December 22, 2025 • 29 mins
Chapter 19 of Heroes in the Bible: Jesus with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by the Gospels.
He is Risen - Jesus is ALIVE! He Appears before Mary, the same person he healed from demon possession, and the whole world will soon discover what she knows.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Mark 16:6, And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And he said, unto them, be not affrighted. Ye seek
Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen. He
is not here. Behold the place where they laid him,
Mark sixteen six. Thank you God, that through your promise
in the garden we were given new life in Jesus.
(00:24):
Even though his body was bruised by the crucifixion, his
act of resurrection crushed the head of the serpent Satan forever,
for in doing so, you took the power away from
sin and death. Jesus, when I am tempted to go
back to the sins of my past, remind me, Holy Spirit,
(00:48):
that they are not there. Remind me that through the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus, my sins were washed away by
the blood of the Lamb. Allelujah. Thank you Jesus that
through your sacrifice I have new life and new power.
(01:09):
Thank you Lord, that the stone was rolled away and
that the tomb is empty. I choose to celebrate because
an empty tomb means an occupied throne ready for me
to approach, to tap into the greatest power, provision, and
love I've ever known. In Jesus' name, Amen, stay tuned
(01:38):
to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from
pray dot COM's podcast Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
the Bible Jesus. If you've been enjoying this series, please
write a review and let me know how this podcast
has impacted your life. Welcome to the greatest story every time.
It is the story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,
a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph
over death and darkness. This is a story that continues
(02:10):
to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the
divine heart of God right into the hearts of.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
You and me.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
This episode can be summed up in three beautiful words.
He is risen. The resurrection story is foundational to our
faith in Jesus. Why because what power does Jesus have
over sin and death if he did not rise from
the grave. I believe Paul said it best when he said,
for if there is no resurrection of the dead, then
(02:37):
Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has
not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and
your faith is useless. And if Christ has not been raised,
then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty
of your sins. In that case, all who have died
believing in Christ are lost. And if our hope in
Christ is only for this life, we are more to
(02:59):
be pitied than anyone in the world. The resurrection is
the proof of Christ's power and the validation of our faith.
This story gives us a glimpse into the hearts and
minds of Jesus's followers as they wrestled with his absence.
They are caught in a whirlwind of doubt, shame, and fear.
One could say that they are trapped in a grave
(03:21):
of their own and in need of resurrection. In the
next few episodes, we will see the slow and beautiful
process of redemption unfold. The dark and fearful night will
be replaced with the rising sun of hope. Jesus is
going to restore what was broken and retrieve what was
previously lost. Before the story of the Resurrection begins, we
(03:42):
will have a prelude. We will be taken to the
prophet Daniel, waiting in darkness to be devoured by lions.
His journey out of the lion's den is a grand
foreshadowing of things to come. I hope you enjoyed this
episode and breathe a sigh of relief, for the King
is alive. Here is episode nineteen. He is ris.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Pray learned to chapter nineteen. The den was dark and
smelt of rotten flesh. A small sliver of light peeped
through an opening in the ceiling. However, it was not
enough to expose the source of the foul smell creeping
from the back of the cave. Daniel shifted his feet,
(04:29):
trying to find sturty footing. He walked forward, looking for
the edge of the cave. As he walked, he could
hear a deep rumbling coming from the depths of the den.
Daniel's eyes were adjusting to the darkness. He picked up
a stone next to him, prepared to fight if need be.
(04:50):
He prayed to God, trusting in his goodness. Then he
heard them. The low growls of the lions echoed off
the den walls. The sound shook the earth below Daniel's feet.
He could feel their hungry growls deep in his chest.
A swift shadow lurked across the den walls. Daniel turned around,
(05:13):
ready for the lion to pounce. Then he spotted another
shadow in the corner of his eye. He turned around.
Two lions had cornered him and were ready to kill.
As the lions prepared their attack, a bright light broke
through the darkness like a sharp blade. The light was
brighter than lightning and far more blinding. The earth shook
(05:37):
below the lion's feet, and Daniel could hear the sound
of Heaven burst forth from the light. This was a
light too radiant for words. Its power burst forth like
a mighty wind and sent the lions flying through the
air on to their backs. They trembled on the floor,
running away from its power. As Daniel looked up, the
(05:59):
light burst again, this time rolling lions back into the
depths of the den. Their jaws were forced to shut. Then,
in an instant, the light vanished. All returned to darkness,
and Daniel sat in the middle of the den praying
to the Lord. The next day, the stone doors were
(06:20):
opened and Daniel walked through unscathed. His enemies had tried
to kill him by handing him over to the lion's den. However,
death was pushed back with force. God had protected Daniel
from the lions, and he emerged from the tomb victorious
over death. As Daniel left the darkened cave of Death
(06:45):
into the light of the morning. The kings of the
earth bowed before the God who had rescued him. Daniel
had spent the night with death itself and passed through unscathed.
He was a foreshadowing to the resurrection to come, where
God himself would enter into a lion's den of sorts.
The light of the world would make the beasts of
(07:07):
Death flee in fear to God. Death had no power.
Chapter nineteen, He is Risen. Three days had passed since
the crucifixion of Jesus. The last hours of night were
cool and at rest. The quiet chirping of crickets filled
(07:31):
the brisk evening air. The stars spattered across the skies
like white paint to black canvas. The firmament stretched far
into the clear sky line, revealing a slight sliver of
dull light rising from the east. Two guards lay outside
the grave of Jesus. They had been given strict orders
(07:52):
to lay awake and keep watch for the Pharisees were
worried some one might try to steal his body, so
the guards rested with their backs against the stone entrance.
