April 5, 2024 • 46 mins
Chapter 6 of Heroes in the Bible: Jesus with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by the Gospels.
The Twelve - Jesus chooses the twelve disciples, and ultimately proves the world wrong about who is worthy to be great in the Kingdom of God.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Luke 9:23, And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And he said unto them, if any man will come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. Luke nine twenty three. Dear Jesus,
it's my heart's desire to follow after you. I only
want to be where you are and where you lead.
(00:21):
Being in the heart of your will is the safest
place to be. I realize you may lead in ways
that are foreign to me. I may not ununderstand where
you're taking me, and I honestly may not even want
to go there. But it is in those times that
I must deny myself, pick up my cross, and crucify
(00:42):
my flesh so I can follow you. It is painful
to let go of my expectations of what I thought
I wanted in my life, but that's what it means
to follow you and take up my cross. As surely
as you said in the garden the night before your crucifixion,
not my will, but Thy will be done, I too
(01:05):
must have that steadfast perseverance to Thy will and not
my will, as I follow you. Even as Jesus was
obedient unto death, he was raised up, and you glorified
him above all others. As I pursue you into your
plan and purpose for my life. I will accomplish more
(01:26):
than I ever thought possible. You will lead me into
your divine destiny and reward me for my obedience in
Jesus name. Amen. Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the
greatest stories ever told from pray dot COM's podcast Heroes
in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
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(02:31):
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Speaker 3 (02:50):
Hi, I'm back to 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 story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,
(03:11):
a father's 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, the twelve Apostles are chosen
men brought from different backgrounds, united under one common goal
(03:32):
following Jesus. Along the way, we will meet some pharisees
and scribes who push against Jesus's tactics that self righteousness
is placed before us. As a contrast, the heart of
Christ is to serve and set people free, while the
religious leaders would rather be served and bind people with
needless regulations. As we hear about these interactions between Jesus
(03:54):
and the religious leaders, we are invited to consider our
self righteous tendencies puffed ourselves up with vain religious practices.
Have we been so focused on our own morality that
we have ignored the needs of others. Perhaps some of
us need to be reminded that Jesus doesn't call the
righteous and perfect, Rather, he chooses broken and imperfect people
(04:15):
to display his glory. The prelude will remind us of
these truths, and we will be continually reminded of them
as the episode builds. There are many parts of this
story that intertwine and point to the same prevailing message
of grace. I will do my best to point them
out to you once the episode is over. For now,
enjoy episode six. The twelve.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Praying Lude is chapter six. Since the Fall, a deep
pride had boiled in the furnace of mankind, men would
build kingdoms and monuments to themselves, seeking to be glorified
as gods. People of Babel had once sought to ascend
(05:02):
into the heavens by building a large tower. Their vain
attempt at immortality was quickly thwarted by God. He sent
them scattering through the far reaches of the earth. However,
mankind always found a way to elevate themselves. They sought power, riches,
and influence above humility, integrity and charity. For all of
(05:28):
human history, nations rose and fell by their own arrogance.
Even the religious became great in their own minds. The
Pharisees and scribes measured their righteousness against others and created
barriers between God and people. Yet even in their hubris,
(05:49):
God loved them as his people fell deep into their
own greed. God was generous. When the people of Israel
were entangled by sin or captured by a foreign nation,
he would deliver them by calling men and women of courage. However,
God never chose the strong. He never chose those who
(06:12):
were already exalted. God often chose the weak people of
this world to go against the arrogance of mankind. He
chose the small family of Abraham to create an entire nation.
He used Gideon, the forgotten son of a weak tribe,
to conquer an army. He chose Esther, a humble peasant,
(06:36):
to influence a king. He chose David, a ruddy shepherd boy,
to defeat a giant. All these people were flawed, forgotten,
or fearful, Yet God moved in them to save nations
and become kings. For thousands of generations since the fall
of mankind, God has been using the weak things of
(07:00):
this world to thwart the strong. He continues to search
for the humble and the willing, despite their flaws, to
accomplish extraordinary works. Chapter six, the twelve Simon rested his
head against the mast of his boat, lounging in the sun.
(07:23):
The tide rocked the vessel back and forth as the
gentle breeze tickled his cheeks. He was supposed to be
washing his nets after a night of fishing. However, he
had labored all night with no catch, so Simon was
content to doze off while his brother Andrew tended to
the chores. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were
(07:46):
in the boat beside them. They hadn't caught anything either.
It was proving to be a hard time for fishermen.
Simon was weary from the evening's toil. An entire night
of labor with no fish to shh for it. It
was frustrating. Many things in Simon's life were frustrating. He
(08:06):
looked up at the clouds and listened to the seagulls
fly out to sea. Perhaps the birds would have better
luck than him, he sighed and began to close his
eyes and rest. Simon's brief moment of peace was quickly
interrupted as he heard a commotion approaching the shore. He
piqued his eyes open to see Jesus briskly walking away
(08:30):
from a large crowd of people. Thousands of people crowded
around him. Many of them wanted to touch him so
they might be healed. Others wanted to be as close
to him as possible so they could hear every word
he said. Andrew smiled at the sight of Jesus. He
was much more impressed than Simon was. Simon still had
(08:52):
a lingering distrust, or perhaps it was more an inner guilt.
He did not find himself particularly worthy to be near
a man like that. The crowd was overwhelming Jesus at
almost every side. He backed up to the shore, but
they were still pressing in. Jesus looked back to see
(09:12):
Simon laying down in his boat, casually watching Simon, Jesus exclaimed,
could I use.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Your boat to teach from? If I stay near this crowd,
there's certainly going to suffocate me.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
He asked with a chuckle. Simon sat up and rubbed
his temple. He had been up all night, and now
his one moment of peace was interrupted. He was about
to say no until Andrew gave him a swift kick
in the shin. Wincing in pain, Simon gave a frustrated
smile and gestured for Jesus to climb in. Jesus boarded
(09:46):
the small fishing boat and sat on the bow. He
began teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. Simon began repairing
a few nets, listening to him teach. His words poured
forth like heavy rain, parched all in attendant's student silence.
