May 10, 2024 • 40 mins
Chapter 11 of Heroes in the Bible: Jesus with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by the Gospels.
Beware and Behold - Jesus warns the disciples of the age to come, and reveals his glory for a brief moment. Jesus is preparing his disciple’s heart for his inevitable departure, therefore every action and teaching is laced with seemingly greater urgency.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Matthew 17:1-2, And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them:
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter James and John
his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart,
and was transfigured before them Matthew seventeen one and two.
Like Peter, James and John, I thank you, Jesus that
you are giving me uncommon access to understanding and experiencing
(00:25):
you in new and powerful ways. I praise you for
your continued desire to take me higher and deeper into
the things of the Lord. In the same way that
you were transfigured, Jesus, I thank you that I am
being transformed into the very likeness and image of you,
(00:49):
in the same way our heavenly Father validated your purpose
Jesus with John the Baptist, I also am recognizing the
validation I have from You Lord to be seen and heard,
transform me from the inside out, and let me bring
others who are close to me in on the journey
(01:11):
of a transformed life. In Jesus' name, Amen, stay tuned
to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from
prey dot COM's podcast Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, and I'm excited for you
to join me on heroes in the Bible, Jesus. Please
follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the
latest episodes so you can continue strengthening your relationship with Jesus.
Welcome to the greatest story ever told. It is a
tale of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's
(01:49):
love for his children, and a hero's triumph over death
and darkness. This is a story that continues to shape
and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart
of God right into the hearts of you and me.
In this episode, Jesus's identity is revealed in splendor. Up
until now, the true nature of Jesus has been somewhat hidden,
(02:11):
as if a thin veil has been hiding parts of
his deity. This episode culminates in a grand revelation of
Christ's divine nature. Before we get there, though Jesus wrestles
metaphorically speaking with the Pharisees and religious leaders, their hardened
hearts and dogmatic beliefs have entrenched them in bitterness. Even
(02:32):
as Jesus clearly shows themselves to be the Messiah, they
do not allow themselves to see it. This episode will
offer us some grand revelations about Jesus but it will
also give us some warnings. I will do my best
to walk you through these revelations and warnings after the episode.
Before the episode, we have a prelude, a story captured
(02:53):
from a different time and space. We will meet the
great prophet Elijah and his battle with the prophets of Bail.
The name of Elijah will be mentioned quite a bit
in this episode, so pay close attention and listen carefully
for the connections between him and Jesus. One of the
reasons for the preludes is to remind us that Scripture
is a grand tapestry with small threads interwoven uniquely to
(03:17):
show us a grand picture. Each moment in Scripture points
forward or backward to another moment, making it the greatest
story ever told. I pray this episode blesses you. Here
is episode eleven. Beware and behold.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Prelude to chapter eleven.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
We shall see which God is worthy of our.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Worship, Elijah said, staring out at the people of Israel.
He stood before a throng of people, hovering over a
bull placed on an altar of wood. He found himself
in a clash of gods. He had watched the four
hundred fifty prophets of Bail cut themselves and danced in
(04:05):
front of their sacrifice. Yet their God did not hear them.
Their God was distant and worthless. No matter how hard
they strived, they could not conjure up the favor of
their God. Elijah scammed the crowd. They had turned from
their creator and protector. They left him and adopted the
(04:27):
perverse practices of their crooked king. AaB come closer, Elijah yelled,
beckoning the people to look. Elijah took twelve stones representing
the twelve tribes of Israel and placed them on the altar.
The stones clacked together, echoing over the silent crowd. The
(04:47):
people were eagerly awaiting a sign. They had worshiped Bail
instead of Yahweh. Yet they watched as the prophets of
Bail made fools of themselves. For all their numbers, I
had no substance. They were like whitewashed tombs. They wore
robes of decadence and self importance, yet they were empty inside.
(05:10):
They lacked power. Elijah took a pickaxe and began to
dig a trench around his altar. He gestured to the
prophets and asked them to pour water over his sacrifice.
They did it again, Elijah said, So they poured more
water under the wood and bull.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
More.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Elijah snapped, So they poured more water. The entire trench
around the altar was filled with water, and the sacrifice
of wood and flesh was completely drenched. Elijah stood near
his altar and looked to the heavens.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let be known this
day that you alone are the God of Israel.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Elijah lifted his hands in surrender.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
I am your servant. I have done everything according to
your word.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Answer me.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Answer me, so the people may know that you are God.
Your people must return to you. So show yourself mighty.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
As Elijah said these things, a great flash of lightning
burst forth from heaven. Its boat was radiant, and its
course was direct. The altar erupted into flames, sending sparks
flying in the air. Ash and debris flew into the
faces of the prophets nearby the bull, the wood and
the stones were reduced to a powder under the intense heat.
(06:38):
The water was evaporated into a hot steam, burning the
skin of people too close. The flames raged, and the
people praised the might of God. Had descended upon the altar.
The people of Israel fell under their faces. The Lord
is God. They chanted. They desired a sign from heath.
(07:00):
They desired proof of God's power. They received it. However,
people that needed to sign once would need it again.
God knew that the people would forget him again, They
would turn from Him and cling to false idols. They
strayed so often because their hearts were far from his.
(07:23):
God knew that unless the people had a transformed heart,
they would continue to stray from him. One day, God
would send another light from heaven. This time it would
consume more than just an altar. It would consume the
very heart of mankind. Chapter eleven, Beware and Behold. Jesus
(07:50):
rested in a home in the region of Tire and Sidon,
enjoying a brief moment of anonymity. It was the land
of the Gentiles, the place where Jewish rabbi would never
be found. However, Jesus did not follow such prejudiced traditions.
He knew that the love of God would eventually reach
(08:11):
the nations of Gentiles. However, for now his mission was
focused on the Hebrews. He had entered the house of
a faithful follower, but did not want anyone to know
he was staying there. He was content to be alone
with his disciples and pour into them the wisdom of God.
(08:31):
He needed them ready and prepared for the coming days. However,
Jesus his fame had stretched beyond the borders of Judea.
Before Jesus could even raise his feet to rest, the
door knocked relentlessly. Jesus walked to the door and opened
it softly. A gentile woman stood at the entrance, holding
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her daughter in her arms. The little girl was stirring
and grunting. Her eyes were rolled back, and she screamed.
At the sight of Jesus, it was clear she was
possessed by a demon. The woman fell to her knees,
holding her daughter up to Jesus. Tears streamed down her
face as she.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Pleaded, please cast this demon out of my child.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
I do not want who to suffer any longer.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Jesus remained standing at the door, looking down at the woman.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Do you not know that I need to feed the
children before allowing the puppies a chance to eat? Why
would I give the children's food.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
To them, Jesus asked. He said this regarding his mission
towards the Jews before the Gentiles. The woman winced at
Jesus's reply. She knew that she was a gentile. There
was no escaping her birth. However, she knew deep down
her birth did not disqualify her from the grace Jesus offered.
(09:56):
She looked up at him and said.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
That may be so, oh, my lord, but even the
pups are allowed under the table to eat of the
crumbs that fall.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Jesus nodded, amazed at the woman's persistence and tact. He
knelt down and laid his hand on the girl's head.
Her gaze would not meet his. She thrashed her head
and grunted in her mother's arms. Of course, Jesus would
not allow this woman to leave without healing her daughter.
