1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,920 S1: As Christ followers, we care deeply about what happens to Israel. 2 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,560 S1: Do you ever wonder why some American Jews might appear 3 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,120 S1: to have less interest in what's going on in the 4 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,960 S1: nation of Israel? What do we not understand? Coming up, 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,080 S1: we'll take our best shot at understanding the complex relationship 6 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,480 S1: between American Jews and Israel. Plus, we'll cover all the 7 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,920 S1: major stories out of the Middle East. Take time to 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,159 S1: answer some pretty interesting Bible questions, and we'll wrap it 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,839 S1: all up with a devotional from our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. 10 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,400 S1: I'm John Geiger, and speaking of Charlie, are you ready 11 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:38,879 S1: for another adventure together? 12 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,159 S2: I am John, always fun to be with you. 13 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,000 S1: Well, did you know that most Jewish people have never 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,599 S1: heard the gospel? Each week we talk about Israel and 15 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,720 S1: the Jewish people. And it's important to remember that they, 16 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,520 S1: like everybody else, need to hear the good news. 17 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,080 S2: And that's why life in Messiah, a ministry that's been 18 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:00,310 S2: in existence for over 135 years, is devoted to sharing 19 00:01:00,310 --> 00:01:03,470 S2: the gospel with Jewish people around the world. And now 20 00:01:03,470 --> 00:01:07,030 S2: they're offering a gift to moody listeners. This free e-book, 21 00:01:07,030 --> 00:01:10,350 S2: Reaching Jewish People for Messiah, highlights the need for the 22 00:01:10,390 --> 00:01:13,670 S2: gospel among the Jewish people. It will equip you with 23 00:01:13,670 --> 00:01:16,510 S2: practical ways to share the good News with them now. 24 00:01:16,550 --> 00:01:20,910 S2: To receive this free e-book, visit Life in Messiah org 25 00:01:21,030 --> 00:01:23,750 S2: and click on the Moody Radio logo there. Sign up 26 00:01:23,750 --> 00:01:27,150 S2: today to get your copy. That's life in Messiah. 27 00:01:28,870 --> 00:01:30,790 S1: And now a look at current events based in the 28 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:33,830 S1: Middle East. All of these stories unfolding this past week 29 00:01:34,150 --> 00:01:36,470 S1: and in the coming week, Israel is going to celebrate 30 00:01:36,470 --> 00:01:41,390 S1: two back to back holidays, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut, 31 00:01:41,590 --> 00:01:45,030 S1: the Jewish equivalents of our Memorial Day and Independence Day. 32 00:01:45,069 --> 00:01:48,310 S1: What impact, if any, will the war with Hamas and 33 00:01:48,310 --> 00:01:51,830 S1: the continuing political struggles in Israel have on these celebrations, 34 00:01:51,830 --> 00:01:52,669 S1: do you think? 35 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:55,830 S2: Well, let me start by saying Memorial Day. Yom Hazikaron 36 00:01:55,830 --> 00:01:59,620 S2: begins this coming Tuesday night and extends through Wednesday. This 37 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:02,820 S2: is when Israel remembers its fallen soldiers, as well as 38 00:02:02,820 --> 00:02:05,780 S2: those civilians who've been victims of terrorism. And, of course, 39 00:02:05,780 --> 00:02:09,420 S2: the brutal murder of 1200 Israelis back on October 7th, 40 00:02:09,460 --> 00:02:13,299 S2: 2023 is still fresh on everyone's mind. And the death 41 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:18,220 S2: of 846 soldiers and 69 police officers killed in the 42 00:02:18,220 --> 00:02:22,100 S2: fighting that followed adds to the solemn nature of the day. 43 00:02:22,220 --> 00:02:25,900 S2: Israel is a small country, so virtually everyone knows someone 44 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:29,380 S2: who's been impacted by war or terrorism. That makes this 45 00:02:29,380 --> 00:02:33,420 S2: an incredibly somber day. It begins Tuesday night at sundown, 46 00:02:33,419 --> 00:02:37,180 S2: when sirens sound across the country for one minute. Everyone 47 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:40,020 S2: stops what they're doing and stands still to show their 48 00:02:40,020 --> 00:02:43,740 S2: respect and remember the fallen. Cars stop on the highways 49 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:47,100 S2: and drivers get out to stand beside them. A ceremony 50 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:49,540 S2: is then held at the Western Wall that night. The 51 00:02:49,540 --> 00:02:52,540 S2: next day, a siren sounds at 11 a.m. for two 52 00:02:52,540 --> 00:02:55,419 S2: minutes and again the country comes to a halt. At 53 00:02:55,419 --> 00:02:59,170 S2: 7 p.m., another state ceremony takes place at Mount Herzl, 54 00:02:59,169 --> 00:03:03,450 S2: which is Israel's version of Arlington National Cemetery. This ceremony 55 00:03:03,450 --> 00:03:07,250 S2: marks the transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day. That's 56 00:03:07,290 --> 00:03:11,090 S2: Yom Ha'atzmaut. 12 torches are lit to symbolize the 12 57 00:03:11,130 --> 00:03:14,049 S2: tribes of Israel. Each is lit by citizens who've made 58 00:03:14,050 --> 00:03:17,970 S2: an impact on the country. Parties and fireworks then take 59 00:03:17,970 --> 00:03:21,889 S2: place throughout the country. Independence day also normally features a 60 00:03:21,889 --> 00:03:25,930 S2: country wide military flyover with all of their aircraft, but 61 00:03:25,930 --> 00:03:28,810 S2: this year, like last year, the flyover has been canceled 62 00:03:28,810 --> 00:03:32,410 S2: because of the current conflict. Now, both days are being 63 00:03:32,410 --> 00:03:35,930 S2: impacted by the current situation in Israel. The country still 64 00:03:35,970 --> 00:03:39,330 S2: being torn apart by the hostages being held by Hamas. 65 00:03:39,450 --> 00:03:41,570 S2: Many want to do whatever it's going to take to 66 00:03:41,570 --> 00:03:44,250 S2: get them back, even if it means allowing Hamas to 67 00:03:44,290 --> 00:03:48,930 S2: remain in control. These individuals also oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu 68 00:03:49,130 --> 00:03:51,970 S2: and his approach to the war. The country is still 69 00:03:51,970 --> 00:03:55,330 S2: struggling with all of the political infighting between the government 70 00:03:55,330 --> 00:03:58,320 S2: and the courts over plans to dismiss both the head 71 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,160 S2: of Shin Bet and the Attorney General, and to limit 72 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:05,040 S2: the power of the judiciary. As a result, expect protests 73 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,360 S2: to be mixed in with the celebration, especially during the 74 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,240 S2: Independence Day celebrations. But through it all, the country will 75 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,080 S2: remember and honor those who've died. And they'll also take 76 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,960 S2: time to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of 77 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:21,440 S2: the modern state of Israel. 78 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,640 S1: That's Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Old Testament scholar, Middle East expert, 79 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,800 S1: joining us today on the land and the book, as 80 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,080 S1: he does every week in this opening segment, we're working 81 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,120 S1: through a list of current events, topics. The nuclear talks 82 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,920 S1: between the US and Iran are continuing. What's the latest 83 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,120 S1: news on those talks, and could they end up driving 84 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,320 S1: a wedge between Israel and the US? 85 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,120 S2: Well, the third round of negotiations are being held in Oman. 86 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,640 S2: The new round also includes expert level meetings to design 87 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,440 S2: a framework for a possible agreement. But earlier this week, 88 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,860 S2: President Trump said that he and Prime Minister Netanyahu had 89 00:04:56,860 --> 00:04:59,460 S2: talked and that they shared the same mind when it 90 00:04:59,460 --> 00:05:03,300 S2: comes to the negotiations with Iran. Now, very few details 91 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:06,619 S2: have surfaced in terms of what has actually been discussed 92 00:05:06,620 --> 00:05:10,940 S2: or the specific areas of agreement or disagreement in these negotiations. 