:03:14,210 S2: its entire arsenal of missiles and drones against US targets 55 00:03:14,210 --> 00:03:18,090 S2: and against other allies, including Israel, should the US attack. 56 00:03:18,490 --> 00:03:21,649 S2: In the past, such threats have made nations more hesitant 57 00:03:21,650 --> 00:03:24,970 S2: to respond, but it seems this time might be different. 58 00:03:25,169 --> 00:03:29,250 S2: The brutality unleashed by Iran on its own people demonstrates 59 00:03:29,250 --> 00:03:32,570 S2: their willingness to do anything to remain in power, and 60 00:03:32,570 --> 00:03:36,170 S2: it's matched by their ideological and religious fervor. When they 61 00:03:36,170 --> 00:03:39,570 S2: say death to America and death to Israel. Those are 62 00:03:39,570 --> 00:03:43,210 S2: more than just idle threats and slogans short of an 63 00:03:43,210 --> 00:03:46,450 S2: all out invasion of Iran. A regime change, though, is 64 00:03:46,450 --> 00:03:50,210 S2: not easy to bring about. But a sustained attack can 65 00:03:50,210 --> 00:03:54,250 S2: eliminate key leadership and reduce the country's ability to develop 66 00:03:54,250 --> 00:03:58,240 S2: and use weapons of mass destruction. Right now, our Intelligence 67 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,560 S2: Committee believes Iran's hold on power is as weak as 68 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:06,080 S2: it's been since the 1979 Islamic revolution. They also believe 69 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,760 S2: that in spite of all the rhetoric, Iran might be 70 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,360 S2: looking to make some kind of a deal to keep 71 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,360 S2: the U.S. from striking. A U.S. aerial military exercise in 72 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,920 S2: the region was designed to place additional pressure on Iran. 73 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,920 S2: But was it just for show, or was it a 74 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,760 S2: final exercise in preparation for an expected attack in Ecclesiastes 75 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,719 S2: three eight. Solomon wrote that there's a time for war 76 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,799 S2: and a time for peace. And right now we don't 77 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,240 S2: know which one of those is the correct answer. And 78 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,960 S2: that's why we need to be praying for our leaders 79 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,919 S2: and for all the soldiers, sailors, and airmen in harm's way, 80 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,840 S2: as well as all the civilians in the region who 81 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,239 S2: could be impacted. 82 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:52,120 S1: Plans to rebuild Gaza are moving forward, though not without opposition. 83 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,580 S1: So what's the latest on implementing President Trump's vision for 84 00:04:55,580 --> 00:04:58,659 S1: the area and how will Hamas fit into those plans? 85 00:04:58,940 --> 00:05:00,300 S2: You know, in addition to what we're going to talk 86 00:05:00,339 --> 00:05:03,180 S2: about later on the broadcast about what's happening in Gaza, 87 00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:05,940 S2: another piece of good news this week is the announcement 88 00:05:05,940 --> 00:05:09,820 S2: that after 843 days, the body of the final Israeli 89 00:05:09,820 --> 00:05:13,020 S2: held in Gaza was found and returned home. Now, that 90 00:05:13,020 --> 00:05:15,740 S2: helps open the way for the next phase of President 91 00:05:15,779 --> 00:05:19,660 S2: Trump's vision for Gaza. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and 92 00:05:19,660 --> 00:05:23,540 S2: Egypt will now reopen, allowing Gazans to leave, though it 93 00:05:23,540 --> 00:05:26,779 S2: could also allow terrorists to escape from Gaza and then 94 00:05:26,779 --> 00:05:30,620 S2: possibly return at a future time. Jared Kushner unveiled a 95 00:05:30,620 --> 00:05:34,820 S2: $25 billion plan to transform Gaza into an economic hub 96 00:05:34,820 --> 00:05:38,940 S2: by 2035. Now, reaching that goal in nine years will 97 00:05:38,940 --> 00:05:42,540 S2: require a massive undertaking. Just think about it. Just removing 98 00:05:42,540 --> 00:05:46,540 S2: the estimated 61 million tons of rubble could take up 99 00:05:46,540 --> 00:05:50,940 S2: to seven years. Something even more than that. And then roads, water, 100 00:05:50,940 --> 00:05:56,130 S2: sewer lines, electrical and sanitation facilities, hospitals and housing will 101 00:05:56,130 --> 00:05:59,170 S2: need to be constructed. The plan itself is centered around 102 00:05:59,170 --> 00:06:02,450 S2: a six phase development timeline that starts in the south 103 00:06:02,450 --> 00:06:06,890 S2: and moves north. It includes areas for tourism, residential neighborhoods 104 00:06:06,890 --> 00:06:10,730 S2: and industrial zones for manufacturing, and for data centers. It 105 00:06:10,730 --> 00:06:14,010 S2: has a goal of creating a half million new jobs 106 00:06:14,010 --> 00:06:19,050 S2: in construction, agriculture, manufacturing and high tech. But there are 107 00:06:19,050 --> 00:06:23,450 S2: still many obstacles. Hamas is required to disarm. But how 108 00:06:23,450 --> 00:06:26,930 S2: will that be done? Isn't clearly spelled out, and Hamas 109 00:06:26,930 --> 00:06:29,450 S2: doesn't seem to be willing to do so. And there 110 00:06:29,450 --> 00:06:31,729 S2: are reports that Hamas and the US have reached an 111 00:06:31,730 --> 00:06:35,330 S2: understanding that in exchange for surrendering its weapons and providing 112 00:06:35,330 --> 00:06:38,290 S2: maps of all the underground tunnels, they'll be allowed to 113 00:06:38,330 --> 00:06:41,490 S2: remain on as a political body, though the Palestinian Authority 114 00:06:41,529 --> 00:06:45,890 S2: doesn't like that, and other sources suggest upwards of 30,000 115 00:06:45,930 --> 00:06:50,770 S2: lower level Hamas officials, including 10,000 police officers, might be 116 00:06:50,770 --> 00:06:53,160 S2: allowed to remain as part of the management of the 117 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,560 S2: new Gaza once they've been screened. Israel is not in 118 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,480 S2: favor of allowing Hamas to remain in any level of leadership. Now, 119 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,840 S2: there are many moving parts and unresolved details, and when 120 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,559 S2: it comes to allowing Hamas to play a role, that's 121 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:07,919 S2: never a good sign. 122 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,120 S1: Yeah. I mean, what would lead anybody to believe that 123 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,640 S1: Hamas would be forthcoming in releasing all the details about 124 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:14,760 S1: all the tunnels? 125 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,080 S2: Yeah, certainly they don't have a good track record on 126 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,400 S2: anything when it comes to honesty and following through. 127 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,040 S1: That's Doctor Charlie Dyer. This is the land and the book. 128 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:27,240 S1: Looking at current events, Israel hasn't yet officially announced new elections, 129 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,000 S1: but the unofficial election season appears to have already begun. 130 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,280 S1: So what's been happening so far, Charlie? 131 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,720 S2: Well, unlike here in the US, where the major parties 132 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,560 S2: seem to be in perpetual campaign mode, Israel's election cycle 133 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,520 S2: is far shorter. The time between the Knesset dissolving and 134 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,080 S2: new elections is usually 3 to 4 months. That means 135 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,110 S2: campaigning would need to start at the end of June 136 00:07:51,110 --> 00:07:54,710 S2: or possibly by mid-July at the latest, because they're supposed 137 00:07:54,710 --> 00:07:57,790 S2: to have elections at the end of October. Even if 138 00:07:57,790 --> 00:08:01,350 S2: nothing else happens in between, the different politicians and political 139 00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:05,150 S2: parties are already exploring ways to try to defeat Netanyahu 140 00:08:05,430 --> 00:08:08,790 S2: in the next election. A recent poll suggests a group 141 00:08:08,790 --> 00:08:13,110 S2: of opposing parties could gain 61 seats, just enough to 142 00:08:13,150 --> 00:08:16,110 S2: form a new government. But there are two major problems. 143 00:08:16,150 --> 00:08:21,390 S2: And first, these early election polls are notoriously unreliable. And second, 144 00:08:21,430 --> 00:08:24,510 S2: the poll assumes that those parties can all agree on 145 00:08:24,510 --> 00:08:27,750 S2: who would be in charge. Naftali Bennett's party led the 146 00:08:27,750 --> 00:08:31,070 S2: opposition in the polling, but the coalition would also need 147 00:08:31,070 --> 00:08:34,630 S2: to include left of center Yair Lapid, the far left 148 00:08:34,630 --> 00:08:38,310 S2: wing Democratic Party and the more right wing Yisrael Beiteinu 149 00:08:38,350 --> 00:08:42,150 S2: party of Avigdor Lieberman. Each party has its own demands 150 00:08:42,150 --> 00:08:46,070 S2: and redlines that often conflict with the others. The only 151 00:08:46,110 --> 00:08:49,939 S2: thing linking some of them together is their opposition to Netanyahu. 