They dozed on and off enjoying the last bit of
evening before standing at attention again. It was dawn and
(08:13):
the sun's rays gently peeked over the hills in the distance.
The guards rose to look at the early sunbeams breaking
through the trees. They stood to their feet and stretched.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
It's easy guarding a dead man.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
One of them joked. The two men stood at attention,
watching the morning light paint every plant of bright color. However,
a different light had emerged.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
From behind them.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Brighter than lightning and far more blinding. The earth shook
below the guard's feet, and they could hear the grinding
of stone behind them. They turned and the large stone
wall of the grave was being rolled away by an angel.
Out from the tomb was a light too radiant for words.
Its power burst forth like a mice wind and sent
(09:01):
the guards flying through the air on to their backs.
They trembled on the floor, shielding their eyes from the
shimmering grave. As they looked up, the light burst again,
this time rolling them back into the trees. The guards
lay there like dead men. Later that morning, when the
Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
(09:24):
and Salome were bringing an array of spices and flowers
to the tomb. The sun was shining brightly behind them.
As they walked towards the tomb, the birds fluttered from
tree to tree above them, singing sweet mourning melodies. Their
songs were a pleasant sound to their sorrowful souls. The
death of Jesus had made them undone. All of Jesus's followers,
(09:50):
especially the disciples, had hidden themselves in fear now that
the lord was dead. The Pharisees had been particularly brash
about punishment for those who followed him. Visiting the tomb
alone was an act of defiance. However, the three women
did not care. They had come to anoint the body
(10:11):
of Jesus, since he did not get a proper burial.
According to tradition, we will need.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
The guards to help us roll away the stone entrance.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Salomeae said that stone.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Is far too heavy for just two guards to move.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Mary replied. As they approached the tomb, the women saw
that there were no guards standing at attention. In fact,
the stone entrance had been removed completely. The women gasped
and dropped their things. They ran towards the tomb and
looked inside. They slowly entered the dark cave. They looked
(10:45):
at the place where Jesus's body lay. His burial linens
were there, neatly folded. The women looked at each other
in amazement.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Who has taken him?
Speaker 7 (10:57):
Mary whispered, you seek Jesus of Nazareth.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
A friendly voice asked. The women gasped and turned to
the right of the tomb, a young man sat on
a stone stool. He was draped in a long white robe.
The women screamed and began to run.
Speaker 7 (11:14):
Please wait, he exclaimed, do not be alarmed.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
The women stopped. The young man raised his arms into
the air and said.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
You seek Jesus, who was crucified. But he is not here.
He is risen. They looked at the empty bed where
Jesus once lay. It was absurd to think that one
could rise again after such a brutal death. Yet there
was a small feeling stirring up from within them. Something
(11:46):
deep in their hearts told them that it may be
true their teacher, who had hung, bloodied and beaten on
a cross, might be alive. They looked at the young man,
dressed in white. He smiled and pointed towards the entrance.
Do not stay here, Go and tell the disciples. He
is on his way to Galilee. There you will meet him.
(12:10):
Now go and be sure to tell Peter.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
The women picked up their garments and ran as fast
as they could back to Galilee. They were not quite
sure what to believe. The thought of resurrection was far
from their minds. Did someone take his body? Was he
a ghost? They were excited, afraid, and confused. However, a
fire burned in them. They knew that they had to
(12:34):
tell Peter. The women ran with wind beneath their feet.
Fear had overpowered them. As they ran, they were more
and more convinced that Jesus's body had been taken. They
doubted the young man's words. Near the sea, there was
a small home that the disciples were hiding away in.
They were quiet and brooding. Silence filled the room. They
(12:58):
stared blankly at one another, unable to speak. Bumu, their
king was dead, and they ran when he needed the most.
James could not stop thinking about how he fell asleep
when Jesus asked him to pray in the garden. He
winced at the memory. He's gone, James whispered, and I
(13:19):
did nothing to help him. I did nothing. James slammed
his fists on the table and wept. Peter stared blankly
at the window. He was beyond tears at this point.
His face was emotionless and his heart devoid of all feeling.
Speaker 8 (13:36):
At least you didn't deny him in front of a child.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Peter said in a monotone voice. He continued to stare
at the window.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
I was there when he was getting beaten. I watched
as they kicked him down the temple steps like a dog,
and I denied knowing him, just like he said I would.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Peter's bottom lip began to quiver. He picked up his
nets and made his way towards the door. He was
going to your fishing to clear his mind, but instead
the door burst open. The two Mary's and Salomey fell
through the entrance. Out of breath. The disciples all stood
to their feet in fear.
Speaker 8 (14:18):
What happened?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Peter asked frantically, did the pairises find you with the tomb?
The women shook their hands. They were frantic and frightened. No,
Mary shouted, some one has taken him? What John exclaimed?
Mary was unconsolable.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
We looked in the tomb and he was not there.
A man told us he was gone.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
In to tell you.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
We were too afraid to ask questions, so we ran here.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
The women wept. Peter did not ask questions. He dashed
out the door and ran towards the hills where Jesus's
tomb was. John followed close behind. The two men sprinted
through the small village and passed the trees. Peter ran ferociously,
but he was not his as young as John. John
quickly gained on him and passed him. He made it
(15:04):
to the tomb first and stumbled inside, catching his breath.
