1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And when he had called unto him 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: to cast them out and to heal all manner of 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: sickness and all manner of disease. Matthew ten one, God, 5 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: I thank you that when you choose people for greatness, 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: you don't choose the people who look the part, but 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: you choose those whose hearts are pure and whose willingness 8 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: shouts louder than any shortcomings they may have. Jesus, because 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: you chose twelve of the most unlikeliest of characters and personalities, 10 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: I will not look for perfection when choosing those who 11 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: run alongside me, but I will look for people whose 12 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: hearts are pure and who have a genuine willingness to 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: pursue the things of God. Through twelve disciples, you the 14 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: world right side up, Jesus. I'm through my relationships and friendships, 15 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: I know that we will make a lasting impact in Jesus' name. Amen, 16 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 17 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by bibleineyear dot Com. 18 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: It's time to take back freedom over your healthcare. This 19 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 2: open enrollment learn more about how Christian Healthcare Ministries, a 20 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: faith based alternative to health insurance, empowers you with choice 21 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: as you make medical decisions. Discover flexibility to pick your 22 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: providers with programs as low as ninety two dollars per 23 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: month plus. When you prep ahead, you can have the 24 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: peace of mind as you're surrounded in spiritual support. So 25 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: what are you waiting for? Start saving today? Enroll at 26 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 2: ch ministries dot org slash pray the twelve. 27 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 3: In our last story, Jesus witnessed one of the greatest 28 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 3: acts a friend can do. A few men cut a 29 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 3: hole in a roof just to get their paralyzed friend 30 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 3: down to Jesus. They went to great lengths to see 31 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 3: their friend healed, and their faith was rewarded. Now we 32 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 3: see the call of Jesus being given to twelve ragtag misfits. 33 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 3: Jesus would choose his followers not based on skill or wisdom. 34 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 3: He would choose the weak of this world to change 35 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 3: the world. This is the heart of God inspired by 36 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 3: the Gospels. 37 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 4: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 38 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year. Thank you for joining us. Last time, 39 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 4: we heard about some amazing friends who went to extraordinary 40 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 4: links to help their paralyzed friends get the healing he needed. 41 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 4: They got him to Jesus, and Jesus did the rest. 42 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 4: Jesus saw their faith and not only healed the man, 43 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 4: but forgave the man of his sins as well, which 44 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 4: was most important. It was an act that shocked and 45 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 4: offended religious leaders, as Jesus was claiming now that he 46 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 4: has the authority that only God has the authority to forgive. 47 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 4: We also heard how Jesus once again stirred the anger 48 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 4: of the Pharisees when he called Matthew, a tax collector, 49 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 4: a hated, despised tax collector, to be one of his disciples. 50 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 4: Jesus made it abundantly clear to them that he had 51 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 4: come to heal the sick and to help the sinner, 52 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 4: not the righteous or the self righteous. Today we'll hear 53 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 4: how Jesus ultimately assembles his group of twelve disciples. None 54 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 4: of these men were obvious choices, but as we'll discover, 55 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 4: this was God's plan all along, to show and to 56 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 4: share his glory with the world through people like you 57 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 4: and me, common ordinary people who will do extraordinary things 58 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 4: in the power of Christ. So let's listen now to 59 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 4: the reading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 60 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 3: It was the Sabbath, and Jesus entered the synagogue to worship. 61 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: The sabbath was a time for contemplation and relaxation. It 62 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,239 Speaker 3: was established by God for the purpose of pausing work 63 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 3: to rest in him. Some of his critics were in 64 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: attendance as well, waiting for any cause to rebuke him. 65 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 3: As Jesus entered, he saw a man with a withered hand. 66 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 3: The pharisees watched Jesus closely as he approached the man. 67 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: They were waiting for him to heal him. They were 68 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: waiting for him to break the sabbath law and work. 69 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 3: Jesus knew their hearts. They had completely missed the point. 70 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 3: He took the man with the withered hand and looked 71 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 3: at the pharisees. Tell me, Jesus said, is it lawful 72 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 3: to do good on the sabbath? If there is someone 73 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 3: in need, should we let them pass? What if their 74 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 3: life is in danger, should we let them die? The 75 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 3: men were silent, for Jesus was revealing their legalistic hearts. 