1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,519 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And when he had made a scourge 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: and the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: changer's money and overthrew the tables John two fifteen. I 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: confess to day that zeal for your house has consumed me. 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: Move in my life so that I can stand for 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: what is righteous. Help me so that I can stand 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: for what is godly. Move in my life and allow 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: me to understand heavenly matters. As I look at you, Jesus, 10 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: help me to understand that God loved me so much 11 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: that he sent you as a bridge to connect me 12 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: back into his loving arms. 13 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: No. 14 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: I praise you Lord that as I believe in Jesus Christ, 15 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: I will have access to eternal life. I thank you 16 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: that you did not send Jesus to condemn me, but 17 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: to rescue me from my sins and from myself. I 18 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: declare that I am new and restored because I now 19 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: have you in my life in Jesus name. Amen, Thanks 20 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: for making prayer a priority in your life. To hear 21 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: the Bible come to life, stay tuned for the Bible 22 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: in a year brought to you by Bible in a 23 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: year dot com. 24 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 3: You know your principles, priorities, and practical health care needs 25 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 3: better than anyone else. That's why Christian health Care Ministries 26 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: empowers you to personalize your health care as an alternative 27 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 3: to health insurance. You can have freedom over your health 28 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 3: care decisions and doctors with affordable programs, and when you join, 29 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 3: you're surrounded by fellow believers who share the same values. 30 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 3: Learn more by visiting chministries dot org, slash. 31 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: Pray, flipping tables, and eternal Life. In our last story, 32 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: Jesus performed his first of many miracles at a wedding 33 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: in Cana. By the request of his mother, Jesus blessed 34 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: a wedding by turning water into wine. Although the guests 35 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: were not aware of this miracle, the servants and disciples knew. 36 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: They awed at the humble power of Christ. They knew 37 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: even more that he was the promised Messiah. Now we 38 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: witness the righteous anger of Jesus. When the greed of 39 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: men seeps into the temple gates, Jesus violently empties its courtyard. 40 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: He drives out corruption, then speaks of eternal life and 41 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: why he is come. Inspired by the Gospels. 42 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 4: Hello, this is pastor Jack Graham with another episode of 43 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 4: the Bible in a Year podcast. We have now seen 44 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 4: Jesus calling his disciples to himself, men who believed that 45 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 4: he was from God, even if they didn't fully understand 46 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 4: his purpose or the path that he would take as 47 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 4: the Messiah. But they were compelled to the call. They 48 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 4: dropped everything and began following Jesus. We also heard the 49 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 4: last time how Jesus performed his first miracle in cana 50 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 4: of Galilee, turning water into wine. It is a symbol 51 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 4: of the power of Christ to transform our lives. The 52 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 4: miracle further strengthened the disciples faith in Jesus. Today we'll 53 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 4: hear how Jesus shows a righteous anger at the dishonoring 54 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 4: and the disrespectfulness of God's house by greedy men who 55 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 4: were seeking personal gain at the temple gates. Christ will 56 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 4: act swiftly and forcefully to cleanse his temple, showing the 57 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 4: disciples that he was zealous for his father's house and 58 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 4: serious about calling out wickedness and hypocrisy wherever it presented itself. 59 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 4: Most of the religious leaders will look on this act 60 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 4: with scorn, but one man will seek Jesus out in secret, 61 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 4: wanting to know more. Let's listen now to the reading 62 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 4: of God's word. 63 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: It was Passover in Jerusalem. Men, women and children from 64 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: many nations gathered in the temple courtyards to make a 65 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: sacrifice to the Lord. It was a widely celebrated time, 66 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 2: a time for reflection on the goodness of God, a 67 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: time for prayer and thanksgiving, a time to contemplate the 68 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 2: saving power of God. However, when Jesus walked into the 69 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: temple gates, he did not see people celebrating the Lord. 70 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: He saw money changes and lenders haggling with foreigners. He 71 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: saw temple clerks charging extra money for people to buy sacrifices. 