93 00:05:10,940 --> 00:05:13,140 S2: And it's not clear if the rumors that have been 94 00:05:13,140 --> 00:05:17,180 S2: surfacing accurately reflect issues where both sides have come to 95 00:05:17,220 --> 00:05:21,140 S2: some level of agreement. Oman's Foreign Ministry said the next 96 00:05:21,180 --> 00:05:24,380 S2: round of talks aims to seal a fair, enduring and 97 00:05:24,380 --> 00:05:27,860 S2: binding deal which will ensure Iran is completely free of 98 00:05:27,860 --> 00:05:32,140 S2: nuclear weapons and sanctions and maintaining its ability to develop 99 00:05:32,140 --> 00:05:35,539 S2: peaceful nuclear energy. But the key point here is seeing 100 00:05:35,540 --> 00:05:40,180 S2: exactly what completely free of nuclear weapons really means. Does 101 00:05:40,180 --> 00:05:44,380 S2: it mean eliminating centrifuges or the stockpiling of enriched uranium, 102 00:05:44,380 --> 00:05:47,180 S2: or the technology to build a nuclear weapon and launch 103 00:05:47,180 --> 00:05:50,460 S2: it on a rocket? In the absence of details, right now, 104 00:05:50,460 --> 00:05:54,530 S2: all we have is speculation. Iran is apparently pleased with 105 00:05:54,529 --> 00:05:58,210 S2: where the negotiations are heading, while Israel has expressed concerns. 106 00:05:58,210 --> 00:06:01,770 S2: But are there disagreements within the Trump administration? Or is 107 00:06:01,770 --> 00:06:04,610 S2: this part of a coordinated plan to use his art 108 00:06:04,650 --> 00:06:07,850 S2: of the deal to achieve what he's promised all along? 109 00:06:08,170 --> 00:06:10,729 S2: Will the talks lead to a deal? Or, as one 110 00:06:10,730 --> 00:06:13,570 S2: US source said, will they collapse once the US makes 111 00:06:13,570 --> 00:06:17,289 S2: its final position fully known? The answer right now is 112 00:06:17,290 --> 00:06:20,650 S2: that we simply don't know. So rather than give in 113 00:06:20,650 --> 00:06:24,289 S2: to speculation or fear or anger, I think the best 114 00:06:24,290 --> 00:06:26,810 S2: thing we can do as followers of Jesus is to 115 00:06:26,810 --> 00:06:29,729 S2: be praying for those talks. Pray for wisdom for those 116 00:06:29,730 --> 00:06:32,770 S2: in our government who are negotiating. And pray for God's 117 00:06:32,770 --> 00:06:36,930 S2: protective hand over the people of Israel through the entire process. 118 00:06:37,210 --> 00:06:40,930 S1: Charlie, given the long history, the established fact, not whimsy, 119 00:06:40,930 --> 00:06:46,010 S1: not editorial comment, but actual fact that Iran has repeatedly 120 00:06:46,010 --> 00:06:49,010 S1: refused to let international inspectors to come in at critical 121 00:06:49,010 --> 00:06:52,080 S1: points and look at all the facilities. That's history. That's 122 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,960 S1: that's their track record. Why is there any hope at 123 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,640 S1: all that there would be any transparency on their part 124 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:58,799 S1: in any kind of follow up? 125 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,559 S2: The only reason for hope is the fact that their 126 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,479 S2: economy is collapsing under the weight of the sanctions, and especially, 127 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,240 S2: as Trump added, the maximum pressure. Uh, they need help 128 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,840 S2: or they're afraid their very regime will collapse. So that's 129 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,840 S2: the one pressure point. And hopefully the US won't give 130 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,600 S2: up on that until it receives everything that it needs 131 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,640 S2: to make sure that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons. 132 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,080 S1: Well, two and a half years ago, five red heifers 133 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,120 S1: were flown from Texas to Israel. The goal was to 134 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,920 S1: hopefully have at least one meet the requirements for the 135 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,120 S1: red heifer ceremony, to provide for the ritual purification needed 136 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,400 S1: to rebuild the Jewish temple. What's the latest on those 137 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,840 S1: red heifers? And I'm sure some are wondering why is 138 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:42,600 S1: a red heifer even needed? 139 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,440 S2: Well, let me answer that second question first. In numbers 19, 140 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,360 S2: Israel was told to take a red heifer without spot 141 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,030 S2: or blemish, and which had never been yoked, and then 142 00:07:52,030 --> 00:07:55,430 S2: slaughter it and burn it outside the camp. Cedar wood, hyssop, 143 00:07:55,430 --> 00:07:57,830 S2: and scarlet yarn were to be added to the fire, 144 00:07:57,830 --> 00:08:00,710 S2: and then the ashes were to be collected, mixed with water, 145 00:08:00,710 --> 00:08:03,670 S2: and stored in a jar. The mixture was then sprinkled 146 00:08:03,670 --> 00:08:08,110 S2: on a ceremonially unclean person to provide ritual cleansing. Now 147 00:08:08,110 --> 00:08:10,270 S2: one use of it was to allow the priest to 148 00:08:10,270 --> 00:08:13,950 S2: be made ritually pure so they could participate in temple worship. 149 00:08:14,350 --> 00:08:17,270 S2: According to Jewish scholars, the ashes of the red heifer 150 00:08:17,470 --> 00:08:20,230 S2: are needed before the Third Temple can be rebuilt and 151 00:08:20,230 --> 00:08:25,070 S2: worship resumed. Now to the five heifers. Since arriving in Israel, 152 00:08:25,070 --> 00:08:29,030 S2: those five have been kept in an archaeological park near Shiloh. Apparently, 153 00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:32,990 S2: only two of the original five are still preliminarily qualified 154 00:08:33,190 --> 00:08:36,069 S2: to qualify. The heifers have to be examined to determine 155 00:08:36,070 --> 00:08:38,270 S2: if they're still without defect, if they don't have a 156 00:08:38,309 --> 00:08:41,550 S2: single white hair, though apparently some sages say they're allowed 157 00:08:41,550 --> 00:08:44,350 S2: up to two white hairs, but there's no outer age 158 00:08:44,350 --> 00:08:46,309 S2: limit on them. But the longer they wait, the more 159 00:08:46,309 --> 00:08:48,150 S2: likely it is that the white hair is going to 160 00:08:48,190 --> 00:08:51,140 S2: appear on the two that are remaining. So. So now 161 00:08:51,140 --> 00:08:53,900 S2: the heifers have reached that minimum age. The question has 162 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:56,579 S2: to be why hasn't the ceremony been performed yet? Especially 163 00:08:56,580 --> 00:08:58,660 S2: since a plot of land has been secured on the 164 00:08:58,660 --> 00:09:02,219 S2: Mount of Olives that matches the requirement of being outside 165 00:09:02,220 --> 00:09:04,740 S2: the camp? Well, some believe the ceremony has been held 166 00:09:04,740 --> 00:09:07,500 S2: up for political or security reasons. You know, bringing a 167 00:09:07,500 --> 00:09:09,780 S2: red heifer to the Mount of Olives in an Arab 168 00:09:09,780 --> 00:09:12,700 S2: part of town would draw attention. So would lighting a 169 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:16,100 S2: bonfire in that area. Hamas has actually been warning that 170 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:19,300 S2: Israel will attempt to offer sacrifices on the Temple Mount, 171 00:09:19,540 --> 00:09:22,140 S2: and it seems those offerings can't be made until the 172 00:09:22,140 --> 00:09:25,179 S2: altar and the priests have been ritually purified. So preparing 173 00:09:25,179 --> 00:09:27,939 S2: the ashes of the red heifer would be a signal 174 00:09:27,940 --> 00:09:31,140 S2: that a plan was getting close. Apparently, it was after 175 00:09:31,140 --> 00:09:33,860 S2: the arrival of the red heifers when Hamas began actually 176 00:09:33,860 --> 00:09:37,739 S2: its planning for October 7th attack, which they called operation 177 00:09:37,780 --> 00:09:41,100 S2: Al-Aqsa flood. They're afraid Israel will try to divide the 178 00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:43,860 S2: area on top of the Temple Mount to provide for 179 00:09:43,860 --> 00:09:46,580 S2: Jewish worship, similar to what now exists at the cave 180 00:09:46,580 --> 00:09:49,850 S2: of the Patriarchs in Hebron, and they believe construction of 181 00:09:49,850 --> 00:09:52,730 S2: the temple would then begin soon after that. The Bible 182 00:09:52,730 --> 00:09:55,209 S2: says the temple is going to be rebuilt during the 183 00:09:55,210 --> 00:09:57,730 S2: end times, but it's hard to envision how it will 184 00:09:57,730 --> 00:10:01,530 S2: happen without igniting an even greater religious conflagration. 185 00:10:02,130 --> 00:10:05,410 S1: Finally, Israeli scientists have developed a blood test to provide 186 00:10:05,410 --> 00:10:09,969 S1: early identification of Parkinson's disease. Tell us about this groundbreaking 187 00:10:10,010 --> 00:10:11,570 S1: test from Amazing Israel. 188 00:10:11,730 --> 00:10:14,689 S2: Yeah, this is scientists from Hebrew University, and they did 189 00:10:14,690 --> 00:10:19,250 S2: a blood test that quantifies which are transfer RNA fragments 190 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:23,410 S2: in the blood. The test focuses on repetitive RNA sequences 191 00:10:23,690 --> 00:10:27,010 S2: that accumulate in Parkinson's patients, along with a parallel decline 192 00:10:27,010 --> 00:10:30,850 S2: in mitochondrial RNA. And by measuring the ratio between those 193 00:10:30,850 --> 00:10:35,730 S2: two biomarkers, the test offers a highly accurate, non-invasive, rapid 194 00:10:35,730 --> 00:10:38,969 S2: and affordable diagnostic tool that could lead to early intervention 195 00:10:38,970 --> 00:10:42,450 S2: and treatment for Parkinson's. The goal is to bring to 196 00:10:42,450 --> 00:10:45,170 S2: market this test that could be available to anyone, say, 197 00:10:45,170 --> 00:10:47,640 S2: over the age of 65 to see if they're at 198 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,800 S2: risk of developing Parkinson's. So the test is all still 199 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,960 S2: in process. Clinical trials are ongoing, but hopefully in the 200 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,280 S2: not too distant future, we'll be able to thank these 201 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,720 S2: scientists for this important step in helping identify this disease 202 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,960 S2: in time to provide treatment options. 