152 00:08:50,179 --> 00:08:53,460 S2: And interestingly, the same poll also asked who should be 153 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:56,900 S2: the next prime minister. Well, Bennett was favored by 21% 154 00:08:56,900 --> 00:09:01,100 S2: of those polled. But Netanyahu was still favored by 37%. 155 00:09:01,420 --> 00:09:04,380 S2: So the one unknown right now is whether any new 156 00:09:04,380 --> 00:09:07,979 S2: parties will emerge following the war. The trauma of October 157 00:09:07,980 --> 00:09:10,540 S2: 7th is the kind of event that could shake up 158 00:09:10,540 --> 00:09:13,700 S2: the established political order. But right now, there's not a 159 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:16,100 S2: whole lot of time and a whole lot of moving parts. 160 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:18,020 S2: So this is going to be interesting to watch. 161 00:09:18,059 --> 00:09:20,260 S1: And we will be watching it here at The land 162 00:09:20,260 --> 00:09:22,900 S1: and the book and bring you into the whole picture. Well, 163 00:09:22,900 --> 00:09:26,260 S1: after more than 20 years, the pilgrim roadway in the 164 00:09:26,260 --> 00:09:29,540 S1: city of David is now officially open to visitors. What 165 00:09:29,540 --> 00:09:33,260 S1: makes this so significant and why did it take 20 years? 166 00:09:33,580 --> 00:09:36,340 S2: Well, the excavations at the city of David have been 167 00:09:36,340 --> 00:09:38,300 S2: the most significant in all of Israel, in fact, over 168 00:09:38,300 --> 00:09:41,420 S2: the past 25 years. And what makes this particular part, 169 00:09:41,460 --> 00:09:44,460 S2: this roadway, so special, is that it extended from the 170 00:09:44,460 --> 00:09:46,780 S2: Pool of Siloam all the way up to the Temple Mount. 171 00:09:46,900 --> 00:09:50,689 S2: It provides clear archaeological proof that Jerusalem was a Jewish 172 00:09:50,690 --> 00:09:54,450 S2: city 2000 years ago. Now, for us as Christians, that 173 00:09:54,450 --> 00:09:57,810 S2: seems like it's something that goes without saying. However, for 174 00:09:57,809 --> 00:10:01,209 S2: others that's a major revelation. There are people who picture 175 00:10:01,210 --> 00:10:05,250 S2: today the Jewish people, as colonizers. Uh, well, this excavation 176 00:10:05,250 --> 00:10:09,210 S2: clearly shows they were the indigenous occupants who connected the 177 00:10:09,210 --> 00:10:11,770 S2: city 2000 years ago. In fact, all the way back 178 00:10:11,770 --> 00:10:15,410 S2: to 3000 years ago in the time of King David. Again, 179 00:10:15,450 --> 00:10:18,250 S2: it's not a surprise to us, but it clearly answers 180 00:10:18,250 --> 00:10:21,010 S2: those false claims. Now, I went through my photos, John, 181 00:10:21,010 --> 00:10:23,530 S2: to see how long I've been following this, and I 182 00:10:23,530 --> 00:10:25,929 S2: have pictures that go all the way back for the 183 00:10:25,929 --> 00:10:29,209 S2: past 11 years on several tours where I was taken 184 00:10:29,210 --> 00:10:32,930 S2: through this. Now it's finally opened to visitors and will become, 185 00:10:32,929 --> 00:10:36,410 S2: I believe, a must see stop on any future tours 186 00:10:36,410 --> 00:10:37,010 S2: to Israel. 187 00:10:37,050 --> 00:10:38,530 S1: How long a walk is it, Charlie? 188 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:42,130 S2: It's about 2000ft. So, uh, you know, not quite half 189 00:10:42,170 --> 00:10:44,690 S2: a mile. And, uh, it's depending on which way you're going, 190 00:10:44,690 --> 00:10:46,610 S2: it's either uphill or downhill the whole way. 191 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,480 S1: All right. Fascinating new thing to think about when traveling 192 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,559 S1: to Israel. Up next, Tom Doyle. And good news from 193 00:10:53,559 --> 00:11:10,760 S1: Gaza on the land and the book. What title would 194 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,360 S1: you give to a discussion about the aftermath of the 195 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,559 S1: war with Hamas? That's the conversation we're about to have, 196 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,240 S1: but it's not the title you might think of. We're 197 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,480 S1: calling it Good News from Gaza. You say, what good 198 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,000 S1: news could you possibly be referring to? Well, you're about 199 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,160 S1: to be pleasantly surprised. Welcome back to the land and 200 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,840 S1: the book. I'm John Gager, and before we take you 201 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,000 S1: to the stories of God at work in Gaza, let's 202 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,480 S1: think about the story that he might be writing in 203 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,839 S1: the life of a muslim friend of yours. So you're 204 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,280 S1: in some sort of a relationship with a muslim friend, 205 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,560 S1: to the point where you would feel comfortable giving them 206 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,420 S1: a resource of some kind. Something that might explain just 207 00:11:47,420 --> 00:11:50,620 S1: a bit more about your beliefs in Jesus. What kind 208 00:11:50,620 --> 00:11:53,300 S1: of resources would be appropriate and where would you get them? 209 00:11:53,340 --> 00:11:56,660 S1: Let's ask Lina Abujamra, a pediatric ER doctor born and 210 00:11:56,660 --> 00:11:57,660 S1: raised in Lebanon. 211 00:11:57,660 --> 00:12:00,020 S3: What has struck me in my conversations with Muslims is 212 00:12:00,020 --> 00:12:02,420 S3: the willingness of Muslims. And by the way, people of 213 00:12:02,420 --> 00:12:04,460 S3: other religions as well, to read the Bible. And so 214 00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:06,540 S3: I don't think there's any problem in giving the Bible. 215 00:12:06,580 --> 00:12:08,300 S3: You just ask the person if they're open to it. 216 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:10,460 S3: But I find the common denominator is people want it 217 00:12:10,460 --> 00:12:12,500 S3: in their own language. They want literature in their own language. 218 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:14,940 S3: They want shows in their own language. And if they're 219 00:12:14,940 --> 00:12:18,140 S3: moved recently from the Middle East specifically, there's a yearning 220 00:12:18,140 --> 00:12:20,660 S3: for that. Now, there are plenty of resources all over 221 00:12:20,660 --> 00:12:23,220 S3: the place. There's, of course, some television stations that are 222 00:12:23,220 --> 00:12:27,140 S3: specifically geared to Arabic speaking Christian shows like stat seven, Hayat. 223 00:12:27,420 --> 00:12:30,059 S3: But I think go to my website. There's a podcast 224 00:12:30,059 --> 00:12:32,020 S3: you can kind of link up, email me. I have 225 00:12:32,020 --> 00:12:34,819 S3: resources that have translated into Arabic, but also a podcast 226 00:12:34,820 --> 00:12:37,300 S3: that I have in Arabic on iTunes. So just put 227 00:12:37,300 --> 00:12:38,939 S3: in my name in iTunes and you can find some 228 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:39,980 S3: Bible study in Arabic. 229 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:45,690 S1: Or go to living with Power.org. Living with Power.org. So 230 00:12:45,970 --> 00:12:48,610 S1: what about the gift of an Arabic Bible? Okay. Not okay. 231 00:12:48,650 --> 00:12:51,610 S3: Okay. Absolutely. I think you just have as much chance 232 00:12:51,610 --> 00:12:54,130 S3: of them accepting it as an American. Probably higher chance. 233 00:12:54,170 --> 00:12:58,050 S3: Actually had a conversation with a converted Muslim in the 234 00:12:58,050 --> 00:13:00,130 S3: tent community in the Middle East, where I was recently 235 00:13:00,130 --> 00:13:02,010 S3: in Lebanon, she said. It's funny, she says, I have 236 00:13:02,010 --> 00:13:04,050 S3: a Bible, and I read it and she says, but 237 00:13:04,050 --> 00:13:07,050 S3: I'm amazed by how she says, we respect our Koran. 238 00:13:07,090 --> 00:13:08,929 S3: We respect the Bible. There are people in the United 239 00:13:08,929 --> 00:13:10,610 S3: States who step on this book. They don't even open it. 240 00:13:10,610 --> 00:13:12,770 S3: They leave it on their shelves. We have more respect 241 00:13:12,770 --> 00:13:14,890 S3: for the book than you guys do. I was convicted. 242 00:13:14,929 --> 00:13:18,050 S1: That's very convicting indeed. Well, great thoughts there on helping 243 00:13:18,050 --> 00:13:20,490 S1: out with resources in your relationship with a muslim friend 244 00:13:20,490 --> 00:13:23,330 S1: from Lina Abujamra, and we invite you to visit her website. 245 00:13:23,330 --> 00:13:30,530 S1: Living with. Few Christians today have spent as much time meeting, loving, 246 00:13:30,530 --> 00:13:33,570 S1: and serving the people of Gaza as Tom Doyle. The 247 00:13:33,570 --> 00:13:35,569 S1: truth is, Tom fell in love with the Middle East 248 00:13:35,610 --> 00:13:40,010 S1: region on his first Bible Tour back in 1995, he 249 00:13:40,010 --> 00:13:42,570 S1: became an official tour guide for the State of Israel 250 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,760 S1: and developed a passion for ministering to the Israeli people. 