Participants:
Series Code: AU
Program Code: AU000082S
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00:01 - Back in the eighties, there was this horrible movie,
00:03 a complete and utter theological mess. 00:06 But today we're gonna look at the real thing, 00:09 the last temptation of Christ. 00:12 [acoustic guitar music] 00:21 [acoustic guitar music continues] 00:32 Okay, if you've been keeping up with the show, 00:35 you'll know that we're partway through a series 00:37 on the temptations of Christ, 00:39 and we've been basing our study 00:41 on the account you find in Matthew 4. 00:44 So far, we've already dealt with the first two temptations: 00:48 the appeal to appetite, 00:49 where Jesus is tempted to use His divine power 00:53 to change stones into bread, 00:54 and then what appears to be an appeal to pride, 00:58 where He's challenged to prove that He's the Son of God 01:00 by throwing Himself from the top of the Temple. 01:03 Those are the first two. 01:06 Today we're gonna move on to the final temptation, 01:09 but just before we do that, 01:10 I want to explore one more thread 01:12 that seems to run through all three temptations. 01:15 We've already seen [soft music] 01:17 how the issue at stake is that Jesus, as a human being, 01:20 has to overcome in the areas where human beings fail. 01:24 We know that He came to save humanity, 01:27 and in addition to reconciling the debt we incurred 01:30 when we broke faith with God, 01:32 He also adopted our human nature 01:34 in order to become the new head of the human race, 01:38 the last Adam, as Paul describes Him in 1 Corinthians 15. 01:43 So in other words, 01:45 this is a story where Jesus succeeds 01:47 in exactly the areas where you and I have failed. 01:50 And you can really see this 01:51 when you consider it from the perspective of the Exodus, 01:55 a story that suddenly takes on a much broader dimension 01:59 when you review it from the vantage point 02:01 of these temptations. 02:03 When Israel left Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea, 02:07 and then they were tempted to doubt God's promises 02:09 when they were out in the wilderness. 02:11 They saw God's incredible provision with their own eyes 02:15 when He drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea. 02:18 And yet, somehow, we find them grumbling 02:21 moments after their miraculous delivery. 02:24 "Moses, what exactly are we supposed to eat out here?" 02:28 Their grumbling 02:29 leads to the delay of their ultimate deliverance 02:32 because now they have to spend 40 years in the wilderness. 02:35 And the number one reason they had to do that 02:38 was a lack of faith. 02:40 Hebrews 3:19 informs us 02:42 that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 02:47 Now, when you take a careful look at the whole incident 02:50 from the moment of deliverance from Egypt 02:52 to the moment when they finally crossed the Jordan River, 02:56 you get this interesting picture. 02:58 In 1 Corinthians 10:2, 03:00 Paul refers to the crossing of the Red Sea as a baptism, 03:05 which, of course, is followed by 40 years in the wilderness. 03:08 And what do we find in the story of Jesus? 03:11 We get His baptism in Matthew 3 03:13 immediately followed by 40 days in the wilderness. 03:17 So in essence, 03:19 Jesus is not just succeeding where Adam and Eve failed; 03:21 He's also succeeding where the nation of Israel failed. 03:25 In fact, He's succeeding where all of us fail, 03:29 which makes Him our perfect substitute. 03:32 What we have in the person of Jesus 03:34 is an awful lot of prophetic fulfillment. 03:36 The Old Testament spends a lot of time 03:39 foreshadowing His ministry, 03:42 and you'll notice that the New Testament writers 03:44 make the case for Christ 03:46 by appealing to the Old Testament scriptures 03:49 that predict Him. 03:51 And wouldn't you know it, 03:52 when you look back at the themes 03:54 involved in each of the three temptations, 03:57 you find the very same thing. 03:59 The first temptation challenges a hungry Christ 04:02 to turn stones into bread. 04:04 And you'll find that the subject of bread 04:06 completely saturates the story of Israel in the desert. 04:10 I mean, after all, they were fed by bread from Heaven, 04:12 by manna. 