72 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: Worst of all, he saw the courtyard of the gentiles 73 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: filled with money hungry salesmen. Money changes were purposefully high, 74 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: making up exchange rates, so the gentiles had to pay 75 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 2: more money for sacrifices. People outside the family of God 76 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: had come to Jerusalem to seek forgiveness. Instead, they were 77 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: met with payments and fees. The religious leaders were making 78 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: people pay to access forgiveness. The deep fury of God 79 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: welled up within Jesus. Silently, Jesus grabbed some cords from 80 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 2: a nearby cart. He sat down and began to braid them. 81 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: His disciples watched him curiously. They were used to seeing 82 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: Jesus filled with joy and peace, yet there was a 83 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 2: different expression on his face, righteous anger. Jesus finished braiding 84 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: a long braid of leather cords twice as long as himself. 85 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: He stood up. Although Jesus was not a particularly tall man, 86 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: his presence felt larger than the temple itself. Like lightning, 87 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 2: Jesus swung his hips and whipped the braid towards the 88 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: sheep and oxen. The livestock scattered and ran away as 89 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: Jesus relentlessly them out of the temple. The cellars of 90 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,119 Speaker 2: the livestock ran after them. Jesus turned his eyes towards 91 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: the money changer. With purpose, he marched toward the table, 92 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: took the bags of temple currency, and threw them against 93 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: the wall. Off Jesus turned towards the large stone tables 94 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 2: with weights and scales. With god like strength, Jesus flipped 95 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,119 Speaker 2: them over on their sides and let the gold spill 96 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: over the edge. The money changers and salesmen were frantically 97 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 2: trying to gather their goods when Jesus marched up the 98 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 2: temple stairs. The people watched him closely, and the entire 99 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 2: courtyard fell silent. It is written, Jesus began to yell, 100 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: it is written, my father's house should be called a 101 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: house of prayer. Jesus's eyes were filled with furious compassion. 102 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: But look at what is around you. Look closely. You 103 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,799 Speaker 2: have turned this house of prayer into a den of thieves. 104 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 2: His disciples listened to his words, could see the deep 105 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: pain in Jesus's eyes. All he wanted was for people 106 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 2: to worship God free from burdens. The prophecy of David 107 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: resonated in their minds. Zeal for your house will consume me. 108 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: The people looked at him with awe, but the religious 109 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 2: leaders looked at him with contempt. What authority do you 110 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 2: have to say these things? What sign will you show us? 111 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: Jesus dropped the whip in his hands and pointed to 112 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: the temple. Destroy this temple, and I will show you. 113 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: If you destroy it, I will raise it back up 114 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 2: again in three days. A chuckle could be heard from 115 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: the crowd. One of them scoffed at him and said, 116 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: it took forty six years to rebuild that temple, and 117 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 2: you think you could do so in three days. Jesus 118 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: shook his head and walked down the steps. He took 119 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: his disciples and left the courtyard. What they did not 120 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: know is that Jesus was not speaking of the actual temple. 121 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: He was speaking of his body. He would be destroyed 122 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: and raised again in three days time, all for the 123 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: sake of people worshiping God free from burdens. Many of 124 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 2: the pharisees scoffed at Jesus. They shook their heads and 125 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: spat in his direction. They thought of him to be 126 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: just another zealous They were wrong. They were profoundly and 127 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: dangerously wrong. Yet there was one among them who did 128 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: not scoff. His curiosity about Jesus was piqued, and the 129 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 2: dead of night a pharisee named Nicodemus entered into the 130 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: home of Jesus. Nicodemus knocked on the door silently. He 131 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: did not want to be seen speaking with Jesus, in 132 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 2: fear that it might ruin his reputation. Jesus opened the 133 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 2: door and smiled. He greeted Nicodemus and allowed him to 134 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 2: come in. A few of Jesus's followers were sitting beside 135 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 2: the fire, Jesus sat Nicodemus down. He had been expecting him. 136 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 2: How can I help you, Jesus asked, pouring Nicodemus a drink. 137 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 2: Nicodemus began speaking, Rabbi, there is no doubt in my 138 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: mind you are a teacher sent from God God. No 139 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 2: one can do these things that you have been doing otherwise. 140 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 2: Jesus nodded in agreement. However, he was more than a teacher. 141 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 2: Unless one is born again, he truly cannot see the 142 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: Kingdom of God, Jesus said. Nicodemus was confused at his statement. 143 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 2: I'm not sure I follow Rabbi. Are you suggesting that 144 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: someone needs to re enter his mother's womb and be 145 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: born again? Jesus gave a gentle laugh. No, no, listen, 146 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 2: Unless you are born of the spirit, you cannot enter 147 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: into the Kingdom of God. We are all born in 148 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: the flesh, yes, however not all are born of the spirit. 