251 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:50,040 S1: But Arabs as well, and Jews alike. And in 2017, 252 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,920 S1: the Doyles launched Uncharted Ministries, which seeks to inspire the 253 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,840 S1: body of Christ to rise up and join the Great 254 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,280 S1: Awakening among Jews and Muslims in the Middle East and 255 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,960 S1: in uncharted territories around the world. Tom and his wife, 256 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:09,000 S1: Joanne serve in places like Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria 257 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,320 S1: and Palestinian territories of Israel as well. The Doyles lead 258 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,239 S1: groups to the Middle East through their lands of the Bible. Tours. 259 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,400 S1: Tom is a master storyteller with several books highlighting God's 260 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,040 S1: miraculous work among the Muslim people. Any of them will 261 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,720 S1: encourage you in a huge way. We are so honored 262 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,320 S1: to welcome you back to the land and the book. Tom. 263 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,200 S4: Oh, so great to be with you, John. Thank you. 264 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,160 S4: I really appreciate you having me on. 265 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:35,680 S1: Well, many listeners may not know you and your wife 266 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,240 S1: have been to Gaza not once or twice, but many times. 267 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,110 S1: And there are many believers in the Middle East and elsewhere. 268 00:14:42,350 --> 00:14:45,550 S1: Who would say you guys are nuts? Are you? Defend 269 00:14:45,550 --> 00:14:46,350 S1: your claim. 270 00:14:47,110 --> 00:14:51,110 S4: Ah, well, you know what? There's something. Um. Just to 271 00:14:51,150 --> 00:14:55,670 S4: see the miraculous with God moving in the most difficult places, 272 00:14:55,670 --> 00:14:58,750 S4: whether it be in Syria or when we've been privileged 273 00:14:58,750 --> 00:15:01,310 S4: to smuggle Bibles into Iran or a place like the 274 00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:06,310 S4: Gaza Strip. And I think what's happening, John, is people 275 00:15:06,310 --> 00:15:11,310 S4: see our true character in tough times. And I think 276 00:15:11,350 --> 00:15:14,990 S4: Israel's had tough times with this war. Gaza certainly have. 277 00:15:15,110 --> 00:15:17,990 S4: But people that live in Gaza have. And what's happened 278 00:15:18,030 --> 00:15:22,110 S4: is they've seen the true colors of their leaders, Hamas, 279 00:15:22,350 --> 00:15:26,670 S4: and they realize that Hamas cares nothing about them as Palestinians. 280 00:15:26,710 --> 00:15:31,070 S4: There are 100% focused on destroying Israel. So many of 281 00:15:31,070 --> 00:15:36,310 S4: the people are moving on from that kind of radical Islam. 282 00:15:36,310 --> 00:15:40,110 S4: They don't want it more. Uh, Muslims are open to 283 00:15:40,220 --> 00:15:44,420 S4: Jesus in Gaza than we've ever seen before. And I 284 00:15:44,420 --> 00:15:49,020 S4: think of one little teacher named Dina that every summer 285 00:15:49,020 --> 00:15:52,140 S4: you have to indoctrinate the kids. They have a camp 286 00:15:52,460 --> 00:15:55,740 S4: where Hamas comes in and, and talks to the kids 287 00:15:55,740 --> 00:15:59,180 S4: and tries to get them to prepare themselves to serve 288 00:15:59,180 --> 00:16:02,340 S4: in Hamas some, some time. And when she came to 289 00:16:02,340 --> 00:16:04,700 S4: faith in Christ, Dina, she said, I'm not doing that 290 00:16:04,700 --> 00:16:07,580 S4: this year. She said, I'm going to teach them about Jesus, 291 00:16:07,580 --> 00:16:10,100 S4: who's the Lamb of God and the light of the world. 292 00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:14,580 S4: And we told her, Dina, you could be killed for this. And, 293 00:16:14,620 --> 00:16:17,100 S4: you know, John, she said something that I'll never forget. 294 00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:20,220 S4: She'd only been a believer about a month, and she 295 00:16:20,220 --> 00:16:23,340 S4: decided to do this. She leaves Islam. She a believer? 296 00:16:23,540 --> 00:16:26,380 S4: Only about a month. And we said you could be 297 00:16:26,380 --> 00:16:28,700 S4: killed for this. And she said, well, you know, I 298 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:32,900 S4: already crossed that bridge when I came to Jesus last month. Wow. 299 00:16:33,060 --> 00:16:35,540 S4: So I'm willing to die. And do you know, we 300 00:16:35,540 --> 00:16:38,660 S4: received pictures of little things that you would see in 301 00:16:38,810 --> 00:16:41,810 S4: Vacation Bible School. You know, little crafts and things that 302 00:16:41,810 --> 00:16:45,010 S4: they did, holding up their pictures, proclaiming Jesus is the 303 00:16:45,010 --> 00:16:47,930 S4: light of the world, the Lamb of God. And they 304 00:16:47,930 --> 00:16:50,930 S4: were ready. These young kids were ready to hear the message. 305 00:16:51,170 --> 00:16:53,810 S4: And so I think the death and destruction and the 306 00:16:53,810 --> 00:16:58,370 S4: terrorism that is all around Gaza, the people are wanting 307 00:16:58,370 --> 00:17:01,650 S4: something that is that is right and true and they 308 00:17:01,650 --> 00:17:05,170 S4: are flocking to Jesus. This is good news. They've seen 309 00:17:05,170 --> 00:17:07,770 S4: the dark side. They want to walk in the light. Now. 310 00:17:08,570 --> 00:17:11,010 S1: What do you know about the condition of places that 311 00:17:11,010 --> 00:17:14,330 S1: you used to visit after the two year war now? 312 00:17:14,650 --> 00:17:16,929 S4: Yeah, a lot of the places that we used to 313 00:17:17,369 --> 00:17:21,330 S4: do ministry in are gone. The one pastor that we 314 00:17:21,369 --> 00:17:25,169 S4: worked with there, his house was destroyed. The problem is, 315 00:17:25,650 --> 00:17:30,450 S4: in Gaza, there's no separation between the hardened terrorists and 316 00:17:30,450 --> 00:17:33,129 S4: the normal people, whether it's an apartment or in a 317 00:17:33,130 --> 00:17:35,770 S4: refugee camp. They live right next to each other. Your 318 00:17:35,770 --> 00:17:39,000 S4: next door neighbor could be someone to turn you into Hamas. 319 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,840 S4: So it's always dangerous. But a lot of the structures 320 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,720 S4: are gone. The Gaza Baptist Church is still there, praise God, 321 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,680 S4: but it's had a lot of damage. It was taken 322 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,159 S4: over by Hamas and Israel got control. It's a high building, 323 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,520 S4: so a lot of rockets were fired at it. So 324 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,200 S4: we're praying that that can be refurbished for the people 325 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,320 S4: that are there, the Christians for the Muslims that have 326 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,800 S4: come to faith in Christ. They meet in houses, they 327 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,040 S4: meet in little apartments, they meet in tents. But there's 328 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,920 S4: good news. They talk of just how many are open. 329 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,480 S4: And I really think what it is, John, is you're 330 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,439 S4: a billboard. If you have a smile on your face 331 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,520 S4: in Gaza because it's so dark, so depressing. It's the 332 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,000 S4: fruit of the spirit that people are seeing. And they 333 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,600 S4: ask someone, why are you happy? Why are you smiling? Well, 334 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,920 S4: it's only because of this. Jesus has brought this to me. 335 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,960 S4: And it's not a they're not looking at. Wait a minute. 336 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,480 S4: I'm a muslim and you're saying you're a Christian now? 337 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,750 S4: They're just being attracted to the person of Jesus. And 338 00:18:38,750 --> 00:18:43,470 S4: that's what's happening right now. So young small churches are 339 00:18:43,470 --> 00:18:45,950 S4: cropping up. We used to say underground, but that's a 340 00:18:45,950 --> 00:18:48,550 S4: bad image with the tunnels now in Gaza. So we 341 00:18:48,550 --> 00:18:52,869 S4: say secret church are all in places around where they're meeting. 342 00:18:52,869 --> 00:18:56,830 S4: They're reading Bibles, they're having fellowship around. The Lord Jesus 343 00:18:56,869 --> 00:18:59,510 S4: is bringing Muslims to Christ in the Gaza Strip. 