04:14 And during His ministry, 04:15 Jesus openly stated that the manna in the book of Exodus 04:18 pointed forward to Him. 04:20 "Most assuredly, I say to you," Jesus explained, 04:23 "Moses did not give you the bread from Heaven, 04:26 for the bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven 04:29 and gives life to the world." 04:31 Now, if that wasn't clear enough, 04:33 tell me, where was Jesus born? 04:36 In Bethlehem, 04:37 a word that literally means house of bread in Hebrew. 04:42 Then we have the temptation involving the Temple, 04:45 which is the second temptation in Matthew's account, 04:48 and it's the third temptation in Luke's account. 04:50 Remember, Matthew and Luke organized the story differently 04:54 depending on what they're trying to emphasize. 04:56 Matthew goes to the Temple second, 04:59 and what was the Temple? 05:00 A system of rites and rituals 05:02 that anticipated the work of Messiah 05:05 from the sacrificial lambs, which pointed to the cross, 05:08 to the annual feasts and festivals 05:10 that foreshadowed different aspects of His ministry. 05:15 The Temple of Jesus' day was the second Temple 05:17 because roughly 600 years earlier, 05:20 Solomon's Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. 05:23 And when the second Temple was built, 05:25 the people were kind of disappointed 05:27 because the presence of God did not show up 05:30 and occupy the most holy place 05:33 the way it did when they dedicated the first Temple. 05:36 The Ark of the Covenant was missing 05:37 because Jeremiah hid it from the Babylonians. 05:41 And to this day, we still have no idea where it is. 05:45 So there was no Shekinah glory 05:48 in the most holy place of the second Temple, 05:51 but still, the prophet, Haggai, predicted that somehow 05:56 this second Temple would be more glorious than the first. 06:00 "The glory of this latter Temple," he said, 06:02 "shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. 06:06 And in this place, I will give peace, 06:08 says the Lord of hosts." 06:10 So how would that be possible? 06:12 Well, in the first Temple, 06:14 the presence of God was hidden behind a veil 06:17 inside that room called the most holy place. 06:21 But at the second Temple, 06:23 God actually stepped outside the veil 06:26 and joined us out on the Temple grounds 06:27 as Jesus, the Son of God who was God in human flesh. 06:33 The person of Christ 06:35 is a much more intimate revelation of God because, well, 06:37 we can see Him for ourselves 06:39 living in this world as a real, authentic human being. 06:44 So look at what happens [suspenseful music] 06:46 in those first two temptations. 06:48 They involve an invitation 06:49 for Jesus to compromise these all-important symbols. 06:53 If He uses His divine power to convert stones into bread, 06:58 He does not succeed where Adam and Eve failed, 07:01 and then the bread of life is of no effect. 07:04 And then if He acts from presumption instead of faith 07:07 and leaps from the Temple, 07:10 the Temple suddenly becomes a symbol of God's failure, 07:13 not a vivid demonstration of His faithfulness. 07:18 Now, the same holds true for the final temptation, 07:21 which is the devil's offer 07:22 to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world 07:25 in return for worship. 07:27 Now this is really powerful. 07:29 What we have in the story of salvation 07:31 is the story of God restoring the broken human race 07:35 and the eventual establishment of His everlasting kingdom. 07:40 This coming kingdom is easily one of the biggest prophecies 07:43 found in the Old Testament, 07:44 including this pivotal passage found in Daniel 7, 07:48 a scene that takes place at the close of Heaven's judgment. 07:53 It says, 07:54 "Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, 07:58 that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. 08:01 His dominion is an everlasting dominion 08:04 which shall not pass away 08:06 and His kingdom, the one which shall not be destroyed." 