203 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,080 S1: Thank you Charlie. Fascinating look at current events. Up next, 204 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,440 S1: understanding the complex relationship between American Jews and Israel. Here 205 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:26,040 S1: on the land and the book. Does it ever seem 206 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,600 S1: to you like there's a disconnect between American Jews and 207 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,320 S1: Israeli Jews? As Christ followers, we care deeply about what 208 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,840 S1: happens over in Israel. But do you ever wonder why 209 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,079 S1: some American Jews seem to have little interest in what's 210 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,080 S1: going on in the nation of Israel, or is that accurate? 211 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,480 S1: Have we misread them, or is this really none of 212 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,820 S1: our business? Well, up next on the land and the book, 213 00:11:47,820 --> 00:11:50,140 S1: we're going to take our best shot at understanding the 214 00:11:50,140 --> 00:11:55,180 S1: complex relationship between American Jews and Israel. Welcome to segment 215 00:11:55,179 --> 00:11:58,380 S1: two of The land and the book. I'm John Gieger, 216 00:11:58,420 --> 00:12:01,540 S1: anxious for you to meet today's guest, doctor Guy. Chet 217 00:12:01,540 --> 00:12:04,340 S1: was raised in Israel, in a town just south of 218 00:12:04,340 --> 00:12:07,980 S1: Tel Aviv, a mere ten kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. 219 00:12:08,260 --> 00:12:11,060 S1: Sounds nice to me. He earned his bachelor's degree at 220 00:12:11,059 --> 00:12:15,300 S1: the University of Haifa, his Ma and PhD at Yale University. 221 00:12:15,660 --> 00:12:18,260 S1: He serves as professor of Early American History at the 222 00:12:18,260 --> 00:12:21,980 S1: University of North Texas, has published three books on colonial 223 00:12:21,980 --> 00:12:25,500 S1: and revolutionary America, and is currently completing a book on 224 00:12:25,500 --> 00:12:28,860 S1: his first love, which is Roman History. Hey, we've got 225 00:12:28,860 --> 00:12:32,100 S1: some shared interests there. Guy has also published a book 226 00:12:32,100 --> 00:12:36,660 S1: about the complicated relationship between American Jews and Israel, which 227 00:12:36,660 --> 00:12:38,900 S1: is what we're here to talk about today. That said, 228 00:12:39,140 --> 00:12:41,620 S1: welcome to the land and the book, Doctor Chet. 229 00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:43,620 S3: Thank you very much. I appreciate it. 230 00:12:43,940 --> 00:12:45,890 S1: Yeah. We want to be very sensitive to our Jewish 231 00:12:45,890 --> 00:12:48,930 S1: friends and neighbors here in America, but it sometimes feels 232 00:12:48,929 --> 00:12:52,809 S1: as if American Jews might be losing touch with their Judaism, 233 00:12:52,809 --> 00:12:56,010 S1: whereas Christians are in many ways finally connecting with their 234 00:12:56,010 --> 00:12:58,569 S1: own Jewish roots. What's your assessment here? 235 00:12:59,290 --> 00:13:03,370 S3: Yes. American Jews happen to have a sociology like every 236 00:13:03,370 --> 00:13:06,490 S3: other group in America. And it just so happens that 237 00:13:06,490 --> 00:13:11,530 S3: American Jews are uniquely irreligious. They do not belong to 238 00:13:11,650 --> 00:13:18,130 S3: Jewish organizations, religious communities. They don't attend religious services. I'm 239 00:13:18,170 --> 00:13:22,090 S3: painting here in broad strokes, but in terms of percentages, 240 00:13:22,130 --> 00:13:25,170 S3: like the group that has the highest rates of atheism 241 00:13:25,210 --> 00:13:31,090 S3: is American Jews. So American Jews, just because of their education, 242 00:13:31,090 --> 00:13:37,730 S3: their sociology, are drifting away from their Jewish inheritance. And 243 00:13:37,730 --> 00:13:41,610 S3: in this respect, they are drifting away from their connection 244 00:13:41,610 --> 00:13:45,440 S3: to other Jewish communities around the world, and the most 245 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,440 S3: prominent of those is the Jewish community in Israel. 246 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:50,839 S1: All right. As you say, it's not fair to paint 247 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,839 S1: everyone with the same brush. But to many evangelicals, some, 248 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,560 S1: if not many American Jews do come across as ambivalent 249 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,280 S1: about Israel, whereas Christians, at least to this point, have 250 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,920 S1: for the most part been highly supportive of Israel. How 251 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,360 S1: accurate do you think those impressions are, and what are 252 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,960 S1: the factors that led to where we're at today in America? 253 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,679 S3: So let me start by saying that American Jews are, 254 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:18,080 S3: on the whole very supportive of Israel. However, and you're 255 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,760 S3: right that American Christians are ultra supportive of Israel. However, 256 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,240 S3: you can see that American Jews, their support for Israel is, 257 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,040 S3: as you say, ambivalent. And you can see this in 258 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,840 S3: the way that they support Israel. American Jews support Israel. 259 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:39,720 S3: Not on the street, not on Facebook, not on television screens, 260 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,790 S3: but rather they support Israel with financial contributions and they 261 00:14:44,790 --> 00:14:50,710 S3: support Israel tremendously. I think just since October 7th, American 262 00:14:50,710 --> 00:14:55,030 S3: Jews contributed something like $3 billion to Israeli causes, etc.. 263 00:14:55,390 --> 00:14:58,790 S3: So there is a strong level of support. However, you 264 00:14:58,790 --> 00:15:02,510 S3: can tell that the support is done in private. It's 265 00:15:02,510 --> 00:15:07,950 S3: not done in public openly. By contrast, Christian support for Israel. 266 00:15:08,350 --> 00:15:11,830 S3: Financial support for Israel is much less than Jewish support, 267 00:15:11,830 --> 00:15:14,310 S3: but it is much more vocal. It's much more in 268 00:15:14,310 --> 00:15:17,990 S3: the open. And the reason is that American Jews do 269 00:15:18,030 --> 00:15:24,150 S3: have this political and ideological problem with the state of Israel, 270 00:15:24,190 --> 00:15:28,150 S3: because American Jews, again, because of their sociology, happen to 271 00:15:28,150 --> 00:15:33,470 S3: be on the left, whereas Israeli Jews and Israel necessarily 272 00:15:33,470 --> 00:15:37,630 S3: is on the right because of two factors. One is 273 00:15:37,630 --> 00:15:42,100 S3: nationalism and the other is religion in public life. So, 274 00:15:42,540 --> 00:15:46,740 S3: as you know from your dealings with American society, Americans 275 00:15:46,740 --> 00:15:51,300 S3: who are on the left have become very suspicious and 276 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:54,580 S3: ambivalent about nationalism. They don't trust it. They think it's 277 00:15:55,140 --> 00:16:00,100 S3: crypto fascism. They think it might be tinged with xenophobia 278 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:04,180 S3: and fascism and who knows what. And they're also very 279 00:16:04,220 --> 00:16:09,180 S3: antagonistic towards displays of religion in in the public square. Now, 280 00:16:09,220 --> 00:16:14,780 S3: Israel happens to be a state that is founded on nationalism, 281 00:16:15,060 --> 00:16:21,380 S3: unapologetically on this ethnic nationalism and on religion in the 282 00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:27,180 S3: public square. It's an unapologetically religious country. And so Israel 283 00:16:27,180 --> 00:16:32,140 S3: combines these two concepts that are very troubling for people 284 00:16:32,140 --> 00:16:36,380 S3: on the left. And American Jews happen to be overwhelmingly 285 00:16:36,380 --> 00:16:38,780 S3: on the left, like 75% of them. 286 00:16:39,570 --> 00:16:42,170 S1: Guy. Chet is a professor of American history at the 287 00:16:42,170 --> 00:16:46,090 S1: University of North Texas. Israeli born. He's written My Brother's 288 00:16:46,090 --> 00:16:50,290 S1: Keeper the complicated relationship between American Jews and Israel. He 289 00:16:50,290 --> 00:16:52,850 S1: joins us today on The Land and the book. Let's 290 00:16:52,850 --> 00:16:55,730 S1: zoom out for a minute here and talk about anti-Semitism. 