344 00:19:00,150 --> 00:19:03,470 S1: Tom and Joanne Doyle are the founders of Uncharted Ministries, 345 00:19:03,470 --> 00:19:06,030 S1: which seeks to inspire the body of Christ to rise 346 00:19:06,030 --> 00:19:09,110 S1: up and join the new Great Awakening among Jews and 347 00:19:09,109 --> 00:19:12,189 S1: Muslims in the Middle East and in uncharted territories around 348 00:19:12,190 --> 00:19:15,390 S1: the world. Well, we have titled this conversation Good News 349 00:19:15,390 --> 00:19:18,670 S1: from Gaza. You've certainly shared some. What about a specific 350 00:19:18,670 --> 00:19:21,270 S1: story that comes to mind? A specific person? 351 00:19:22,150 --> 00:19:25,710 S4: Oh, wow. Well, I think of Muhammad, and we wrote 352 00:19:25,710 --> 00:19:29,189 S4: about him in Women Who Risked Secret Agents for Jesus 353 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:32,710 S4: in the Muslim world. And he's married to Shireen. He 354 00:19:32,710 --> 00:19:36,970 S4: was a muslim, did not treat his wife well whatsoever, 355 00:19:36,970 --> 00:19:41,330 S4: and she said he never gave her a birthday present. Anniversary, nothing, 356 00:19:41,330 --> 00:19:44,690 S4: even on their wedding day. And so when we wrote 357 00:19:44,730 --> 00:19:47,490 S4: Shireen's story, she said, tell my story, but ask the 358 00:19:47,490 --> 00:19:49,930 S4: people to pray for my husband. And so we did. 359 00:19:49,930 --> 00:19:52,490 S4: We stopped right in the middle of. It wasn't a footnote, 360 00:19:52,490 --> 00:19:53,970 S4: it was right in the middle of it. Hey, stop 361 00:19:53,970 --> 00:19:57,330 S4: right now. Pray for Muhammad. And within about two years 362 00:19:57,330 --> 00:20:01,650 S4: after writing that book, he came to faith gloriously. And 363 00:20:01,650 --> 00:20:04,450 S4: I mean, John, some people take off with the Lord, 364 00:20:04,450 --> 00:20:08,889 S4: and it's like a 747 going down the the runway 365 00:20:08,890 --> 00:20:12,369 S4: to take off. It's moving, but it's kind of gaining speed. 366 00:20:12,570 --> 00:20:16,290 S4: Not with Muhammad. He was like a rocket ship taking 367 00:20:16,290 --> 00:20:20,490 S4: off from the launching pad. This young man just fell 368 00:20:20,490 --> 00:20:24,130 S4: in love with Jesus deeply and would send texts that 369 00:20:24,130 --> 00:20:26,890 S4: were deep. And of course, he just had such a 370 00:20:26,890 --> 00:20:30,930 S4: love for God and love for Jesus. His hatred for 371 00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:36,560 S4: Israel vanished and on October 7th, 2023. With the horrible 372 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,640 S4: attack on Israel and the bringing the hostages back into 373 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,800 S4: Gaza and people were cheering, Mohammed was texting us back saying, 374 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,960 S4: no one should be treated this way. This is inhuman. 375 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,880 S4: They're telling that they're making us stand out and cheer 376 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:54,320 S4: for Hamas. But I'm crying because this is the worst 377 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:58,480 S4: thing I've ever seen. And so he started sending messages 378 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:04,240 S4: to Jewish Israeli soldiers who loved Jesus, sending messages to 379 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,600 S4: them through us, to his brothers in Israel. We're praying 380 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,920 S4: for you. Can you imagine that living in a Hamas 381 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,160 S4: encampment and sending that message out to the Israeli soldiers, 382 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,000 S4: that you're praying for them? He is not only exciting 383 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:23,000 S4: to see his salvation happen, but the transformation is just 384 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:27,800 S4: mind boggling. So here is an evangelist in Gaza who 385 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,320 S4: said he didn't have a dream before he came to Jesus. 386 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,710 S4: But he had a dream after he came to Jesus 387 00:21:32,710 --> 00:21:35,550 S4: and the dream was this. He said that Jesus appeared 388 00:21:35,550 --> 00:21:38,230 S4: to him and said, Muhammad, you're my man in Gaza. 389 00:21:38,590 --> 00:21:41,469 S4: Feed my sheep. And so that's what he does. He's 390 00:21:41,470 --> 00:21:44,630 S4: sharing the word. He's reading the Bible with his friends, 391 00:21:44,950 --> 00:21:47,230 S4: and there are many that have come to faith in Christ. 392 00:21:47,230 --> 00:21:49,670 S4: We don't know the numbers, but we know they're a lot. 393 00:21:49,990 --> 00:21:53,310 S1: Tom Doyle is a master storyteller with several books highlighting 394 00:21:53,310 --> 00:21:57,070 S1: God's miraculous work among the Muslim people. Tom, what's one 395 00:21:57,070 --> 00:21:59,750 S1: that you might recommend for listeners who are interested in 396 00:21:59,750 --> 00:22:00,750 S1: the people of Gaza? 397 00:22:01,550 --> 00:22:04,750 S4: I think if people read Dreams and Visions as Jesus 398 00:22:04,750 --> 00:22:07,510 S4: Awakening the Muslim World, we have a section on Gaza, 399 00:22:07,910 --> 00:22:10,510 S4: and it's one of the darkest places we've ever been 400 00:22:10,510 --> 00:22:13,510 S4: in our lives. But that means the light is going 401 00:22:13,550 --> 00:22:17,989 S4: to shine brighter. And so you see people in the 402 00:22:17,990 --> 00:22:20,910 S4: midst of this darkness with terrorist groups all over. And 403 00:22:20,910 --> 00:22:25,430 S4: that living for Jesus. And, um, they're not asking for 404 00:22:25,430 --> 00:22:27,669 S4: God to get them out of Gaza. They're just thankful 405 00:22:27,670 --> 00:22:29,950 S4: they can be there and represent Jesus in the midst 406 00:22:29,950 --> 00:22:30,950 S4: of the darkness. 407 00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:34,340 S1: Dreams and visions. Check that one out. Hey, let's switch 408 00:22:34,340 --> 00:22:36,500 S1: gears for a moment to talk about another bit of 409 00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:39,500 S1: good news. It's a it's a Bible translation that has 410 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:41,780 S1: everything to do with the Middle East. A middle East 411 00:22:41,780 --> 00:22:44,500 S1: based group we call the Bedouins. Who are the Bedouins, Tom? 412 00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:45,780 S1: And what's with this Bible? 413 00:22:46,100 --> 00:22:48,860 S4: Yeah, the Bedouins are the desert nomads. If you've been 414 00:22:48,859 --> 00:22:51,740 S4: to Israel and been out in the desert down toward 415 00:22:51,740 --> 00:22:54,540 S4: the Dead Sea, no doubt you've seen him coming out 416 00:22:54,540 --> 00:22:57,460 S4: of Jerusalem, going down that highway where you hang a 417 00:22:57,460 --> 00:23:00,020 S4: right in the Jordan Valley, all the way down to 418 00:23:00,220 --> 00:23:02,460 S4: maybe Masada. If you were on a trip, say, with 419 00:23:02,460 --> 00:23:05,420 S4: Charlie Dyer, and you see them in tents. And so 420 00:23:05,460 --> 00:23:10,859 S4: they actually resemble the people in the Bible from Abraham's time. 421 00:23:10,859 --> 00:23:14,820 S4: They live in tents. They very primitive. They choose to 422 00:23:14,859 --> 00:23:16,860 S4: live that way. They could live a different way. But 423 00:23:16,859 --> 00:23:20,820 S4: they love the land. They they have camels, they ride camels. 424 00:23:20,820 --> 00:23:23,620 S4: Everything you can imagine. It really looks like a scene 425 00:23:23,619 --> 00:23:26,540 S4: from the movie Lawrence of Arabia. When you're with, with 426 00:23:26,580 --> 00:23:31,449 S4: with the Bedouins. Uh, but the amazing thing about the 427 00:23:31,490 --> 00:23:37,570 S4: Bedouins is that they speak Arabic, but it's about 40% 428 00:23:37,570 --> 00:23:42,890 S4: different from traditional Arabic, and they have never had a 429 00:23:42,930 --> 00:23:46,290 S4: Bible in their language. Now they're an oral culture, so 430 00:23:46,290 --> 00:23:49,890 S4: the Bible would need to be on audio translation for 431 00:23:49,890 --> 00:23:53,690 S4: them to hear. But the amazing thing is, the Bedouins 432 00:23:53,690 --> 00:23:56,530 S4: are everybody's friends. If you ask the Israelis, you ask 433 00:23:56,530 --> 00:24:01,369 S4: the Jordanians, the Syrians. Everybody loves the Bedouins. But you 434 00:24:01,369 --> 00:24:04,650 S4: know what, John Billy Graham was asked years ago what 435 00:24:04,650 --> 00:24:08,010 S4: was the most significant sin that he saw globally? What's 436 00:24:08,010 --> 00:24:10,570 S4: the thing that jumps out at you? And I remember 437 00:24:10,570 --> 00:24:13,290 S4: he said something that surprised me, but he said, oh, 438 00:24:13,290 --> 00:24:17,810 S4: it's racism. It's easy. There's racism all over. And I thought, really? 