149 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: Jesus could tell that Nicodemus was having difficulty understanding. He 150 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 2: leaned forward and touched Nicodemus's shoulder. Don't be confused by this, 151 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,599 Speaker 2: he said, reassuringly. The wind blows and nobody can see it. 152 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 2: It is the same with being born by the spirit. 153 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: But how can that happen? Nicodemus asked, aren't you a teacher? 154 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: Jesus replied, you should understand this. I have done many 155 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 2: signs and given you earthly examples. You have seen and 156 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 2: heard them. Yet you and the rest of the Pharisees 157 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 2: still do not believe. So how could I possibly explain 158 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: heavenly matters to you? Jesus could see the look of 159 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 2: disappointment on Nicodemus's face. He had compassion on him and 160 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 2: loved him for his heart. Jesus spoke of himself now, saying, 161 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: the one who truly knows the things of heaven is 162 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 2: the one who came from heaven. Just as Moses lifted 163 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 2: the bronze serpent up in the wilderness for people to 164 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: be healed, so people will look upon him and receive 165 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 2: eternal life. Nicodemus knew that story, the story of the 166 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 2: Israelites being saved in the wilderness from venomous snakes by 167 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 2: gazing upon the bronze serpent. He was beginning to understand 168 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: slightly what Jesus was telling him. The Lord smiled and 169 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 2: leaned in closer to Nicodemus, for God so loved the 170 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: world that he affered up his only begotten son, and 171 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 2: whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 172 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 2: And God did not send his son to condemn the world, 173 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 2: know but that by him the world should be saved. 174 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 2: There was a joyfulness in Jesus's voice. His disciples were 175 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 2: behind him, hanging on his every word. His eyes glistened 176 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 2: in the fire light. The light has come to the world, 177 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 2: Jesus continued, But people love darkness rather than the light. 178 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 2: Wickedness hates the light because it exposes it. But whoever 179 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 2: knows and acts upon the truth steps into the light. 180 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 2: With those words, Nicodemus left. He held the words of 181 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: Jesus closely, regretting that he could not totally understand. 182 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 4: Today we began with Jesus once again at the temple 183 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 4: during Passover, and this time we don't see Jesus sitting 184 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 4: with teachers. In today's reading, we saw something that included 185 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 4: a holy zeal and a righteous, fiery anger that comes 186 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 4: from the Lord. God's temple is meant to be a 187 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 4: house of worship, a place of prayer, a place where 188 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 4: people are forgiven, But instead the temple was being used 189 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 4: by greedy businessmen and religious leader taking advantage of people, 190 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 4: charging exorbitant fees for them to access sacrifices and find forgiveness. 191 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 4: We often think of the gentleness of Jesus, and truly 192 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 4: Jesus is gentle and lowly of heart. His character is kind. 193 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 4: But Jesus is also strong and never weak. He was 194 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 4: always deeply devoted to the things of God. Just like 195 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 4: his predecessor, ancestor King David, was called to be strong 196 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,199 Speaker 4: as a warrior for the Lord. Jesus now rises up 197 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 4: to defend the house of God. He was not silent, 198 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 4: and this was not calm. It was violent. He was 199 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 4: determined to set people straight. God's temple would not be 200 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 4: defiled by thieves. He braided a whip and scattered the vendors. 201 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 4: He turned over the tables of those charging money and 202 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 4: taking advantage of the gentiles, speaking with loud voice his 203 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 4: accusations against them. He would not allow this hypocrisy, this dishonesty, 204 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 4: to continue. This was not Jesus losing control of his emotion, 205 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 4: flying off the handle and losing composure. This was clear 206 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 4: and planned behavior. This was righteous indignation. We can only 207 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 4: imagine how shocked the disciples must have been to see 208 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 4: Jesus perform this act of cleansing the temple and behaving 209 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 4: in this way. But they remember the words of Psalm 210 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 4: sixty nine, which says, the zeal of your house will 211 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 4: consume me. This is yet another sign that Jesus is 212 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 4: indeed the Messiah. But the religious leaders and other Jews 213 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 4: did not see this so clearly. They challenged Jesus and 214 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 4: asked what right he had, what authority he possessed to 215 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 4: say and do these things. Response for them was confusing 216 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 4: to those who heard it. In John two nineteen, Jesus 217 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 4: answered them, destroy this temple, and I will raise it 218 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 4: again in three days. They thought he was talking about 219 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 4: the physical temple, the building, the temple of stone and mortar. 