291 00:16:55,730 --> 00:16:58,890 S1: How do we account for the rise of anti-Semitism globally 292 00:16:59,210 --> 00:17:01,410 S1: and here in the USA? Let me take a shot 293 00:17:01,410 --> 00:17:02,890 S1: at the first half of the question and then get 294 00:17:02,890 --> 00:17:06,770 S1: your reaction. I think the global rise of anti-Semitism has 295 00:17:06,770 --> 00:17:09,810 S1: come hand in hand with the expansion of Islam across 296 00:17:09,810 --> 00:17:12,770 S1: Europe and many other places, and the Islam that seems 297 00:17:12,770 --> 00:17:16,450 S1: to be grabbing the spotlight is very anti-Israel. I'd like 298 00:17:16,450 --> 00:17:17,210 S1: your thoughts. 299 00:17:17,730 --> 00:17:21,490 S3: On the whole, I agree anti-Semitism has been rampant in 300 00:17:21,490 --> 00:17:24,850 S3: the Arab and Muslim world forever. It's just that you 301 00:17:24,850 --> 00:17:27,970 S3: and I haven't been as exposed to it, because the 302 00:17:28,330 --> 00:17:32,450 S3: Arab and Muslim presence in our own societies and our 303 00:17:32,450 --> 00:17:36,850 S3: own media has been relatively limited until about 20 or 304 00:17:36,850 --> 00:17:41,520 S3: 30 years ago. But with the waves of immigration, especially 305 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,280 S3: into Europe, you know, immigrants bring their culture with them. 306 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:51,440 S3: And part of Arab culture is a deep and murderous anti-Semitism. 307 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,920 S3: So I think partly we see that. But beyond that, 308 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:01,040 S3: there is especially in in American left wing and European 309 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:06,800 S3: left wing circles, there's also an antagonism to Israel specifically 310 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,240 S3: because of two things. First of all, what I said 311 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:15,240 S3: earlier about the left's discomfort and antagonism towards religion in 312 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,800 S3: the public square and towards nationalism. And this this was 313 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,160 S3: not always the case up until the 1960s or so. 314 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,280 S3: The left saw nationalism as a force for good, because 315 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,760 S3: nationalism was a force against imperialism, and it was also 316 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,399 S3: very supportive of religion in the public square, if you 317 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,710 S3: remember Jimmy Carter, for example. But something happened during the 318 00:18:36,710 --> 00:18:41,790 S3: Cold War that changed that. So again, Israel happens to 319 00:18:41,830 --> 00:18:45,230 S3: combine these two forces in a way that's very troubling 320 00:18:45,270 --> 00:18:49,710 S3: to the European and American left. And then on top 321 00:18:49,710 --> 00:18:54,830 S3: of that, the Europeans and Americans, especially on the left, 322 00:18:55,190 --> 00:18:59,070 S3: do not view the Jews as indigenous to the land 323 00:18:59,070 --> 00:19:03,630 S3: of Israel because they, again, they have a conflicted relationship 324 00:19:03,630 --> 00:19:06,470 S3: with the Bible, with religion. And so they do not 325 00:19:06,510 --> 00:19:11,710 S3: take the Bible as a credible source for truth. And so, 326 00:19:11,710 --> 00:19:16,230 S3: given the fact that they deny or they question the 327 00:19:16,590 --> 00:19:20,230 S3: relationship between the Jews and the land of Israel, they 328 00:19:20,230 --> 00:19:23,909 S3: see them as an interloper. So they see the Jews 329 00:19:23,910 --> 00:19:28,070 S3: as outsiders who came in and colonized the land of Israel. 330 00:19:28,550 --> 00:19:32,750 S3: And therefore they see the Arabs as victims of this 331 00:19:32,950 --> 00:19:39,610 S3: foreign European Colonization, whereas people who are more biblically oriented are. 332 00:19:40,410 --> 00:19:43,970 S3: They view the Jews as natives to the land of Israel. 333 00:19:44,090 --> 00:19:47,689 S1: Okay. Doctor Chet, let's say you have spoken 100% truth here. 334 00:19:48,090 --> 00:19:51,609 S1: What then can be done? One group says, you know, 335 00:19:51,650 --> 00:19:54,330 S1: we believe that the Bible has authenticity and truth to it, 336 00:19:54,330 --> 00:19:56,450 S1: and the Jews have a historic claim to the land. 337 00:19:56,730 --> 00:20:00,090 S1: Another group says we don't believe the Bible at all. Irrelevant. 338 00:20:00,130 --> 00:20:03,570 S1: The Jews are interlopers. They are colonizers. They have no 339 00:20:03,570 --> 00:20:06,410 S1: right to the place where is the middle ground. And 340 00:20:06,609 --> 00:20:08,890 S1: if there is none, how do we. How do we exist? 341 00:20:09,530 --> 00:20:13,449 S3: Well, I have a theory that, um, words have a 342 00:20:13,490 --> 00:20:17,930 S3: limited ability to convince people. I think the best argument 343 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:22,129 S3: in favor of the Jews Nativity to the land of 344 00:20:22,130 --> 00:20:26,290 S3: Israel is a camera. I think if, um, supporters of 345 00:20:26,290 --> 00:20:31,369 S3: Israel spoke less and took more footage of the streets 346 00:20:31,369 --> 00:20:34,560 S3: of Israel, they'd be much more convincing. because when you 347 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,200 S3: look at the Israeli population, you see a population that 348 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:43,320 S3: is much more dark skinned than the American Jewish population. 349 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:48,879 S3: So the American Jewish population is overwhelmingly of European extraction. 350 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,480 S3: I think like 97% of them are of European extraction. 351 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:57,800 S3: By contrast, Israeli Jews are only 40% of European extraction. 352 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,720 S3: The rest are from North Africa, the Middle East, South 353 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,800 S3: Asia and even sub-Saharan Africa. So when you look at 354 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:11,920 S3: the Israeli population, the notion that these are European colonizers 355 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,520 S3: simply doesn't make sense. Whereas I think Americans and Europeans 356 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:20,080 S3: have this experience of befriending Jews at the office and 357 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,600 S3: the street and watching Jerry Seinfeld on TV. And so 358 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,680 S3: when they imagine Israel, they imagine a country full of 359 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,800 S3: these European Jews. And that's simply not the case. 360 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,790 S1: Okay. You mentioned taking photos in Israel and sharing them, 361 00:21:34,790 --> 00:21:36,469 S1: but let me take that one step further. If you 362 00:21:36,470 --> 00:21:40,950 S1: could somehow, right now, take every single American Jew on 363 00:21:40,950 --> 00:21:44,030 S1: a tour of Israel, they're there for two weeks. Three weeks. 364 00:21:44,510 --> 00:21:46,790 S1: What kind of impact do you think that might make 365 00:21:46,790 --> 00:21:48,909 S1: on their attitudes toward Israel? 366 00:21:49,869 --> 00:21:52,590 S3: I think the impact would be. So, first of all, 367 00:21:52,630 --> 00:22:00,310 S3: demystify this fear of religion in the public square, because Americans, 368 00:22:00,550 --> 00:22:04,869 S3: because of Americans own issues with church and state, have 369 00:22:04,869 --> 00:22:08,430 S3: this fear of theocracy as if it's some sort of 370 00:22:08,470 --> 00:22:15,830 S3: unique condition. And they're very protective of this separation. By contrast, 371 00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:19,310 S3: when you go to the Old World in Europe, Middle East, 372 00:22:19,350 --> 00:22:23,990 S3: everywhere else, there's not such a black and white separation 373 00:22:24,350 --> 00:22:27,270 S3: between church and state. And so I think when you 374 00:22:27,270 --> 00:22:31,229 S3: actually visit places, whether it's England or Germany or Spain 375 00:22:31,340 --> 00:22:35,140 S3: or Israel or Russia. Um, I think you see that 376 00:22:35,180 --> 00:22:39,700 S3: in day to day life. It's not as Orwellian as 377 00:22:39,859 --> 00:22:44,859 S3: it's made to sound in your American imagination. So that's 378 00:22:44,859 --> 00:22:47,780 S3: one thing. But the second thing is, I think an 379 00:22:47,780 --> 00:22:52,420 S3: American Jew who is so distant from his Jewish roots 380 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:56,180 S3: here in America, when he goes to Israel and is 381 00:22:56,180 --> 00:23:01,419 S3: suddenly surrounded by Jewish sounding streets and Jewish people and 382 00:23:01,660 --> 00:23:05,659 S3: everybody's Jewish, and the calendar is Jewish, and the, um, 383 00:23:06,060 --> 00:23:09,220 S3: for example, uh, Sunday is the first day of the week. 384 00:23:09,260 --> 00:23:12,100 S3: It's a it's a work day. So it just kind 385 00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:17,020 S3: of reorients your experience of life to a Jewish pace 386 00:23:17,020 --> 00:23:20,740 S3: of living in a Jewish context for living. Because, again, 387 00:23:20,940 --> 00:23:24,859 S3: all the organizations, all the people on the street, the 388 00:23:24,859 --> 00:23:28,540 S3: language is Jewish, the holidays are Jewish, the calendar is Jewish. 389 00:23:28,940 --> 00:23:32,850 S3: So it Reconnects Jews in a way that is visceral. 