439 00:24:18,090 --> 00:24:20,930 S4: And he said, every group of people have people they hate. 440 00:24:20,970 --> 00:24:23,570 S4: The Bedouins are accepted, loved by everyone. But we ask 441 00:24:23,570 --> 00:24:26,169 S4: the Bedouin sheikh, is there anyone you don't like? Anyone 442 00:24:26,170 --> 00:24:28,959 S4: you don't get along with? He goes, yes, we hate 443 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:33,000 S4: the gypsies. We can't stand them. So that's true with 444 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:37,760 S4: them too. But there's a Bible translation being written in 445 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,359 S4: their language, and they'll be able to hear it as well. 446 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:47,000 S4: And the better ones, it turns out, have a Christian background. See, 447 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:52,200 S4: everybody considers them 100% Muslim. And technically they are, but 448 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,560 S4: yet their roots are in Christianity. They were in the 449 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,840 S4: area of Petra by Jordan and the Nabataeans. Many of 450 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,800 S4: them came to faith in Christ. And so the Bedouins 451 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,679 S4: were just ask the people to pray for them, because 452 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,200 S4: soon they're going to have Bible translation. They're already getting 453 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:12,520 S4: parts of it already in their language, but they're going 454 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,680 S4: to be able to go back to their roots and 455 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:19,920 S4: really examine what they've lost over the last 1400 years, 456 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,439 S4: when there was a mass conversion to Islam just to 457 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,200 S4: save their necks because they would have been killed. So 458 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,750 S4: we're expecting God to do something great among that group, 459 00:25:29,750 --> 00:25:33,350 S4: the desert nomads that everybody loves. But they've overlooked. And 460 00:25:33,350 --> 00:25:37,150 S4: they're getting a Bible in their translation, in their language. Yeah. 461 00:25:37,550 --> 00:25:39,710 S1: There you have it. Good news from Gaza and a 462 00:25:39,710 --> 00:25:42,950 S1: Bible translation for the Bedouins all coming together here on 463 00:25:42,950 --> 00:25:45,670 S1: the land of the book. Courtesy of Tom Doyle. Always 464 00:25:45,670 --> 00:25:47,470 S1: a pleasure, Tom. Thanks for your company. 465 00:25:47,790 --> 00:25:49,830 S4: Thank you. John. My pleasure. 466 00:25:49,830 --> 00:25:51,830 S1: And stick around for more as we hear some of 467 00:25:51,830 --> 00:25:54,750 S1: your Bible questions and their answers. Next on the land 468 00:25:54,750 --> 00:26:09,310 S1: and the book. Let's be honest, Jesus said plenty. That 469 00:26:09,310 --> 00:26:13,310 S1: was unclear. But then there are some statements that are frankly, 470 00:26:13,630 --> 00:26:16,429 S1: quite difficult. What do you say we take a look 471 00:26:16,430 --> 00:26:18,950 S1: at some of those right now on the land and 472 00:26:18,950 --> 00:26:22,189 S1: the book? Hey, welcome back to segment three. I'm John Gallagher, 473 00:26:22,190 --> 00:26:24,550 S1: seated across from Doctor Gerald Peterman. I'm looking forward to 474 00:26:24,590 --> 00:26:27,620 S1: these difficult sayings of Jesus. Doctor Peterman, aren't you? 475 00:26:27,660 --> 00:26:28,419 S5: To me too. 476 00:26:28,660 --> 00:26:31,220 S1: First, though, a quick thought here. What does Passover mean 477 00:26:31,220 --> 00:26:34,340 S1: for us as believers in Jesus? Some might remember the 478 00:26:34,340 --> 00:26:36,260 S1: story from the book of Exodus, but there is so 479 00:26:36,260 --> 00:26:38,540 S1: much more to it. Did you know that the Last 480 00:26:38,540 --> 00:26:42,020 S1: Supper was a Passover meal? Not only did Jesus and 481 00:26:42,020 --> 00:26:45,780 S1: his disciples celebrate Passover, but it also foreshadowed his death 482 00:26:45,780 --> 00:26:49,300 S1: on the cross for our redemption. Well, Passover is an 483 00:26:49,300 --> 00:26:52,340 S1: amazing connection point with our Jewish friends around the world 484 00:26:52,340 --> 00:26:55,260 S1: and across the street. And Jewish people have been keeping 485 00:26:55,260 --> 00:26:59,020 S1: this feast for thousands of years. So understanding the importance 486 00:26:59,020 --> 00:27:02,179 S1: of this holiday and its history helps you better understand 487 00:27:02,180 --> 00:27:05,220 S1: our precious Jewish friends. And what better way to learn 488 00:27:05,460 --> 00:27:08,899 S1: than to experience a Passover Seder for yourself? If you've 489 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:12,140 S1: never celebrated Passover, good news, our friends at Life in 490 00:27:12,140 --> 00:27:15,340 S1: Messiah would love to partner with you in hosting a 491 00:27:15,380 --> 00:27:19,139 S1: Seder experience. Every year, their staff engage churches and small 492 00:27:19,140 --> 00:27:23,300 S1: groups in an interactive Messiah in the Passover Seder, where 493 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:26,610 S1: you can taste and see the redemption story. If you're 494 00:27:26,609 --> 00:27:30,050 S1: interested in having somebody come lead a Seder in your area, 495 00:27:30,050 --> 00:27:33,649 S1: visit Life in Messiah and click on the Moody Radio 496 00:27:33,650 --> 00:27:37,690 S1: button to learn more. That's life in Messiah. All right. 497 00:27:37,730 --> 00:27:41,210 S1: The difficult sayings of Jesus. I'm going to watch to 498 00:27:41,210 --> 00:27:43,330 S1: see if there's any sweat that forms on your forehead. 499 00:27:43,369 --> 00:27:44,450 S5: I'm sure it will. 500 00:27:44,690 --> 00:27:46,930 S1: A lot of listeners wonder about these questions. Let's start 501 00:27:46,930 --> 00:27:49,690 S1: with number one. It seems like Jesus was often really 502 00:27:49,690 --> 00:27:53,930 S1: harsh and critical, even like in Matthew 2324. He yells 503 00:27:53,930 --> 00:27:57,490 S1: at the people saying, you blind guides, straining out a 504 00:27:57,490 --> 00:28:00,209 S1: gnat and swallowing a camel. Seems like he's going out 505 00:28:00,210 --> 00:28:02,130 S1: of his way here, almost to be brusque. 506 00:28:02,170 --> 00:28:05,409 S5: Your thoughts? Yeah. I mean, a blind guy. That's a 507 00:28:05,410 --> 00:28:09,130 S5: contradiction in terms. A blind guides can't guide anyone. So 508 00:28:09,130 --> 00:28:12,010 S5: what's going on with that? And straining a gnat and 509 00:28:12,010 --> 00:28:16,250 S5: swallowing a camel? Nobody can swallow a camel. So let's 510 00:28:16,290 --> 00:28:17,850 S5: take a deep breath and back up and read this 511 00:28:17,890 --> 00:28:22,210 S5: in the context earlier. Just verse 23. Jesus says, woe 512 00:28:22,250 --> 00:28:26,630 S5: to you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites. So first, this is 513 00:28:26,630 --> 00:28:29,869 S5: a message to Israel's leadership. And we have to admit, 514 00:28:29,910 --> 00:28:31,870 S5: read all the Gospels and we're going to find that 515 00:28:31,869 --> 00:28:34,470 S5: most of the time, if Jesus is being harsh, he's 516 00:28:34,470 --> 00:28:36,790 S5: being harsh with the leadership. And what does he say 517 00:28:36,790 --> 00:28:40,710 S5: about them? You tithe your mint and your dill. What 518 00:28:40,710 --> 00:28:44,950 S5: is that about? Well, he's talking about leadership that lives 519 00:28:44,950 --> 00:28:48,910 S5: in Jerusalem and the tithe is on agricultural products on 520 00:28:48,910 --> 00:28:51,670 S5: your herd. It's not on your wages. Well, these guys, 521 00:28:51,710 --> 00:28:53,670 S5: they don't have a they don't have a big field. 522 00:28:53,670 --> 00:28:57,070 S5: They have like a little herb garden in their back deck. Right. 523 00:28:57,110 --> 00:29:00,310 S5: So they're going to tithe their mint and their dill. 524 00:29:00,350 --> 00:29:04,030 S5: And what does Jesus say. They're neglecting the more weightier 525 00:29:04,070 --> 00:29:07,150 S5: things of the law justice, righteousness and love. And so 526 00:29:07,390 --> 00:29:10,790 S5: this illustration of straining out a net, oh, got to 527 00:29:10,790 --> 00:29:14,070 S5: get that net out and then gulping down a camel 528 00:29:14,070 --> 00:29:18,310 S5: is an illustration of how they've got totally distorted priorities. 529 00:29:18,550 --> 00:29:20,390 S5: And it's a shocking statement to kind of get Ahold 530 00:29:20,390 --> 00:29:20,910 S5: of their hearts. 531 00:29:20,950 --> 00:29:23,180 S1: Yeah. And maybe he needed to be that blunt. Apparently, 532 00:29:23,180 --> 00:29:26,620 S1: he felt so right. Yeah. Question two. Doesn't Jesus say 533 00:29:26,620 --> 00:29:29,459 S1: his kingdom is only for poor people? After all, he 534 00:29:29,460 --> 00:29:32,500 S1: says it's easier for a camel. Here's another camel reference 535 00:29:32,500 --> 00:29:35,260 S1: to go through the eye of a needle than for 536 00:29:35,260 --> 00:29:37,500 S1: a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 537 00:29:37,540 --> 00:29:40,300 S5: Yeah, yeah. Let's, uh, get something out of the way 538 00:29:40,580 --> 00:29:44,020 S5: right away. This is not about a well-known gate in 539 00:29:44,020 --> 00:29:47,180 S5: Jerusalem known as the Needle Gate, that a camel must 540 00:29:47,220 --> 00:29:49,380 S5: get on his knees to go through. That gate didn't 541 00:29:49,380 --> 00:29:52,380 S5: come about until the ninth century A.D.. So this is 542 00:29:52,380 --> 00:29:57,420 S5: about something else. This is about the difficulty of someone 543 00:29:57,420 --> 00:30:00,820 S5: trusting God when they have money and possessions. This is. 544 00:30:00,820 --> 00:30:02,540 S5: This is the way it always is. It's always the 545 00:30:02,540 --> 00:30:06,500 S5: case that we're tempted. If we're healthy, if we're wealthy, 546 00:30:06,540 --> 00:30:10,420 S5: we're tempted to trust ourself rather than to trust God. 547 00:30:10,780 --> 00:30:13,100 S5: And if we're poor, we're more likely to turn to 548 00:30:13,100 --> 00:30:15,780 S5: him because we've got nothing else. And so this is 549 00:30:15,780 --> 00:30:20,380 S5: why Jesus goes there. That is, if we have money 550 00:30:20,380 --> 00:30:23,570 S5: and possessions, it's hard for us to repent. And he 551 00:30:23,570 --> 00:30:28,810 S5: illustrates it with this again, outrageous, even exaggerated statement. Read 552 00:30:28,810 --> 00:30:31,610 S5: the rest of the Gospels. Whom do you find that 553 00:30:31,610 --> 00:30:34,650 S5: is a wealthy person who comes to Christ? Zacchaeus. But 554 00:30:34,650 --> 00:30:38,330 S5: the rest? No. Jesus gives them the requirements and they 555 00:30:38,330 --> 00:30:41,650 S5: walk away. Sad. Yeah, because they're too attached to money 556 00:30:41,650 --> 00:30:42,450 S5: and possessions. 