Simon found himself entranced by his words. He had never
(10:09):
heard someone teach with so much authority, passion, and gentleness.
Jesus finished, and the crown went back to their homes.
He looked back at Simon.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Let's go out to the deep, he said, maybe we'll
catch something.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Simon buried his face in his hands. He was not
emotionally ready for yet another day. Without a catch. Teacher,
we had been toiling all night. We tried everything and
scoured every section of this lake, yet caught nothing. Simon's
heart ached from defeat. He looked up at Jesus. He
(10:46):
was smiling, awaiting an answer. Andrew was beside him, begging
Simon to agree. Nevertheless, Simon said, at your word, I
will take us out. So the three of them cast
out the nets. James and John launched their boat as well.
Simon was not thrilled to be out there. He was bitter.
(11:08):
He gazed out at the horizon, wondering if his wife
would ever forgive him for being such a failure. The
boat rocked back and forth while Jesus and Andrew watched
the nets intently. Simon thought they were foolish. He continued
to look out at the water, letting bitterness stew. We
should leave, Simon said, it's hopeless. He stood up to
(11:29):
begin unwrapping the sails. Then as Simon stood up, he
heard a slight tightening of rope behind him. Simon frows
His eyes widened, and he looked back slowly. The nets
were tightening at a fast pace, so fast that if
Simon did not act quickly, they would break. He'd dove
(11:50):
for the nets as they were being dragged off the
side of the boat. Andrew and Jesus leapt forward to
help him. Together they dragged the nets out of the water.
As they pulled, Simon could see thousands of fish being
drawn into the boat. The three of them laughed as
they continued to bring in fish. Peter yelled for James
and John to come close to them so they could
(12:12):
draw more in. The men were screaming with delight. Both
the boats were filled with fish. It was the most
joy Simon had felt in years. Yet his smile quickly
faded as the other men cheered. Simon looked at Jesus.
His eyes began to water, and he fell to his knees.
(12:35):
Depart from me, Lord Simon said. He felt so much
shame for the life he had been living. He had
so much bitterness and anger within him. He felt unworthy
to be in the presence of Jesus. I am a
sinful man, O Lord, I am not worthy. Jesus understood
(12:57):
Simon's heart. He bent down and met him at high level.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
You have lived with a great deal of fear for.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
So long, Jesus said. He placed a hand on Simon's shoulders.
You no longer have to fear. Follow me, and I
will make you a fisher of men. Simon looked up
he looked Jesus in the eyes for the first time
since they met. Simon nodded, as did Andrew, James, and John.
(13:28):
So the four men left their nets and followed Jesus.
The following day was the Sabbath, and Jesus entered into
the nearby synagogue to teach. The entire congregation was enthralled
with Jesus's words. The other scribes had simply recycled one
another's writings, yet Jesus spoke with a new type of
(13:49):
authority they had never heard before. From Jesus's mouth were
the very words of God. He cut straight through the
rough exterior of relige, his dogma, and right to the
heart of his listeners. Jesus spoke the poetic truths of God,
and a light hearted spirit of joy filled the room.
(14:10):
Then from the corner of the synagogue, a deep laughter emerged.
The rumbling laughter turned into a wet cackle as a
man beat his fist against the wall. The crowd stirred.
Jesus knew exactly what was happening. This man was possessed
by a demon. The man's laughter was painful. He coughed
(14:34):
and screamed. His neck snapped back to look at Jesus'
anger laced the surface of his eyes, yet behind them
there was deep pain. The demon pointed forward to Jesus.
What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth.
The demon lurked forward, swinging the man's body against the wall.
(14:56):
Blood dripped down his temple.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
The demon, have you come to destroy us?
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Have you? The demon was getting louder and more angry.
The people were frightened, but Jesus stood perfectly still as
the demon approached him. These people may not know who
you are, but I do.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
I know who you are.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
The demon paused to look around the room. He basped
in the fear of the people. He pointed at Jesus
again and said, you.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Are the Holy One, the sun of the Silent.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Jesus rebuked. His voice reverberated off the walls, and the
demon cowered back. Jesus stepped down from the platform and
walked towards the demon. With every step Jesus took forward,
the demon took a step back.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Come out of him now.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Jesus commanded. As Jesus spoke, the man's body flailed back
and hit the stone floor. A harsh scream echoed through
the entire synagogue as the man writhed in pain. The
demon jolted the man forward, then flung his body against
the wall again. Then the man slowly slid to the ground,
whindpering in pain. The demon was gone. It would torment
(16:17):
him no more. Jesus embraced the man and had Andrew
attend to him. Everyone was silent as Jesus left the
synagogue to care for him. Up until then, people saw
Jesus as a great teacher. They were beginning to realize
he was much more. The next morning, Jesus sat on
(16:43):
a stone, leaning against the side of the mountain. He
looked out overlooking the sunrise as it slowly peeked over
the horizon. His face lit up from the rising sun.
Jesus would often pull away to be alone with his father.
The two would speak of eternity and the Kingdom, entering
(17:04):
the hearts of men. The sun was making its way
over the green pastures below, and Jesus could hear the
stirring of people gathering at the base of the mountain.
He smiled. They were so eager to see him, hear
from him, and witness his miracles. However, they would not
always be this devoted. Jesus knew the fickle nature of people.
(17:32):
Despite this, he loved them. He would serve them to
the very end and ultimately lay down his life for them.
Jesus made his way down the mountain. Sure enough, the
crowd was growing larger by the minute as people rushed
out of their homes. Jesus smiled and greeted them without
(17:53):
saying a word. He made his way towards the city.