He looked up to see the empty bed where Jesus
was laid down. Peter finally made it and stopped at
the entrance. He paused for a long moment, unsure if
he was even worthy to step in. He had so
much pent up shame he had yet to deal with.
(15:27):
He was convinced that even if Jesus were alive, he
would reject him completely. Peter held his head low and
peeked his head in. He saw John kneeling near the bed.
Jesus's burial linens were neatly folded, as if someone had
made their bed before leaving home. Those fiends, Peter growled,
(15:50):
they must have taken him.
Speaker 8 (15:52):
Those Pharisees could not stand the thought of Jesus resting.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Peter clenched his fists in anger. He fell to his
knees beside John. The two of them wept, unable to
understand what had transpired. John put his arm round Peter.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
We must go home, Peter, the guards will be back.
Speaker 7 (16:11):
For all we know, we could be blamed for removing
his body.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
John helped Peter to his feet, and the two men
limped home side by side. However, Mary Magdalen had not
been too far behind. As Peter and John left the tomb,
Mary entered. The tomb smelled of stale incense. A slight
breeze came from the outside, causing Mary's hair to sway. Gently.
(16:38):
She felt her hair and stroked it. She looked at it,
remembering a time when she used to pull it out.
She had been tormented for years by demons. The abuse
of wicked men had left her vulnerable, and the enemy
crept in like a lion on weak pray. For years,
she was tortured, cast aside, and forgotten. That was until
(17:03):
Jesus came. From the first moment she saw him, he
was able to calm her soul. The raging war inside
her was tamed, and the demons flared at his command.
Tears streamed down Mary's face. She was afraid, since Jesus
was now gone, the demons would return, she would go
(17:26):
back to a life of scarring herself and pulling out
her hair. She left the tomb still weeping miserably. The
sun's rays brought no warmth to her sorrowful soul. She
sat down at the entrance of the tomb and put
her head between her knees. She wept uncontrollably. Facing the tomb, Woman,
(17:49):
why are you weeping? Two voices said in tandem. Mary
jolted her head up to see two creatures perched on
top of the stone door. The jewels cocked their heads,
curious at her tears. She rubbed her eyes and looked
up at them. They have taken my lord, she yelled.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
They have taken him, and all hope is lost.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
She buried her head on her knees again and wept.
Then she heard another voice behind.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Her, woman, why are you weeping? Is this someone you
are looking for? Mary did not raise her eyes. She
supposed it was the gardener. She kept her face buried
in her garments, trying to control the sobbing.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Please, sir, have you taken him?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Can you tell me where you put him?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Mary?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
The voice said softly. The voice was as soothing as
a babbling brook. It is strong as a raging tempest.
It was a voice Mary recognized. It was the voice
of one who had commanded the demons to flee from her.
It was the voice of acceptance and compassion. It was
the voice of strength and miracles. Mary jolted her head up.
(19:11):
Her eyes were wide. The sun was bright behind him,
hiding his face for a moment that his smile was unmistakable.
It was Hugh, the conquering lion of Judah. Stood before her,
the hero of scripture and the prince of peace, smiled
down at her. He had not been taken. He had
(19:32):
risen in a final act of power. Jesus had defeated death.
Jesus rose to prove that death had no authority over
a sinless savior. Ah rob who I, Mary said, with
a gasp. She clung to his legs and wept even more.
Jesus laughed and helped Mary to her feet.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Do not cling to me, Mary, I have yet to
ascend to my father. Go and tell my brothers. I
will soon be ascending to my father, to my God
and their God.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Mary nodded in amazement. She lifted her sleeves for a
moment to wipe away her tears. When she lifted her
gaze again, he was gone. Mary looked around. The birds
were chirping, and the bright sun had shone brighter in
her eyes. Now that Jesus was no longer standing over her.
Had she seen an apparition? Was her mind playing tricks
(20:26):
on her? Certainly not. Mary knew in her hard hearts
that it was Jesus, So once again she ran back
to the disciples and to tell them the good news.
Miles away, under the shadow of the empty temple, the
two guards stood in front of the High Priest Caiaphas.
(20:47):
They feared this would happen. They knew they had not
seen the last of Jesus's influence on earth.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
You're worthless, dogs.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Caiaphas yelled, throwing his staff at the guards. The large
banged against the stone walls. The Roman soldiers stood at attention,
unfazed by the High Priest's outburst. Jesus was the Jews problem,
not theirs. Although they had been charged to watch Jesus's too.
A burst of light and wind would make for a
(21:17):
breathtaking story.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
We cannot let anyone know of this.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Caiaphas yelled. The elders in the room agreed. Caiaphas faced
the guards and sneered.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
I know your kind only response to one thing.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
He pulled a sack of coins out of his robe
and handed it to them.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
This ought to be sufficient for your cooperation. We cannot
have anyone claiming Jesus rose from the dead, so we
will tell them that the disciples came by night when
you were asleep. Is that understood?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
The guards grinned as they counted their coins. They nodded
and left the room. Caiaphas sat down at the head
of the table and rubbed his temples.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Control the story, and you control the masses. He said,
I have a feeling this event will prove problematic for us.
My friends.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
The elders and chief priests stirred at their table and
whispered amongst themselves. Caiaphas poured himself some wine and looked
deep into the cup. He had seen Jesus bleed himself. However,
he had also seen the temple veil torn in half.