390 00:23:33,490 --> 00:23:37,330 S3: Unless you live in an enclosed Jewish community, the only 391 00:23:37,330 --> 00:23:41,730 S3: way to connect to Judaism is more Cerebrally doctor Guy. 392 00:23:41,770 --> 00:23:45,689 S1: Chet has written My Brother's Keeper the complicated relationship between 393 00:23:45,690 --> 00:23:48,450 S1: American Jews and Israel. I would add to that this 394 00:23:48,450 --> 00:23:51,250 S1: is my best shot. You know, traveling in Israel, you 395 00:23:51,250 --> 00:23:54,889 S1: see that Palestinians have a place, that Arabs have a 396 00:23:54,890 --> 00:23:58,290 S1: place that Muslims are treated with respect and that they 397 00:23:58,290 --> 00:24:01,609 S1: coexist in most instances, very nicely. Thank you. I mean, 398 00:24:01,650 --> 00:24:03,889 S1: that would suddenly become quite visible to you. 399 00:24:04,210 --> 00:24:09,410 S3: Yes, definitely. In fact, Arabs of the Middle East refer 400 00:24:09,410 --> 00:24:15,570 S3: to Israeli Arabs as Arabs who live on cream, basically 401 00:24:15,570 --> 00:24:18,689 S3: that they have a very good life. They live a 402 00:24:18,690 --> 00:24:21,810 S3: very good life. So, and it's true, their standard of 403 00:24:21,810 --> 00:24:24,330 S3: living in Israel is higher than anywhere else in the 404 00:24:24,330 --> 00:24:28,130 S3: Arab world, and their levels of education are higher, etc.. Yes. 405 00:24:28,170 --> 00:24:30,800 S1: So what is, as we wrap up here, a bright 406 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:32,800 S1: spot for you in all of this or is there none? 407 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,000 S1: What would you what would you have us do as 408 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,880 S1: listeners to bridge the gap, to bring American Jews just 409 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,879 S1: a bit closer toward, uh, a supportive stance for their 410 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:44,280 S1: Israeli brothers and sisters. 411 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:49,600 S3: Just, uh, expressing support for Israel and the Jews and 412 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,919 S3: expressing opposition to anti-Semitism is an effective stance in the 413 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:58,760 S3: sense that Jews feel very lonely in Western society now 414 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:03,399 S3: because all their friends and allies have deserted them. You know, 415 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,439 S3: the people that they've stood side by side in all 416 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,240 S3: their social and political campaigns have now taken the other side, 417 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,600 S3: and they're left bewildered. And so I think Christians, even 418 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:17,640 S3: though there's this barrier, the fact that Christians show themselves 419 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,000 S3: to be on the front lines against anti-Semitism in America 420 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,680 S3: and in favor of Israel, is this ray of light 421 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:30,150 S3: that Jews see? And I think it's reorienting them to 422 00:25:30,190 --> 00:25:33,070 S3: shed some of their fears. And then what I think 423 00:25:33,070 --> 00:25:34,710 S3: are misconceptions about Christians. 424 00:25:35,150 --> 00:25:39,910 S1: Fascinating conversation with doctor Guy Chet, who's written My Brother's Keeper. 425 00:25:40,190 --> 00:25:42,350 S1: We thank you for your time, Doctor Chet, and your 426 00:25:42,350 --> 00:25:44,750 S1: perspectives and hope you'll visit us again. 427 00:25:44,950 --> 00:25:47,150 S3: Thank you very much. I appreciate the offer. Thanks. 428 00:25:47,190 --> 00:25:49,070 S1: Coming up next on the land in the book, a 429 00:25:49,070 --> 00:25:52,470 S1: conversation with somebody who knows his Bible and is happy 430 00:25:52,470 --> 00:25:55,030 S1: to take your questions. That's next on the land and 431 00:25:55,030 --> 00:26:09,189 S1: the book. Thank you. You're listening. You're there. You didn't 432 00:26:09,190 --> 00:26:11,590 S1: go away. And you're here for, I think, what's going 433 00:26:11,590 --> 00:26:14,389 S1: to be a very rewarding segment. On this third segment, 434 00:26:14,390 --> 00:26:18,109 S1: we talk about Bible questions and answers, questions about prophecy, 435 00:26:18,109 --> 00:26:21,189 S1: questions about Israel, and a whole lot more. Your question, 436 00:26:21,190 --> 00:26:23,710 S1: by the way, is always welcome at the land and 437 00:26:23,710 --> 00:26:27,420 S1: the book at Moody's. Edu if we've never met. I'm 438 00:26:27,420 --> 00:26:30,460 S1: Jon Jaeger, sitting down with Doctor Gerald Peterman of Moody 439 00:26:30,460 --> 00:26:34,260 S1: Bible Institute faculty. His Bible really is open, and he's 440 00:26:34,260 --> 00:26:36,379 S1: got a stack of questions, none of which seem to 441 00:26:36,420 --> 00:26:37,740 S1: ever make you nervous. 442 00:26:37,780 --> 00:26:40,540 S4: Oh, really? Is that the impression I give? You just never. 443 00:26:41,980 --> 00:26:43,100 S1: You're cool. You're cool. 444 00:26:43,140 --> 00:26:46,020 S4: Our listeners give great questions. So sometimes they do make 445 00:26:46,020 --> 00:26:46,540 S4: me nervous. 446 00:26:46,580 --> 00:26:48,540 S1: All right, we'll get to the first one after this 447 00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:51,340 S1: quick thought. Did you know that most Jewish people have 448 00:26:51,340 --> 00:26:54,940 S1: never heard the gospel? Each week we talk about Israel 449 00:26:54,940 --> 00:26:57,860 S1: and the Jewish people. And it's important to remember that they, 450 00:26:57,859 --> 00:27:01,740 S1: like everybody else, need to hear the good news. Well, 451 00:27:01,740 --> 00:27:04,820 S1: life in Messiah is a ministry that's now been in 452 00:27:04,820 --> 00:27:09,100 S1: existence for over 135 years, and they're devoted to sharing 453 00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:12,100 S1: the gospel with Jewish people around the world. And now 454 00:27:12,100 --> 00:27:14,220 S1: they are offering a gift to moody listeners. It's a 455 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:18,860 S1: free e-book, Reaching Jewish People from Messiah, and it highlights 456 00:27:18,859 --> 00:27:22,020 S1: the need for the gospel among Jewish people. And better yet, 457 00:27:22,020 --> 00:27:24,740 S1: it'll equip you with practical ways to share the good 458 00:27:24,890 --> 00:27:27,810 S1: news with them. To receive this free e-book and I 459 00:27:27,850 --> 00:27:30,370 S1: do like ebooks. Jerry. I read them all the time 460 00:27:30,369 --> 00:27:34,890 S1: on my iPad and my phone. Visit lifeline. Org. Click 461 00:27:34,890 --> 00:27:37,169 S1: on the Moody Radio logo and sign up today to 462 00:27:37,210 --> 00:27:41,330 S1: get your copy. Life in Messiah. All right, let's get 463 00:27:41,330 --> 00:27:44,330 S1: right to our questions, starting with this one from Willie. 464 00:27:44,810 --> 00:27:47,330 S1: He says you've probably heard this question before. According to 465 00:27:47,330 --> 00:27:50,970 S1: the Life Application Bible Study, Matthew records that there are 466 00:27:50,970 --> 00:27:54,890 S1: two blind men on the Jericho Road. While Mark and 467 00:27:54,890 --> 00:27:59,370 S1: Luke only mention one. So two quick questions was only 468 00:27:59,369 --> 00:28:03,570 S1: one blind man healed Bartimaeus on the Jericho road were 469 00:28:03,570 --> 00:28:08,129 S1: three blind men healed, including Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus at a certain time, 470 00:28:08,130 --> 00:28:10,850 S1: and two blind men healed later. And three are the 471 00:28:10,890 --> 00:28:13,209 S1: gospel writers mentioning the same event. 472 00:28:13,570 --> 00:28:15,649 S4: Oh, that's a great question. I take it that the 473 00:28:15,650 --> 00:28:18,570 S4: three gospel writers give us the same event. It's mentioned 474 00:28:18,570 --> 00:28:22,850 S4: in Matthew 20, Mark ten, and Luke 18. So our 475 00:28:22,850 --> 00:28:26,430 S4: Lord comes along. And often it happens in Mark that 476 00:28:26,430 --> 00:28:29,950 S4: while Mark tells fewer stories, he gives more details about 477 00:28:29,950 --> 00:28:33,430 S4: the story. So we encounter Jesus and the blind man. 478 00:28:33,430 --> 00:28:36,190 S4: He calls out to Jesus, and then only in Mark 479 00:28:36,190 --> 00:28:40,070 S4: we find Jesus says, call him, and then only in 480 00:28:40,070 --> 00:28:43,790 S4: Mark we find the people say, take heart. He's calling you. 481 00:28:43,790 --> 00:28:47,230 S4: And then only in Mark we find he springs up, 482 00:28:47,230 --> 00:28:51,390 S4: throws off his cloak, and follows Jesus. So Bartimaeus, even 483 00:28:51,430 --> 00:28:54,110 S4: though he was blind, he shows great insight. If you 484 00:28:54,110 --> 00:28:56,950 S4: don't mind me saying it as a disciple of Jesus, 485 00:28:57,190 --> 00:29:01,150 S4: right away he starts following. So why did Mark only 486 00:29:01,150 --> 00:29:04,350 S4: mention one? I think because he knew Bartimaeus. He wanted 487 00:29:04,350 --> 00:29:07,350 S4: to mention him by name. The only man in Matthew, 488 00:29:07,350 --> 00:29:10,110 S4: Mark and Luke mentioned by name, who was healed true. 489 00:29:10,270 --> 00:29:13,310 S4: He wanted us to remember him as an example that 490 00:29:13,310 --> 00:29:14,150 S4: we could follow. 491 00:29:14,390 --> 00:29:17,510 S1: Very interesting. All right. A question from Brian. He takes 492 00:29:17,510 --> 00:29:20,670 S1: us to Matthew 16. Jesus said to Peter, upon this 493 00:29:20,670 --> 00:29:23,500 S1: rock I will build my church. There's been a lot 494 00:29:23,540 --> 00:29:26,300 S1: of debate through the centuries as to what Jesus was saying. 495 00:29:26,580 --> 00:29:29,300 S1: He says, I tend to think the rock here referred 496 00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:31,979 S1: to Peter's confession of faith. What do you think? 