As Jesus in the crowd came to the out her wall,
the man emerged from the corner. He limped toward Jesus.
The right side of his face was missing a cheek,
exposing rotting muscle underneath. His eyes were faded from deterioration,
(18:14):
and his left hand was missing several fingers. What was
left of his body was covered in bandages, tightly holding
together his limbs. The man was stricken with leprosy. From
the looks of him, he had been slowly dying for
many years. He did not look at Jesus. Rather, he
(18:35):
limped towards him with his head held low. Unclean. He shouted, unclean.
The crowd jolted backwards at the sight of him. The
leper fell to his knees.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
Jesus, if you are willing, you could make me clean,
he said.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
Jesus was moved with compassion. He knew the pain of leprosy.
He also knew the isolation this man fell. Lepers were outcasts,
driven out to keep others safe. This man was slowly
deteriorating all alone. He knelt down beside the man. The
(19:13):
crowd gasped as he drew closer. Jesus tuck the man's
shoulders and embraced him. The leper sobbed in his arms.
It was the first human contact he had had in years.
Be clean, Jesus said, I am willing. As Jesus said this,
the man's body was restored. He looked down at his
(19:37):
hands to see all his fingers attached. He unwrapped his
arms and legs to see the sores gone. He felt
his cheek smooth before Jesus smiled and whispered.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Depart, and do not tell anyone what has happened today.
It's dead. Go worship God in the temper.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
So the man departed from there, invigorated with new life.
Jesus had a heart for the sick. Their plight represented
the greater woes of humanity. People were sick with sin
and slowly dying. Jesus came so they might have life
and life more abundant. After a few days, Jesus returned
(20:25):
to Capernium. He remained there in the home of one
of his friends. It was not long before the home
began filling up with people desiring to hear Jesus. Every
inch of the home was filled with people. Outside of
the home, the three men carrying their friend. He was
completely paralyzed, unable to even speak. The men heard that
(20:48):
Jesus was in town and were hoping to have Jesus
heal their friend. However, they saw that people were overflowing
outside of the house. The three men looked down at
their common.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Is this small sat back really going to keep him
from being healed?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
One of them thought. He turned towards the house and
scanned its surroundings. He looked down at the base of
the home, then up with the roof. A small smile
cracked on the corner of his face.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
I have an idea, he said.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Jesus was teaching in the middle of the home. Hundreds
of people sat and stood around him, inching as close
to him as possible to hear. Jesus was speaking about
the coming of God's kingdom. He revealed the reason behind
God's law and the depth of his love revealed in it.
As Jesus was speaking, he felt a small piece of
(21:44):
plaster fall on his head. Startled, Jesus looked up to
see the roof being torn apart from the outside. Jesus
stood to his feet and the crowd stepped back as
more roofing crashed onto the floor, shattering all around the room.
A bright light shone through the ceiling. Then, like an
angel appearing, Jesus saw a silhouette of a man on
(22:07):
a stretcher being lowered down by ropes. The three friends
had found a way to Jesus. The paralytic was lowered slowly.
Jesus went under the man and helped him to the floor.
The crowd stirred and shouted up with the ceiling. Jesus
looked up. He could see the friend's guilty smiles. Jesus
(22:31):
grinned and nodded towards them. They had done well. The
mark of a true friend is how far they are
willing to go to get them to Jesus. He looked
down at the man. His face was stagnant and emotionless. However,
Jesus could see the longing in his eyes. He placed
(22:53):
his hand on his shoulder and said.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
My child, your sins afgiven.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Blasphe A voice shouted from the corner. Jesus looked up
to see a scribe scoffing at Jesus. He stepped forward
and pointed.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
What authority do you have to forgive this man's sins?
For we all know he is paralyzed because God is
punishing him. Who do you think you are? God alone
has the authority to forgive sins?
Speaker 4 (23:24):
The scrime spat on the ground, Teeming with self righteous anger.
He scanned the room looking for approving nods. Jesus looked
back at the paralytic. He put his hand on his
head and smiled.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
Then tell me, scribe, Jesus began. What takes less authority
to say your sins are forgiven? Or get up and walk.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
As Jesus said this, the paralytics toes began to twitch.
His eyes widened as he began to move his fingers
as well. Then, with the first of energy. He sat up,
He moved his mouth and began to mumble under his breath.
He looked up at Jesus, eyes beaming with hope. A
(24:10):
large cheer could be heard from the ceiling as the
man's friends nearly fell through the hole in excitement. Jesus
helped the man to his feet. He looked down and
began hopping up and down. The two of them embraced,
and the man ran out to greet his friends. The
four of them leapt for joy, laughing and slapping each
(24:31):
other around. The scribes shrunk back into the crown, and
everyone applauded as the man left, walking shoulder to shoulder
with his companions. After these things, Jesus was making his
way through the city's streets. People followed at a distance
as Jesus conversed with Simon, James, and John. As they
(24:52):
made their way through the marketplace, Simon pointed out the
long line of people waiting to pay their taxes. They
yelled towards the front of the line, spitting on the floor.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Are you content to feed off of the suffering of
your own people?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Jesus looked to see the tax collector being berated by
the crowd. Tax collectors were considered Jewish traitors. They hoared
themselves to the Roman government and used corruption for their
own gain. Sitting at the booth was Matthew. He slumped
down quietly counting the coin, doing his best to block
(25:30):
out the noise. Jesus peered over to see a few
tears streaming from his face. Jesus approached the booth. Matthew
had grown accustomed to men and women coming to the
tax booth to spit on him and ridicule him. Jesus
simply smiled and said two simple words that would change
(25:51):
Matthew's life forever. Follow me, Jesus said plainly. Simon and
Andrew gasped when they heard Jesus. They looked at Matthew.
