1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,480
Speaker 1: Let us pray. And when he had made a scourge

2
00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:08,280
Speaker 1: of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple,

3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,360
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 --> 00:00:25,159
Speaker 1: confess to day that zeal for your house has consumed me.

6
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,040
Speaker 1: Move in my life so that I can stand for

7
00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,320
Speaker 1: what is righteous. Help me so that I can stand

8
00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,280
Speaker 1: for what is godly. Move in my life and allow

9
00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:44,000
Speaker 1: me to understand heavenly matters. As I look at you, Jesus,

10
00:00:44,840 --> 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
00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:58,040
Speaker 1: back into his loving arms. I praise you Lord that

13
00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,800
Speaker 1: as I believe in Jesus Christ, I will have access

14
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,760
Speaker 1: to eternal life. I thank you that you did not

15
00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,080
Speaker 1: send Jesus to condemn me, but to rescue me from

16
00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:15,520
Speaker 1: my sins and from myself. I declare that I am

17
00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:20,360
Speaker 1: new and restored because I now have you in my

18
00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:28,319
Speaker 1: life in Jesus name. Amen, Thanks for making prayer a

19
00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,000
Speaker 1: priority in your life. To hear the Bible come to life,

20
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,240
Speaker 1: stay tuned for the Bible in a year brought to

21
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,440
Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot.

22
00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:50,400
Speaker 2: Com, flipping tables and eternal Life. In our last story,

23
00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,600
Speaker 2: Jesus performed his first of many miracles at a wedding

24
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,040
Speaker 2: in cana By the request of his mother, Jesus blessed

25
00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,480
Speaker 2: a wedding by turning water into wine. Although our guests

26
00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,559
Speaker 2: were not aware of this miracle, the servants and disciples knew.

27
00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,000
Speaker 2: They awed at the humble power of Christ. They knew

28
00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,760
Speaker 2: even more that he was the promised Messiah. Now we

29
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,200
Speaker 2: witness the righteous anger of Jesus. When the greed of

30
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,480
Speaker 2: men seeps into the temple gates, Jesus violently empties its courtyard.

31
00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,800
Speaker 2: He drives out corruption, then speaks of eternal life and

32
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,919
Speaker 2: why he is come inspired by the Gospels.

33
00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,160
Speaker 3: Hello, this is pastor Jack Graham with another episode of

34
00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,320
Speaker 3: the Bible in a Year podcast. We have now seen

35
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,200
Speaker 3: Jesus calling his disciples to himself, men who believe that

36
00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,800
Speaker 3: he was from God, even if they didn't fully understand

37
00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,160
Speaker 3: his purpose or the path that he would take as

38
00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,560
Speaker 3: the Messiah. But they were compelled to the call. They

39
00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:51,519
Speaker 3: dropped everything and began following Jesus. We also heard the

40
00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,800
Speaker 3: last time how Jesus performed his first miracle in cana

41
00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,080
Speaker 3: of Galilee, turning water into wine. It is a symbol

42
00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,720
Speaker 3: of the power of Christ to transform our lives. The

43
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:06,760
Speaker 3: miracle further strengthened the disciples faith in Jesus. Today we'll

44
00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,600
Speaker 3: hear how Jesus shows a righteous anger at the dishonoring

45
00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,080
Speaker 3: and the disrespectfulness of God's house by greedy men who

46
00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,960
Speaker 3: were seeking personal gain at the temple gates. Christ will

47
00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,840
Speaker 3: act swiftly and forcefully to cleanse his temple, showing the

48
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,880
Speaker 3: disciples that he was zealous for his father's house and

49
00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:29,880
Speaker 3: serious about calling out wickedness and hypocrisy wherever it presented itself.

50
00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,600
Speaker 3: Most of the religious leaders will look on this act

51
00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:38,280
Speaker 3: with scorn, but one man will seek Jesus out in secret,

52
00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,680
Speaker 3: wanting to know more. Let's listen now to the reading

53
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:42,480
Speaker 3: of God's word.

54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,040
Speaker 2: It was Passover in Jerusalem. Men, women and children from

55
00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,880
Speaker 2: many nations gathered in the temple courtyards to make a

56
00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,720
Speaker 2: sacrifice to the Lord. It was a widely celebrated time,

57
00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,040
Speaker 2: a time for reflection on the goodness of God, a

58
00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,640
Speaker 2: time for prayer and thanksgiving, a time to contemplate the

59
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,880
Speaker 2: saving power of God. However, when Jesus walked into the

60
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,920
Speaker 2: temple gates. He did not see people celebrating the Lord.