497 00:29:32,020 --> 00:29:34,660 S4: Oh, it's a great question. And you're absolutely right. There's 498 00:29:34,660 --> 00:29:37,700 S4: lots of different opinions given about it, and sometimes the 499 00:29:37,700 --> 00:29:40,780 S4: conversation can be quite heated. So the key verse is 500 00:29:40,780 --> 00:29:45,180 S4: Matthew 1618. And I really like what Doctor Vanlandingham says 501 00:29:45,180 --> 00:29:48,860 S4: about this passage in the Moody Bible Commentary. He mentions 502 00:29:49,260 --> 00:29:52,020 S4: that many don't want to mention Peter or talk about 503 00:29:52,020 --> 00:29:55,580 S4: Peter being the Rock, because sometimes too much is said 504 00:29:55,580 --> 00:29:58,820 S4: about Peter. But Peter is the focus of the verses 505 00:29:58,820 --> 00:30:01,100 S4: that come before and after. And when we go to 506 00:30:01,140 --> 00:30:04,220 S4: Ephesians or we go to revelation 21, we find that 507 00:30:04,220 --> 00:30:08,140 S4: the apostles and prophets are the foundation of the church. 508 00:30:08,580 --> 00:30:10,820 S4: So we read further in the New Testament that Peter 509 00:30:10,820 --> 00:30:12,980 S4: is the one who, using the keys of the kingdom, 510 00:30:13,260 --> 00:30:17,020 S4: opens the gospel to Jews in Acts two. To Gentiles 511 00:30:17,020 --> 00:30:20,700 S4: in Acts ten. So I think we should say, yes, 512 00:30:20,810 --> 00:30:23,370 S4: Peter is the foundation for the early church. But wait, wait, wait. 513 00:30:23,410 --> 00:30:27,010 S4: Nothing is said about Matthew in succession or passing on 514 00:30:27,010 --> 00:30:30,250 S4: this power. He's just the first one to get the 515 00:30:30,250 --> 00:30:32,410 S4: church started and powerfully started. 516 00:30:32,410 --> 00:30:35,050 S1: Doctor Gerald Peterman is answering questions here on the land 517 00:30:35,050 --> 00:30:37,850 S1: and the book, as he does every week. I'm John 518 00:30:37,850 --> 00:30:40,690 S1: Geiger suggesting why don't you send yours to the land 519 00:30:40,690 --> 00:30:45,130 S1: and the book at Moody's? That's what Melanie did. She 520 00:30:45,130 --> 00:30:48,490 S1: asks if communion is about the Passover and Jesus being 521 00:30:48,490 --> 00:30:52,530 S1: the final sacrifice, then should we as Gentiles only be 522 00:30:52,530 --> 00:30:54,890 S1: celebrating communion during Passover? 523 00:30:54,930 --> 00:30:57,490 S4: I really appreciate this question. I had never thought about 524 00:30:57,490 --> 00:31:01,850 S4: that before. So while Communion and Passover are connected, I 525 00:31:01,850 --> 00:31:06,130 S4: don't think we should only celebrate communion during Passover. Here's 526 00:31:06,130 --> 00:31:08,450 S4: a couple of reasons for that. Because we go to 527 00:31:08,490 --> 00:31:10,850 S4: our Old Testament and what do we find? We find 528 00:31:10,850 --> 00:31:14,770 S4: that Passover is once a year on a particular month, 529 00:31:14,810 --> 00:31:18,050 S4: on a particular day of the month, in the evening. 530 00:31:18,370 --> 00:31:22,200 S4: But we go to First Corinthians, where Paul directs the 531 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,320 S4: Corinthians how to celebrate the Lord's Supper. And he says, 532 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,520 S4: you come together and as often as you eat it. 533 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:30,000 S1: Okay. 534 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,120 S4: You proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. In other words, 535 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,520 S4: this is not something done once a year. It's done 536 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,960 S4: when they gather together. And when is the church gathering? 537 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,800 S4: Almost certainly the Corinthians are getting together on Sunday. And 538 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,240 S4: by the way, they're not gathering in Israel. They're gathering 539 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:49,720 S4: in Greece. So now this Passover, this Lord's Supper has 540 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:53,480 S4: been transformed into a weekly celebration for the people of God. 541 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:55,960 S1: Okay. So do you think, uh, and I know there 542 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,160 S1: are no hard, fast rules given in Scripture is a 543 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:02,440 S1: weekly celebration, likely closer to the New Testament church model 544 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:04,560 S1: than than what some of us do. Maybe monthly. 545 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:09,320 S4: I think so, I think so, because remembering Jesus. Remembering 546 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:14,400 S4: Jesus and reapplying to ourselves, uh, his sacrifice, if you will. 547 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:16,880 S4: It's just very important for us. That's the gospel. 548 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,350 S1: A geography question here from Paul. He says, could there 549 00:32:20,350 --> 00:32:23,630 S1: have been a branch of the Euphrates River that was 550 00:32:23,630 --> 00:32:25,710 S1: closer to modern day Israel? 551 00:32:26,150 --> 00:32:29,030 S4: Ah, wonderful. I had to go back and check my map. 552 00:32:29,950 --> 00:32:34,070 S4: A short answer is probably not. The Euphrates River goes 553 00:32:34,070 --> 00:32:38,070 S4: from northwest to southeast in the northwest. That's the closest 554 00:32:38,070 --> 00:32:40,600 S4: it gets to Israel, and it's not very close. 3 555 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,310 S4: or 400 miles. And then where does it begin to 556 00:32:43,350 --> 00:32:47,390 S4: wander and go out in various directions? That's the southeast, 557 00:32:47,390 --> 00:32:50,910 S4: but that's hundreds of miles away. So I think the 558 00:32:50,910 --> 00:32:55,670 S4: short answer is no, not any closer than current day Euphrates. 559 00:32:55,710 --> 00:32:58,350 S1: Hmm. Interesting question here from Mark. He says I was 560 00:32:58,350 --> 00:33:01,950 S1: meditating on Jesus early life, and several questions came to 561 00:33:01,990 --> 00:33:05,190 S1: mind about what age did he know that his mission 562 00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:08,390 S1: was the cross? Was it Passover when he was 12 563 00:33:08,390 --> 00:33:10,710 S1: and he had to be without blemish or defect, since 564 00:33:10,710 --> 00:33:15,030 S1: this was Yahweh's sacrifice to himself? And that makes me ask, 565 00:33:15,070 --> 00:33:17,420 S1: you know the Scripture that says, be perfect because I 566 00:33:17,460 --> 00:33:20,940 S1: am perfect. No scars, no hitting his shin on something 567 00:33:20,940 --> 00:33:22,979 S1: and causing a defect of the bone. He had to 568 00:33:22,980 --> 00:33:26,740 S1: be perfect without blemish in all ways. Or Mark asks honestly, 569 00:33:26,740 --> 00:33:28,180 S1: am I taking all that too far? 570 00:33:28,380 --> 00:33:30,980 S4: Oh Mark, thanks so much for meditating on the life 571 00:33:30,980 --> 00:33:35,540 S4: of Christ. Um, I don't know when when our Lord 572 00:33:35,540 --> 00:33:38,260 S4: Jesus came to know that the cross was his mission. 573 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:41,140 S4: I think your guess is pretty good. Maybe when he 574 00:33:41,140 --> 00:33:45,100 S4: was 12, left by his parents, or maybe abandoned his parents. 575 00:33:45,140 --> 00:33:49,060 S4: Right in Jerusalem. Perhaps this is where he develops the insight. Uh, no. 576 00:33:49,060 --> 00:33:53,820 S4: Scripture tells us specifically, but about this perfection. You go 577 00:33:53,820 --> 00:33:56,220 S4: to the Old Testament law, and you read in Leviticus 578 00:33:56,540 --> 00:33:59,940 S4: that the animal given must be perfect. It can't have 579 00:33:59,940 --> 00:34:03,060 S4: any blemishes. It can't have any diseases. I think that 580 00:34:03,060 --> 00:34:06,740 S4: is a picture not of our Lord being absent scars, 581 00:34:06,980 --> 00:34:11,500 S4: but of our Lord being absent sin. He is absolutely pure. 582 00:34:11,739 --> 00:34:14,780 S4: He is blameless. He is spotless in terms of sin. 583 00:34:14,780 --> 00:34:16,730 S4: And that's what's important for us. 584 00:34:17,210 --> 00:34:21,130 S1: Christina says, Does Satan not know what's in the Bible? 585 00:34:21,250 --> 00:34:24,569 S1: If he does and knows that Jesus has won the victory, 586 00:34:24,770 --> 00:34:26,250 S1: why wouldn't he repent? 587 00:34:26,690 --> 00:34:29,250 S4: I, I thought this was a wonderful question and I 588 00:34:29,290 --> 00:34:32,610 S4: pondered it. That's a great question. I don't know any 589 00:34:32,610 --> 00:34:35,650 S4: verses that point to this directly, but I take it 590 00:34:35,650 --> 00:34:38,370 S4: that over the course of many centuries, because the Bible 591 00:34:38,370 --> 00:34:42,770 S4: has been read from lecterns and pulpits, that our enemy 592 00:34:43,010 --> 00:34:45,810 S4: has heard it over and over and over again. So 593 00:34:45,850 --> 00:34:50,049 S4: he knows his defeat is coming. Why wouldn't he repent? 594 00:34:50,370 --> 00:34:53,370 S4: That is a great question. I take it that his 595 00:34:53,370 --> 00:34:57,529 S4: evil is so incredibly hideous that repentance is just not 596 00:34:57,570 --> 00:35:01,130 S4: on the radar at all. This is where evil ends up. 597 00:35:01,370 --> 00:35:03,009 S4: It ends up in self-destruction. 598 00:35:03,050 --> 00:35:06,610 S1: Not just wrong choices, bad things, but a thorough commitment 599 00:35:06,610 --> 00:35:07,890 S1: to keep on doing that. 600 00:35:07,930 --> 00:35:10,330 S4: Right, right. Sadly. Absolutely. 