76 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 3: They didn't care about people. They only cared about looking righteous. 77 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: Stretch out your hand Jesus said to the man, and 78 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 3: in that moment, the man's hand was restored. Everyone marveled 79 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 3: and rejoiced, but the Pharisees left and gathered together, seeking 80 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 3: for an opportunity to destroy him. Jesus took some of 81 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 3: his followers to a mountain. A great crowd followed them 82 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 3: and remained at the bottom of the hills. Jesus looked 83 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 3: out at them. His heart ached for them. They were 84 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 3: like sheep without a shepherd. The wind blew at the 85 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 3: top of the mountain. Jesus's eyes began to water. Do 86 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 3: not pray for the harvest, Jesus said, he gestured to 87 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 3: the people below, for there is a great harvest before us. 88 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 3: Pray for the laborers, for the harvest is plentiful, but 89 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 3: the laborers are few. With those words, Jesus appointed twelve 90 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: men to be his apostles, chosen men that would follow 91 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 3: Jesus everywhere. These men were not chosen for their knowledge, status, 92 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 3: or accomplishments. They were chosen for their hearts, their weakness, 93 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 3: and their willingness. He chose Peter, who was once called Simon. 94 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 3: He chose James and John, the sons of Zebede. He 95 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 3: nicknamed them Sons of Thunder for their fire and enthusiasm. 96 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 3: He chose Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew, the silent and humble servants. 97 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 3: He chose Matthew the tax Collector and Thomas the Skeptic. 98 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 3: He chose James and Judas the Zealot. One of the 99 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: most unique men he chose was Simon the Zealot. He 100 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 3: was one of the notorious dagger Men, a league of 101 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 3: assassins trying to overthrow Roman rule. However, Simon renounced his 102 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 3: old ways for the sake of following Christ. Finally, he 103 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 3: chose Judas as Scariot, the man who would betray him. 104 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 3: He chose him him and loved him, despite knowing who 105 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 3: he would become. 106 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 4: This was the. 107 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 3: Heart of Christ. Jesus's first call to the disciples was 108 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 3: for them to be with him. They would sit by 109 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 3: the camp fire, sharing stories and hopes. They would know 110 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: Jesus as a friend and king. Out of that relationship, 111 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 3: Jesus would send them out to preach, heal, and cast 112 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 3: out demons in his name. The Disciples were empowered by Jesus, 113 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 3: and their strength grew day by day. Whoever desires to 114 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 3: come after me must first pick up his cross and 115 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 3: follow me. Jesus said, whoever holds his life too dear 116 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 3: to lay it down, will lose his life. However, whoever 117 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 3: loses his life for my sake will truly find it. 118 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 3: For what does it profit a man if he gains 119 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: the world's possessions but loses his own soul. Jesus called 120 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 3: his disciples to something higher, not religious repetition or vain practices. 121 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 3: He called them to lay down their lives, money, and 122 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 3: convenience so that others may Jesus would model this call himself. 123 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: He would sacrifice everything so that people could be renewed. 124 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 4: In today's passage we read about another healing and another 125 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 4: confrontation with the religious establishment. Jesus enters the synagogue on 126 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 4: the Sabbath, and seeing a man with a withered hand, 127 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 4: Jesus took pity on him. He was merciful. This was 128 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 4: an opportunity to show the Pharisees how far they had 129 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 4: veered off the heart of the law, that they no 130 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 4: longer cared about people. To them, the constraints of the 131 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 4: law were about total control and power, and for them 132 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 4: to earn God's favor by good works. They added on 133 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 4: to the commandments of God their own laws. So when 134 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 4: the law commanded rest on the Sabbath, these people took 135 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 4: this to the extreme, meaning they could just overlook people's 136 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 4: great needs because it was the Sabbath day. Jesus saw 137 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 4: this as an opportunity to correct this very thinking, so 138 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 4: he asked them what was lawful on the Sabbath? Was 139 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 4: it lawful to do good or evil? To save a 140 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 4: life or destroy it? The answer is obvious, isn't it. 141 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 4: And to drive home this point, Jesus told the man 142 