61
00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,200
Speaker 2: He saw money changers and lenders haggling with foreigners. He

62
00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,160
Speaker 2: saw temple clerks charging extra money for people to buy sacrifices.

63
00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:20,640
Speaker 2: Worst of all, he saw the court yard of the

64
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,760
Speaker 2: Gentiles filled with money hungry salesmen. Money changes were purposely

65
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,960
Speaker 2: hiking up exchange rates, so the Gentiles had to pay

66
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,039
Speaker 2: more money for sacrifices. People outside the family of God

67
00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,800
Speaker 2: had come to Jerusalem to seek forgiveness. Instead, they were

68
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,799
Speaker 2: met with payments and fees. The religious leaders were making

69
00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:45,479
Speaker 2: people pay to access forgiveness. The deep fury of God

70
00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:50,040
Speaker 2: welled up within Jesus. Silently, Jesus grabbed some cords from

71
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,480
Speaker 2: a nearby cart. He sat down and began to braid them.

72
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,800
Speaker 2: His disciples watched him curiously. They were used to seeing

73
00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,680
Speaker 2: Jesus filled with joy and peace, yet there was a

74
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:06,320
Speaker 2: different expression on his face, righteous anger. Jesus finished braiding

75
00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,360
Speaker 2: a long braid of leather cords twice as long as himself.

76
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,560
Speaker 2: He stood up. Although Jesus was not a particularly tall man,

77
00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,880
Speaker 2: his presence felt larger than the temple itself, like lightning,

78
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,039
Speaker 2: Jesus swung his hips and whipped the braid towards the

79
00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,680
Speaker 2: sheep and oxen. The livestock scattered and ran away as

80
00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,279
Speaker 2: Jesus relentlessly drove them out of the temple. The cellars

81
00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,839
Speaker 2: of the livestock ran after them. Jesus turned his eyes

82
00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,160
Speaker 2: towards the money changer. With purpose, he marched toward the table,

83
00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,279
Speaker 2: took the bags of temple currency, and threw them against

84
00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,600
Speaker 2: the wall. Off Jesus turned towards the large stone tables

85
00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:47,839
Speaker 2: with weights and scales. With god like strength, Jesus flipped

86
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,159
Speaker 2: them over on their sides and let the gold spill

87
00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,880
Speaker 2: over the edge. The money changers and salesmen were frantically

88
00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,960
Speaker 2: trying to gather their goods. When Jesus marched up the

89
00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,880
Speaker 2: temple stairs. The people watched him closely, and the entire

90
00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,960
Speaker 2: courtyard fell silent. It is written, Jesus began to yell.

91
00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,359
Speaker 2: It is written, my father's house should be called a

92
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:14,560
Speaker 2: house of prayer. Jesus's eyes were filled with furious compassion.

93
00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,440
Speaker 2: But look at what is around you. Look closely. You

94
00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,839
Speaker 2: have turned this house of prayer into a den of thieves.

95
00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,320
Speaker 2: His disciples listened to his words. They could see the

96
00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,560
Speaker 2: deep pain in Jesus's eyes. All he wanted was for

97
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,640
Speaker 2: people to worship God free from burdens. The prophecy of

98
00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,840
Speaker 2: David resonated in their minds. Zeal for your house will

99
00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,479
Speaker 2: consume me. The people looked at him with awe, but

100
00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,960
Speaker 2: the religious leaders looked at him with contempt. What authority

101
00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,600
Speaker 2: do you have to say these things? What sign will

102
00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,000
Speaker 2: you show us? Jesus dropped the whip in his hands

103
00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,200
Speaker 2: and pointed to the temple. Destroy this temple, and I

104
00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,120
Speaker 2: will show you if you destroy it, I will raise

105
00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,560
Speaker 2: it back up again in three days. Uncle could be

106
00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,080
Speaker 2: heard from the crowd. One of them scoffed at him

107
00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,000
Speaker 2: and said, it took forty six years to rebuild that temple,

108
00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,360
Speaker 2: and you think you could do so in three days.

109
00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,400
Speaker 2: Jesus shook his head and walked down the steps. He

110
00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,720
Speaker 2: took his disciples and left the courtyard. What they did

111
00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,000
Speaker 2: not know is that Jesus was not speaking of the

112
00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,840
Speaker 2: actual temple. He was speaking of his body. He would

113
00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,400
Speaker 2: be destroyed and raised again in three days time, all

114
00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,720
Speaker 2: for the sake of people worshiping God free from burdens.