08:10 According to the Bible, 08:12 this is the moment that God is driving toward, 08:16 the establishment of Christ's kingdom, 08:18 the moment when His only begotten Son 08:20 lays claim to this planet 08:22 and He takes His place 08:23 as the rightful head of our human race. 08:26 You find this echoed again in Revelation 21, 08:29 where it says, "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 08:33 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 08:36 and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people. 08:39 God Himself will be with them and be their God.'" 08:43 So as you probably already anticipated, 08:46 there is a lot at stake in this final temptation, 08:50 and I'll be right back 08:51 after this quick break [upbeat music] 08:52 to take a better look at that. 08:56 [ominous music] 08:58 - [Narrator] Dragons, [dragon roaring] 08:59 beasts, cryptic statues. 09:02 Bible prophecy can be incredibly vivid and confusing. 09:06 If you've ever read Daniel or Revelation 09:08 and come away scratching your head, 09:10 you're not alone. 09:12 Our free Focus on Prophecy guides 09:14 are designed to help you unlock the mysteries of the Bible 09:17 and deepen your understanding of God's plan for you 09:20 and our world. 09:21 Study online or request them by mail, 09:23 and start bringing prophecy into focus today. 09:27 - I'm thinking this might be a really good moment 09:29 to go back and review a little bit of biblical history 09:32 because the broader context 09:34 for the third temptation of Christ 09:36 is really, really important. 09:39 In fact, it doesn't make a lot of sense 09:42 until you read your way through the entire book. 09:45 In the 12th chapter of Revelation, 09:47 there's a surprising statement, 09:49 or at least it's surprising when you consider 09:52 what it really says. 09:53 Here it is now from Revelation 12:7. 09:56 It says, "And war broke out in Heaven." 10:01 Now, there's more to it than that, 10:03 but that short opening statement is surprising 10:06 all on its own. 10:07 The way that Christians 10:09 have traditionally talked about Heaven, 10:10 we've managed to convince ourselves 10:12 that it's a perfect place where nothing bad can ever happen, 10:16 the abode of perfect happiness, 10:19 like the Elysium fields of Greek mythology. 10:23 But that's not the story the Bible tells, 10:25 because God has not isolated Himself from pain. 10:29 He actually gets it. 10:31 In the biblical story, 10:32 the struggle between good and evil didn't begin with us, 10:36 although it certainly includes us. 10:39 It began in the presence of God, 10:41 and I'd be lying if I told you 10:43 that I completely understand how that's possible. 10:46 I mean, how does evil emerge 10:48 in a universe created by a perfect, loving God? 10:51 I mean, I have some idea, 10:53 because the Bible gives some details, 10:56 but there's no way I can completely explain it, 10:59 because of course, 11:01 if you could explain the origin of evil 11:03 in a satisfactory way, 11:05 well, it wouldn't be evil anymore. 11:07 Why? 11:08 Because you came up with a good reason for it, 11:11 and there isn't one. 11:12 So let's get back to the passage at hand, 11:15 Revelation 12:7. 11:18 "And war broke out in Heaven. 11:20 Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, 11:22 and the dragon and his angels fought, 11:24 but they did not prevail, 11:26 nor was a place found for them in Heaven any longer." 11:31 The Bible describes a conflict in the heavenly realm, 11:34 a conflict that ended with the devil and his angels 11:36 being evicted. 11:39 And what was the issue? 11:42 Well, there's a passage in the book of Isaiah 11:44 that explains the problem by using Lucifer's own words. 11:47 This comes from Isaiah 14, starting in verse 13. 11:52 "For you have said in your heart, 11:54 'I will ascend into Heaven, 11:56 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. 11:59 I also will sit on the mount of the congregation 12:01 on the farthest sides of the north. 12:03 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. 12:06 I will be like the Most High.'" 12:10 The original problem, according to this, 12:12 was an angel's desire to be worshiped. 12:15 And, of course, that could never be allowed. 12:18 Worship is reserved for the Creator alone. 12:21 A mere creature is not the source of life 12:24 and doesn't have the wherewithal 12:26 to hold this universe together. 