(10:25):
He looked at the woman, then back at the girl, and.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
For your statement, you may leave in peace. The demon
has left your daughter.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
After these things, Jesus returned from Tyre and Sidon to Decapolis,
near the Sea of Galilee. I have to try, the
man said, incessantly.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Perhaps the teacher might have more important matters.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
The woman replied, he's my brother. He shouted.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
I would do anything for it, even risk looking like
a fool.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
The man and his wife debated on whether to approach
Jesus or not. They had spotted him in the market
place near the fisherman's quarter. They were looking and pointing
at him, debating on whether to reveal themselves. However, it
wasn't long until Jesus spotted them on the corner. Now
is their chance, the man said. His wife nodded, and
(11:16):
together they brought forth the man's brother. He was deaf
and could barely speak due to an impediment. The lack
of language had caused him a great deal of pain.
He could not truly connect or share his deepest feelings.
They brought him to Jesus.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
Please Lord, please heal my brother.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
The man wept. Jesus looked at the deaf man. He
tried his best to mumble a greeting, but could not.
His tongue had been unable to utter one coherent syllable.
Come with me, Jesus said, leading them to an alley
away from the busy market place. Jesus looked at the
family with compassion. He held the man's head firmly. He
(12:02):
placed his fingers in his ears, and then spat into
his hands and touched the man's tongue. Jesus gazed up
to heaven, speaking with great authority and power. With a
loud voice, Jesus yelled, if Father, which means be opened.
The man staggered back and fell on to his side.
All of a sudden, he could hear the bustling market
(12:25):
place and the chirping of birds. The sound was overwhelming. However,
as he calmed down, he was able to hear the
gentle and steady voice of Jesus. You are well, he said,
with a grin. Jesus extended a hand and led him
to his feet. The man touched his tongue and held
his ears. He looked to his brother and sister. I
(12:48):
am healed, he said. They were the first words he
had uttered clearly his whole life. Tears of joy streamed
down their cheeks as they embraced. Jesus brought them in
close and placed his finger over his lips.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
Be sure you don't tell anyone about this. Instead, worship
God and give him thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
He said. However, they did not listen. With his new voice,
the men proclaimed the name of Jesus to every person
he met. Their praise knew no bounds, so Jesus continued
to grow in fame. As Jesus his name continued to
capture the ears of the people, the Pharisees stirred in anger.
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Their rage towards him boiled more with each day. Every
miracle and every sermon only increased their desire to thwart him.
They stirred and plotted against him. Give us a sign,
the Pharisees shouted to Jesus. They had caught him in
the city's streets, preaching to a group of people. The
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Pharisees sauntered into view with their chests out and their
noses raised high. You come here wearing the confidence of
a man sent from God. Yet each time we ask
you to prove yourself, you refuse. Do you not care
what we think? The Pharisees were no longer tactful with
their accusations. They had been left to their own bitterness
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for far too long. At this point, their rage toward
Jesus was unquenchable.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Send fire down like Elijah, they said, Call for fire
to fall down from heaven.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
They goaded. Jesus looked at them with intensity. They were
whitewashed tombs outwardly. They wore decadent robes and carried themselves
with piety, yet there was no life within them. They
were dead inside and had cut off their hearts from
the work of God. They bore no more fruitfulness than
the ancient prophets of Bale. Jesus stretched out his arms.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
When you look to the sky and see no clouds,
you perceive it will be fair weather. When you look
up and see storm clouds, you know how to protect yourselves.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Jesus said, how is it that you can.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Look to the sky and interpret the weather, but you
can't see the signs that are right in front of you.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
The crowd around her chuckle. If the Pharisees were not amused,
and neither was Jesus, he stepped forward and looked at
them intently.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
I will give you no sign. I will not dance
for you when you ask me to. I'll not play
all these games you desire for me. The only sign
that will be given to you is the sign of Jonah,
who is in the crave for three days and then
emerged back into life.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
After saying these things, Jesus departed, wanting nothing else to
do with him. He and his disciples boarded a boat
and left for the other side of Gallilee. The boat rocked,
and the group gently made their way to the other
side of the sea. John was at the front of
the boat, looking longingly at the shoreline. He sighed, holding
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his stomach. We forgot bread, he said, with a groan.
How can we forget bread? This journey takes all the
whole day. Jesus continued to look out at the horizon.
He was stirred up by the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Their ignorance towards God and their contempt for the Kingdom
of Heaven made him angry. Beware, Jesus said, looking out
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at sea, Beware the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples
gave each other looks of confusion. Is he talking about
our lack of bread?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
John asked, I think he is asking us to be
careful when we do find bread.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Andrew replied. The disciples could not get their minds off
of their lack of bread. Their stomachs rumbled, and they
could not perceive what Jesus was trying to tell them.
Jesus shook his head.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Do not understand what I'm saying. We just witnessed defeating
of thousands of people. We gave them bread, so I
speak in these terms. Beware, beware of the leaven that
lies within the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They enter in
and ruin the gold good work that we strive for.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
He scolded. There was a frustration in Jesus's voice. Clearly
the Pharisees caused him to stir. He could not stand
the thought of religious leaders causing others to fall away
from God. It made his blood boil. After Jesus clarified,
they understood that he did not tell them to beware
of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of
(17:25):
the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They reached Bethsayada, and as
always there was a crowd awaiting Jesus. This time there
was a blind man brought to him. The entire crowd
begged him to heal him. Jesus took notice that the
crowds were beginning to advocate for one another. Now that
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they understood Jesus had power and compassion, they felt empowered
to notice the needs of others. Jesus came close to
the man and observed his eyes Like a physician. Jesus
breathed in deeply. The crowd looked intently, waiting for something
majestic to take place, waiting for something majestic to take place. Instead,
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Jesus spat into the man's eyes. The crowd winced in
slight disgust as Jesus took his saliva and rubbed it
into the man's eyes. Jesus perceived that the man's eyelids
were sealed shut by residue, so he spat on them
and began to massage them open. Do you see anything,
Jesus asked. The man was struggling to understand the shapes
(18:35):
he was seeing. He saw blurred images, silhouetted in light.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
I think I see people, yet they seemed to me
like trees.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Jesus laid his hands on the man's eyes again and
continued to rub. This time, the man could see everything clearly.
Jesus sent the man home to worship God and bask
in the beauty of his creation. The smallest of actions,
if they blessed someone, were miracles. Jesus did not need
to call down fire from heaven or speak in the
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language of angels. He simply needed to look, see, and
care enough to act. Jesus then departed into the hills
with his disciples where they camped for the night. It
was late. The fire crackled under the evening stars. Jesus
and the disciples were all quiet. Their usual revelry was
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replaced with a quiet contemplation that came with exhaustion. The
week's events had proven to be taxing. The fire was mesmerizing.
The flames flickered to the sound of chirping crickets. John
huddled in close to Jesus. He was the youngest of
the disciples, no older than sixteen. He looked out into
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the darkness beyond the fire, listening to the howling of
wolves in the distance. It a calm moment. It was
a precious moment that Jesus cherished. He looked among his disciples,
filled with love for who they were and who they
would become. He looked to the other side of the fire.