601 00:35:11,090 --> 00:35:13,410 S1: From Chris, this question, he says I have no trouble 602 00:35:13,450 --> 00:35:16,670 S1: believing the earth may not be millions of years old, 603 00:35:16,670 --> 00:35:19,110 S1: given that the Lord can create things with the appearance 604 00:35:19,110 --> 00:35:21,109 S1: of age. But I'd like to know more what the 605 00:35:21,110 --> 00:35:25,790 S1: Bible says about dinosaurs. And also, if man coexisted with them, 606 00:35:25,790 --> 00:35:29,149 S1: he takes us to Romans 816 and 17, where it says, 607 00:35:29,150 --> 00:35:31,710 S1: the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are 608 00:35:31,710 --> 00:35:35,430 S1: children of God, and if children heirs also heirs of God, 609 00:35:35,430 --> 00:35:38,350 S1: and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, 610 00:35:38,350 --> 00:35:41,030 S1: so that we may also be glorified with him. Obviously, 611 00:35:41,030 --> 00:35:43,350 S1: this is a second question here. What are your thoughts 612 00:35:43,350 --> 00:35:46,710 S1: on what if indeed we suffer with him? What does 613 00:35:46,710 --> 00:35:49,189 S1: that mean in Paul's time, as well as for born 614 00:35:49,190 --> 00:35:50,150 S1: again believers today? 615 00:35:50,190 --> 00:35:53,550 S4: Oh good good good. Thank you. Two questions, very important, 616 00:35:53,550 --> 00:35:56,390 S4: but going in different directions, aren't they? I don't know 617 00:35:56,390 --> 00:35:58,710 S4: how old the earth is, and I don't know of 618 00:35:58,710 --> 00:36:01,350 S4: a scripture that talks about humans and dinosaurs. I know 619 00:36:01,390 --> 00:36:05,270 S4: of passages in Scripture that talk about Leviathan or Behemoth. 620 00:36:05,310 --> 00:36:08,430 S4: Were they dinosaurs? We don't know. When it comes to 621 00:36:08,469 --> 00:36:12,070 S4: Romans eight. We'll be glorified if we suffer with him. 622 00:36:12,430 --> 00:36:14,980 S4: Let's not think of this as the if of cause 623 00:36:15,020 --> 00:36:17,380 S4: and effect. Let's think about this as the if of 624 00:36:17,380 --> 00:36:22,380 S4: evidence inference. That is because we suffer. We show that 625 00:36:22,380 --> 00:36:26,380 S4: we are heirs. We don't suffer to become heirs, right? 626 00:36:26,620 --> 00:36:29,980 S4: We suffer and we show that we are heirs. 627 00:36:30,820 --> 00:36:34,100 S1: Boy, we've covered a ton of ground today. Fascinating questions. 628 00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:35,740 S1: And I want to say thank you to every listener 629 00:36:35,739 --> 00:36:38,300 S1: who took the time to email us at The Land 630 00:36:38,300 --> 00:36:41,980 S1: and the book at Moody's. But there's more to come 631 00:36:41,980 --> 00:36:44,299 S1: on the program as we say goodbye to Jerry for 632 00:36:44,300 --> 00:36:46,939 S1: this week. Charlie Dyer is back with his devotional that's 633 00:36:46,940 --> 00:36:49,860 S1: coming right up next here on the land and the book. 634 00:37:02,540 --> 00:37:05,900 S1: In many homes, people have assigned seats. Oh, there are 635 00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:09,939 S1: no signs. Maybe. But make no mistake, they are assigned 636 00:37:10,219 --> 00:37:12,690 S1: in the now abandoned home where my mother in law lived. 637 00:37:12,690 --> 00:37:14,609 S1: There was a chair in the living room that no 638 00:37:14,610 --> 00:37:17,730 S1: one else dared sit in. Many of us guys have 639 00:37:17,730 --> 00:37:20,609 S1: a seat. We kind of call our own. But, Charlie, 640 00:37:20,650 --> 00:37:24,170 S1: your devotional today is based on a different kind of chair. 641 00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:25,330 S1: Give us a sneak preview. 642 00:37:25,610 --> 00:37:28,890 S2: It is John. It's the seat of Moses that we're 643 00:37:28,890 --> 00:37:31,250 S2: going to be looking at in a place called Chorazin. 644 00:37:31,290 --> 00:37:33,690 S1: All right. I'm looking forward to that conversation. Hey, by 645 00:37:33,690 --> 00:37:35,969 S1: the way, welcome back to this fourth segment of The 646 00:37:35,969 --> 00:37:38,650 S1: Land and the book. This is a time when Charlie 647 00:37:38,650 --> 00:37:40,649 S1: takes us to a place in Scripture. A place in 648 00:37:40,650 --> 00:37:43,290 S1: Israel brings the two together in a way that you'll 649 00:37:43,290 --> 00:37:46,569 S1: never forget either. And before we get to his devotional, though, 650 00:37:46,610 --> 00:37:49,290 S1: I want to encourage us to listen for this testimony 651 00:37:49,290 --> 00:37:52,250 S1: from somebody whose experiences in the Holy Land really stuck 652 00:37:52,250 --> 00:37:54,129 S1: with them. And they just kind of wanted to share 653 00:37:54,130 --> 00:37:55,370 S1: this with you and me. 654 00:37:59,610 --> 00:38:01,650 S5: Hi, my name is Dwight Iverson, and I want to 655 00:38:01,650 --> 00:38:05,009 S5: tell you about the most fantastic vacation you could ever 656 00:38:05,010 --> 00:38:08,730 S5: plan for your family, the Holy Land experience. We spent 657 00:38:08,850 --> 00:38:12,160 S5: a week, ten days here, and I can't pick one 658 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:16,080 S5: specific spot that impressed me any more than another one 659 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:21,040 S5: from the Sea of Galilee, from Tiberius to the Temple Mount. Uh, 660 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:25,160 S5: one after the other was a heart stopper. Bring your family, 661 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:28,840 S5: bring your young kids, bring your grandparents. You will not 662 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:32,439 S5: be disappointed with a time spent in the Holy Land 663 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:34,360 S5: of Israel. It's fantastic. 664 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,239 S6: We came to this trip with our family and we 665 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:41,120 S6: had a 16 year old girl, a 14 year old boy, 666 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:44,160 S6: and an 11 year old boy. And those were great ages. 667 00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:48,120 S6: They asked good questions. They were writing notes, paying attention. 668 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:51,360 S6: It was just an excellent educational trip for our whole family. 669 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:55,040 S7: Hi, I'm Debbie and it was a wonderful experience getting 670 00:38:55,080 --> 00:38:59,960 S7: to walk these steps together and at night debrief over 671 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:02,239 S7: what we had learned. Um, it was just a great 672 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:03,520 S7: experience for the family. 673 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:08,399 S1: Charlie, I'm looking forward to your continuing devotional today in 674 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,390 S1: this series. 11 transcriptions have at it. 675 00:39:11,630 --> 00:39:13,950 S2: Ah. Thanks, John. Yeah, I am continuing that 11 week 676 00:39:13,950 --> 00:39:17,070 S2: series that I called 11 Inscriptions to the Bible. Now, 677 00:39:17,110 --> 00:39:20,430 S2: in this series, we've been looking at written inscriptions uncovered 678 00:39:20,430 --> 00:39:24,029 S2: by archaeologists that give us new insight into our understanding 679 00:39:24,030 --> 00:39:27,510 S2: of the Bible. And our search for today's inscription takes 680 00:39:27,510 --> 00:39:30,430 S2: us to the town of Chorazin, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. 681 00:39:30,790 --> 00:39:33,989 S2: Chorazin is only mentioned twice in the Gospels, once in 682 00:39:33,989 --> 00:39:37,109 S2: Matthew and once in Luke, and both instances record the 683 00:39:37,110 --> 00:39:41,270 S2: same event. Chorazin must have played a significant role in 684 00:39:41,270 --> 00:39:45,790 S2: Jesus's ministry because it's always connected with Bethsaida and Capernaum. 685 00:39:46,150 --> 00:39:48,510 S2: And in Matthew 11, we're told these were the three 686 00:39:48,550 --> 00:39:53,150 S2: cities in which most of Jesus's miracles were performed. Apart 687 00:39:53,150 --> 00:39:55,509 S2: from the fact that it's located two miles from the 688 00:39:55,550 --> 00:39:58,950 S2: Sea of Galilee, up in the hills, walking through Chorazin 689 00:39:58,989 --> 00:40:02,510 S2: certainly reminds us of Capernaum. The design of the houses 690 00:40:02,510 --> 00:40:05,589 S2: and the centrality of the synagogue clearly let us know 691 00:40:05,590 --> 00:40:09,620 S2: we're in a Jewish town. The ruins of Chorazin visible today, 692 00:40:09,620 --> 00:40:13,020 S2: including the synagogue, date to a few hundred years after 693 00:40:13,020 --> 00:40:16,180 S2: the time of Jesus. But this synagogue rests on the 694 00:40:16,180 --> 00:40:18,900 S2: foundation of the one that was here in the first century. 695 00:40:19,140 --> 00:40:22,140 S2: The design really didn't change, and as we walk inside, 696 00:40:22,140 --> 00:40:24,660 S2: I want you to gather over here to the right. Now, 697 00:40:24,660 --> 00:40:27,580 S2: I also need a volunteer. You see this stone chair 698 00:40:27,580 --> 00:40:30,460 S2: beside me? I need someone to sit in that chair 699 00:40:30,500 --> 00:40:34,419 S2: while I talk. I'll explain why later. This chair is 700 00:40:34,420 --> 00:40:37,380 S2: carved from the dark volcanic rock that covers the area. 701 00:40:37,500 --> 00:40:40,259 S2: The one we are looking at is actually a reproduction. 702 00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:43,580 S2: The original is in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. If 703 00:40:43,580 --> 00:40:45,779 S2: you look carefully at the front of this chair, you 704 00:40:45,780 --> 00:40:48,940 S2: can see writing. The inscription is in Aramaic, and it 705 00:40:48,940 --> 00:40:51,700 S2: actually identifies the person who had the chair made for 706 00:40:51,700 --> 00:40:55,900 S2: the synagogue. Remember, for good Judah Ben Ishmael, who made 707 00:40:55,900 --> 00:40:59,060 S2: this stone and its staircase as his reward. May he 708 00:40:59,060 --> 00:41:02,580 S2: have a share with the righteous. The stone that's mentioned 709 00:41:02,580 --> 00:41:05,899 S2: isn't describing a colonnaded porch, but the platform on which 710 00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:10,010 S2: the chair said, I love it. Judah Ben Ishmael paid 711 00:41:10,010 --> 00:41:12,730 S2: to have the chair. The platform on which it rested, 712 00:41:12,730 --> 00:41:16,049 S2: and the stairs up to it carved for the synagogue. Then, 713 00:41:16,050 --> 00:41:18,330 S2: of course, he decided to have his name placed on 714 00:41:18,330 --> 00:41:21,650 S2: the gift so everyone could remember how generous he was. 715 00:41:22,250 --> 00:41:26,050 S2: We're still doing the same thing today. But why carve 716 00:41:26,050 --> 00:41:28,770 S2: an inscription on a chair? And why was the chair 717 00:41:28,810 --> 00:41:32,770 S2: placed on a pedestal? To understand the answer to those questions, 718 00:41:32,770 --> 00:41:37,210 S2: let's go first to Jesus's ministry in his hometown of Nazareth. 