115
00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,960
Speaker 2: Many of the Pharisees scoffed at Jesus. They shook their

116
00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,840
Speaker 2: heads and spat in his direction. They thought of him

117
00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,800
Speaker 2: to be just another zealot. They were wrong. They were

118
00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:44,920
Speaker 2: profoundly and dangerously wrong. Yet there was one among them

119
00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,640
Speaker 2: who did not scoff. His curiosity about Jesus was piqued,

120
00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,080
Speaker 2: and the dead of night a pharisee named Nicodemus entered

121
00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,200
Speaker 2: into the home of Jesus. Nicodemus knocked on the door silently.

122
00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,000
Speaker 2: He did not want to be seen speaking with Jesus,

123
00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,800
Speaker 2: in fear that it might ruin his reputation. Jesus opened

124
00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,600
Speaker 2: the door and smiled. He greeted Nicodemus and allowed him

125
00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,720
Speaker 2: to come in. A few of Jesus's followers were sitting

126
00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,840
Speaker 2: beside the fire. Jesus sat Nicodemus down. He had been

127
00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,160
Speaker 2: expecting him. How can I help you, Jesus asked, pouring

128
00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:23,360
Speaker 2: Nicodemus a drink. Nicodemus began speaking, Rabbi, there is no

129
00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,280
Speaker 2: doubt in my mind you are a teacher sent from God.

130
00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,360
Speaker 2: No one can do these things that you have been

131
00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:34,440
Speaker 2: doing otherwise. Jesus nodded in agreement. However, he was more

132
00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,520
Speaker 2: than a teacher. Unless one is born again, he truly

133
00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:42,840
Speaker 2: cannot see the Kingdom of God, Jesus said. Nicodemus was

134
00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,240
Speaker 2: confused at his statement. I'm not sure I follow Rabbi.

135
00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,080
Speaker 2: Are you suggesting that someone needs to re enter his

136
00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:55,280
Speaker 2: mother's womb and be born again? Jesus gave a gentle laugh. No, no, listen.

137
00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,319
Speaker 2: Unless you are born of the spirit, you cannot enter

138
00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,280
Speaker 2: into the Kingdom of God. We are all born in

139
00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,200
Speaker 2: the flesh, yes, however not all are born of the spirit.

140
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,200
Speaker 2: Jesus could tell that Nicodemus was having difficulty understanding. He

141
00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:15,160
Speaker 2: leaned forward and touched Nicodemus's shoulder. Don't be confused by this,

142
00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,640
Speaker 2: he said, reassuringly. The wind blows and nobody can see it.

143
00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,040
Speaker 2: It is the same with being borne by the spirit.

144
00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:27,040
Speaker 2: But how can that happen? Nicodemus asked, aren't you a teacher?

145
00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:31,280
Speaker 2: Jesus replied, you should understand this. I have done many

146
00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,840
Speaker 2: signs and given you earthly examples. You have seen and

147
00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,359
Speaker 2: heard them. Yet you and the rest of the Pharisee

148
00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,959
Speaker 2: still do not believe. So how could I possibly explain

149
00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,079
Speaker 2: heavenly matters to you? Jesus could see the look of

150
00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,720
Speaker 2: disappointment on Nicodemus's face. He had compassion on him and

151
00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:53,120
Speaker 2: loved him for his heart. Jesus spoke of himself now, saying,

152
00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,440
Speaker 2: the one who truly knows the things of heaven is

153
00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,960
Speaker 2: the one who came from heaven. Just as Moses lifted

154
00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,440
Speaker 2: the bronze serpent up in the wilderness for people to

155
00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,640
Speaker 2: be healed, so people will look upon him and receive

156
00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,920
Speaker 2: eternal life. Nicodemus knew that story, the story of the

157
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,480
Speaker 2: Israelites being saved in the wilderness from venomous snakes. By

158
00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:17,440
Speaker 2: gazing upon the bronze serpent. He was beginning to understand

159
00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,520
Speaker 2: slightly what Jesus was telling him. The Lord smiled and

160
00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,160
Speaker 2: leaned in closer to Nicodemus. For God so loved the

161
00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,680
Speaker 2: world that he offered up his only begotten son, and

162
00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,720
Speaker 2: whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

163
00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,240
Speaker 2: And God did not send his son to condemn the world, no,

164
00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,760
Speaker 2: but that by him the world should be saved. There

165
00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,880
Speaker 2: was a joyfulness in Jesus's voice. His disciples were behind him,

166
00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,120
Speaker 2: hanging on his every word. His eyes glistened in the

167
00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,719
Speaker 2: fire light. The light has come to the world, Jesus continued,

168
00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:58,640
Speaker 2: but people love darkness rather than the light. Wickedness hates

169
00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:03,200
Speaker 2: the light because it exposes it. But whoever knows and

170
00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,640
Speaker 2: acts upon the truth steps into the light. With those words,

171
00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:12,360
Speaker 2: Nicodemus left. He held the words of Jesus closely, regretting

172
00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,480
Speaker 2: that he could not totally understand.