He seemed just as shocked as they did. Jesus began
walking away. The choice was Matthew's to make. He had
made a great deal of wealth being a tax collector.
(26:13):
He had favor with Rome and coins in his purse.
Yet there was no favor with man or riches of
the world that could truly satisfy him. He longed for purpose,
He longed to be known for those he helped, not exploited.
Was Jesus worth following, Matthew looked at Jesus walking away.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Yes, he is worth everything.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
He thought to himself. Matthew stood to his feet and
ran after Jesus.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
My Lord, he yelled, my King.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Jesus turned around and laughed. The two of them embraced.
Simon and Andrew were perplexed. Why did Jesus choose a
tax collector, they thought.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
To themselves, doesn't he know they are all corrupt?
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Yet they did not understand what Jesus understood, that there
are none that are righteous. Jesus did not choose Matthew
because he was morally higher than the rest, or more talented.
He saw beyond what man saw, He saw the heart.
That night, Jesus and his followers ate at Matthew's house.
(27:23):
More tax collectors came to eat with them. Jesus enjoyed
their company, enduring the glares of the Pharisees. Far off,
the Pharisees stood outside the house with their arms crossed.
They stopped one of his disciples and said.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
Look how he dies with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't
you ashamed to follow him? The disciple paused, unsure of
how he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus
stepped outside and approached them. His eyes were piercing, filled
with deep wisdom. There was a silence between them. Although
(28:00):
the Pharisees were the religious rulers of the time, Jesus
still intimidated them. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a
doctor more, the sick or the healthy? The Pharisees said nothing,
knowing the answer was obvious.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
You sit here praising yourselves for your good health, all
the while ignoring those who suffer around you. Had not
come to sit at the table of the righteous and
bask in my own glory like you do. I've come
to help the sinners in need.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
Jesus left with his disciple back inside. As he left,
he gestured for the Pharisees to join them. They sneered
and laughed. Jesus never scoffed at the sinners. He did
not shame the prostitutes or shun the tax collectors. He
ate beside them. He laughed with them, He heard their stories.
(28:52):
He taught them about a life lived with God. When
people met Jesus, they became righteous. They did not become
righteous to meet Jesus. Not long after, Jesus and his
disciples were walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath.
They had been walking for quite some time and were
(29:13):
beginning to get hungry. Andrew slid his hand through the
grain as they sauntered beside it. Taking one in his hand,
he plucked the grain and tossed it to John. The
men were hungry, and the outer layer of the grain
fields were okay for eating. They continued to pluck, eat,
and walk until they spotted the Pharisees walking their way.
(29:36):
Simon quickly tossed his grain away and John scarfed his
down in his mouth. Jesus chuckled, seeing how they became
flustered children when the Pharisees arrived.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Are you going to do anything about your followers, Jesus?
They're harvesting grain on the Sabbath.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Jesus took a piece of grain and rolled it on
his fingers.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
Aren't you men who know the scriptures.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Jesus asked sarcastically, do.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
Not remember how David ate bread designated for the temple
when he was overcome with hunger.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
The Pharisees were insulted by the insinuation that they had
not read the story. Jesus tossed a piece of grain
in his mouth.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Something greater than the Temple is here. I suggest you
read more and find the meaning behind the words of God.
I desire mercy over sacrifice. If you truly knew what
that meant, you were not come here badgering men who've
done nothing wrong. For the Messiah is Lord over the Sabbath.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Not you.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
Jesus continued walking toward the synagogue with his disciples behind him.
A faint laughter could be heard from them. They had
never heard anyone speak to the Pharisees that way. Before
Jesus entered the synagogue and sat to listen to the
word of the Lord. The Pharisees trickled in as well.
They came behind Jesus and just towards a man with
(31:01):
a withered hand.
Speaker 7 (31:02):
Tell us, Jesus, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?
Speaker 4 (31:06):
They were goading him, trying to catch him breaking more
Sabbath law in front of more people. Jesus stood to
his feet and walked towards the man with a withered hand.
He brought him before everyone. He was not ashamed.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Tell me, Pharisees, how many of you have sheep or goats?
Speaker 4 (31:24):
A few of them nodded and raised their hand. Jesus
took the man's withered arm and examined it. Looking back
at the Pharisees, he asked, how many.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Of you, if your sheep fell in a pit on
the sabbath, would take hold of it and lift it out.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
They did not respond, since the answer was clear, Jesus
was angry at them. They could not see past their pride.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Tell me who is of more value, your sheep or
this man. I will say this once to you so
hear me. It is lawful to do good on the sabbath,
for the sabbath was made for man to rest in God,
not hide in fear of judgment.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
He turned to the man and said, stretch out your hand,
and the man stretched it out and it was restored
healthy like the other. The crowd awed, and the Pharisees
slipped out, conspiring how they might end him. After this,
Jesus took some of his followers up to a mountain.
(32:25):
The crowd followed them and remained at the bottom. Jesus
paused and looked out at the sea of faces. He
did not see what others saw. He saw sheep that
were without a shepherd. They need guidance, They needed to
be empowered and enlivened by God's spirit. There were a
few followers beside him. He looked at them and pointed
(32:49):
down at the crowd. Look out at them. The harvest
is plentiful. There's no shortage of people longing for hope.
Do not pray for the people to come, for they
are all among you. Pray for the laborers. Pray for
men and women to rise up and work in this field.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
The harvest is plentiful, but laborers are few.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
With those words, Jesus appointed twelve men to be his apostles,
chosen men they would follow Jesus everywhere. These men were
not chosen for their wisdom, influence, or skill. Each of
them had gifts, and each of them had flaws. They
were imperfect vessels chosen by God to do mighty works.
(33:34):
God chose them for their hearts, but also for their weakness,
for in their weakness God is shown to be strong.