12:28 So in reality, an angel cannot be worshiped 12:31 no matter how lofty that angel is. 12:34 And what the Bible is telling us here 12:37 is that the original problem was pride. 12:40 A fallen angel wanted to be included 12:42 in the councils of the Godhead, 12:43 and he wanted a place equal to God, or even above Him. 12:48 So of course, that cost him everything 12:51 and he was ejected from the presence of God 12:53 so that he could no longer compromise 12:56 the happiness of the universe. 12:59 So what does he do next? [soft music] 13:01 He turns his attention to humanity 13:03 because you and I were made in the image of God. 13:06 If he could turn the human race against the Creator, 13:09 then A, he'd have a kingdom of his own, 13:12 and B, he'd prove that nobody really loves God 13:15 of their own free will, 13:16 not if they're presented with a choice. 13:19 What happened in Eden 13:21 was a matter of human beings handing the keys of this world 13:23 to the serpent. 13:25 We were originally given dominion over this planet. 13:27 We were meant to serve as stewards for God, 13:31 but we willingly gave that dominion to the serpent. 13:34 So now let's look at the third temptation of Christ, 13:38 because this is really interesting. 13:41 It says, "Again, the devil took Him up 13:44 on an exceedingly high mountain 13:46 and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world 13:48 and their glory. 13:49 And he said to Him, 13:50 'All these things I will give You 13:53 if You will fall down and worship me.'" 13:57 Imagine the damage it would've caused if the second Adam, 14:00 the new head of the human race, 14:03 also bowed to the devil's wishes. 14:05 In reality, 14:07 Christ had come to destroy the devil's claims 14:09 and to take back the planet, 14:11 but if Jesus does this, everything is lost. 14:15 What we have in the third temptation 14:17 is the offer of a shortcut, 14:19 which is what a lot of temptations are; 14:21 they're just an offer to cheat. 14:24 The devil disingenuously acknowledges 14:26 that the world should be Christ's possession 14:29 and he knows full well why Jesus has come. 14:32 "When Messiah comes," God told the serpent, 14:34 "He will bruise your head." 14:37 If Jesus was successful, if He went to the cross, 14:40 everything the devil had accomplished in this world 14:42 would be ruined. 14:45 This is why you find such a concerted effort 14:47 to prevent the birth of Christ 14:49 all the way through the Bible. 14:51 The Old Testament records this ongoing campaign 14:54 to prevent the devil's ruin, to prevent Messiah from coming. 14:59 This is why Cain murdered his brother, Abel. 15:01 It's because Abel was righteous 15:03 and he showed faith in the coming Messiah, 15:06 and everybody knew 15:07 that Messiah would come from a line of faithful people, 15:10 so the devil has him eliminated. 15:14 It's also why the children of Israel 15:16 rebelled against God again and again and again and again 15:19 by adopting the religious practices 15:22 of their pagan neighbors. 15:23 At one point, they even turned to the worship of Molech, 15:26 a cruel pagan deity who demanded human sacrifice. 15:30 The prophet, Jeremiah, described it like this 15:32 in Jeremiah 32: 15:34 "And they built the high places of Baal, 15:37 which are in the valley of the Son of Hinnom, 15:39 to cause their sons and daughters 15:41 to pass through the fire to Molech, 15:43 which I did not command them, 15:45 nor did it come into My mind 15:47 that they should do this abomination to cause Judah to sin." 15:52 Everybody knew that one of these days, 15:54 one of those firstborn sons of Israel would be Messiah, 15:58 and here they were, unbelievably sacrificing their children 16:02 to the white, hot arms of a steel idol. 16:05 It was an incredibly cruel practice, 16:08 and there was a distinct possibility that maybe, just maybe, 16:13 someone would actually kill the coming Christ child. 16:17 Then we have the infanticidal campaign by Herod, 16:21 the imposter king 16:22 who didn't have a legitimate claim to the throne. 