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 4: to stretch out his shriveled hand, and immediately the hand 143 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 4: was healed completely. Even today, we must not allow the 144 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 4: rules and restrictions of religion to move us away from 145 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 4: the heart of God. We are missing the point. We're 146 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 4: missing the Lord. If we put the law above Jesus himself, 147 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 4: Jesus is teaching us that our righteousness is in Him, 148 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 4: and the only way that we can live a righteous 149 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 4: life is from the heart outward, from the inside out. 150 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 4: It is at this point that many of the Pharisees 151 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 4: began to plot against Jesus, looking for a way to 152 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 4: get rid of him. Next, we heard about Jesus calling 153 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 4: his disciples, twelve of them to a mountain to speak 154 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 4: directly to them, away from the crowds. It was common 155 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 4: for rabbis or teachers in those days to hand pick disciples, 156 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 4: men to whom they'd passed down wisdom and guidance, and 157 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 4: this was the model Jesus was following as he chose 158 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 4: these men, these disciples. But when a teacher selected his disciples, 159 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 4: it would typically be the best and the brightest, the 160 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 4: most promising young students. But that's not exactly what Jesus did, though. 161 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 4: He saw the potential and the promise in each man 162 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 4: he chose. Yet he picked some unlikely candidates, and he 163 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 4: gathered a group that was far from homogeneous. He had 164 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 4: fishermen and tradesmen, a tax collector who was seen as 165 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 4: a trader to Israel, and a Jewish revolutionary, a nationalist 166 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 4: who fought against the Roman government. He even called a 167 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 4: man whom he knew would one day betray him to 168 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 4: his death. Jesus was not looking to the attributes the 169 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 4: world viewed as strength. He picked men whose hearts he 170 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 4: could shape, men who would follow him with humility and 171 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 4: desire to serve. He chose the weak and even the uneducated, 172 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 4: so that when they would one day be great for 173 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 4: the Kingdom of God. There would be no question that 174 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 4: it was God's power, the power of Jesus working through them. 175 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 4: Just as God chose the lowly shepherds to be the 176 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 4: first to hear of the Saviour's birth and to proclaim 177 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 4: his arrival into the world, Jesus was choosing the unlikely, 178 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 4: even some of the outcasts of society, to take his 179 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 4: message of the Gospel, the good News, to the world. 180 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 4: This should be a great encouragement to all of us, 181 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 4: because when God chooses us, he enables us to do 182 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 4: what He's called us to do. Just as Christ told 183 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 4: these men, there is a cost of following him. In 184 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 4: Matthew sixteen twenty four and twenty five we read these words. Then, 185 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 4: Jesus said to his disciples, whoever wants to be my 186 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 4: disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and 187 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 4: follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will 188 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 4: lose it. But whoever loses their life from Me will 189 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 4: find it. To follow well. Jesus is not something that 190 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 4: is casual or cheap, but it is demanding and commanding. 191 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 4: We are called to pick up the cross and at 192 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 4: any price, to be paid, at any cost, we are 193 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 4: to follow Jesus, but there is great reward for all 194 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 4: who put their faith and trust in the Lord. And 195 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 4: we know when we follow Jesus through it all, that 196 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 4: one day we will be rewarded in his presence. Dear God, 197 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 4: we thank you that you choose the weak and lowly 198 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 4: of us in this world to accomplish your purposes. Help 199 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 4: us to be willing, help us to be humble, ready 200 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 4: to give ourselves at any price to follow you, because 201 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 4: we know the promise of eternal life lays within us 202 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 4: and before us. In Jesus' name. Amen, thank you for 203 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 4: listening to today's Bible in a year. I'm Pastor Jack 204 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 4: Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the Prey dot 205 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 4: com app and make Bible study and prayer the priority 206 00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 4: of your life. And if you appreciate this podcast, please 207 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 4: share it with someone else. I also want to encourage 208 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 4: you to go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack 209 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 4: Graham dot org for we have resources that are free 210 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 4: and available for you so that you may know Christ 211 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 4: and grow in him. God bless you.