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They were staring at the fire mindlessly. Jesus decided to
break the silence.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
Who do people say that I am?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
He asked. The disciples shrugged Andrew looked up.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Some say that you are John the.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Baptist, he said, while poking the fire.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
After he was beheaded, there were rumors Herod thought you
were him.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Returned from the dead. The disciples chuckled, thinking resurrection from
the dead was an absurd notion.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
Others say, you are Elisha.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Who has returned.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
James answered, he was taken up to Heaven in a
chariot of fire.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Many believe he is bound to return some day.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Jesus looked around the fire at his disciples. He nodded
at their answers. John the Baptist was a skilled reformer,
and Elijah was an influential prophet. No doubt, both of
these titles suited Jesus. However, they did not get to
the core of who he was. He needed his disciples
(21:16):
to truly grasp his identity.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Yes, this is what people say, but who do you
say that I am?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Jesus asked. There was silence for a long while as
the disciples pondered the question. Simon Peter lifted his gaze
to Jesus. He stared through the fire. He was not
known as a deep thinker. He was not a profound
historian like Matthew or an intellectual like Thomas. He was
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not known for his wit. Conversely, he was known for
his fast mouth and brash actions. They got him into
trouble his whole childhood, Yet this answer came easily, as
if it was a voice locked deep within his heart
that he had been unhinged. You are the Christ, he said,
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you are the son of the Living God. The disciples stirred.
Many of them had believed that Jesus was the Christ
and the promised Messiah. However, they were apprehensive to say
it out loud. Yet Simon Peter declared it, making it
known for all to proclaim. Jesus sat there staring at
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Simon Peter for a moment. He smiled and nodded, Yes,
he said, what you have said is true. The rest
of the disciples were in awe. Jesus had affirmed all
their perceptions of him. Jesus pointed to Simon Peter and.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
Said, blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. The flesh
and blood has not shown you these things. No man
or woman whispered these truths to you. He once stood
before me a skeptic, wondering who I was. Yet now
my father has revealed to you who I am.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Simon Peter was moved with humility. He had only said
what had been dwelling deep within. He knew. From the
moment Jesus helped him catch those fish that he was
the Messiah. Jesus held up a stone and gestured towards
Simon Peter.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
From this day forward, you are Peter.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Rock, Jesus said, you are a rock.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Peter, an integral brick in the household of God. However,
I am the rock, and it is on this rock
I will build my church. The gates of Hell will
not prevailed against it.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Jesus then gestured to the rest of his disciples.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
I will give each of you the keys of the
Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever work you do here will have
eternal weight.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Jesus picked up a stick from the fire. The end
of the stick was bright red and emanating flames. Jesus
waved it around methodically. I will go to Jerusalem, he said.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
There I will suffer many, many things at the hands
of the elders and the chief priests.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Jesus continued to wave the stick gently, leaving a trail
of light behind. They will kill me, Jesus said, driving
the stick into the dirt. The flame at the end
of the stick was extinguished, yet a small spark remained.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
I've no fear though, for I will be raised on
the third day.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
He blew gently on the stick, and a small flame returned,
drawing larger and larger. The stars were shifting in the sky,
and the disciples were deep into the night. Many of
the men were asleep soundly beside the fire. However, Jesus
and Peter were still awake. Peter looked earnestly at Jesus, Master,
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he said. Jesus looked up and gave him his attention. Yes, Peter,
Peter shifted in place. Far be it from you to
be delivered to die. Of course, this will never happen
to you, he said. Peter's intention was to curry favor
with Jesus by reassuring him that nobody would kill him. However,
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he could not have been more wrong. Jesus rose to
his feet and stepped over the flame. He crouched down
and looked Peter intensely in the eyes. He pointed behind
him toward the flame. Get behind me, Satan, Jesus said,
with intensity, you are a hindrance to me and quenched
the work of God. You are concerned with the silly
(25:27):
fears of men and not fixed on the mission of
the Lord. With that, Jesus rose up and went to bed.
Peter laid away quaking in fear over Jesus's rebuke. Only
hours prior, Jesus had told him that God's very word
dwelt within him. Now he had been rebuked as an
(25:47):
enemy of God, Peter knew Jesus would not hold his
quick mouth against him. Still slightly anxious, Peter wrestled with
his mind until he eventually fell asleep. Dawn approached, and
the morning dew laced itself over Peter's beard. He awoke
before the sun rose above the horizon. The air was
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crisp and clean, and a dull light had begun to
poke above the distant hills. Jesus crouched next to Peter,
smiling and holding his finger up to his lips, signaling
for Peter to be quiet. He gestured to the base
of the mountain, where John and James were waiting. Peter
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rose from his blankets and followed Jesus. The four of
them climbed the mountain briskly, trying to beat the morning light.
Peter watched as Jesus marched ahead of them, his legs
buried deep into the cracks in the rock, propelling him forward.
The mountain became steeper, and the three disciples were climbing
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the rocks to catch up to Jesus. They saw him
make his way to the clearing at the top of
the mountain, just in time for sunrise. He was out
of the sight now. They looked up as the light
was bursting from the top of the mountain. It was
the strangest sunrise they had ever seen. They made their
way up, ready to look at the glowing sun over
(27:12):
the eastern valley. However, they soon realized that the sun
had not yet risen over the hills. The light they
had seen was bursting forth from Jesus himself. As they
reached the top of the hill, they saw beams of
pure brilliance radiating from Christ. His face shone brighter than
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the rising sun. It was as if his humanity was
unzipped in the essence of his deity shone through the cracks.
The sight was amazing and terrifying. The three of them
watched in awe as two other bursts of light broke
forth from the heavens, descending like falling stars. Beside Jesus
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descended Moses and Elijah. The three disciples watched as Jesus
spoke to them. Only he did not speak as an
equal It almost seemed as though he was teaching Moses
and Elijah. He had revealed something to them that had
been long awaited. The two historic men of faith bowed
(28:16):
to Christ as their lord and spoke to him as God.
Peter's heart was racing. He was standing before the three
greatest men God had ever sent on earth. James and
John watched as Peter ran towards them Like a little boy.
Peter jumped up and down. Lord, he shouted, it is
(28:37):
good that all of us are here. We can set
up three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and
one for Elijah.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
It will be.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
As Peter was frantically speaking, a bright light fell down
from heaven and consumed him like a whirlwind. A cloud
of holy radiance whistled around them like a tempest. Peter
and the other two disciples cowered in fear. This was
much more frightening than Jesus's rebuked the night before. It
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was as if the heavens opened up all around Peter.
He covered his eyes from the light, laying in the
fetal position on the ground. A voice burst through from
the tempest.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Saying, this is my beloved son, in whom I am
well pleased hear him and only him. Then, in an instant,
the light disappeared. Peter's eyes were clenched shut. He waited
for the wind to cease and peeked open one eye.
(29:41):
He looked up to see Elijah and Moses gone. Jesus
stood there alone in their place. His radiance was gone,
but he still carried himself for the same holiness. Jesus
extended a hand to Peter and then led the three
disciples down the hill.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Tell no of what you saw this morning, Jesus commanded
the three.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
Not until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
As they were descending down, one of the disciples asked.
Speaker 6 (30:11):
Isn't it said that Elijah will return before the Son
of Man.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Jesus nodded and said, it is true, but Elijah has
already come back.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
You did not just recognize him.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
The disciples understood who he was referring to. John the
Baptist was a voice crying from the wilderness. He was
the one who came before Jesus, declaring the way of
the Lord. Peter realized he had put Jesus on a
similar pedestal as Moses and Elijah. However, he now knew
(30:45):
that all the Law of Moses, and the entirety of
the prophets, including Elijah, were all pointing towards their true north,
Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
This episode took us to a new level of understanding
as Jesus revealed his glory and splendid to Peter, James,
and John. Many revelations and warnings were given to us
in this episode. We will unpack a few of them together. First,
we were given a glimpse into Jesus's mission to the Gentiles.
