Images (The Cross)

Welcome to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast with Dr. Andrew Farley. In this episode, we embark on a unique biblical journey, exploring the profound depths of scripture from fresh and captivating perspectives. Our goal is to uncover the intricate interconnectedness of the Bible, revealing a breathtaking biblical cosmos. As we delve deeper into the scriptures, you'll discover the heartbeat of faith resonating through every story, letter, prophecy, and poem.

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From Abraham's ascent up the mountain with Isaac to Jesus' journey carrying the cross, we'll unveil the powerful symbolism behind these stories. Furthermore, we'll explore how the cross's purifying nature was foreshadowed in the Exodus narrative, and how it became a symbol of salvation in the wilderness with the bronze serpent.

But the cross isn't just an ancient symbol; it's a call to action for us today. As followers of Jesus, we are called to model His sacrificial work on the cross by showing kindness, repentance, and standing for what's right. So, join us on this transformative journey through the Bible's images of the cross, and remember to download the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in your life. Your reviews and feedback are essential to us, so please share your thoughts on how this series has impacted your faith. God bless you, and thank you for listening to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.

Download the Pray.com app today to experience the vivid revelation of God's divine presence through cinematic storytelling, guided by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray for the word of the cross is
foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who
are being saved, it is the power of God. First Corinthians,
Chapter one, verse eighteen. Dear Lord, I declare today that
I trust in the work you did for me on
the cross. You paid the penalty that was mine to bear,

(00:21):
and now I get to live in your power and
righteousness to the world. It may seem foolish to put
all my trust in a crucified God, but I know
the truth. I know that without your cross and resurrection,
I was doomed to drift like a ship lost at sea.
Remind me every day that you saved me by making

(00:44):
me clean and close to you. Thank you for giving
me this new spiritual heart that you now live in forever.
Thank you for your faithfulness to me. In Jesus name,
I pray Amen. Thank you for praying with me. Now
discover the profound intricacies of scripture through prey dot COM's

(01:04):
podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with Doctor Andrew Farley. Stay
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Speaker 2 (02:13):
Hello, I'm doctor Andrew Farley. With today's episode of the
Heartbeat of Faith podcast. We've embarked on a unique Biblical journey,
delving into the profound depths of Scripture with fresh and
captivating perspectives. May we all come to appreciate the intricate

(02:33):
interconnectedness of the Bible. Each story, letter, prophecy, and poem
is inherently intertwined, revealing a breathtaking biblical cosmos. The further
we search the scriptures, the easier it is to hear
the heartbeat of faith. Today will begin a new deep

(02:55):
dive into different images in the Bible. What do they
mean and how often do they recur in scripture. Today,
let's explore some of the images we see of the cross.
One might think the only places we see pictures of
the cross are in the New Testament, But as it
turns out, God has been showing us images of the

(03:18):
Cross throughout the whole Bible. Now, when I say images,
I don't mean a literal image like a cross necklace
or a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross. I
mean a metaphor an allusion to the Cross through literary
devices and imagery. So let's go back through some of
the biblical stories together and see if we can piece

(03:41):
together a clear, intentional image given to us by God.

Speaker 3 (03:50):
Abraham turned towards his men and said, stay here with
the donkey, my son, and I shall climb the mountain
to meet with the Lord and worship. Abraham and Isaac
climbed to the face of the mountain. Isaac, still unaware
of what his father was asked to do, helped carry
the wood up to the altar. Abraham prepared a fire

(04:12):
and laid the wood on the altar beside his son.
Seeing the turmoil deep in his father's eyes, Isaac spoke,
my father, he exclaimed, here I am my son. Abraham replied,
looking down at the wood, refusing to meet his son's gaze.
We have the fire and the wood, but where is

(04:33):
the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham could hardly bear
the words coming from his mouth. Oh, my son, God
will provide himself a lamb. I am sure of it.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
The son of Promise carried wood up a hill. Unbeknownst
to Isaac, The plan was for him to lay on
that wood as a sacrifice. Isaac marching up the mountain
carrying the wood for his father is an image pointing
to the moment Jesus would take his wooden cross up
the hill for his father.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
The day grew dim and clouds began filling the skies.
Jesus was given a cross to carry up the trail
of Calvary, one hundred pound piece of wood. Carving a
deeper hole than his already exposed back, Jesus carried his
cross up the hill towards the place he would die.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
In our episode about sacrifice and forgiveness, we discussed the
purifying work of the cross. Jesus's sacrifice purifies us from
our sins. John reminded us of that fact in his letter.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
But if we walk in the light as he is
in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from
all sin. If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous

(06:09):
to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from
an unrighteousness one John one seven through nine.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
At salvation, when we admit our sinfulness, it is through
the purifying work of the Cross that we receive forgiveness
and cleansing of all our sins, past, present, and future.
The purifying nature of the cross was foreshadowed all the
way back in the Book of Exodus, when the people

(06:40):
of Israel needed their water source to be cleansed.