There were even some reports of earthquakes and people rising
(22:31):
from their graves. The night Jesus had died, Caiaphas knew
that something new was coming. He had a sinking feeling
that something greater than the works of Jesus were on
their way. However he could not explain it. The Holy
Spirit was preparing for his descent. Soon he would flood
(22:52):
the cities with the righteousness and power of Jesus.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
What happened to Jesus was miraculous, but it should be
by no means surprising. The Bible has been teasing the
resurrection for thousands of years. Images, motifs, and prophecies lay scripture,
ultimately pointing to this moment. One of those images was
the story of Daniel and the Lions den. The prelude
gave us the image of a dark and perilous Din
(23:24):
of lions ready to devour Daniel, who is a Christ's figure.
In scripture, the light of God shut the mouth of
the lions. The same language used for Daniel's dissension out
of the den was used for Jesus rising out of
the grave. The light of the world. Jesus shut the
mouth of death and took away its fangs. He rose victorious,
(23:46):
and now those who believe in him share in that victory.
The next few episodes cover the theme of belief and
the long process some go on to truly find it.
Several different characters wrestle with brief in their own way.
Women who were approached by the angels bleed immediately. Mary,
who initially believe, found herself doubting and in grief. Peter
(24:08):
and John visited the tomb and came to the conclusion
that someone must have stolen Jesus, even though he had
told them he would rise again. Caiaphas, when learning about
the event, seems to believe more than the Disciples that
it was possible, but is blinded by his own pride.
We will meet a few others who wrestle with brief
as well, such as the Disciples on the Road to
(24:30):
Damascus and Thomas. Each person has their own path to Christ.
Perhaps some people are easily convinced like these three women.
Others may teeter in and out of belef like Mary.
There are many who are too lost in their own
shame to believe, like Peter. Wherever you are on the
faith journey, know that you are not alone in your questions,
(24:52):
and there is no uniform path to discover Jesus. We're
all on our unique journey, dealing with the winding roads
as they come. The resurrection is the proof of Christ's
power and the validation of our faith. If you want
an example of what a believer without the resurrection looks like,
look no further than Peter. Peter followed Christ faithfully, but
(25:13):
when Jesus died, his hope was dead with him. He
was stuck with his shame. We will keep a close
eye on Peter in the next few episodes. His journey
with Jesus is far from over. There is more work
to be done in his heart. Peter and Mary were
the two characters this episode highlighted the most. They were
both caught in their own graves and needed resurrection. Peter
(25:36):
was wrestling with his sin and shame. He disappointed Jesus
by cutting off Malchus's ear. Then he denied Jesus three times,
only a few yards away from him. He wasn't even
there to watch him die. He didn't get to say goodbye.
Peter's heart was cold and broken without the warmth of Jesus.
Mary was wrestling with her past demons before Jesus. She
(25:59):
was played with trauma and spiritual oppression. She feared that
without the light of Jesus, the darkness would return. Both
Peter and Mary needed resurrection. At the end of the episode,
it was Mary who got to see Jesus first. Her
grief quickly turned to joy when she gazed upon the
faith of her redeemer. At first, she thought he might
(26:21):
be the gardener, so she kept her eyes down in sorrow. However,
there was a word that caused her to look up.
Mary Jesus said, softly, that's all, just her name. Jesus
didn't reveal himself to Mary by telling her who he was,
but by telling her who she was. To him, he
spoke with a tenderness and intimacy only God could have.
(26:44):
When he spoke her name, there was no mistaking it
was him. Jesus knows you. He knows your very thought,
your every fear, and your every dream. David sang a
sweet song to God, declaring this truth in Psalm one
point thirty nine. Oh Lord, you have searched me and
known me. You know when I sit down and when
I rise up. You deserve my thoughts from afar. You
(27:06):
search out my path and my lying down, and are
acquainted with all my ways, even before a word is
on my tongue. Behold, O Lord, you know it all together.
You hit me in behind and before, and lay your
hand upon me. For you form my inward parts. You
knitted me together in my mother's wound. I praise you,
(27:27):
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works.
My soul knows it very well. My frame was not
hidden from you when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes
saw my unformed substance. In your book were written every
one of them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them. How precious
(27:50):
to me are your thoughts, O God, How vast is
the sum of them? If I would count them, They
are more than the sand. I awake, and I am
still with you rest today and the knowledge that you
are known, loved, and cherished. There is nothing about you
that is hidden from God. He has seen the darker
parts of your mind, and he has seen the purity
(28:11):
of your hopes for the future. He sees all these things,
yet still calls you by name. He still calls you
his beloved Jesus comforted Mary and told her to go
tell the disciples there was much to do before Jesus
returned to the Father. This episode ended in the temple
with Caiaphas and the Roman gods charged with watching the tomb.
(28:32):
The high priest doesn't deny once that Jesus rose from
the dead. This tells Us that even if he did
believe Jesus rose again, he didn't care. He wanted the
name of Jesus snuffed out and done. Pride has a
way of taunting belief. Even if you and I have
belief or knowledge of Jesus, pride can quickly choke out
whatever good fruit would come from it. Control the story,
(28:55):
and you control the masses, he said. Unfortunately for him,
the testimony of the resurrection was a story that could
not be controlled. For thousands of years, people have tried
to taint the testimony of Jesus, yet it always finds
a way to prevail. The story of Jesus outlasts the
greed of men. In our next episode, Jesus will travel
(29:15):
from place to place in relative omnimity. He will walk
alongside a few men and take them on a journey.