173
00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,040
Speaker 3: Today we began with Jesus once again at the temple

174
00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:24,000
Speaker 3: during Passover, and this time we don't see Jesus sitting

175
00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,360
Speaker 3: with teachers. In today's reading, we saw something that included

176
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,680
Speaker 3: a holy zeal and a righteous fiery anger that comes

177
00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,760
Speaker 3: from the Lord. God's temple is meant to be a

178
00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,040
Speaker 3: house of worship, a place of prayer, a place where

179
00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:41,160
Speaker 3: people are forgiven, But instead the temple was being used

180
00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,680
Speaker 3: by greedy businessmen and religious leader taking advantage of people,

181
00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:50,559
Speaker 3: charging exorbitant fees for them to access sacrifices and find forgiveness.

182
00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,760
Speaker 3: We often think of the gentleness of Jesus, and truly

183
00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,880
Speaker 3: Jesus is gentle and lowly of heart. His character is kind.

184
00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,000
Speaker 3: But Jesus is also strong and never weak. He was

185
00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,400
Speaker 3: always deeply devoted to the things of God, just like

186
00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,880
Speaker 3: his predecessor, ancestor King David was called to be strong

187
00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,240
Speaker 3: as a warrior for the Lord. Jesus now rises up

188
00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:18,520
Speaker 3: to defend the house of God. He was not silent,

189
00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,880
Speaker 3: and this was not calm. It was violent. He was

190
00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,240
Speaker 3: determined to set people straight. God's temple would not be

191
00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,120
Speaker 3: defiled by thieves. He braided a whip and scattered the vendors.

192
00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,160
Speaker 3: He turned over the tables of those charging money and

193
00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:36,000
Speaker 3: taking advantage of the gentiles, speaking with loud voice his

194
00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:41,440
Speaker 3: accusations against them. He would not allow this hypocrisy, this dishonesty,

195
00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:46,199
Speaker 3: to continue. This was not Jesus losing control of his emotion,

196
00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,280
Speaker 3: flying off the handle and losing composure. This was clear

197
00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:55,760
Speaker 3: and planned behavior. This was righteous indignation. We can only

198
00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,000
Speaker 3: imagine how shocked the disciples must have been to see

199
00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:03,360
Speaker 3: Jesus performed this act of cleansing the temple and behaving

200
00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,200
Speaker 3: in this way. But they remember the words of Psalm

201
00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,280
Speaker 3: sixty nine, which says the zeal of your house will

202
00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,320
Speaker 3: consume me. This is yet another sign that Jesus is

203
00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:18,000
Speaker 3: indeed the Messiah. But the religious leaders and other Jews

204
00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,199
Speaker 3: did not see this so clearly. They challenged Jesus and

205
00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,880
Speaker 3: asked what right he had what authority he possessed to

206
00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,080
Speaker 3: say and do these things. His response for them was

207
00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,840
Speaker 3: confusing to those who heard it. In John two nineteen,

208
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,680
Speaker 3: Jesus answered them, destroy this temple, and I will raise

209
00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,400
Speaker 3: it again in three days. They thought he was talking

210
00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,360
Speaker 3: about the physical temple, the building, the temple of stone

211
00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:46,800
Speaker 3: and mortar. But Jesus was speaking here about himself. He

212
00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,400
Speaker 3: was the temple. He was the very presence of God.

213
00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,440
Speaker 3: The glory of God was upon him, and one day

214
00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,520
Speaker 3: he would be destroyed his temple, his physical body would die,

215
00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,800
Speaker 3: but he would be raised to life on the third

216
00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:05,160
Speaker 3: day day. Here Jesus begins prophesying his own death and resurrection.

217
00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,240
Speaker 3: The Pharisees tried to laugh this off, failing to see

218
00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:13,680
Speaker 3: the one who was standing before them. All they knew

219
00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,080
Speaker 3: is that they despised this man who spoke with such

220
00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:20,080
Speaker 3: authority and challenged their position and power. But Jesus was

221
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,600
Speaker 3: not seeking personal power and pride and prominence. He was

222
00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,000
Speaker 3: calling people to repentance. He was calling people to himself

223
00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,680
Speaker 3: in a brand new life. There was one leader among

224
00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,600
Speaker 3: them who wanted to know more about this Jesus. Perhaps

225
00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,960
Speaker 3: he was afraid to ask in the broad daylight to

226
00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:42,760
Speaker 3: ask openly. So at night this man came to Jesus.