16:25 He suddenly finds out that the ancient prophecies 16:27 were coming to pass 16:28 when visitors from the East informed him 16:30 that the star they'd been expecting 16:32 had suddenly appeared in the night sky. 16:35 So Herod launched a campaign 16:37 to murder every child under the age of two. 16:39 You'll notice it's the same thing Pharaoh did 16:42 with the sons of Israel about 1,500 years earlier. 16:46 And you'll notice in Matthew 2, 16:48 the issue of worship forms the focal point for that story. 16:52 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" 16:55 the Magi ask, "For, we have seen His star in the East 16:58 and have come to worship Him." 17:00 "Go find Him," Herod said, "so I can worship Him, too." 17:04 It's another attempt 17:05 to derail the coming triumph of the cross. 17:09 And now that Jesus has arrived in person, 17:11 now that all the previous attempts to get rid of Him 17:14 have failed, 17:15 there is one last ditch effort 17:17 to keep the cross from happening. 17:19 [soft music] I'll be right back after this. 17:25 [soft piano music] 17:26 - [Narrator] Life can throw a lot at us. 17:28 Sometimes we don't have all the answers, 17:32 but that's where the Bible comes in. 17:34 It's our guide to a more fulfilling life. 17:37 Here at The Voice of Prophecy, 17:39 we've created the Discover Bible guides 17:41 to be your guide to the Bible. 17:42 They're designed to be simple, easy to use, 17:45 and provide answers to many of life's toughest questions, 17:48 and they're absolutely free. 17:50 So jump online now or give us a call 17:52 and start your journey of discovery. 17:55 - In the last temptation of Christ, 17:57 at least in Matthew's account, 17:59 we find the devil proudly showing off 18:01 the kingdoms of the world. 18:03 He's really pointing to his own domain, 18:06 the world that we built under his influence, 18:09 a place where people build their lives 18:11 around the philosophy of the fallen. 18:14 Now, I've mentioned this on other programs, 18:16 but what you really have in worldly kingdoms 18:18 is something of an artificial paradise. 18:22 Once we compromised the paradise of God, 18:25 once we broke trust with our Creator, 18:27 we found ourselves living outside of Eden. 18:30 Now, I know there are some of you listening 18:32 who assume that all of this 18:33 is nothing more than a fairy tale 18:35 with angels and devils, a talking snake, 18:38 the Garden of Eden and so on, 18:41 but stick with me. 18:42 At the very least, 18:44 considered the principles in these stories, 18:45 because I think you'll find they say a lot 18:48 about the way that you and I choose to live. 18:52 Now, personally, I believe the story is history, 18:54 and I honestly think there are good reasons 18:56 for believing that, 18:57 but that would be a topic for another day. 19:00 What I've noticed is just how compelling 19:03 many skeptics find the themes in the Book of Genesis. 19:07 Somehow, [soft piano music] 19:08 even if they think these things never actually happened, 19:10 they still see a lot of wisdom in the themes and symbols 19:13 found in this rather masterful narrative. 19:17 What many people have noticed 19:19 is that we all seem to have this inborn memory 19:22 of a better time and a better place. 19:25 Somehow we instinctively know 19:27 something is wrong with this world, 19:29 the way we currently live, 19:31 and somehow we know there's got to be a better way, 19:34 or there used to be a better way. 19:39 Early on in the Book of Genesis, 19:40 you find the human race turning to its own ingenuity 19:43 to make up for the loss of a perfect existence. 19:46 In the fourth chapter of Genesis, 19:48 we have the first mention of a city, and it's built by Cain, 19:51 the man who murdered his own brother. 19:54 Then in Genesis 10, 19:56 we find the foundations of the famous cities on the plane, 19:58 places like Nineveh, Babylon, Ireq, 20:02 which sounds like the country of Iraq 20:04 for a really good reason. 20:07 When we were suddenly thrust into a much harsher world 20:10 where we could no longer take our survival for granted, 20:13 we scrambled to establish what amounts to be 20:17 an artificial form of paradise. 20:20 But very quickly it became obvious 20:21 that these urban centers were not paradise. 20:24 Invariably, urban living only amplified our problems 20:27 and made them worse. 