He chose Simon, who he would now call Peter, which
means rock. Peter was loudmouthed and made rash decisions, yet
within him was the heart of a leader. He chose
(33:57):
James and John, the sons of Zebd. He nicknamed them
Sons of Thunder for their fire and enthusiasm. However, it
often got the better of them. He chose Andrew, Philip
and Bartholomew, the silent and humble servants. He chose Matthew
the tax collector, and Thomas the skeptic. He chose James
(34:21):
and Alphaeus. One of the most unique men he chose
was Simon the Zealot. He was one of the notorious
dagger Men, a league of assassins trying to overthrow Roman rule. However,
Simon renounced his old ways for the sake of following Christ. Finally,
he chose Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.
(34:46):
He chose him and loved him, despite knowing who he
would become. This was the heart of Christ. Jesus's first
call to the twelve was for them to be with him.
Their closeness to Jesus would prove to be the source
of their strength. Moments sitting by the camp fire, sharing
(35:07):
stories and laughing would prove to be useful. They would
learn to be with God before doing anything for God,
so they too would not grow prideful like the Pharisees.
Out of that relationship, Jesus would send them out to preach, heal,
and cast out demons in his name. The disciples were
(35:27):
empowered by Jesus, and their strength grew day by day.
Jesus overlooked the crowd below. He knew many would eventually
turn on him. He turned to the twelve and said.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
Whoever desires to come after me must first pick up
his cross and follow me. Whoever holds his life too
dear to lay it down will lose his life. However,
whoever loses his life for my sake will truly find it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains
the world's possessions but loses his own soul.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
Jesus called his disciples to a higher standard than the
Phariseesar's crimes. He called them to deny themselves instead of
elevate themselves. He did not call them to religious repetition
of vain practices. He called them to lay down their lives, money,
and convenience so that others may thrive. Jesus would model
(36:27):
this himself. He would sacrifice everything so that people could
be renewed.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Follow me. Those are the words that changed history. The
people chosen to follow Jesus in this episode were used
by God to spread the Gospel throughout the ancient world.
These small moments had a great ripple effect into the future.
We begin with the call of Simon, who would later
be called Peter, a rough fisherman from Galilee. His to
(37:00):
catch fish all night left him grumpy and tired, but
Jesus quickly broke down his rough exterior. Andrew, Simon, James,
and John's failure to catch fish, followed by immediate success
when Jesus was with them, is a metaphor. We on
our own are unable to truly be effective for the
Kingdom of God. No matter how much we toil, we
(37:21):
are unable to succeed without the presence of Jesus leading
and empowering us. As long as he is in our boat,
we know we are on the right path. There will
be many scenes with Jesus in a boat with his
disciples in future episodes. Pay attention to those and search
for meaning when you encounter them. When the boat was
overflowing with fish, Andrew, James, and John cheered, but not Peter.
(37:45):
He fell on his knees and wept. Why wasn't he
happy about the fish? What compelled him to hide his
face from Jesus and say, depart from me, Lord. I
think it was because Simon knew he was unworthy to
receive anything from Jesus. He was a salty fisherman from
an unremarkable city. We also know he had a temper
and a tendency to run his mouth. To put it plainly,
(38:08):
Simon was a sinner. When he came face to face
with the goodness of Jesus, he no longer felt worthy
to be in his presence. Those who truly come in
contact with the holiness of God feel this way and psalmate.
David looks up to the heavens and says, when I
consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon
and the stars which you have made. What is Man
(38:29):
that you are mindful of him? And the Son of
Man that you visit him. When we truly consider the
splendor of God, we feel small and insignificant. Who are
we that God would bless us and call us? The
fact that God regards us at all is humbly. I
think that is what Simon experienced on the boat that morning.
He experienced the glory of God and was humble. Jesus
(38:52):
responded to Simon with a call with tenderness, and power.
He said, follow me, and I will make you a
fisher of men. This statement is consistent with the theme
of the episode. Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John
and told them he would make them fishers of men.
It wasn't that they were already fishers of men. Rather,
(39:13):
Jesus would make them into what they were meant to be.
This is similar to the call of Abraham and Genesis twelve.
God called Abraham to follow him and said, I will
make you a great nation. I will bless you and
make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.
God didn't call Abraham because he was already great. He
(39:34):
called Abraham and made him great. In the same way,
the disciples were not called because they were already great,
but Jesus would make them great. Let this encourage you today.
Who we become when we follow Jesus is more important
than who we are when we begin following Jesus. After
the interaction with Simon in the boat, we were thrust
(39:55):
into another scene with the demon the sea. Was supposed
to scare us a little bit and remind us that
there is another spiritual realm outside the line of sight.
Jesus didn't just come to help people catch fish. He
came to wage war against the dark forces at work
in the hearts of men and women. Jesus preached great
sermons and helped many people with their physical ailments, but
(40:16):
he also came to establish authority over people's hearts. Jesus
quickly established dominance over the demon and cast him out.
This event is a small taste of the spiritual battle
waging around us. There are dark entities at work, and
we would be wise to not ignore them. Nevertheless, we
shouldn't be scared. This scene also reminds us that Jesus
(40:38):
has ultimate authority and power over the demons. They know
him and quake in fear of him. The scene with
the leper on the side of the road and the
paralytic lowered from the roof were both related to the
scene with the demoniac. When Jesus heals people, it is
meant to be a metaphor for the inner healing he
does in all of us. The sin that plagues our
(40:58):
heart decays our like leprosy. The shame of sin paralyzes
us and keeps us from walking a life of purpose.
Jesus addresses the physical needs of these men but the
greater work is the salvation and sanctification of our souls.