557 00:30:42,450 --> 00:30:44,610 S1: And Jesus does say it's easier for a camel to 558 00:30:44,650 --> 00:30:46,690 S1: go through the eye of a needle. And the disciples 559 00:30:46,690 --> 00:30:49,130 S1: did understand that as being impossible. They said so in 560 00:30:49,130 --> 00:30:52,050 S1: the next verse. Who then can be saved? And then 561 00:30:52,050 --> 00:30:54,730 S1: Jesus says, you know, with with men these things are 562 00:30:54,730 --> 00:30:58,850 S1: not possible. With God. All things are possible. So difficult, yes, 563 00:30:59,170 --> 00:30:59,970 S1: but not impossible. 564 00:31:00,010 --> 00:31:01,650 S5: Thanks be to God, it is possible. 565 00:31:01,690 --> 00:31:04,250 S1: Yeah, well, you're listening to the land and the book. 566 00:31:04,250 --> 00:31:07,250 S1: Questions and answers, a series of questions all focused on 567 00:31:07,250 --> 00:31:10,530 S1: the difficult sayings of Jesus. You're welcome to add your 568 00:31:10,530 --> 00:31:14,090 S1: question anytime to our conversation. The email address to use 569 00:31:14,130 --> 00:31:18,970 S1: is the land and the book at. The land and 570 00:31:18,970 --> 00:31:24,000 S1: the book at Moody's. Next question. I thought hate was 571 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,480 S1: a bad thing. So why does Jesus say in Luke 572 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,600 S1: 14 verse 26, if anyone comes to me and does 573 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,520 S1: not hate his own father and mother and wife and 574 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:36,440 S1: children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, 575 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,880 S1: he cannot be my disciple. 576 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:41,600 S5: Yeah, this this is a tough one. It's true that 577 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:44,560 S5: hate is sometimes very bad. It's also true that sometimes 578 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:48,440 S5: love is bad. Like when the Pharisees love greetings in 579 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,400 S5: the marketplaces. But it's not always bad that we would 580 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:54,680 S5: hate some things. The Lord himself says, you who love me, 581 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,800 S5: you should hate evil. So let's come back to the 582 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,280 S5: passage in the context of Luke 14. What is Jesus doing? 583 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:06,240 S5: Jesus is talking about the costs of discipleship. It's going 584 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:08,680 S5: to cost you if you're going to follow him. And 585 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,720 S5: it can be more difficult than you think. And so 586 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:15,520 S5: when he illustrates this, he illustrates it as you follow me, 587 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:17,720 S5: it's almost as if other people are going to think 588 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:21,709 S5: you hate your parents, but he is most certainly not 589 00:32:21,710 --> 00:32:24,590 S5: contradicting the law of Moses, which says honor your mother 590 00:32:24,590 --> 00:32:28,430 S5: and father, nor contradicting Leviticus 19, which says love your 591 00:32:28,430 --> 00:32:31,870 S5: neighbor as yourself, but letting folks know, oh my goodness, 592 00:32:31,870 --> 00:32:34,150 S5: if you follow me, the world might think you hate 593 00:32:34,150 --> 00:32:36,670 S5: your parents. You're going to have to take this as 594 00:32:36,710 --> 00:32:38,590 S5: a cost of your discipleship. 595 00:32:39,350 --> 00:32:41,950 S1: I'm reminded of the former chairman of the theology department 596 00:32:41,950 --> 00:32:45,150 S1: at Moody. Doctor Fred Dickerson once said, how's your hate life? 597 00:32:45,630 --> 00:32:48,030 S1: You know, and the Bible is full of those kinds 598 00:32:48,030 --> 00:32:48,630 S1: of statements. 599 00:32:48,630 --> 00:32:50,950 S6: That is a that is a shocking question. 600 00:32:51,270 --> 00:32:52,510 S5: It gets our attention. 601 00:32:53,070 --> 00:32:57,710 S1: Question number four Is Jesus approving self-harm or cutting when 602 00:32:57,710 --> 00:33:00,590 S1: he says, if your hand causes you to sin, cut 603 00:33:00,590 --> 00:33:02,990 S1: it off. That seems kind of cut and dry. Not 604 00:33:02,990 --> 00:33:05,590 S1: to not to create a pun there. It seems rather clear. 605 00:33:06,230 --> 00:33:09,110 S5: Well, I think the short answer to the question is no. 606 00:33:09,150 --> 00:33:14,550 S5: Jesus is not encouraging any sort of self-mutilation or self-harm, 607 00:33:14,550 --> 00:33:18,820 S5: so we shouldn't take these words literally. Again, he's using 608 00:33:18,820 --> 00:33:22,700 S5: what sounds like language. That's outrageous. To get us to 609 00:33:22,740 --> 00:33:27,500 S5: see the importance of repentance. That is repentance for us. 610 00:33:27,540 --> 00:33:31,980 S5: Is really hard. Repentance for us might cost us something. 611 00:33:31,980 --> 00:33:34,300 S5: What is the rest of the passage say? Better for 612 00:33:34,300 --> 00:33:37,460 S5: you to enter life crippled than to have two hands 613 00:33:37,460 --> 00:33:41,100 S5: and go into hell. The unquenchable fire. No one enters 614 00:33:41,380 --> 00:33:44,060 S5: eternal life crippled there in the new heaven and new 615 00:33:44,060 --> 00:33:47,420 S5: earth with a new body. But this is again the 616 00:33:47,860 --> 00:33:52,420 S5: cost of discipleship, the cost of repentance. Let's also think 617 00:33:52,420 --> 00:33:56,260 S5: about this. Suppose I draw the conclusion that one of 618 00:33:56,260 --> 00:33:59,140 S5: my eyes is looking at something it should never look at, 619 00:33:59,340 --> 00:34:01,620 S5: and I pluck it out. What? The other one can't 620 00:34:01,620 --> 00:34:05,740 S5: do the same thing. Yeah, right. So where does sin 621 00:34:05,740 --> 00:34:09,180 S5: really come from? Uh, we know it really comes from 622 00:34:09,180 --> 00:34:11,900 S5: the heart. Yes, but then Jesus is using this body 623 00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:16,049 S5: illustration again. Shocking to have us think what's going to 624 00:34:16,050 --> 00:34:17,810 S5: be the cost of my repentance. 625 00:34:18,210 --> 00:34:20,810 S1: And just a reminder as you hear these questions, yours 626 00:34:20,850 --> 00:34:23,330 S1: is welcome as you email us at the land and 627 00:34:23,330 --> 00:34:27,290 S1: the Book at Moody's. I love the questions that we get. 628 00:34:27,489 --> 00:34:30,129 S1: Let's move on to the next. Does Jesus actually tell 629 00:34:30,130 --> 00:34:33,090 S1: a lie when he says in John seven verse eight, 630 00:34:33,210 --> 00:34:35,450 S1: you go up to the feast. I'm not going up 631 00:34:35,450 --> 00:34:38,250 S1: to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. 632 00:34:38,250 --> 00:34:40,250 S1: But then he goes to the feast anyway. 633 00:34:40,850 --> 00:34:43,569 S5: Yeah, I know that, uh, people have a problem with 634 00:34:43,570 --> 00:34:46,250 S5: this verse. Um, and I've talked to them before, so 635 00:34:46,250 --> 00:34:48,890 S5: I really see where this question's a good one. Let's 636 00:34:48,890 --> 00:34:52,730 S5: go to the context. What is happening in John seven? 637 00:34:52,730 --> 00:34:56,649 S5: Jesus is talking to his brothers. Verse three, whoever those 638 00:34:56,650 --> 00:34:59,730 S5: people are, whether you believe they're cousins or blood brothers 639 00:34:59,730 --> 00:35:02,370 S5: with Mary or whoever those people are, they're family, right? 640 00:35:02,410 --> 00:35:04,129 S5: So Jesus is talking to his brothers, and then later 641 00:35:04,130 --> 00:35:08,049 S5: in verse five, it says, not even his brothers were 642 00:35:08,050 --> 00:35:11,609 S5: believing in him. That's quite sad. In other words, we 643 00:35:11,610 --> 00:35:14,950 S5: have a family that's in a family with Jesus and 644 00:35:14,950 --> 00:35:18,550 S5: they don't understand Jesus. But then later in verse four, 645 00:35:18,590 --> 00:35:21,630 S5: his brothers say, ah, you want to be known? Oh, 646 00:35:21,670 --> 00:35:24,030 S5: you want to be conspicuous. Go to the feast, because 647 00:35:24,070 --> 00:35:27,830 S5: anybody who wants to be known shows himself off. Well, 648 00:35:27,830 --> 00:35:31,390 S5: that's not the way Jesus works. So he says, I'm 649 00:35:31,430 --> 00:35:33,590 S5: not going to the feast. And then he goes later. 650 00:35:33,590 --> 00:35:37,750 S5: What does this mean? This means I'm not going in 651 00:35:37,750 --> 00:35:40,589 S5: the way you want me to go? I'm going in 652 00:35:40,590 --> 00:35:42,950 S5: the way my Heavenly Father wants me to go. So 653 00:35:42,950 --> 00:35:47,670 S5: he goes incognito. Because even as early as John seven, 654 00:35:48,190 --> 00:35:50,950 S5: there was already plots to end his life by the 655 00:35:50,950 --> 00:35:52,790 S5: Jewish leadership. Outrageous. 