A woman with a demon possessed daughter found Jesus and
(31:19):
begged him to help her. Jesus initially refused and reminded
her that his primary call was to the Jews. This woman,
perhaps unbeknownst to her, revealed God's ancient plan. Jesus told her, plainly,
do you not know that I need to feed the
children before allowing the dogs a chance to eat? Why
would I give the children's food to them? But the
(31:42):
woman's reply was brilliant. She said, that may be so,
my Lord, but even the pups are allowed under the
table to eat the crumbs that fall. This gentile woman
knew that although she was not a member of God's
chosen people, she could still receive God's mercy. A part
of Jesus' mission was to bring the Gentiles into the
promise of God, and we got a glimpse of that
(32:05):
in this episode. In between miracles and moments of tenderness,
the Pharisees and religious leaders chimed in. They challenged Jesus
and ask him to show them a sign, as if
bringing people back from the dead, healing the lame, and
giving sight to the blind were not good enough. They
wanted a spectacle. Send fire down like Elijah, they said,
(32:26):
call for fire to fall down from heaven. They goaded.
Here's the thing. People say they want a grand sign
in order to believe, but that's not actually how human
beings work. The Israelites witnessed God part the Red Sea,
send fireballs from heaven and rain down manner from the sky,
yet they still lost their faith in God multiple times.
(32:47):
Peter in our last episode, walked on water, yet lost
his footing because of his disbelief. The Pharisees ignorantly thought
a grand sign would persuade them, but Jesus knew better.
Hardened hearts don't automatically become so often because God gives
them a sign. Remember Pharaoh in Egypt. The more signs
God showed him. The heart of his heart became once again.
(33:09):
Jesus told them the only sign he would give was
a sign of Jonah. This was once again a foreshadowing
of the three days he would spend in the grave
before rising on the third day. Later that day, Jesus
gave his disciples a warning beware the leaven of the Pharisees.
He spoke in metaphor regarding the corrupting influence of the
(33:30):
Pharisees and scribes. Just as a little bit of leaven
can affect the entire loaf of bread, just a little
influence from the Pharisees can corrupt their hearts. The disciples
got a bit tripped up by this metaphor, since they
had forgotten to pack bread for the trip. They thought
Jesus was making a passive, aggressive jab at their forgetfulness.
(33:50):
You can sense a bit of Jesus as anning several
times in this episode, even anger. Jesus was trying to
engage with his disciples on a deeper level, and they
were getting caught up and shallow nonsense. This episode with
the disciples was a challenge and a warning to all
of us Jesus wants to engage you on a deeper level.
He wants to touch the deeper parts of your heart
(34:12):
and mind. He wants you to think philosophically and spiritually.
Be careful to not get too caught up in vapid
and shallow arguments. The disciples had moments of stupidity and spirituality,
just like the rest of us. Sometimes those moments were
within the same hour. That was certainly the case for Peter,
(34:33):
who had a high moment followed by a low moment
with Jesus. When they were all by the fire, Jesus
asked the famous question, who do people say that I am?
Jesus gave the disciples a second chance at conversation, since
they failed so miserably earlier. They answered plainly, saying that
Some said he was John the Baptist, and others said Elijah.
(34:54):
Those were interesting answers. John the Baptist was a revolutionary
and disruptive. It was a compliment and a curse at
the same time to compare Jesus to him. Others said
he was Elijah, who had returned to make way for
the Messiah. This was another fine guess. Elijah was a
great prophet, However, both those answers are wrong. It is
(35:15):
important for us to note that these are two different
ways people describe Jesus today. Many people see Jesus as
a revolutionary and great teacher. Some religions reduce Jesus to
just a prophet like Elijah. Jesus is much more than
a revolutionary or a prophet. Peter, in a moment of
complete clarity, describes who Jesus is. You are the Christ.
(35:38):
He says, you are the son of the Living God.
We have walked through this story long enough together to
ask this question, who do you say Jesus is? This
is the pre eminent question we all must ask ourselves.
Seeing what you have seen, hearing what you have heard,
who would you say Jesus is? Many people speculated he
(36:00):
was Elijah or John. The Baptist, the Pharisees, and religious
leader came to the conclusion he was a blasphema or
mad man. The Disciples, however, intimately aware of Jesus's character,
came to a different conclusion. He was the Messiah Christ,
the chosen hero of God, the redeemer of our souls.
If you've been listening to this series and are still
(36:22):
unsure about who Jesus is. Then I pray you continue
to listen. The true identity of Jesus will continue to
unfall before us as the series continues. The true identity
of Jesus was like this dimly veiled image. The disciples
were able to get an idea of him on their own,
but only the Spirit of God could have shown Simon
Peter the truth. Jesus gave Simon Peter a new name,
(36:45):
Rock or Peter. Can I share a very important theological
distinction that was made in this episode. Jesus held up
a stone and gesture towards Simon Peter. From this day forward,
you are Peter Rock. Jesus said, you are a rock, Peter,
an integral brick in the household of God. However, I
am the Rock, and it is on this rock I
(37:06):
will build my church. The gates of Hell will not
prevail against it. The words used in the original Greek
matter quite a bit. In this portion of scripture, Simon
was given the name Peter, which is Petros in Greek.
The word is translated to mean a rock or a stone.
This is a stone that is solid but movable, like
a brick on a house or a rolling stone on
(37:28):
a river bank. When Jesus says, on this rock, I
will build my church, he uses a different word than pietros.
He uses the word petro, which is translated as the rock.
This is a reference to a foundational rock, cliff or
mother rock. It is a word used for something fixed, immovable,
and huge. Jesus is calling Peter a rock and himself
(37:51):
the rock. Jesus is the foundation on which the church
was built, and the gates of Hell will not prevail
over him. Peter is just a chip off the old rock,
so to speak. It was a high moment for Peter,
but it quickly turned into a low moment. Out of
insecurity and ignorance. Peter rebuked Jesus's claim that he had
to die. Jesus, who had just praised Peter ours earlier,
(38:15):
looked him in the eye and called him satan. Quite
a step down for Peter. Don't you think Jesus could
not have followers getting in the way of what must
be done on the cross. This moment serves as a
warning to any of us who belittle the necessity of
the cross. As believers, our salvation and faith are fixed
on what happened on Good Friday, where the sins of
(38:37):
humanity were placed on Christ's shoulders in our place. This
episode ended with a brilliant scene where the glory of
Jesus was completely revealed. Moses and Elijah showed up, and
Peter could barely contain himself. Can you blame him? Moses,
the representative of the law of God, Elijah, the representative
of the prophece of God, both were there with Jesus
(38:58):
in splendor and glory. Naturally, Peter didn't want the moment
to end. He wanted to erect tabernacles for them to
dwell so people could come worship. In an instant, Peter
was caught up in a whirlwind. God rebuked him, and
all that was left was Jesus. God spoke clearly, saying,
this is my beloved son, in whom I'm well pleased.
(39:21):
Hear him and only him. I will leave you with
these parting thoughts. What good things have you revered above
or equal to Jesus? We often talk about drugs, alcohol,
unhealthy relationships as idolatry, But what about the good things
in life? What about ministries, marriages, a good job? What
(39:41):
good thing have you put above Jesus? Peter learned that
it was Jesus and Jesus alone, who was worthy of
his worship. My prayer for you today is that the
glory and goodness of God would be fully revealed to you.
I pray that you would be able to take the
warnings in this episode seriously while also fear empowered by
the encouragement as well. I look forward to speaking with
(40:04):
you next time as we unpack one of the greatest
teachings ever given. Join me for episode twelve, The Good Shepherd.
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 Bible journey,
download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.