20:29 Regardless of our good intentions, 20:31 fallen people are still just fallen people, 20:34 and now we suddenly had self-interested despots 20:38 accumulating power at the expense of everybody else. 20:43 These are the kingdoms of the world, 20:45 and in part, this is what Jesus came to redeem 20:48 because, well, 20:49 this is not the way that God actually wanted us to live, 20:53 and He intends to restore us to what we used to be. 20:57 But for now, 20:58 there's a fallen angel laying claim to this planet, 21:00 because, let's face it, 21:02 we gave him the keys and the only way out of that mess 21:07 is the cross of Christ. 21:09 So what do we find in the third temptation? 21:12 An offer to give it back. 21:14 Because while the serpent got what he wanted 21:15 from most of us, 21:17 an unwitting adoption [ominous music] 21:18 of his principles, 21:19 what he really wants is worship. 21:22 Laying claim to a fallen planet 21:24 is not the same thing as sitting on the throne of God, 21:27 and the devil knows it. 21:29 So what does he ask for? 21:31 Worship. 21:32 Look, Jesus, why would You do this the hard way? 21:35 Why go to a cross? 21:37 I mean, look at these people. 21:38 Look at the way they despise you. 21:40 You sent them prophets and they put the prophets to death. 21:43 You pled with them, tears in your eyes, 21:46 and they still went and worshiped idols 21:48 and murdered their own children. 21:51 And now you've come to live a really hard life 21:54 and you know they're gonna treat you badly. 21:56 I mean, just read the predictions of Isaiah. 21:58 So why go through all this hassle? 22:01 I'll just give you what you came for, 22:04 and all you have to do, 22:06 one tiny, little act of worship. 22:10 Of course, it was a lie, 22:12 and if Jesus actually did this, everything would be lost. 22:16 But pay attention to the nature of the temptation. 22:19 It emphasizes that A, humanity's not worth God's effort, 22:23 and B, there's an easy shortcut. 22:26 And for right now, today, 22:27 I want you to focus on that shortcut. 22:30 The cross was a horrible thing, 22:33 and this story demonstrates quite convincingly 22:36 that it was the only way to save us. 22:40 It wasn't just a nice gesture 22:42 designed to demonstrate God's love, 22:44 although it certainly did do that. 22:46 It was an absolute requirement 22:48 if you and I are going to be saved, 22:51 and if there was ever a moment 22:52 when a shortcut would be tempting, 22:55 this has got to be it. 22:57 And that speaks volumes 22:58 about the way that you and I try to live 23:00 an authentic human life. 23:02 Instinctively, we know the right thing to do, 23:05 but if there's a shortcut that can get you there faster, 23:09 you know most of us are probably gonna take it. 23:12 It's a lie about the nature of goodness, 23:15 a lie about the nature of justice, 23:17 a lie about the character of God. 23:19 There is no shortcut 23:22 when it comes to a meaningful relationship with the Creator, 23:25 even though some people will tell you there is, 23:28 which is one more reason 23:30 I insist you've gotta read the whole book. 23:32 There's no other way. [upbeat music] 23:34 I'll be right back after this. 23:39 [soft music] 23:41 - [Narrator] Here at The Voice of Prophecy, 23:42 we're committed to creating top-quality programming 23:44 for the whole family, 23:46 like our audio adventure series, "Discovery Mountain." 23:49 "Discovery Mountain" is a Bible-based program 23:51 for kids of all ages and backgrounds. 23:54 Your family will enjoy the faith-building stories 23:56 from this small mountain summer camp and town. 23:59 With 24 seasonal episodes every year 24:02 and fresh content every week, 24:04 there's always a new adventure just on the horizon. 24:10 - At the end of the story, Jesus says, 24:12 "Away with you, Satan! 24:13 For it is written, 24:14 'You shall worship the Lord your God, 24:16 and Him only you shall serve.'" 24:19 He refuses to take the shortcut 24:22 because it's just too expensive. 24:23 I mean, sin is always too expensive. 24:27 You know, there's an interesting phenomenon 24:28 you find in ancient history, 24:30 and it has to do with some of the Temple cults 24:32 found in pagan cultures. 