656 00:35:53,469 --> 00:35:56,390 S1: Here's a question. Why does Jesus often speak the way 657 00:35:56,390 --> 00:35:58,870 S1: he does? Why can't he just be more plain? A 658 00:35:58,910 --> 00:36:00,630 S1: lot of us are asking, oh. 659 00:36:00,989 --> 00:36:02,990 S5: If you've read your Bibles, and I hope you have, 660 00:36:03,310 --> 00:36:07,150 S5: then you've come to Jeremiah, then you've come to Hosea, 661 00:36:07,190 --> 00:36:11,190 S5: then you've come to Amos, and you know that there's 662 00:36:11,190 --> 00:36:15,180 S5: been a long history of God speaking to his people, 663 00:36:15,420 --> 00:36:20,620 S5: and a long history of God's people not listening to him. 664 00:36:21,300 --> 00:36:24,980 S5: So let's go to Luke 13. What our Lord says 665 00:36:24,980 --> 00:36:29,860 S5: about Jerusalem, verse 34. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills 666 00:36:29,860 --> 00:36:33,660 S5: the prophets and stone those sent to her. So why 667 00:36:33,660 --> 00:36:37,500 S5: does Jesus use this language? He wants to shake people 668 00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:40,779 S5: out of their 2000 years of lethargy. He wants to 669 00:36:40,820 --> 00:36:44,219 S5: shake people out of 2000 years of being so accustomed 670 00:36:44,219 --> 00:36:47,140 S5: to hearing the word that just slides right over them. 671 00:36:47,219 --> 00:36:51,940 S5: He needs to motivate them to repentance and shake them 672 00:36:51,940 --> 00:36:52,820 S5: out of their sleep. 673 00:36:53,060 --> 00:36:56,100 S1: Well, a great segment. Here are the tough sayings of Jesus. 674 00:36:56,340 --> 00:36:58,140 S1: You can hear it all again at our website. The 675 00:36:58,140 --> 00:37:03,540 S1: land and the book. Charlie Dyer's Devotional is coming up next. 676 00:37:16,450 --> 00:37:19,170 S1: Welcome back to the land and the book. So glad 677 00:37:19,170 --> 00:37:21,609 S1: you've chosen to hang out with us for segment four. 678 00:37:21,690 --> 00:37:25,370 S1: It's Charlie Dyer's devotional. Charlie, uh, if you travel to Israel, 679 00:37:25,370 --> 00:37:29,770 S1: you cannot escape the intense presence of figs. Which brings 680 00:37:29,770 --> 00:37:32,290 S1: me to a question in the Genesis account of Adam 681 00:37:32,290 --> 00:37:35,810 S1: and Eve. And they've now sinned. What is it with 682 00:37:35,810 --> 00:37:38,450 S1: fig leaves that we seem to have preoccupation with? 683 00:37:39,010 --> 00:37:41,489 S2: Uh, they were used to cover their nakedness. And if 684 00:37:41,489 --> 00:37:43,410 S2: you run your hands over a fig leaf, you realize 685 00:37:43,410 --> 00:37:44,610 S2: that was a poor choice. 686 00:37:44,650 --> 00:37:47,690 S1: Wow. All right, there's more to come in Charlie's devotional. 687 00:37:47,690 --> 00:37:50,690 S1: It has to do with figs. But first, uh, this 688 00:37:50,690 --> 00:37:53,410 S1: thought from somebody who's traveled to Israel and brings us 689 00:37:53,410 --> 00:37:54,570 S1: their observation. 690 00:37:58,690 --> 00:38:01,810 S7: Hi, my name is Rich Woollard. And one thing that 691 00:38:01,810 --> 00:38:04,650 S7: I came to realize while I was here was that 692 00:38:04,650 --> 00:38:07,770 S7: the Holy Land is much more rugged than I had 693 00:38:07,770 --> 00:38:12,040 S7: ever thought about. I, uh, Though it's not as large 694 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:15,279 S7: as I probably thought about it, but the hills are 695 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:18,720 S7: just much steeper and more stone and more rock than 696 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:21,879 S7: I've ever seen in one place in my life. It 697 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:26,640 S7: gives me an appreciation for how hard it was for, 698 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,319 S7: let's say, Ruth, to travel all that way through this 699 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:36,480 S7: rugged country and how hard it was for anybody to travel, 700 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:40,520 S7: Christ himself and and everybody that had to walk this land. 701 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:41,840 S7: How difficult it was. 702 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:46,120 S1: Well, about as close as I get to figs is 703 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:49,719 S1: a Fig Newton cookie. But, Charlie, you're continuing your Seven 704 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:52,759 S1: Species of the land devotional series today, and I understand 705 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,400 S1: your focus is figs. 706 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:58,160 S2: It is John. In Deuteronomy eight, Moses described the Promised 707 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:00,799 S2: Land as a land of wheat and barley, vines and 708 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:04,399 S2: fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey. And today our 709 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,160 S2: visit takes us to one of the more misunderstood fig 710 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,550 S2: trees in the Bible. It's growing on the Mount of Olives, 711 00:39:10,550 --> 00:39:13,910 S2: or at least it was growing there until Jesus passed by. 712 00:39:14,350 --> 00:39:17,310 S2: During most of his final week in Jerusalem, Jesus spent 713 00:39:17,310 --> 00:39:19,870 S2: his nights in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha, 714 00:39:19,870 --> 00:39:24,310 S2: and Lazarus. According to the Apostle John, Bethany was near Jerusalem, 715 00:39:24,310 --> 00:39:27,750 S2: about two miles off the walk from Bethany to Jerusalem 716 00:39:27,750 --> 00:39:30,589 S2: was a test of one's calf muscles. Because the Mount 717 00:39:30,590 --> 00:39:33,230 S2: of Olives is very steep. Near the top of the 718 00:39:33,230 --> 00:39:37,109 S2: hill was a small village named Bethpage or Bethpage, which 719 00:39:37,110 --> 00:39:40,150 S2: means House of the Unripe Figs or House of the 720 00:39:40,150 --> 00:39:43,750 S2: Green Figs. The word page is only used one time 721 00:39:43,750 --> 00:39:46,950 S2: in the Old Testament in Song of Solomon 213, where 722 00:39:46,950 --> 00:39:50,350 S2: the writer describes the coming of spring. The fig tree 723 00:39:50,390 --> 00:39:53,750 S2: forms its early fruit and the vines blossom, and the 724 00:39:53,750 --> 00:39:57,350 S2: word translated early fruit is page. But why would a 725 00:39:57,350 --> 00:40:00,549 S2: village be named the house of the unripe figs? Well, 726 00:40:00,550 --> 00:40:02,470 S2: to find the answer, we need to know something about 727 00:40:02,469 --> 00:40:05,710 S2: figs and the Mount of Olives. The fig tree produces 728 00:40:05,710 --> 00:40:09,020 S2: two crops of figs each year. The early figs develop 729 00:40:09,020 --> 00:40:11,700 S2: in the spring, while the main crop starts to develop 730 00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:14,700 S2: six weeks later during the summer. Normally, the leaves of 731 00:40:14,700 --> 00:40:17,860 S2: the fig tree and the early figs begin to appear 732 00:40:17,860 --> 00:40:20,900 S2: about the time of Passover, though the exact time can 733 00:40:20,900 --> 00:40:24,260 S2: vary slightly. So why was this village named the house 734 00:40:24,260 --> 00:40:27,620 S2: of unripe figs? It could possibly be related to its 735 00:40:27,620 --> 00:40:30,340 S2: location on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives 736 00:40:30,340 --> 00:40:34,220 S2: is one of the highest hills in Judah, at over 2600ft. 737 00:40:34,219 --> 00:40:37,020 S2: It towers over the other hills in the immediate area, 738 00:40:37,260 --> 00:40:41,819 S2: and since air temperature decreases as altitude increases, plants on 739 00:40:41,820 --> 00:40:44,900 S2: the top of mountains will blossom and develop more slowly 740 00:40:44,900 --> 00:40:48,740 S2: than those at lower elevation. Perhaps this village, located almost 741 00:40:48,739 --> 00:40:51,380 S2: at the summit of the mountain, got its name because 742 00:40:51,380 --> 00:40:54,380 S2: its figs were among the last in the area to ripen. 