They did not expect join us next time for episode
twenty the Road. Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories,
daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime, go to
pray dot com. And to expand your heroes in the
(29:36):
Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at
Tonyevans dot org Forward slash Heroes. Please write a review
and let us know how Jesus and this podcast have
impacted your life. God bless
And he said, unto them, be not affrighted. Ye seek
Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen. He
is not here. Behold the place where they laid him,
Mark sixteen six. Thank you God, that through your promise
in the garden we were given new life in Jesus.
(00:24):
Even though his body was bruised by the crucifixion, his
act of resurrection crushed the head of the serpent Satan forever,
for in doing so, you took the power away from
sin and death. Jesus, when I am tempted to go
back to the sins of my past, remind me, Holy Spirit,
(00:48):
that they are not there. Remind me that through the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus, my sins were washed away by
the blood of the Lamb. Allelujah. Thank you Jesus that
through your sacrifice I have new life and new power.
(01:09):
Thank you Lord, that the stone was rolled away and
that the tomb is empty. I choose to celebrate because
an empty tomb means an occupied throne ready for me
to approach, to tap into the greatest power, provision, and
love I've ever known. In Jesus' name, Amen, stay tuned
(01:38):
to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from
pray dot COM's podcast Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
the Bible Jesus. If you've been enjoying this series, please
write a review and let me know how this podcast
has impacted your life. Welcome to the greatest story every time.
It is the story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,
a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph
over death and darkness. This is a story that continues
(02:10):
to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the
divine heart of God right into the hearts of.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
You and me.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
This episode can be summed up in three beautiful words.
He is risen. The resurrection story is foundational to our
faith in Jesus. Why because what power does Jesus have
over sin and death if he did not rise from
the grave. I believe Paul said it best when he said,
for if there is no resurrection of the dead, then
(02:37):
Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has
not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and
your faith is useless. And if Christ has not been raised,
then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty
of your sins. In that case, all who have died
believing in Christ are lost. And if our hope in
Christ is only for this life, we are more to
(02:59):
be pitied than anyone in the world. The resurrection is
the proof of Christ's power and the validation of our faith.
This story gives us a glimpse into the hearts and
minds of Jesus's followers as they wrestled with his absence.
They are caught in a whirlwind of doubt, shame, and fear.
One could say that they are trapped in a grave
(03:21):
of their own and in need of resurrection. In the
next few episodes, we will see the slow and beautiful
process of redemption unfold. The dark and fearful night will
be replaced with the rising sun of hope. Jesus is
going to restore what was broken and retrieve what was
previously lost. Before the story of the Resurrection begins, we
(03:42):
will have a prelude. We will be taken to the
prophet Daniel, waiting in darkness to be devoured by lions.
His journey out of the lion's den is a grand
foreshadowing of things to come. I hope you enjoyed this
episode and breathe a sigh of relief, for the King
is alive. Here is episode nineteen. He is ris.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Pray learned to chapter nineteen. The den was dark and
smelt of rotten flesh. A small sliver of light peeped
through an opening in the ceiling. However, it was not
enough to expose the source of the foul smell creeping
from the back of the cave. Daniel shifted his feet,
(04:29):
trying to find sturty footing. He walked forward, looking for
the edge of the cave. As he walked, he could
hear a deep rumbling coming from the depths of the den.
Daniel's eyes were adjusting to the darkness. He picked up
a stone next to him, prepared to fight if need be.
(04:50):
He prayed to God, trusting in his goodness. Then he
heard them. The low growls of the lions echoed off
the den walls. The sound shook the earth below Daniel's feet.
He could feel their hungry growls deep in his chest.
A swift shadow lurked across the den walls. Daniel turned around,
(05:13):
ready for the lion to pounce. Then he spotted another
shadow in the corner of his eye. He turned around.
Two lions had cornered him and were ready to kill.
As the lions prepared their attack, a bright light broke
through the darkness like a sharp blade. The light was
brighter than lightning and far more blinding. The earth shook
(05:37):
below the lion's feet, and Daniel could hear the sound
of Heaven burst forth from the light. This was a
light too radiant for words. Its power burst forth like
a mighty wind and sent the lions flying through the
air on to their backs. They trembled on the floor,
running away from its power. As Daniel looked up, the
(05:59):
light burst again, this time rolling lions back into the
depths of the den. Their jaws were forced to shut. Then,
in an instant, the light vanished. All returned to darkness,
and Daniel sat in the middle of the den praying
to the Lord. The next day, the stone doors were
(06:20):
opened and Daniel walked through unscathed. His enemies had tried
to kill him by handing him over to the lion's den. However,
death was pushed back with force. God had protected Daniel
from the lions, and he emerged from the tomb victorious
over death. As Daniel left the darkened cave of Death
(06:45):
into the light of the morning. The kings of the
earth bowed before the God who had rescued him. Daniel
had spent the night with death itself and passed through unscathed.
He was a foreshadowing to the resurrection to come, where
God himself would enter into a lion's den of sorts.
The light of the world would make the beasts of
(07:07):
Death flee in fear to God. Death had no power.
Chapter nineteen, He is Risen. Three days had passed since
the crucifixion of Jesus. The last hours of night were
cool and at rest. The quiet chirping of crickets filled
(07:31):
the brisk evening air. The stars spattered across the skies
like white paint to black canvas. The firmament stretched far
into the clear sky line, revealing a slight sliver of
dull light rising from the east. Two guards lay outside
the grave of Jesus. They had been given strict orders
(07:52):
to lay awake and keep watch for the Pharisees were
worried some one might try to steal his body, so
the guards rested with their backs against the stone entrance.