Speaker 3 (06:48):
Three days had passed, and the heat of the eastern
sun beat down on the men, women, and children of Israel.
They groaned under the sun, for they had ran out
of drinking water. When they had come to there was
a vast reservoir, big enough to satisfy the entire group. However,
the water was bitter and poisonous. What shall we drink?

(07:09):
They mumbled to Moses, like children looking to their father.
Moses turned to the Lord, also thirsty and feeling helpless.
To satisfy the people's needs, God showed Moses a dead
tree to be thrown into the water. The sap from
the log drew the mineral content down to the bottom
of the pools, leaving good water for the people to drink.

(07:33):
God had saved them from slavery and now satisfied their needs.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
The tree was thrown into the water, casting out the
corrupting properties of the water, in the same way Christ's
work on the Cross purified us from the corruption of sin.
The last image we'll explore is found in the wilderness
between Egypt and the Promised Land. God's people were stricken

(07:59):
by snakes and needed saving.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
They traveled from Mount hor by the way to the
Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. The
soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.
The people spoke against God and against Moses. Why have
you brought us up out of Egypt to die in
the wilderness, for there is no bread, there is no water,

(08:25):
and our soul loathes this disgusting food. Yahweh sent venomous
snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many
people of Israel died. The people came to Moses and said,
we have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and
against you. Pray to Yahweh that he take away the

(08:48):
serpents from us. Moses prayed for the people. Yahweh said
to Moses, make a venomous snake and set it on
a pole. It shall happen that everyone one who is
bitten when he sees it shall live. Moses made a
serpent of bronze and set it on the pole. If

(09:09):
a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at
the serpent of bronze, he lived.

Speaker 2 (09:16):
Those bitten by the snake's venom were destined to die. However,
God made a way for them to be saved. Moses
made a serpent of bronze and lifted it high for
everyone to see. Whoever looked at the serpent was saved. Jesus,
in his conversation with Nicodemus, told him that the serpent

(09:38):
foreshadowed him hanging on a cross.

Speaker 3 (09:44):
The one who truly knows the things of heaven is
the one who came from heaven. Just as Moses lifted
the bronze serpent up in the wilderness for people to
be healed, so people will look upon him and receive
eternal life. Nicodemus knew that story, the story of the
Israelites being saved in the wilderness from venomous snakes. By

(10:04):
gazing upon the bronze serpent, he was beginning to understand
slightly what Jesus was telling him. The Lord smiled and
leaned in closer to Nicodemus. For God so loved the
world that he offered up his only begotten son, And
whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
And God did not send his son to condemn the world,

(10:27):
know but that by him the world should be saved.
There was a joyfulness in Jesus's voice. His disciples were
behind him, hanging on his every word. His eyes glistened
in the fire light. The light has come to the world,
Jesus continued, But people love darkness rather than the light.

(10:48):
Wickedness hates the light because it exposes it. But whoever
knows and acts upon the truth steps into the light.

Speaker 2 (10:59):
Images of the cross are everywhere in scripture, but we
are walking testimonies to the Cross today. At the profound
moment of our salvation, we didn't merely accept a doctrine.
We entered a divine reality. We took up our cross,
identifying with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection. Just

(11:24):
as Paul declared in Romans six', six our old self
was crucified With, christ Rendering sin's dominion over us. Powerless
this crucifixion wasn't just, symbolic it was our, genuine spiritual.
Reality we weren't just observers Of christ's. Sacrifice we were,

(11:47):
participants co crucified and co resurrected with. Him today we
stand as living testimonies of The, cross not merely because
we affirmed its, truth but because we've experienced its transformative.
Power with our old self, buried we've been reborn into

(12:10):
a newness of, life an existence that pulsates with the
very life Of. Christ as expressed In galatians two, twenty
our life is no longer our. Own it Is christ
living in. Us and while we still navigate this world
with its. Challenges we do so with a new, heart

(12:32):
a new, spirit and a faith rooted in the ever
present reality of our union With. Jesus every day we
revel in the privilege of enjoying this new life In,
him a life that finds its rhythm and essence in
The heartbeat Of.

Speaker 4 (12:52):
Faith Then jesus said to his, disciples if anyone desires
to come after, me let him deny, himself take up
his cross and follow.

Speaker 3 (13:03):
Me for whoever desires to save his life will lose,
It and whoever will lose his life for my, sake
we'll find. It for what will it profit a.

Speaker 5 (13:13):
Man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his,
Life or what will a man give in exchange for his?
Life matthew sixteen twenty four through twenty.

Speaker 2 (13:25):
Six thank you for listening to The heartbeat Of faith.
Podcast if you enjoyed today's, episode please leave us a
review and let us know how this series has impacted your.
Life remember to download The prey dot com, app and
for more encouragement In god's, grace Visit andrewfarley dot. Org

(13:48):
That's andrewfarley dot. Org