743 00:40:54,580 --> 00:40:57,259 S2: Jesus was on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem when 744 00:40:57,260 --> 00:41:00,100 S2: he became hungry, and seeing at a distance a fig 745 00:41:00,100 --> 00:41:01,819 S2: tree and leaf, he went to see if perhaps he 746 00:41:01,820 --> 00:41:04,779 S2: would find anything on it. The mark doesn't give the 747 00:41:04,780 --> 00:41:07,930 S2: exact location. We can assume the tree was near Bethpage, 748 00:41:07,930 --> 00:41:11,290 S2: since it was at a distance from Bethany along this road. 749 00:41:11,650 --> 00:41:14,810 S2: The tree had already transformed itself from a stick figure 750 00:41:14,810 --> 00:41:19,130 S2: of bare whitish branches to a cacophony of emerald green leaves, 751 00:41:19,330 --> 00:41:22,569 S2: and the leaves should have been accompanied by small green figs. 752 00:41:22,690 --> 00:41:25,650 S2: But when Jesus searched among the branches, he found nothing 753 00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:29,129 S2: but leaves. When Mark adds that it was not the 754 00:41:29,130 --> 00:41:32,049 S2: season for figs, he's not implying Jesus was wrong to 755 00:41:32,090 --> 00:41:34,770 S2: look for them, he simply noting it wasn't the time 756 00:41:34,770 --> 00:41:37,489 S2: when one would expect the tree to be full of figs. 757 00:41:37,930 --> 00:41:41,090 S2: In his book Hard Sayings in the Bible, F.F. Bruce 758 00:41:41,090 --> 00:41:44,250 S2: shared historical insight into the story by quoting a minister 759 00:41:44,250 --> 00:41:46,410 S2: who lived in the land during the time of the 760 00:41:46,410 --> 00:41:49,770 S2: British Mandate. Towards the end of March, the leaves began 761 00:41:49,770 --> 00:41:52,530 S2: to appear, and in about a week the foliage coating 762 00:41:52,530 --> 00:41:56,770 S2: is complete. Coincident with this, and sometimes even before, there 763 00:41:56,770 --> 00:41:59,970 S2: appears quite a crop of small knobs. Not the real figs, 764 00:41:59,969 --> 00:42:03,009 S2: but a kind of early forerunner. They grow to the 765 00:42:03,010 --> 00:42:06,520 S2: size of green almonds, in which condition they are eaten 766 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:10,200 S2: by peasants and others when hungry. It's these small early 767 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,720 S2: figs that Jesus expected to find on the tree. Jesus 768 00:42:13,719 --> 00:42:16,880 S2: responded to the tree's barren condition by cursing it. May 769 00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:19,520 S2: no one ever eat from you again. And on the 770 00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:22,720 S2: following morning, as they passed by the spot, the disciples 771 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:25,759 S2: saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. In 772 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:28,280 S2: one day the tree had gone from life to death, 773 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:32,680 S2: from green to brown. Skeptics have taken issue with this story. 774 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:35,560 S2: If Jesus was God, they claim he should have known 775 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:38,520 S2: the tree didn't have any figs. Or if he was God, 776 00:42:38,520 --> 00:42:40,600 S2: why didn't he simply create figs on the tree if 777 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:44,040 S2: he was hungry? But such objections miss the entire point 778 00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:47,480 S2: of the account. Ultimately, Jesus intended this event to be 779 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:50,920 S2: a learning experience for the disciples. But what was the 780 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:54,000 S2: lesson he wanted them to learn? Some think the lesson 781 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:56,600 S2: was to teach that Israel was about to be replaced 782 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:59,680 S2: as God's covenant people because of their coming rejection of 783 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:02,360 S2: the Messiah. Like a fig tree in leaf. The Jewish 784 00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:05,580 S2: people claim to be God's fruitful followers, but they were 785 00:43:05,580 --> 00:43:08,219 S2: about to be cursed because of their failure to produce 786 00:43:08,219 --> 00:43:12,419 S2: the fruit of righteousness. But is this the lesson God intended? 787 00:43:12,620 --> 00:43:15,460 S2: I believe the answer clearly is no. And I say 788 00:43:15,460 --> 00:43:19,379 S2: that for two reasons. First, Jesus tells his disciples the 789 00:43:19,380 --> 00:43:22,620 S2: significance of the event, and his explanation has nothing to 790 00:43:22,660 --> 00:43:26,580 S2: do with God's rejection of Israel according to the biblical account. 791 00:43:26,620 --> 00:43:28,980 S2: The point of the incident was to teach the disciples 792 00:43:28,980 --> 00:43:32,660 S2: to have faith in God. Jesus used the sudden withering 793 00:43:32,660 --> 00:43:35,060 S2: of the fig tree to illustrate what those who have 794 00:43:35,060 --> 00:43:38,379 S2: faith can accomplish. The disciples were amazed that a fig 795 00:43:38,380 --> 00:43:41,220 S2: tree could wither and die in a single day. Jesus 796 00:43:41,219 --> 00:43:44,260 S2: responded by giving an even greater illustration of what faith 797 00:43:44,260 --> 00:43:47,060 S2: can do. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to 798 00:43:47,060 --> 00:43:49,940 S2: this mountain, be taken up and cast into the sea, 799 00:43:49,980 --> 00:43:52,620 S2: and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that 800 00:43:52,660 --> 00:43:54,620 S2: what he says is going to happen, it shall be 801 00:43:54,620 --> 00:43:57,420 S2: granted him. Therefore I say to you all things for 802 00:43:57,460 --> 00:44:00,460 S2: which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, 803 00:44:00,460 --> 00:44:03,770 S2: and they shall be granted you. In his illustration, the 804 00:44:03,770 --> 00:44:06,890 S2: mountain was the Mount of Olives and the sea was 805 00:44:06,890 --> 00:44:10,490 S2: the Dead Sea. That, though 15 miles away, is still 806 00:44:10,489 --> 00:44:12,930 S2: visible from the top of the Mount of Olives. The 807 00:44:12,930 --> 00:44:15,129 S2: point of the withered fig tree is to demonstrate what 808 00:44:15,170 --> 00:44:18,490 S2: faith in God can accomplish. Now there's a second reason 809 00:44:18,489 --> 00:44:20,530 S2: I don't believe the event is a sign of God's 810 00:44:20,530 --> 00:44:24,690 S2: rejection of Israel. Just a few days later, Jesus delivered 811 00:44:24,690 --> 00:44:27,970 S2: the Olivet Discourse to his disciples as they walked back 812 00:44:27,969 --> 00:44:31,170 S2: over the Mount of Olives. In that amazing prophecy, he 813 00:44:31,170 --> 00:44:33,609 S2: announced he would return as king and that he would 814 00:44:33,610 --> 00:44:36,650 S2: regather his people and to remind them that the events 815 00:44:36,650 --> 00:44:39,410 S2: could be near. He shared with them the parable from 816 00:44:39,410 --> 00:44:42,850 S2: the fig tree, when its branch has already become tender 817 00:44:42,850 --> 00:44:45,530 S2: and put forth its leaves, you know summer is near. 818 00:44:45,690 --> 00:44:48,650 S2: Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, 819 00:44:48,650 --> 00:44:52,290 S2: recognize that he is near, right at the door. Jesus 820 00:44:52,290 --> 00:44:55,450 S2: clearly states that God will fulfill his kingdom promises for 821 00:44:55,450 --> 00:44:58,689 S2: the people of Israel. They have not been replaced. And 822 00:44:58,690 --> 00:45:02,359 S2: he uses another fig tree to illustrate that promise. So 823 00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:04,600 S2: what can we learn from the incident of the fig 824 00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:07,200 S2: tree on the Mount of Olives? Let's begin with the 825 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:11,000 S2: lesson Jesus taught his disciples. Do you believe God's Word? 826 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:13,600 S2: Do you have faith in the promises God has given 827 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:16,440 S2: you in His Word? Jesus said, men and women of 828 00:45:16,440 --> 00:45:19,480 S2: faith can trust God to do what they're not capable 829 00:45:19,480 --> 00:45:23,000 S2: of doing themselves. God is saying that he can and 830 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:26,280 S2: will move mountains in response to the prayers of faithful 831 00:45:26,280 --> 00:45:29,160 S2: men and women. A fig tree shriveling up in a 832 00:45:29,160 --> 00:45:32,080 S2: day is amazing, but it's nothing compared to the power 833 00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:36,239 S2: God has made available to you, his child, through prayer. 834 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,480 S2: Oscar Eliason had it right in the song he wrote 835 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:43,600 S2: many years ago. Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? 836 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:48,879 S2: Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in 837 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:52,920 S2: things thought impossible. He'll do for you what no other 838 00:45:52,920 --> 00:45:56,720 S2: power can do. How do we know this is true? Well, 839 00:45:56,760 --> 00:45:58,800 S2: just look at that withered fig tree. 840 00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:01,509 S1: Thank you so much, Charlie. And I want to just 841 00:46:01,510 --> 00:46:04,870 S1: pause and pray right now for anybody who is going 842 00:46:04,870 --> 00:46:09,070 S1: through an impossible season, an impossible moment, an impossible sickness, 843 00:46:09,110 --> 00:46:15,110 S1: an impossible financial setback, an impossible relational disaster. Let's pray. Lord, 844 00:46:15,270 --> 00:46:19,750 S1: we invite you into these impossibles because you can do anything. 845 00:46:20,070 --> 00:46:23,110 S1: We invite you to do something. The thing we need 846 00:46:23,110 --> 00:46:26,230 S1: most in all these situations. Thank you that you are 847 00:46:26,230 --> 00:46:29,990 S1: Lord of it all, Lord over all. And we invite 848 00:46:29,989 --> 00:46:32,509 S1: you to do what only you can do. We give 849 00:46:32,510 --> 00:46:37,190 S1: you thanks in advance, Lord Jesus. Amen. Charlie, appreciate that devotional. 850 00:46:37,230 --> 00:46:39,390 S1: Want to say thank you to the management at this 851 00:46:39,390 --> 00:46:42,110 S1: station for carving out airtime for the land? In the book, 852 00:46:42,510 --> 00:46:45,910 S1: a salute to our producer, Dan Anderson. And I'm John Gager, 853 00:46:45,910 --> 00:46:48,510 S1: thanking you for listening to the Land and the book, 854 00:46:48,710 --> 00:46:52,270 S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. Hey, 855 00:46:52,270 --> 00:46:54,590 S1: do us a favor and share us with a friend. Thanks.