Jesus reminded us of this by forgiving the paralytic sins
before healing his body. We are all in need of
(41:20):
God's forgiveness, and we are able to receive it because
of Christ's work on our behalf. The friends that lowered
the paralytic are placed in the story as a contrast
to the Pharisees and religious leaders. Think about it for
a moment. The Pharisees and scribes were meant to bring
people close to God. It was their job to teach
and serve people according to the law and prophets. Instead,
(41:44):
they created barriers between people and God. They set up
a system that made it difficult for others to access
the heart of God. However, the friends of this paralyzed
man did whatever they could to get their friend close
to God. They risk their safety and convenience to see
their friend heal. They are a stark contrast to the Pharisees.
(42:06):
Their faithfulness causes us to question the idea of friendship
and love. Do we have the same devotion as these men?
Do we lay us out our own convenience for the
sake of our friends being close to Jesus. What lengths
are we willing to go to make sure those close
to us can experience freedom in Christ. So far in
the story, we have seen Jesus reach out to the reject,
(42:27):
the lowly, and the sick. However, we have yet to
see him reach out to someone who is universally hated
among the Jews, tax collectors. Tax collectors were among the
most hated people of the time. They were called race
traders and apostates due to their loyalty to Rome. They
traded their kinship for money and actively exploited their fellow Jews.
(42:50):
Surely a man like this wouldn't receive any attention from
the Messiah. Right wrong. Tax collectors were often sought out
by Jesus, and they often sought Jesus. He gave him
the love that the countrymen refused to give. Matthew, one
of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, was one of them.
Jesus gave him a simple call, follow me. This is
(43:12):
the call he gives to all of us. It is
an invitation to adventure, growth and glory. But the call
of Jesus comes at a cost. Those who desire to
follow him must die to their old ways and embrace
the new way of living. Matthew considered the costs and
chose to follow Christ. The Pharisees didn't understand Jesus's motives.
(43:33):
They questioned his righteousness because he ate with sinners. Jesus, however,
has some coarse words for them. Tell me, Jesus said,
who needs a doctor more, the sick or the healthy?
The Pharisees said nothing, knowing the answer was obvious. You
sit here praising yourself for your good health, all the
while ignoring those who suffer around you. I have not
(43:55):
come to sit at the table of the righteous or
basque in my own glory like you do. I have
come to help the sinners in need. Jesus, being God,
refused to flaunt his righteousness like a merit badge. He
knew that true righteousness was acted out in love, not
displayed to make others feel inferior. A big sticking point
between Jesus and the Pharisees was regarding the Sabbath. Many
(44:19):
rules and regulations were formed around the Sabbath, which was
a day designed for rest and worship. So many rules
had been formed around the Sabbath that it was basically
a job to keep them. The irony was lost on
the religious leaders, but not on Jesus. When his disciples
plucked some grain to snack on, they were angry. Jesus
have Abbit was swift to point out their hypocrisy. If
(44:41):
the Sabbath was a day made for rest and worship,
then what good was it to place so much burden
on people to keep it. Like many vain religious traditions,
they accomplished the opposite of what they claimed to do.
That's why Jesus made it a point to heal the
man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He wanted
to show everyone that nobody should refuse to do what
(45:02):
is right just because it went against some moral tradition.
This is what the apostle Paul meant when he said,
but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearons, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self control. Against such things, there is no law. Love, faithfulness, kindness,
(45:23):
trump any religious tradition. Against these things, there is no law.
This episode ended with the calling of the twelve. Their
appointment brought us back to the prelude, reminding us that
God doesn't call the brave, strong, and perfect. He chooses
the fisherman, the tax collector, and the dagger men to
display his glory. All vain displays of religiosity are put
(45:45):
aside as. Jesus appoints a band of sinners and makes
them sings. I enjoyed my time with you today. Our
next episode will feature Jesus's most famous sermon. He establishes
the kingdom Ethos and reminds Us that character triumphs over sanctimony.
Join us next time for episode seven, My Burden is Light.
(46:07):
Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers
and wisdom to last the 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.
Forward slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify
to get the newest episodes right as they come out,
(46:28):
so you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus. God bless
And he said unto them, if any man will come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. Luke nine twenty three. Dear Jesus,
it's my heart's desire to follow after you. I only
want to be where you are and where you lead.
(00:21):
Being in the heart of your will is the safest
place to be. I realize you may lead in ways
that are foreign to me. I may not ununderstand where
you're taking me, and I honestly may not even want
to go there. But it is in those times that
I must deny myself, pick up my cross, and crucify
(00:42):
my flesh so I can follow you. It is painful
to let go of my expectations of what I thought
I wanted in my life, but that's what it means
to follow you and take up my cross. As surely
as you said in the garden the night before your crucifixion,
not my will, but Thy will be done, I too
(01:05):
must have that steadfast perseverance to Thy will and not
my will, as I follow you. Even as Jesus was
obedient unto death, he was raised up, and you glorified
him above all others. As I pursue you into your
plan and purpose for my life. I will accomplish more
(01:26):
than I ever thought possible. You will lead me into
your divine destiny and reward me for my obedience in
Jesus name. Amen. Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the
greatest stories ever told from pray dot COM's podcast Heroes
in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
In Genesis, God said, I give you every seed bearing
plant on the face of the earth, and every tree
that has fruit with seed in it. They will be
yours for food. It was so blessedly simple, right, But
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(02:09):
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(02:31):
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Speaker 3 (02:50):
Hi, I'm back to 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 story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,
(03:11):
a father's 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, the twelve Apostles are chosen
men brought from different backgrounds, united under one common goal
(03:32):
following Jesus. Along the way, we will meet some pharisees
and scribes who push against Jesus's tactics that self righteousness
is placed before us. As a contrast, the heart of
Christ is to serve and set people free, while the
religious leaders would rather be served and bind people with
needless regulations. As we hear about these interactions between Jesus
(03:54):
and the religious leaders, we are invited to consider our
self righteous tendencies puffed ourselves up with vain religious practices.