They dozed on and off enjoying the last bit of
evening before standing at attention again. It was dawn and
(08:13):
the sun's rays gently peeked over the hills in the distance.
The guards rose to look at the early sunbeams breaking
through the trees. They stood to their feet and stretched.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
It's easy guarding a dead man.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
One of them joked. The two men stood at attention,
watching the morning light paint every plant of bright color. However,
a different light had emerged.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
From behind them.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Brighter than lightning and far more blinding. The earth shook
below the guard's feet, and they could hear the grinding
of stone behind them. They turned and the large stone
wall of the grave was being rolled away by an angel.
Out from the tomb was a light too radiant for words.
Its power burst forth like a mice wind and sent
(09:01):
the guards flying through the air on to their backs.
They trembled on the floor, shielding their eyes from the
shimmering grave. As they looked up, the light burst again,
this time rolling them back into the trees. The guards
lay there like dead men. Later that morning, when the
Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
(09:24):
and Salome were bringing an array of spices and flowers
to the tomb. The sun was shining brightly behind them.
As they walked towards the tomb, the birds fluttered from
tree to tree above them, singing sweet mourning melodies. Their
songs were a pleasant sound to their sorrowful souls. The
death of Jesus had made them undone. All of Jesus's followers,
(09:50):
especially the disciples, had hidden themselves in fear now that
the lord was dead. The Pharisees had been particularly brash
about punishment for those who followed him. Visiting the tomb
alone was an act of defiance. However, the three women
did not care. They had come to anoint the body
(10:11):
of Jesus, since he did not get a proper burial.
According to tradition, we will need.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
The guards to help us roll away the stone entrance.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Salomeae said that stone.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Is far too heavy for just two guards to move.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Mary replied. As they approached the tomb, the women saw
that there were no guards standing at attention. In fact,
the stone entrance had been removed completely. The women gasped
and dropped their things. They ran towards the tomb and
looked inside. They slowly entered the dark cave. They looked
(10:45):
at the place where Jesus's body lay. His burial linens
were there, neatly folded. The women looked at each other
in amazement.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Who has taken him?
Speaker 7 (10:57):
Mary whispered, you seek Jesus of Nazareth.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
A friendly voice asked. The women gasped and turned to
the right of the tomb, a young man sat on
a stone stool. He was draped in a long white robe.
The women screamed and began to run.
Speaker 7 (11:14):
Please wait, he exclaimed, do not be alarmed.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
The women stopped. The young man raised his arms into
the air and said.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
You seek Jesus, who was crucified. But he is not here.
He is risen. They looked at the empty bed where
Jesus once lay. It was absurd to think that one
could rise again after such a brutal death. Yet there
was a small feeling stirring up from within them. Something
(11:46):
deep in their hearts told them that it may be
true their teacher, who had hung, bloodied and beaten on
a cross, might be alive. They looked at the young man,
dressed in white. He smiled and pointed towards the entrance.
Do not stay here, Go and tell the disciples. He
is on his way to Galilee. There you will meet him.
(12:10):
Now go and be sure to tell Peter.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
The women picked up their garments and ran as fast
as they could back to Galilee. They were not quite
sure what to believe. The thought of resurrection was far
from their minds. Did someone take his body? Was he
a ghost? They were excited, afraid, and confused. However, a
fire burned in them. They knew that they had to
(12:34):
tell Peter. The women ran with wind beneath their feet.
Fear had overpowered them. As they ran, they were more
and more convinced that Jesus's body had been taken. They
doubted the young man's words. Near the sea, there was
a small home that the disciples were hiding away in.
They were quiet and brooding. Silence filled the room. They
(12:58):
stared blankly at one another, unable to speak. Bumu, their
king was dead, and they ran when he needed the most.
James could not stop thinking about how he fell asleep
when Jesus asked him to pray in the garden. He
winced at the memory. He's gone, James whispered, and I
(13:19):
did nothing to help him. I did nothing. James slammed
his fists on the table and wept. Peter stared blankly
at the window. He was beyond tears at this point.
His face was emotionless and his heart devoid of all feeling.
Speaker 8 (13:36):
At least you didn't deny him in front of a child.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Peter said in a monotone voice. He continued to stare
at the window.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
I was there when he was getting beaten. I watched
as they kicked him down the temple steps like a dog,
and I denied knowing him, just like he said I would.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Peter's bottom lip began to quiver. He picked up his
nets and made his way towards the door. He was
going to your fishing to clear his mind, but instead
the door burst open. The two Mary's and Salomey fell
through the entrance. Out of breath. The disciples all stood
to their feet in fear.
Speaker 8 (14:18):
What happened?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Peter asked frantically, did the pairises find you with the tomb?
The women shook their hands. They were frantic and frightened. No,
Mary shouted, some one has taken him? What John exclaimed?
Mary was unconsolable.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
We looked in the tomb and he was not there.
A man told us he was gone.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
In to tell you.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
We were too afraid to ask questions, so we ran here.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
The women wept. Peter did not ask questions. He dashed
out the door and ran towards the hills where Jesus's
tomb was. John followed close behind. The two men sprinted
through the small village and passed the trees. Peter ran ferociously,
but he was not his as young as John. John
quickly gained on him and passed him. He made it
(15:04):
to the tomb first and stumbled inside, catching his breath.
He looked up to see the empty bed where Jesus
was laid down. Peter finally made it and stopped at
the entrance. He paused for a long moment, unsure if
he was even worthy to step in. He had so
much pent up shame he had yet to deal with.