(40:26):
Forward slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify
to get the newest episodes right as they come out,
so you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus, God bless
And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter James and John
his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart,
and was transfigured before them Matthew seventeen one and two.
Like Peter, James and John, I thank you, Jesus that
you are giving me uncommon access to understanding and experiencing
(00:25):
you in new and powerful ways. I praise you for
your continued desire to take me higher and deeper into
the things of the Lord. In the same way that
you were transfigured, Jesus, I thank you that I am
being transformed into the very likeness and image of you,
(00:49):
in the same way our heavenly Father validated your purpose
Jesus with John the Baptist, I also am recognizing the
validation I have from You Lord to be seen and heard,
transform me from the inside out, and let me bring
others who are close to me in on the journey
(01:11):
of a transformed life. In Jesus' name, Amen, stay tuned
to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from
prey dot COM's podcast Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, and I'm excited for you
to join me on heroes in the Bible, Jesus. Please
follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the
latest episodes so you can continue strengthening your relationship with Jesus.
Welcome to the greatest story ever told. It is a
tale of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's
(01:49):
love for his children, and a hero's triumph over death
and darkness. This is a story that continues to shape
and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart
of God right into the hearts of you and me.
In this episode, Jesus's identity is revealed in splendor. Up
until now, the true nature of Jesus has been somewhat hidden,
(02:11):
as if a thin veil has been hiding parts of
his deity. This episode culminates in a grand revelation of
Christ's divine nature. Before we get there, though Jesus wrestles
metaphorically speaking with the Pharisees and religious leaders, their hardened
hearts and dogmatic beliefs have entrenched them in bitterness. Even
(02:32):
as Jesus clearly shows themselves to be the Messiah, they
do not allow themselves to see it. This episode will
offer us some grand revelations about Jesus but it will
also give us some warnings. I will do my best
to walk you through these revelations and warnings after the episode.
Before the episode, we have a prelude, a story captured
(02:53):
from a different time and space. We will meet the
great prophet Elijah and his battle with the prophets of Bail.
The name of Elijah will be mentioned quite a bit
in this episode, so pay close attention and listen carefully
for the connections between him and Jesus. One of the
reasons for the preludes is to remind us that Scripture
is a grand tapestry with small threads interwoven uniquely to
(03:17):
show us a grand picture. Each moment in Scripture points
forward or backward to another moment, making it the greatest
story ever told. I pray this episode blesses you. Here
is episode eleven. Beware and behold.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Prelude to chapter eleven.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
We shall see which God is worthy of our.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Worship, Elijah said, staring out at the people of Israel.
He stood before a throng of people, hovering over a
bull placed on an altar of wood. He found himself
in a clash of gods. He had watched the four
hundred fifty prophets of Bail cut themselves and danced in
(04:05):
front of their sacrifice. Yet their God did not hear them.
Their God was distant and worthless. No matter how hard
they strived, they could not conjure up the favor of
their God. Elijah scammed the crowd. They had turned from
their creator and protector. They left him and adopted the
(04:27):
perverse practices of their crooked king. AaB come closer, Elijah yelled,
beckoning the people to look. Elijah took twelve stones representing
the twelve tribes of Israel and placed them on the altar.
The stones clacked together, echoing over the silent crowd. The
(04:47):
people were eagerly awaiting a sign. They had worshiped Bail
instead of Yahweh. Yet they watched as the prophets of
Bail made fools of themselves. For all their numbers, I
had no substance. They were like whitewashed tombs. They wore
robes of decadence and self importance, yet they were empty inside.
(05:10):
They lacked power. Elijah took a pickaxe and began to
dig a trench around his altar. He gestured to the
prophets and asked them to pour water over his sacrifice.
They did it again, Elijah said, So they poured more
water under the wood and bull.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
More.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Elijah snapped, So they poured more water. The entire trench
around the altar was filled with water, and the sacrifice
of wood and flesh was completely drenched. Elijah stood near
his altar and looked to the heavens.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let be known this
day that you alone are the God of Israel.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Elijah lifted his hands in surrender.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
I am your servant. I have done everything according to
your word.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Answer me.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Answer me, so the people may know that you are God.
Your people must return to you. So show yourself mighty.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
As Elijah said these things, a great flash of lightning
burst forth from heaven. Its boat was radiant, and its
course was direct. The altar erupted into flames, sending sparks
flying in the air. Ash and debris flew into the
faces of the prophets nearby the bull, the wood and
the stones were reduced to a powder under the intense heat.
(06:38):
The water was evaporated into a hot steam, burning the
skin of people too close. The flames raged, and the
people praised the might of God. Had descended upon the altar.
The people of Israel fell under their faces. The Lord
is God. They chanted. They desired a sign from heath.
(07:00):
They desired proof of God's power. They received it. However,
people that needed to sign once would need it again.
God knew that the people would forget him again, They
would turn from Him and cling to false idols. They
strayed so often because their hearts were far from his.
(07:23):
God knew that unless the people had a transformed heart,
they would continue to stray from him. One day, God
would send another light from heaven. This time it would
consume more than just an altar. It would consume the
very heart of mankind. Chapter eleven, Beware and Behold. Jesus
(07:50):
rested in a home in the region of Tire and Sidon,
enjoying a brief moment of anonymity. It was the land
of the Gentiles, the place where Jewish rabbi would never
be found. However, Jesus did not follow such prejudiced traditions.
He knew that the love of God would eventually reach
(08:11):
the nations of Gentiles. However, for now his mission was
focused on the Hebrews. He had entered the house of
a faithful follower, but did not want anyone to know
he was staying there. He was content to be alone
with his disciples and pour into them the wisdom of God.
(08:31):
He needed them ready and prepared for the coming days. However,
Jesus his fame had stretched beyond the borders of Judea.
Before Jesus could even raise his feet to rest, the
door knocked relentlessly. Jesus walked to the door and opened
it softly. A gentile woman stood at the entrance, holding
(08:53):
her daughter in her arms. The little girl was stirring
and grunting. Her eyes were rolled back, and she screamed.
At the sight of Jesus, it was clear she was
possessed by a demon. The woman fell to her knees,
holding her daughter up to Jesus. Tears streamed down her
face as she.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Pleaded, please cast this demon out of my child.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
I do not want who to suffer any longer.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Jesus remained standing at the door, looking down at the woman.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Do you not know that I need to feed the
children before allowing the puppies a chance to eat? Why
would I give the children's food.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
To them, Jesus asked. He said this regarding his mission
towards the Jews before the Gentiles. The woman winced at
Jesus's reply. She knew that she was a gentile. There
was no escaping her birth. However, she knew deep down
her birth did not disqualify her from the grace Jesus offered.
(09:56):
She looked up at him and said.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
That may be so, oh, my lord, but even the
pups are allowed under the table to eat of the
crumbs that fall.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Jesus nodded, amazed at the woman's persistence and tact. He
knelt down and laid his hand on the girl's head.
Her gaze would not meet his. She thrashed her head
and grunted in her mother's arms. Of course, Jesus would
not allow this woman to leave without healing her daughter.
(10:25):
He looked at the woman, then back at the girl, and.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
For your statement, you may leave in peace. The demon
has left your daughter.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
After these things, Jesus returned from Tyre and Sidon to Decapolis,
near the Sea of Galilee. I have to try, the
man said, incessantly.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Perhaps the teacher might have more important matters.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
The woman replied, he's my brother. He shouted.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
I would do anything for it, even risk looking like
a fool.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
The man and his wife debated on whether to approach
Jesus or not. They had spotted him in the market
place near the fisherman's quarter. They were looking and pointing
at him, debating on whether to reveal themselves. However, it
wasn't long until Jesus spotted them on the corner. Now
is their chance, the man said. His wife nodded, and
(11:16):
together they brought forth the man's brother. He was deaf
and could barely speak due to an impediment. The lack
of language had caused him a great deal of pain.