Have we been so focused on our own morality that
we have ignored the needs of others. Perhaps some of
us need to be reminded that Jesus doesn't call the
righteous and perfect, Rather, he chooses broken and imperfect people
(04:15):
to display his glory. The prelude will remind us of
these truths, and we will be continually reminded of them
as the episode builds. There are many parts of this
story that intertwine and point to the same prevailing message
of grace. I will do my best to point them
out to you once the episode is over. For now,
enjoy episode six. The twelve.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Praying Lude is chapter six. Since the Fall, a deep
pride had boiled in the furnace of mankind, men would
build kingdoms and monuments to themselves, seeking to be glorified
as gods. People of Babel had once sought to ascend
(05:02):
into the heavens by building a large tower. Their vain
attempt at immortality was quickly thwarted by God. He sent
them scattering through the far reaches of the earth. However,
mankind always found a way to elevate themselves. They sought power, riches,
and influence above humility, integrity and charity. For all of
(05:28):
human history, nations rose and fell by their own arrogance.
Even the religious became great in their own minds. The
Pharisees and scribes measured their righteousness against others and created
barriers between God and people. Yet even in their hubris,
(05:49):
God loved them as his people fell deep into their
own greed. God was generous. When the people of Israel
were entangled by sin or captured by a foreign nation,
he would deliver them by calling men and women of courage. However,
God never chose the strong. He never chose those who
(06:12):
were already exalted. God often chose the weak people of
this world to go against the arrogance of mankind. He
chose the small family of Abraham to create an entire nation.
He used Gideon, the forgotten son of a weak tribe,
to conquer an army. He chose Esther, a humble peasant,
(06:36):
to influence a king. He chose David, a ruddy shepherd boy,
to defeat a giant. All these people were flawed, forgotten,
or fearful, Yet God moved in them to save nations
and become kings. For thousands of generations since the fall
of mankind, God has been using the weak things of
(07:00):
this world to thwart the strong. He continues to search
for the humble and the willing, despite their flaws, to
accomplish extraordinary works. Chapter six, the twelve Simon rested his
head against the mast of his boat, lounging in the sun.
(07:23):
The tide rocked the vessel back and forth as the
gentle breeze tickled his cheeks. He was supposed to be
washing his nets after a night of fishing. However, he
had labored all night with no catch, so Simon was
content to doze off while his brother Andrew tended to
the chores. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were
(07:46):
in the boat beside them. They hadn't caught anything either.
It was proving to be a hard time for fishermen.
Simon was weary from the evening's toil. An entire night
of labor with no fish to shh for it. It
was frustrating. Many things in Simon's life were frustrating. He
(08:06):
looked up at the clouds and listened to the seagulls
fly out to sea. Perhaps the birds would have better
luck than him, he sighed and began to close his
eyes and rest. Simon's brief moment of peace was quickly
interrupted as he heard a commotion approaching the shore. He
piqued his eyes open to see Jesus briskly walking away
(08:30):
from a large crowd of people. Thousands of people crowded
around him. Many of them wanted to touch him so
they might be healed. Others wanted to be as close
to him as possible so they could hear every word
he said. Andrew smiled at the sight of Jesus. He
was much more impressed than Simon was. Simon still had
(08:52):
a lingering distrust, or perhaps it was more an inner guilt.
He did not find himself particularly worthy to be near
a man like that. The crowd was overwhelming Jesus at
almost every side. He backed up to the shore, but
they were still pressing in. Jesus looked back to see
(09:12):
Simon laying down in his boat, casually watching Simon, Jesus exclaimed,
could I use.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Your boat to teach from? If I stay near this crowd,
there's certainly going to suffocate me.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
He asked with a chuckle. Simon sat up and rubbed
his temple. He had been up all night, and now
his one moment of peace was interrupted. He was about
to say no until Andrew gave him a swift kick
in the shin. Wincing in pain, Simon gave a frustrated
smile and gestured for Jesus to climb in. Jesus boarded
(09:46):
the small fishing boat and sat on the bow. He
began teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. Simon began repairing
a few nets, listening to him teach. His words poured
forth like heavy rain, parched all in attendant's student silence.
Simon found himself entranced by his words. He had never
(10:09):
heard someone teach with so much authority, passion, and gentleness.
Jesus finished, and the crown went back to their homes.
He looked back at Simon.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Let's go out to the deep, he said, maybe we'll
catch something.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Simon buried his face in his hands. He was not
emotionally ready for yet another day. Without a catch. Teacher,
we had been toiling all night. We tried everything and
scoured every section of this lake, yet caught nothing. Simon's
heart ached from defeat. He looked up at Jesus. He
(10:46):
was smiling, awaiting an answer. Andrew was beside him, begging
Simon to agree. Nevertheless, Simon said, at your word, I
will take us out. So the three of them cast
out the nets. James and John launched their boat as well.
Simon was not thrilled to be out there. He was bitter.
(11:08):
He gazed out at the horizon, wondering if his wife
would ever forgive him for being such a failure. The
boat rocked back and forth while Jesus and Andrew watched
the nets intently. Simon thought they were foolish. He continued
to look out at the water, letting bitterness stew. We
should leave, Simon said, it's hopeless. He stood up to
(11:29):
begin unwrapping the sails. Then as Simon stood up, he
heard a slight tightening of rope behind him. Simon frows
His eyes widened, and he looked back slowly. The nets
were tightening at a fast pace, so fast that if
Simon did not act quickly, they would break. He'd dove
(11:50):
for the nets as they were being dragged off the
side of the boat. Andrew and Jesus leapt forward to
help him. Together they dragged the nets out of the water.