(15:27):
He was convinced that even if Jesus were alive, he
would reject him completely. Peter held his head low and
peeked his head in. He saw John kneeling near the bed.
Jesus's burial linens were neatly folded, as if someone had
made their bed before leaving home. Those fiends, Peter growled,
(15:50):
they must have taken him.
Speaker 8 (15:52):
Those Pharisees could not stand the thought of Jesus resting.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Peter clenched his fists in anger. He fell to his
knees beside John. The two of them wept, unable to
understand what had transpired. John put his arm round Peter.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
We must go home, Peter, the guards will be back.
Speaker 7 (16:11):
For all we know, we could be blamed for removing
his body.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
John helped Peter to his feet, and the two men
limped home side by side. However, Mary Magdalen had not
been too far behind. As Peter and John left the tomb,
Mary entered. The tomb smelled of stale incense. A slight
breeze came from the outside, causing Mary's hair to sway. Gently.
(16:38):
She felt her hair and stroked it. She looked at it,
remembering a time when she used to pull it out.
She had been tormented for years by demons. The abuse
of wicked men had left her vulnerable, and the enemy
crept in like a lion on weak pray. For years,
she was tortured, cast aside, and forgotten. That was until
(17:03):
Jesus came. From the first moment she saw him, he
was able to calm her soul. The raging war inside
her was tamed, and the demons flared at his command.
Tears streamed down Mary's face. She was afraid, since Jesus
was now gone, the demons would return, she would go
(17:26):
back to a life of scarring herself and pulling out
her hair. She left the tomb still weeping miserably. The
sun's rays brought no warmth to her sorrowful soul. She
sat down at the entrance of the tomb and put
her head between her knees. She wept uncontrollably. Facing the tomb, Woman,
(17:49):
why are you weeping? Two voices said in tandem. Mary
jolted her head up to see two creatures perched on
top of the stone door. The jewels cocked their heads,
curious at her tears. She rubbed her eyes and looked
up at them. They have taken my lord, she yelled.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
They have taken him, and all hope is lost.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
She buried her head on her knees again and wept.
Then she heard another voice behind.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Her, woman, why are you weeping? Is this someone you
are looking for? Mary did not raise her eyes. She
supposed it was the gardener. She kept her face buried
in her garments, trying to control the sobbing.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Please, sir, have you taken him?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Can you tell me where you put him?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Mary?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
The voice said softly. The voice was as soothing as
a babbling brook. It is strong as a raging tempest.
It was a voice Mary recognized. It was the voice
of one who had commanded the demons to flee from her.
It was the voice of acceptance and compassion. It was
the voice of strength and miracles. Mary jolted her head up.
(19:11):
Her eyes were wide. The sun was bright behind him,
hiding his face for a moment that his smile was unmistakable.
It was Hugh, the conquering lion of Judah. Stood before her,
the hero of scripture and the prince of peace, smiled
down at her. He had not been taken. He had
(19:32):
risen in a final act of power. Jesus had defeated death.
Jesus rose to prove that death had no authority over
a sinless savior. Ah rob who I, Mary said, with
a gasp. She clung to his legs and wept even more.
Jesus laughed and helped Mary to her feet.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Do not cling to me, Mary, I have yet to
ascend to my father. Go and tell my brothers. I
will soon be ascending to my father, to my God
and their God.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Mary nodded in amazement. She lifted her sleeves for a
moment to wipe away her tears. When she lifted her
gaze again, he was gone. Mary looked around. The birds
were chirping, and the bright sun had shone brighter in
her eyes. Now that Jesus was no longer standing over her.
Had she seen an apparition? Was her mind playing tricks
(20:26):
on her? Certainly not. Mary knew in her hard hearts
that it was Jesus, So once again she ran back
to the disciples and to tell them the good news.
Miles away, under the shadow of the empty temple, the
two guards stood in front of the High Priest Caiaphas.
(20:47):
They feared this would happen. They knew they had not
seen the last of Jesus's influence on earth.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
You're worthless, dogs.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Caiaphas yelled, throwing his staff at the guards. The large
banged against the stone walls. The Roman soldiers stood at attention,
unfazed by the High Priest's outburst. Jesus was the Jews problem,
not theirs. Although they had been charged to watch Jesus's too.
A burst of light and wind would make for a
(21:17):
breathtaking story.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
We cannot let anyone know of this.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Caiaphas yelled. The elders in the room agreed. Caiaphas faced
the guards and sneered.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
I know your kind only response to one thing.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
He pulled a sack of coins out of his robe
and handed it to them.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
This ought to be sufficient for your cooperation. We cannot
have anyone claiming Jesus rose from the dead, so we
will tell them that the disciples came by night when
you were asleep. Is that understood?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
The guards grinned as they counted their coins. They nodded
and left the room. Caiaphas sat down at the head
of the table and rubbed his temples.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Control the story, and you control the masses. He said,
I have a feeling this event will prove problematic for us.
My friends.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
The elders and chief priests stirred at their table and
whispered amongst themselves. Caiaphas poured himself some wine and looked
deep into the cup. He had seen Jesus bleed himself. However,
he had also seen the temple veil torn in half.