227
00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,560
Speaker 3: His name was Nicodemus. He wanted to know more about

228
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,360
Speaker 3: this man. Is he the Messiah? Is he more than

229
00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,720
Speaker 3: a man? Is he more than a teacher from God.

230
00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,440
Speaker 3: Jesus then told Nicodemus that to enter the Kingdom of God,

231
00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:02,320
Speaker 3: one must be born again. Sademus was confused, so he

232
00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:06,040
Speaker 3: asked for clarification. How is it possible to be born again?

233
00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,920
Speaker 3: The Lord explained to him that he was not talking

234
00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,720
Speaker 3: about physical birth, but birth in the spirit, heavenly birth,

235
00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,240
Speaker 3: to be born again from above. This is the new

236
00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:20,120
Speaker 3: life that Jesus promises to all who will be born again.

237
00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,240
Speaker 3: Jesus then gave Nicodemus and Us an illustration. He talked

238
00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,640
Speaker 3: about Moses and the Israelites who looked to a bronze

239
00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,800
Speaker 3: servant a brazen serpent in the wilderness to be saved

240
00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,080
Speaker 3: from the bites of snakes. This was a story that

241
00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,440
Speaker 3: Nicodemus knew well, and Jesus explained to him that this

242
00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,440
Speaker 3: is a picture of God's love. That God sent his

243
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,640
Speaker 3: only son Jesus into the world, and that whoever would

244
00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,880
Speaker 3: believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life. This,

245
00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,440
Speaker 3: of course, is one of the key verses in all

246
00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,880
Speaker 3: of the Bible. John three point sixteen. For God so

247
00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,920
Speaker 3: loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,

248
00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,200
Speaker 3: that whoever believe and him would not perish, but have

249
00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:09,960
Speaker 3: everlasting life. His words clearly stuck with Nicodemus. Jesus came

250
00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:14,560
Speaker 3: into the world to save sinners, religious people like Nicodemus

251
00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:19,760
Speaker 3: and irreligious people even like you and me. Whoever you are,

252
00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,960
Speaker 3: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

253
00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,880
Speaker 3: And if you will trust in Christ and Christ alone

254
00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,960
Speaker 3: as your savior and Lord, you will be given eternal life.

255
00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,880
Speaker 3: Not only will your sins be forgiven, but Jesus will

256
00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:35,680
Speaker 3: live in your life, and you will live with the

257
00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,480
Speaker 3: hope of eternal life with you now and forever. I

258
00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,080
Speaker 3: want to invite you and encourage you to be born again.

259
00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,520
Speaker 3: If you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus,

260
00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,920
Speaker 3: do it right now. Simply pray a prayer and invite

261
00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,160
Speaker 3: Christ into your life. Be willing to turn from your sins,

262
00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,000
Speaker 3: that's repentance, and receive Jesus as your lord and follow

263
00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,400
Speaker 3: him as your savior. And if you will do this.

264
00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,640
Speaker 3: You will have a brand new life now and forever.

265
00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,840
Speaker 3: Pray something like this, Jesus, I ask you to come

266
00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,879
Speaker 3: into my life to be my savior and my God,

267
00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,719
Speaker 3: my master and friend. In the power of your spirit.

268
00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,560
Speaker 3: I will live for you all the days of my life,

269
00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,680
Speaker 3: and I will live with you forever in heaven. Lord,

270
00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,880
Speaker 3: thank you for giving me a brand new life today

271
00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,120
Speaker 3: in Jesus's name. Amen. Once again, thank you for listening

272
00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,800
Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack

273
00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,560
Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. Let me encourage you to download

274
00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,360
Speaker 3: thepray dot com app and make Bible study and prayer

275
00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:43,360
Speaker 3: a real priority in your life. And if you are

276
00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,919
Speaker 3: enjoying this podcast, share it with someone you know, someone

277
00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,440
Speaker 3: you care about, because sharing God's word has a powerful

278
00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,640
Speaker 3: impact upon people's lives. And if you want more resources

279
00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,560
Speaker 3: as to how you can find faith, grow in your faith,

280
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,960
Speaker 3: develop as a deci disciple and follower of Jesus, be

281
00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,480
Speaker 3: sure to visit me at Jack Graham dot org. We

282
00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,600
Speaker 3: have plenty of resources that will encourage you and equip

283
00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,439
Speaker 3: you for life. God bless you.