719 00:41:37,610 --> 00:41:40,529 S2: In Luke four, Jesus went to the synagogue there on 720 00:41:40,530 --> 00:41:43,169 S2: the Sabbath. He stood up to read, and they brought 721 00:41:43,170 --> 00:41:46,610 S2: him the scroll of Isaiah the prophet. After reading a portion, 722 00:41:46,610 --> 00:41:49,370 S2: Luke says, he closed the book and gave it back 723 00:41:49,370 --> 00:41:52,850 S2: to the attendant, and sat down, and the eyes of 724 00:41:52,850 --> 00:41:56,410 S2: all the synagogue were fixed on him. The chair in 725 00:41:56,410 --> 00:42:00,130 S2: which Jesus sat to teach in Nazareth was likely something 726 00:42:00,130 --> 00:42:03,609 S2: similar to the one here in Chorazin. This chair was 727 00:42:03,610 --> 00:42:07,080 S2: the spot the teacher would sit to expound the scriptures. 728 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:11,719 S2: In Matthew 23, Jesus also describes this place of authority. 729 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:15,320 S2: The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair 730 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:20,400 S2: of Moses, the chair of Moses. His meaning is clear. 731 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:22,719 S2: This is the spot where the leader would sit and 732 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:26,680 S2: expound on the scriptures, just as Moses had led Israel 733 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:29,920 S2: and taught them God's precepts. So the person sitting in 734 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:33,400 S2: this chair was leading those in the synagogue, and to 735 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:36,359 S2: the extent those seated in this place of authority were 736 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:41,000 S2: expounding on God's commands. Jesus said, all that they tell you, 737 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:45,120 S2: do and observe. However, he followed that by saying, but 738 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:47,800 S2: do not do according to their deeds, for they say 739 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:51,480 S2: things and do not do them. This leads to Jesus's 740 00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:55,279 S2: scathing rebuke of the hypocrisy by the religious leaders in 741 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:58,120 S2: his day. But that brings us back to the synagogue 742 00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:01,320 S2: here in Chorazin, and to this chair of Moses, which 743 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:05,100 S2: our volunteer has been sitting in so patiently. I can 744 00:43:05,100 --> 00:43:07,260 S2: see why the person who had the chair made wanted 745 00:43:07,260 --> 00:43:10,899 S2: his name prominently displayed on the front. This was one 746 00:43:10,900 --> 00:43:13,940 S2: of two centerpieces in the synagogue. The other was the 747 00:43:13,940 --> 00:43:16,820 S2: place where the scrolls were kept. The chair of Moses 748 00:43:16,820 --> 00:43:19,540 S2: was the place where God's Word connected to the day 749 00:43:19,580 --> 00:43:22,700 S2: to day lives of the community, and the person seated 750 00:43:22,700 --> 00:43:27,780 S2: in that chair assumed responsibility for interpreting and applying God's Word. 751 00:43:28,100 --> 00:43:30,180 S2: It might have been a personal honor to pay for 752 00:43:30,180 --> 00:43:32,860 S2: the construction of the seat, but it was an awesome 753 00:43:32,860 --> 00:43:38,100 S2: responsibility to sit in it. Jesus reserved his harshest criticism 754 00:43:38,100 --> 00:43:41,980 S2: for the scribes and Pharisees, those who, he says, seated 755 00:43:41,980 --> 00:43:45,660 S2: themselves in the chair of Moses. People don't always like 756 00:43:45,660 --> 00:43:48,140 S2: to hear this, but God holds those who claim to 757 00:43:48,180 --> 00:43:52,220 S2: represent him to a higher standard. The generation of Israel 758 00:43:52,219 --> 00:43:55,339 S2: that came out of Egypt was given ten opportunities to 759 00:43:55,380 --> 00:43:59,260 S2: fail before God cancelled their entry ticket into the Promised Land. 760 00:43:59,660 --> 00:44:03,770 S2: But Moses was only given one chance. These religious leaders 761 00:44:03,770 --> 00:44:06,690 S2: saw the chair of Moses as a place of prestige 762 00:44:06,690 --> 00:44:11,010 S2: and position and power, but they somehow missed the responsibility 763 00:44:11,010 --> 00:44:14,730 S2: that came with all that authority. James, the half brother 764 00:44:14,730 --> 00:44:19,930 S2: of Jesus, understood Jesus's message in Matthew 23. He was respected. 765 00:44:19,930 --> 00:44:22,250 S2: He was looked up to. In the early church, in fact, 766 00:44:22,250 --> 00:44:25,049 S2: in Galatians two, the apostle Paul called him one of 767 00:44:25,050 --> 00:44:29,010 S2: the pillars of the church. Yet James himself wrote, let 768 00:44:29,050 --> 00:44:31,969 S2: not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that 769 00:44:31,969 --> 00:44:36,290 S2: as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. Make no mistake, 770 00:44:36,290 --> 00:44:39,210 S2: God's standard is high for those who claim to speak 771 00:44:39,250 --> 00:44:42,410 S2: on his behalf. Wait a minute. I see you trying 772 00:44:42,410 --> 00:44:44,930 S2: to climb down from that chair and I'm not picking 773 00:44:44,930 --> 00:44:48,210 S2: on you. James said not many should become teachers. He 774 00:44:48,210 --> 00:44:52,009 S2: didn't say. Not any in first Timothy three. Paul said, 775 00:44:52,010 --> 00:44:54,210 S2: if a man aspires to the office of an overseer, 776 00:44:54,210 --> 00:44:57,210 S2: it's a fine work he desires to do. And Paul 777 00:44:57,250 --> 00:44:59,770 S2: goes on to say that one qualification of an elder 778 00:44:59,770 --> 00:45:03,880 S2: or overseer is the ability to teach. The church needs 779 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:07,040 S2: teachers and leaders, but those teachers and leaders need to 780 00:45:07,080 --> 00:45:11,000 S2: understand the responsibility that comes with that position. As we 781 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:13,600 S2: get ready to head back to the bus, what lessons 782 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:15,920 S2: can you take home from our time here in the 783 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:19,239 S2: synagogue at the chair of Moses? Let me share two 784 00:45:19,239 --> 00:45:23,480 S2: applications that will fit into your suitcase for the flight home. First, 785 00:45:23,480 --> 00:45:26,160 S2: don't confuse the man who made this chair of Moses 786 00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:28,759 S2: with the ones who sat in it. The guy who 787 00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:31,239 S2: gave the money and made sure his name was on 788 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:35,880 S2: display has already received his reward. The praise from the congregation. 789 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:38,239 S2: We don't know the names of those who sat in 790 00:45:38,239 --> 00:45:41,319 S2: the chair, but God does. And he's the one we 791 00:45:41,320 --> 00:45:46,680 S2: should all be seeking to please. Second, the church needs leaders, 792 00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:50,279 S2: but those in leadership need to remember that with authority 793 00:45:50,280 --> 00:45:55,200 S2: comes responsibility and a higher level of accountability. The church 794 00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:00,080 S2: needs less stars and more servants. Less emphasis on style 795 00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:04,229 S2: and more emphasis on substance. Leaders who focus less on 796 00:46:04,230 --> 00:46:08,390 S2: glitz and glamour. And more on godly character. To sit 797 00:46:08,390 --> 00:46:10,950 S2: in the chair of Moses is to put yourself under 798 00:46:10,950 --> 00:46:14,350 S2: a greater standard of judgment from God. And that's a 799 00:46:14,350 --> 00:46:17,910 S2: lesson all would be leaders need to remember. Now, if 800 00:46:17,950 --> 00:46:20,230 S2: you'd like to see a photo of the original Seat 801 00:46:20,230 --> 00:46:23,469 S2: of Moses from Chorazin that's on display in the Israel Museum, 802 00:46:23,750 --> 00:46:25,270 S2: be sure to head over to our land in the 803 00:46:25,270 --> 00:46:28,310 S2: book Facebook page where I've posted a picture of it. 804 00:46:28,350 --> 00:46:30,790 S1: It's a great shot. Thank you Charlie for doing that 805 00:46:30,790 --> 00:46:34,109 S1: Facebook page. Always fun to look at. Appreciate your devotional. Hey, 806 00:46:34,110 --> 00:46:36,590 S1: appreciate your being with us today for the land and 807 00:46:36,590 --> 00:46:39,270 S1: the book. If you appreciate the broadcast, why not let 808 00:46:39,270 --> 00:46:41,950 S1: a friend or two know about this ministry too, would you? 809 00:46:42,150 --> 00:46:44,509 S1: There's a podcast you can take advantage of. You'll find 810 00:46:44,510 --> 00:46:48,830 S1: that at our website. The land and the book I'm 811 00:46:48,830 --> 00:46:51,029 S1: John Gager and the land, and the book is a 812 00:46:51,030 --> 00:46:54,950 S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.