There were even some reports of earthquakes and people rising
(22:31):
from their graves. The night Jesus had died, Caiaphas knew
that something new was coming. He had a sinking feeling
that something greater than the works of Jesus were on
their way. However he could not explain it. The Holy
Spirit was preparing for his descent. Soon he would flood
(22:52):
the cities with the righteousness and power of Jesus.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
What happened to Jesus was miraculous, but it should be
by no means surprising. The Bible has been teasing the
resurrection for thousands of years. Images, motifs, and prophecies lay scripture,
ultimately pointing to this moment. One of those images was
the story of Daniel and the Lions den. The prelude
gave us the image of a dark and perilous Din
(23:24):
of lions ready to devour Daniel, who is a Christ's figure.
In scripture, the light of God shut the mouth of
the lions. The same language used for Daniel's dissension out
of the den was used for Jesus rising out of
the grave. The light of the world. Jesus shut the
mouth of death and took away its fangs. He rose victorious,
(23:46):
and now those who believe in him share in that victory.
The next few episodes cover the theme of belief and
the long process some go on to truly find it.
Several different characters wrestle with brief in their own way.
Women who were approached by the angels bleed immediately. Mary,
who initially believe, found herself doubting and in grief. Peter
(24:08):
and John visited the tomb and came to the conclusion
that someone must have stolen Jesus, even though he had
told them he would rise again. Caiaphas, when learning about
the event, seems to believe more than the Disciples that
it was possible, but is blinded by his own pride.
We will meet a few others who wrestle with brief
as well, such as the Disciples on the Road to
(24:30):
Damascus and Thomas. Each person has their own path to Christ.
Perhaps some people are easily convinced like these three women.
Others may teeter in and out of belef like Mary.
There are many who are too lost in their own
shame to believe, like Peter. Wherever you are on the
faith journey, know that you are not alone in your questions,
(24:52):
and there is no uniform path to discover Jesus. We're
all on our unique journey, dealing with the winding roads
as they come. The resurrection is the proof of Christ's
power and the validation of our faith. If you want
an example of what a believer without the resurrection looks like,
look no further than Peter. Peter followed Christ faithfully, but
(25:13):
when Jesus died, his hope was dead with him. He
was stuck with his shame. We will keep a close
eye on Peter in the next few episodes. His journey
with Jesus is far from over. There is more work
to be done in his heart. Peter and Mary were
the two characters this episode highlighted the most. They were
both caught in their own graves and needed resurrection. Peter
(25:36):
was wrestling with his sin and shame. He disappointed Jesus
by cutting off Malchus's ear. Then he denied Jesus three times,
only a few yards away from him. He wasn't even
there to watch him die. He didn't get to say goodbye.
Peter's heart was cold and broken without the warmth of Jesus.
Mary was wrestling with her past demons before Jesus. She
(25:59):
was played with trauma and spiritual oppression. She feared that
without the light of Jesus, the darkness would return. Both
Peter and Mary needed resurrection. At the end of the episode,
it was Mary who got to see Jesus first. Her
grief quickly turned to joy when she gazed upon the
faith of her redeemer. At first, she thought he might
(26:21):
be the gardener, so she kept her eyes down in sorrow. However,
there was a word that caused her to look up.
Mary Jesus said, softly, that's all, just her name. Jesus
didn't reveal himself to Mary by telling her who he was,
but by telling her who she was. To him, he
spoke with a tenderness and intimacy only God could have.
(26:44):
When he spoke her name, there was no mistaking it
was him. Jesus knows you. He knows your very thought,
your every fear, and your every dream. David sang a
sweet song to God, declaring this truth in Psalm one
point thirty nine. Oh Lord, you have searched me and
known me. You know when I sit down and when
I rise up. You deserve my thoughts from afar. You
(27:06):
search out my path and my lying down, and are
acquainted with all my ways, even before a word is
on my tongue. Behold, O Lord, you know it all together.
You hit me in behind and before, and lay your
hand upon me. For you form my inward parts. You
knitted me together in my mother's wound. I praise you,
(27:27):
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works.
My soul knows it very well. My frame was not
hidden from you when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes
saw my unformed substance. In your book were written every
one of them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them. How precious
(27:50):
to me are your thoughts, O God, How vast is
the sum of them? If I would count them, They
are more than the sand. I awake, and I am
still with you rest today and the knowledge that you
are known, loved, and cherished. There is nothing about you
that is hidden from God. He has seen the darker
parts of your mind, and he has seen the purity
(28:11):
of your hopes for the future. He sees all these things,
yet still calls you by name. He still calls you
his beloved Jesus comforted Mary and told her to go
tell the disciples there was much to do before Jesus
returned to the Father. This episode ended in the temple
with Caiaphas and the Roman gods charged with watching the tomb.
(28:32):
The high priest doesn't deny once that Jesus rose from
the dead. This tells Us that even if he did
believe Jesus rose again, he didn't care. He wanted the
name of Jesus snuffed out and done. Pride has a
way of taunting belief. Even if you and I have
belief or knowledge of Jesus, pride can quickly choke out
whatever good fruit would come from it. Control the story,
(28:55):
and you control the masses, he said. Unfortunately for him,
the testimony of the resurrection was a story that could
not be controlled. For thousands of years, people have tried
to taint the testimony of Jesus, yet it always finds
a way to prevail. The story of Jesus outlasts the
greed of men. In our next episode, Jesus will travel
(29:15):
from place to place in relative omnimity. He will walk
alongside a few men and take them on a journey.
They did not expect join us next time for episode
twenty the Road. Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories,
daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime, go to
pray dot com. And to expand your heroes in the
(29:36):
Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at
Tonyevans dot org Forward slash Heroes. Please write a review
and let us know how Jesus and this podcast have
impacted your life. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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