220 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 4: But Jesus was speaking here about himself. He was the temple, 221 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 4: He was the very presence of God. The glory of 222 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 4: God was upon him, and one day he would be 223 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 4: destroyed his temple, his physical body would die, but he 224 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 4: would be raised to life on the third day. Here 225 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 4: Jesus begins prophesying his own death and resurrection. The Pharisees 226 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 4: tried to laugh this off, failing to see the one 227 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 4: who was standing before them. All they knew is that 228 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 4: they despise this man who spoke with such authority and 229 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 4: challenged their position and power. But Jesus was not seeking 230 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 4: personal power and pride and prominence. He was calling people 231 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 4: to repent it. He was calling people to himself and 232 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 4: a brand new life. There was one leader among them 233 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 4: who wanted to know more about this Jesus. Perhaps he 234 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 4: was afraid to ask in the broad daylight to ask openly, 235 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 4: So at night this man came to Jesus. His name 236 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 4: was Nicodemus. He wanted to know more about this man. 237 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 4: Is he the Messiah? Is he more than a man? 238 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 4: Is he more than a teacher from God. Jesus then 239 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 4: told Nicodemus that to enter the Kingdom of God, one 240 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 4: must be born again. Nicodemus was confused, so he asked 241 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 4: for clarification. How is it possible to be born again? 242 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 4: The Lord explained to him that he was not talking 243 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 4: about physical birth, but birth in the spirit, heavenly birth, 244 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 4: to be born again from above. This is the new 245 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 4: life that Jesus promises to all who will be born again. 246 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 4: Jesus then gave Nicodemus and us an illustration. He talked 247 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 4: about Moses and the Israelites who look to a bronze servant, 248 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 4: a brazen serpent in the wilderness to be saved from 249 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 4: the bites of snakes. This was a story that Nicodemus 250 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 4: knew well, and Jesus explained to him that this is 251 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 4: a picture of God's love. That God sent his only son, 252 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 4: Jesus into the world, and that whoever would believe in 253 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 4: him would not perish but have everlasting life. This, of course, 254 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 4: is one of the key verses in all of the 255 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 4: Bible John three point sixteen. For God so loved the 256 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 4: world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever 257 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 4: believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. 258 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 4: His words clearly stuck with Nicodemus. Jesus came into the 259 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 4: world to save sinners, religious people like Nicodemus and irreligious 260 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 4: people even like you and me. Whoever you are, God 261 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 4: loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. 262 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 4: And if you will trust in Christ and Christ alone 263 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 4: a your savior and Lord, you will be given eternal life. 264 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 4: Not only will your sins be forgiven, but Jesus will 265 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 4: live in your life and you will live with the 266 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 4: hope of eternal life with you now and forever. I 267 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 4: want to invite you and encourage you to be born again. 268 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 4: If you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus, 269 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 4: do it right now. Simply pray a prayer and invite 270 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 4: Christ into your life. Be willing to turn from your sins, 271 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 4: that's repentance, and receive Jesus as your Lord and follow 272 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 4: him as your savior. And if you will do this, 273 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 4: you will have a brand new life now and forever. 274 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 4: Pray something like this, Jesus, I ask you to come 275 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 4: into my life to be my savior and my God, 276 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 4: my master and friend. In the power of your spirit. 277 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 4: I will live for you all the days of my life, 278 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 4: and I will live with you forever in heaven. Lord, 279 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 4: thank you for giving me a brand new life today 280 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 4: in Jesus's name. Amen. Once again, thank you for listening 281 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 4: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack 282 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 4: Graham from Dallas, Texas. Let me encourage you to download 283 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 4: the prey dot com app and make Bible study and 284 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 4: prayer a real priority in your life. And if you 285 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 4: are enjoying this podcast, share it with someone you know, 286 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 4: someone you care about because sharing God's word has a 287 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 4: powerful impact upon people's lives. And if you want more 288 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 4: resources as to how you can find faith, grow in 289 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 4: your faith, develop as a disciple and follower of Jesus, 290 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 4: be sure to visit me at Jack Graham dot org. 291 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 4: We have plenty of resources that will encourage you and 292 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 4: equip you for life. God bless you.