He could not truly connect or share his deepest feelings.
They brought him to Jesus.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
Please Lord, please heal my brother.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
The man wept. Jesus looked at the deaf man. He
tried his best to mumble a greeting, but could not.
His tongue had been unable to utter one coherent syllable.
Come with me, Jesus said, leading them to an alley
away from the busy market place. Jesus looked at the
family with compassion. He held the man's head firmly. He
(12:02):
placed his fingers in his ears, and then spat into
his hands and touched the man's tongue. Jesus gazed up
to heaven, speaking with great authority and power. With a
loud voice, Jesus yelled, if Father, which means be opened.
The man staggered back and fell on to his side.
All of a sudden, he could hear the bustling market
(12:25):
place and the chirping of birds. The sound was overwhelming. However,
as he calmed down, he was able to hear the
gentle and steady voice of Jesus. You are well, he said,
with a grin. Jesus extended a hand and led him
to his feet. The man touched his tongue and held
his ears. He looked to his brother and sister. I
(12:48):
am healed, he said. They were the first words he
had uttered clearly his whole life. Tears of joy streamed
down their cheeks as they embraced. Jesus brought them in
close and placed his finger over his lips.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
Be sure you don't tell anyone about this. Instead, worship
God and give him thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
He said. However, they did not listen. With his new voice,
the men proclaimed the name of Jesus to every person
he met. Their praise knew no bounds, so Jesus continued
to grow in fame. As Jesus his name continued to
capture the ears of the people, the Pharisees stirred in anger.
(13:29):
Their rage towards him boiled more with each day. Every
miracle and every sermon only increased their desire to thwart him.
They stirred and plotted against him. Give us a sign,
the Pharisees shouted to Jesus. They had caught him in
the city's streets, preaching to a group of people. The
(13:50):
Pharisees sauntered into view with their chests out and their
noses raised high. You come here wearing the confidence of
a man sent from God. Yet each time we ask
you to prove yourself, you refuse. Do you not care
what we think? The Pharisees were no longer tactful with
their accusations. They had been left to their own bitterness
(14:12):
for far too long. At this point, their rage toward
Jesus was unquenchable.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Send fire down like Elijah, they said, Call for fire
to fall down from heaven.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
They goaded. Jesus looked at them with intensity. They were
whitewashed tombs outwardly. They wore decadent robes and carried themselves
with piety, yet there was no life within them. They
were dead inside and had cut off their hearts from
the work of God. They bore no more fruitfulness than
the ancient prophets of Bale. Jesus stretched out his arms.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
When you look to the sky and see no clouds,
you perceive it will be fair weather. When you look
up and see storm clouds, you know how to protect yourselves.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Jesus said, how is it that you can.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Look to the sky and interpret the weather, but you
can't see the signs that are right in front of you.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
The crowd around her chuckle. If the Pharisees were not amused,
and neither was Jesus, he stepped forward and looked at
them intently.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
I will give you no sign. I will not dance
for you when you ask me to. I'll not play
all these games you desire for me. The only sign
that will be given to you is the sign of Jonah,
who is in the crave for three days and then
emerged back into life.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
After saying these things, Jesus departed, wanting nothing else to
do with him. He and his disciples boarded a boat
and left for the other side of Gallilee. The boat rocked,
and the group gently made their way to the other
side of the sea. John was at the front of
the boat, looking longingly at the shoreline. He sighed, holding
(15:52):
his stomach. We forgot bread, he said, with a groan.
How can we forget bread? This journey takes all the
whole day. Jesus continued to look out at the horizon.
He was stirred up by the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Their ignorance towards God and their contempt for the Kingdom
of Heaven made him angry. Beware, Jesus said, looking out
(16:16):
at sea, Beware the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples
gave each other looks of confusion. Is he talking about
our lack of bread?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
John asked, I think he is asking us to be
careful when we do find bread.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Andrew replied. The disciples could not get their minds off
of their lack of bread. Their stomachs rumbled, and they
could not perceive what Jesus was trying to tell them.
Jesus shook his head.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Do not understand what I'm saying. We just witnessed defeating
of thousands of people. We gave them bread, so I
speak in these terms. Beware, beware of the leaven that
lies within the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They enter in
and ruin the gold good work that we strive for.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
He scolded. There was a frustration in Jesus's voice. Clearly
the Pharisees caused him to stir. He could not stand
the thought of religious leaders causing others to fall away
from God. It made his blood boil. After Jesus clarified,
they understood that he did not tell them to beware
of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of
(17:25):
the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They reached Bethsayada, and as
always there was a crowd awaiting Jesus. This time there
was a blind man brought to him. The entire crowd
begged him to heal him. Jesus took notice that the
crowds were beginning to advocate for one another. Now that
(17:46):
they understood Jesus had power and compassion, they felt empowered
to notice the needs of others. Jesus came close to
the man and observed his eyes Like a physician. Jesus
breathed in deeply. The crowd looked intently, waiting for something
majestic to take place, waiting for something majestic to take place. Instead,
(18:12):
Jesus spat into the man's eyes. The crowd winced in
slight disgust as Jesus took his saliva and rubbed it
into the man's eyes. Jesus perceived that the man's eyelids
were sealed shut by residue, so he spat on them
and began to massage them open. Do you see anything,
Jesus asked. The man was struggling to understand the shapes
(18:35):
he was seeing. He saw blurred images, silhouetted in light.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
I think I see people, yet they seemed to me
like trees.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Jesus laid his hands on the man's eyes again and
continued to rub. This time, the man could see everything clearly.
Jesus sent the man home to worship God and bask
in the beauty of his creation. The smallest of actions,
if they blessed someone, were miracles. Jesus did not need
to call down fire from heaven or speak in the
(19:08):
language of angels. He simply needed to look, see, and
care enough to act. Jesus then departed into the hills
with his disciples where they camped for the night. It
was late. The fire crackled under the evening stars. Jesus
and the disciples were all quiet. Their usual revelry was
(19:31):
replaced with a quiet contemplation that came with exhaustion. The
week's events had proven to be taxing. The fire was mesmerizing.
The flames flickered to the sound of chirping crickets. John
huddled in close to Jesus. He was the youngest of
the disciples, no older than sixteen. He looked out into
(19:54):
the darkness beyond the fire, listening to the howling of
wolves in the distance. It a calm moment. It was
a precious moment that Jesus cherished. He looked among his disciples,
filled with love for who they were and who they
would become. He looked to the other side of the fire.
(20:16):
They were staring at the fire mindlessly. Jesus decided to
break the silence.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
Who do people say that I am?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
He asked. The disciples shrugged Andrew looked up.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Some say that you are John the.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Baptist, he said, while poking the fire.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
After he was beheaded, there were rumors Herod thought you
were him.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Returned from the dead. The disciples chuckled, thinking resurrection from
the dead was an absurd notion.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
Others say, you are Elisha.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Who has returned.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
James answered, he was taken up to Heaven in a
chariot of fire.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Many believe he is bound to return some day.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Jesus looked around the fire at his disciples. He nodded
at their answers. John the Baptist was a skilled reformer,
and Elijah was an influential prophet. No doubt, both of
these titles suited Jesus. However, they did not get to
the core of who he was. He needed his disciples
(21:16):
to truly grasp his identity.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Yes, this is what people say, but who do you
say that I am?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Jesus asked. There was silence for a long while as
the disciples pondered the question. Simon Peter lifted his gaze
to Jesus. He stared through the fire. He was not
known as a deep thinker. He was not a profound
historian like Matthew or an intellectual like Thomas. He was
(21:44):
not known for his wit. Conversely, he was known for
his fast mouth and brash actions. They got him into
trouble his whole childhood, Yet this answer came easily, as
if it was a voice locked deep within his heart
that he had been unhinged. You are the Christ, he said,
(22:05):
you are the son of the Living God. The disciples stirred.