24:34 Have you ever wondered why it is 24:36 that so many ancient religions 24:38 featured the presence of Temple prostitutes? 24:41 The way that history reads, 24:42 you could visit the Temple for two distinct purposes, 24:45 first to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods, 24:48 and secondly, well, you get my drift. 24:52 Both of those things, though, are shortcuts. 24:55 When you worship an idol 24:56 who can be easily paid off with a sacrifice, 24:58 it's a shortcut to a meaningful relationship with God. 25:02 There's no real accountability. 25:03 It's just a quick financial transaction. 25:06 The same holds true for prostitution. 25:08 It's a shortcut to a meaningful relationship. 25:11 There's no marriage, no accountability, 25:13 there's no lifelong consideration for another person. 25:16 It's just this empty and disappointing shortcut. 25:21 Both of these things promised to meet our need for intimacy, 25:24 intimacy with God, intimacy with another human being, 25:27 but they failed to deliver every single time. 25:30 Why? 25:31 Because in the kingdom of God, there are no shortcuts, 25:33 and Jesus knew it. 25:35 "Come on, just bow down to me," the devil said. 25:37 "I'll give you the kingdoms of this world. 25:40 Why go through with a crucifixion, 25:42 especially for these people? 25:44 Why endure the rejection, the mockery, 25:46 the humiliation, the pain? 25:49 Why take the weight of these people's sins on yourself? 25:52 There has got to be an easier way." 25:56 But there wasn't. [soft piano music] 25:58 The cross is not a mere ornament to the story of the Bible. 26:00 It's the centerpiece, 26:02 the focal point of God's plan. 26:05 Try as you might, 26:06 there is no salvation apart from the cross of Christ. 26:09 Everything that had to happen did happen 26:11 so that you can be restored to a meaningful place 26:15 in the kingdom of God. 26:17 In Colossians 1, the apostle writes, 26:20 "For it please the Father 26:22 that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 26:24 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself by Him, 26:28 whether things on Earth or things in Heaven, 26:30 having made peace through the blood of His cross, 26:33 and you who were once alienated 26:35 and enemies in your mind by wicked works, 26:38 yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh 26:40 through death 26:42 to present you holy and blameless 26:45 and above reproach in His sight." 26:48 There was no shortcut, 26:49 not for Jesus, 26:51 not for you. 26:52 This is the only way home. 26:54 The only way to restore your heart, 26:56 to find what the Bible calls 26:58 the peace that passes understanding. 27:01 All of this is possible because Jesus succeeded 27:04 where you and I failed. 27:05 He refused to take the easy way, and so should you. 27:08 "Enter by the narrow gate," He taught, 27:10 "for wide is the gate 27:11 and broad is the way that leads to destruction. 27:14 And there are many who go in by it, 27:16 because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way 27:18 which leads to life, 27:19 and there are few who find it." 27:23 What a shame, 27:24 because if there's one thing that's absolutely clear, 27:27 it's the trail markers that lead to that narrow path. 27:30 They're as plain as day in the pages of this book. 27:33 And I get it, reading the Bible can be difficult, 27:35 because where should you start? 27:37 Some of you have started 27:39 and then you give up right around those genealogies. 27:42 So here's what we've done for you. 27:44 We've got a comprehensive course 27:45 that covers all the major themes of the Bible, 27:47 and it's free. 27:50 You can do it online, 27:51 or you can actually ask me 27:52 for hard copies of the course material, 27:54 and we'll send it to you, free, honestly. 27:57 I just want you to have it. 27:59 I know that traveling the narrow path 28:01 can sound a little daunting, but I've got to tell you, 28:03 I've been exploring that path imperfectly for three decades, 28:07 and I wouldn't have it any other way. 28:09 Thanks for joining me today. 28:11 I'm Shawn Boonstra, 28:12 and this has been "Authentic." 28:15 [acoustic guitar music] 28:25 [acoustic guitar music continues] |
Revised 2023-10-03