Many of them had believed that Jesus was the Christ
and the promised Messiah. However, they were apprehensive to say
it out loud. Yet Simon Peter declared it, making it
known for all to proclaim. Jesus sat there staring at
(22:25):
Simon Peter for a moment. He smiled and nodded, Yes,
he said, what you have said is true. The rest
of the disciples were in awe. Jesus had affirmed all
their perceptions of him. Jesus pointed to Simon Peter and.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
Said, blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. The flesh
and blood has not shown you these things. No man
or woman whispered these truths to you. He once stood
before me a skeptic, wondering who I was. Yet now
my father has revealed to you who I am.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Simon Peter was moved with humility. He had only said
what had been dwelling deep within. He knew. From the
moment Jesus helped him catch those fish that he was
the Messiah. Jesus held up a stone and gestured towards
Simon Peter.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
From this day forward, you are Peter.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Rock, Jesus said, you are a rock.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Peter, an integral brick in the household of God. However,
I am the rock, and it is on this rock
I will build my church. The gates of Hell will
not prevailed against it.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Jesus then gestured to the rest of his disciples.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
I will give each of you the keys of the
Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever work you do here will have
eternal weight.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Jesus picked up a stick from the fire. The end
of the stick was bright red and emanating flames. Jesus
waved it around methodically. I will go to Jerusalem, he said.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
There I will suffer many, many things at the hands
of the elders and the chief priests.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Jesus continued to wave the stick gently, leaving a trail
of light behind. They will kill me, Jesus said, driving
the stick into the dirt. The flame at the end
of the stick was extinguished, yet a small spark remained.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
I've no fear though, for I will be raised on
the third day.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
He blew gently on the stick, and a small flame returned,
drawing larger and larger. The stars were shifting in the sky,
and the disciples were deep into the night. Many of
the men were asleep soundly beside the fire. However, Jesus
and Peter were still awake. Peter looked earnestly at Jesus, Master,
(24:45):
he said. Jesus looked up and gave him his attention. Yes, Peter,
Peter shifted in place. Far be it from you to
be delivered to die. Of course, this will never happen
to you, he said. Peter's intention was to curry favor
with Jesus by reassuring him that nobody would kill him. However,
(25:06):
he could not have been more wrong. Jesus rose to
his feet and stepped over the flame. He crouched down
and looked Peter intensely in the eyes. He pointed behind
him toward the flame. Get behind me, Satan, Jesus said,
with intensity, you are a hindrance to me and quenched
the work of God. You are concerned with the silly
(25:27):
fears of men and not fixed on the mission of
the Lord. With that, Jesus rose up and went to bed.
Peter laid away quaking in fear over Jesus's rebuke. Only
hours prior, Jesus had told him that God's very word
dwelt within him. Now he had been rebuked as an
(25:47):
enemy of God, Peter knew Jesus would not hold his
quick mouth against him. Still slightly anxious, Peter wrestled with
his mind until he eventually fell asleep. Dawn approached, and
the morning dew laced itself over Peter's beard. He awoke
before the sun rose above the horizon. The air was
(26:09):
crisp and clean, and a dull light had begun to
poke above the distant hills. Jesus crouched next to Peter,
smiling and holding his finger up to his lips, signaling
for Peter to be quiet. He gestured to the base
of the mountain, where John and James were waiting. Peter
(26:30):
rose from his blankets and followed Jesus. The four of
them climbed the mountain briskly, trying to beat the morning light.
Peter watched as Jesus marched ahead of them, his legs
buried deep into the cracks in the rock, propelling him forward.
The mountain became steeper, and the three disciples were climbing
(26:50):
the rocks to catch up to Jesus. They saw him
make his way to the clearing at the top of
the mountain, just in time for sunrise. He was out
of the sight now. They looked up as the light
was bursting from the top of the mountain. It was
the strangest sunrise they had ever seen. They made their
way up, ready to look at the glowing sun over
(27:12):
the eastern valley. However, they soon realized that the sun
had not yet risen over the hills. The light they
had seen was bursting forth from Jesus himself. As they
reached the top of the hill, they saw beams of
pure brilliance radiating from Christ. His face shone brighter than
(27:32):
the rising sun. It was as if his humanity was
unzipped in the essence of his deity shone through the cracks.
The sight was amazing and terrifying. The three of them
watched in awe as two other bursts of light broke
forth from the heavens, descending like falling stars. Beside Jesus
(27:55):
descended Moses and Elijah. The three disciples watched as Jesus
spoke to them. Only he did not speak as an
equal It almost seemed as though he was teaching Moses
and Elijah. He had revealed something to them that had
been long awaited. The two historic men of faith bowed
(28:16):
to Christ as their lord and spoke to him as God.
Peter's heart was racing. He was standing before the three
greatest men God had ever sent on earth. James and
John watched as Peter ran towards them Like a little boy.
Peter jumped up and down. Lord, he shouted, it is
(28:37):
good that all of us are here. We can set
up three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and
one for Elijah.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
It will be.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
As Peter was frantically speaking, a bright light fell down
from heaven and consumed him like a whirlwind. A cloud
of holy radiance whistled around them like a tempest. Peter
and the other two disciples cowered in fear. This was
much more frightening than Jesus's rebuked the night before. It
(29:07):
was as if the heavens opened up all around Peter.
He covered his eyes from the light, laying in the
fetal position on the ground. A voice burst through from
the tempest.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Saying, this is my beloved son, in whom I am
well pleased hear him and only him. Then, in an instant,
the light disappeared. Peter's eyes were clenched shut. He waited
for the wind to cease and peeked open one eye.
(29:41):
He looked up to see Elijah and Moses gone. Jesus
stood there alone in their place. His radiance was gone,
but he still carried himself for the same holiness. Jesus
extended a hand to Peter and then led the three
disciples down the hill.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Tell no of what you saw this morning, Jesus commanded
the three.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
Not until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
As they were descending down, one of the disciples asked.
Speaker 6 (30:11):
Isn't it said that Elijah will return before the Son
of Man.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Jesus nodded and said, it is true, but Elijah has
already come back.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
You did not just recognize him.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
The disciples understood who he was referring to. John the
Baptist was a voice crying from the wilderness. He was
the one who came before Jesus, declaring the way of
the Lord. Peter realized he had put Jesus on a
similar pedestal as Moses and Elijah. However, he now knew
(30:45):
that all the Law of Moses, and the entirety of
the prophets, including Elijah, were all pointing towards their true north,
Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
This episode took us to a new level of understanding
as Jesus revealed his glory and splendid to Peter, James,
and John. Many revelations and warnings were given to us
in this episode. We will unpack a few of them together. First,
we were given a glimpse into Jesus's mission to the Gentiles.
A woman with a demon possessed daughter found Jesus and
(31:19):
begged him to help her. Jesus initially refused and reminded
her that his primary call was to the Jews. This woman,
perhaps unbeknownst to her, revealed God's ancient plan. Jesus told her, plainly,
do you not know that I need to feed the
children before allowing the dogs a chance to eat? Why
would I give the children's food to them? But the
(31:42):
woman's reply was brilliant. She said, that may be so,
my Lord, but even the pups are allowed under the
table to eat the crumbs that fall. This gentile woman
knew that although she was not a member of God's
chosen people, she could still receive God's mercy. A part
of Jesus' mission was to bring the Gentiles into the
promise of God, and we got a glimpse of that
(32:05):
in this episode. In between miracles and moments of tenderness,
the Pharisees and religious leaders chimed in. They challenged Jesus
and ask him to show them a sign, as if
bringing people back from the dead, healing the lame, and
giving sight to the blind were not good enough. They
wanted a spectacle. Send fire down like Elijah, they said,
(32:26):
call for fire to fall down from heaven. They goaded.
Here's the thing. People say they want a grand sign
in order to believe, but that's not actually how human
beings work. The Israelites witnessed God part the Red Sea,
send fireballs from heaven and rain down manner from the sky,
yet they still lost their faith in God multiple times.
(32:47):
Peter in our last episode, walked on water, yet lost
his footing because of his disbelief. The Pharisees ignorantly thought
a grand sign would persuade them, but Jesus knew better.
Hardened hearts don't automatically become so often because God gives
them a sign. Remember Pharaoh in Egypt. The more signs
God showed him. The heart of his heart became once again.
(33:09):
Jesus told them the only sign he would give was
a sign of Jonah. This was once again a foreshadowing
of the three days he would spend in the grave
before rising on the third day. Later that day, Jesus
gave his disciples a warning beware the leaven of the Pharisees.
He spoke in metaphor regarding the corrupting influence of the
(33:30):
Pharisees and scribes. Just as a little bit of leaven
can affect the entire loaf of bread, just a little
influence from the Pharisees can corrupt their hearts. The disciples
got a bit tripped up by this metaphor, since they
had forgotten to pack bread for the trip. They thought
Jesus was making a passive, aggressive jab at their forgetfulness.
(33:50):
You can sense a bit of Jesus as anning several
times in this episode, even anger. Jesus was trying to
engage with his disciples on a deeper level, and they
were getting caught up and shallow nonsense. This episode with
the disciples was a challenge and a warning to all
of us Jesus wants to engage you on a deeper level.
He wants to touch the deeper parts of your heart
(34:12):
and mind. He wants you to think philosophically and spiritually.
Be careful to not get too caught up in vapid
and shallow arguments. The disciples had moments of stupidity and spirituality,
just like the rest of us. Sometimes those moments were
within the same hour. That was certainly the case for Peter,
(34:33):
who had a high moment followed by a low moment
with Jesus. When they were all by the fire, Jesus
asked the famous question, who do people say that I am?
Jesus gave the disciples a second chance at conversation, since
they failed so miserably earlier. They answered plainly, saying that
Some said he was John the Baptist, and others said Elijah.
(34:54):
Those were interesting answers. John the Baptist was a revolutionary
and disruptive. It was a compliment and a curse at
the same time to compare Jesus to him. Others said
he was Elijah, who had returned to make way for
the Messiah. This was another fine guess. Elijah was a
great prophet, However, both those answers are wrong. It is
(35:15):
important for us to note that these are two different
ways people describe Jesus today. Many people see Jesus as
a revolutionary and great teacher. Some religions reduce Jesus to
just a prophet like Elijah. Jesus is much more than
a revolutionary or a prophet. Peter, in a moment of
complete clarity, describes who Jesus is. You are the Christ.
(35:38):
He says, you are the son of the Living God.
We have walked through this story long enough together to
ask this question, who do you say Jesus is? This
is the pre eminent question we all must ask ourselves.
Seeing what you have seen, hearing what you have heard,
who would you say Jesus is? Many people speculated he
(36:00):
was Elijah or John. The Baptist, the Pharisees, and religious
leader came to the conclusion he was a blasphema or
mad man. The Disciples, however, intimately aware of Jesus's character,
came to a different conclusion. He was the Messiah Christ,
the chosen hero of God, the redeemer of our souls.
If you've been listening to this series and are still
(36:22):
unsure about who Jesus is. Then I pray you continue
to listen. The true identity of Jesus will continue to
unfall before us as the series continues. The true identity
of Jesus was like this dimly veiled image. The disciples
were able to get an idea of him on their own,
but only the Spirit of God could have shown Simon
Peter the truth. Jesus gave Simon Peter a new name,
(36:45):
Rock or Peter. Can I share a very important theological
distinction that was made in this episode. Jesus held up
a stone and gesture towards Simon Peter. From this day forward,
you are Peter Rock. Jesus said, you are a rock, Peter,
an integral brick in the household of God. However, I
am the Rock, and it is on this rock I
(37:06):
will build my church. The gates of Hell will not
prevail against it. The words used in the original Greek
matter quite a bit. In this portion of scripture, Simon
was given the name Peter, which is Petros in Greek.
The word is translated to mean a rock or a stone.
This is a stone that is solid but movable, like
a brick on a house or a rolling stone on
(37:28):
a river bank. When Jesus says, on this rock, I
will build my church, he uses a different word than pietros.
He uses the word petro, which is translated as the rock.
This is a reference to a foundational rock, cliff or
mother rock. It is a word used for something fixed, immovable,
and huge. Jesus is calling Peter a rock and himself
(37:51):
the rock. Jesus is the foundation on which the church
was built, and the gates of Hell will not prevail
over him. Peter is just a chip off the old rock,
so to speak. It was a high moment for Peter,
but it quickly turned into a low moment. Out of
insecurity and ignorance. Peter rebuked Jesus's claim that he had
to die. Jesus, who had just praised Peter ours earlier,
(38:15):
looked him in the eye and called him satan. Quite
a step down for Peter. Don't you think Jesus could
not have followers getting in the way of what must
be done on the cross. This moment serves as a
warning to any of us who belittle the necessity of
the cross. As believers, our salvation and faith are fixed
on what happened on Good Friday, where the sins of
(38:37):
humanity were placed on Christ's shoulders in our place. This
episode ended with a brilliant scene where the glory of
Jesus was completely revealed. Moses and Elijah showed up, and
Peter could barely contain himself. Can you blame him? Moses,
the representative of the law of God, Elijah, the representative
of the prophece of God, both were there with Jesus
(38:58):
in splendor and glory. Naturally, Peter didn't want the moment
to end. He wanted to erect tabernacles for them to
dwell so people could come worship. In an instant, Peter
was caught up in a whirlwind. God rebuked him, and
all that was left was Jesus. God spoke clearly, saying,
this is my beloved son, in whom I'm well pleased.
(39:21):
Hear him and only him. I will leave you with
these parting thoughts. What good things have you revered above
or equal to Jesus? We often talk about drugs, alcohol,
unhealthy relationships as idolatry, But what about the good things
in life? What about ministries, marriages, a good job? What
(39:41):
good thing have you put above Jesus? Peter learned that
it was Jesus and Jesus alone, who was worthy of
his worship. My prayer for you today is that the
glory and goodness of God would be fully revealed to you.
I pray that you would be able to take the
warnings in this episode seriously while also fear empowered by
the encouragement as well. I look forward to speaking with
(40:04):
you next time as we unpack one of the greatest
teachings ever given. Join me for episode twelve, The Good Shepherd.
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 Bible journey,
download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.
(40:26):
Forward slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify
to get the newest episodes right as they come out,
so you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus, God bless
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