As they pulled, Simon could see thousands of fish being
drawn into the boat. The three of them laughed as
they continued to bring in fish. Peter yelled for James
and John to come close to them so they could
(12:12):
draw more in. The men were screaming with delight. Both
the boats were filled with fish. It was the most
joy Simon had felt in years. Yet his smile quickly
faded as the other men cheered. Simon looked at Jesus.
His eyes began to water, and he fell to his knees.
(12:35):
Depart from me, Lord Simon said. He felt so much
shame for the life he had been living. He had
so much bitterness and anger within him. He felt unworthy
to be in the presence of Jesus. I am a
sinful man, O Lord, I am not worthy. Jesus understood
(12:57):
Simon's heart. He bent down and met him at high level.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
You have lived with a great deal of fear for.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
So long, Jesus said. He placed a hand on Simon's shoulders.
You no longer have to fear. Follow me, and I
will make you a fisher of men. Simon looked up
he looked Jesus in the eyes for the first time
since they met. Simon nodded, as did Andrew, James, and John.
(13:28):
So the four men left their nets and followed Jesus.
The following day was the Sabbath, and Jesus entered into
the nearby synagogue to teach. The entire congregation was enthralled
with Jesus's words. The other scribes had simply recycled one
another's writings, yet Jesus spoke with a new type of
(13:49):
authority they had never heard before. From Jesus's mouth were
the very words of God. He cut straight through the
rough exterior of relige, his dogma, and right to the
heart of his listeners. Jesus spoke the poetic truths of God,
and a light hearted spirit of joy filled the room.
(14:10):
Then from the corner of the synagogue, a deep laughter emerged.
The rumbling laughter turned into a wet cackle as a
man beat his fist against the wall. The crowd stirred.
Jesus knew exactly what was happening. This man was possessed
by a demon. The man's laughter was painful. He coughed
(14:34):
and screamed. His neck snapped back to look at Jesus'
anger laced the surface of his eyes, yet behind them
there was deep pain. The demon pointed forward to Jesus.
What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth.
The demon lurked forward, swinging the man's body against the wall.
(14:56):
Blood dripped down his temple.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
The demon, have you come to destroy us?
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Have you? The demon was getting louder and more angry.
The people were frightened, but Jesus stood perfectly still as
the demon approached him. These people may not know who
you are, but I do.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
I know who you are.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
The demon paused to look around the room. He basped
in the fear of the people. He pointed at Jesus
again and said, you.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Are the Holy One, the sun of the Silent.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Jesus rebuked. His voice reverberated off the walls, and the
demon cowered back. Jesus stepped down from the platform and
walked towards the demon. With every step Jesus took forward,
the demon took a step back.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Come out of him now.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Jesus commanded. As Jesus spoke, the man's body flailed back
and hit the stone floor. A harsh scream echoed through
the entire synagogue as the man writhed in pain. The
demon jolted the man forward, then flung his body against
the wall again. Then the man slowly slid to the ground,
whindpering in pain. The demon was gone. It would torment
(16:17):
him no more. Jesus embraced the man and had Andrew
attend to him. Everyone was silent as Jesus left the
synagogue to care for him. Up until then, people saw
Jesus as a great teacher. They were beginning to realize
he was much more. The next morning, Jesus sat on
(16:43):
a stone, leaning against the side of the mountain. He
looked out overlooking the sunrise as it slowly peeked over
the horizon. His face lit up from the rising sun.
Jesus would often pull away to be alone with his father.
The two would speak of eternity and the Kingdom, entering
(17:04):
the hearts of men. The sun was making its way
over the green pastures below, and Jesus could hear the
stirring of people gathering at the base of the mountain.
He smiled. They were so eager to see him, hear
from him, and witness his miracles. However, they would not
always be this devoted. Jesus knew the fickle nature of people.
(17:32):
Despite this, he loved them. He would serve them to
the very end and ultimately lay down his life for them.
Jesus made his way down the mountain. Sure enough, the
crowd was growing larger by the minute as people rushed
out of their homes. Jesus smiled and greeted them without
(17:53):
saying a word. He made his way towards the city.
As Jesus in the crowd came to the out her wall,
the man emerged from the corner. He limped toward Jesus.
The right side of his face was missing a cheek,
exposing rotting muscle underneath. His eyes were faded from deterioration,
(18:14):
and his left hand was missing several fingers. What was
left of his body was covered in bandages, tightly holding
together his limbs. The man was stricken with leprosy. From
the looks of him, he had been slowly dying for
many years. He did not look at Jesus. Rather, he
(18:35):
limped towards him with his head held low. Unclean. He shouted, unclean.
The crowd jolted backwards at the sight of him. The
leper fell to his knees.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
Jesus, if you are willing, you could make me clean,
he said.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
Jesus was moved with compassion. He knew the pain of leprosy.
He also knew the isolation this man fell. Lepers were outcasts,
driven out to keep others safe. This man was slowly
deteriorating all alone. He knelt down beside the man. The
(19:13):
crowd gasped as he drew closer. Jesus tuck the man's
shoulders and embraced him. The leper sobbed in his arms.
It was the first human contact he had had in years.
Be clean, Jesus said, I am willing. As Jesus said this,
the man's body was restored. He looked down at his
(19:37):
hands to see all his fingers attached. He unwrapped his
arms and legs to see the sores gone. He felt
his cheek smooth before Jesus smiled and whispered.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Depart, and do not tell anyone what has happened today.
It's dead. Go worship God in the temper.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
So the man departed from there, invigorated with new life.
Jesus had a heart for the sick. Their plight represented
the greater woes of humanity. People were sick with sin
and slowly dying. Jesus came so they might have life
and life more abundant. After a few days, Jesus returned
(20:25):
to Capernium. He remained there in the home of one
of his friends. It was not long before the home
began filling up with people desiring to hear Jesus. Every
inch of the home was filled with people. Outside of
the home, the three men carrying their friend. He was
completely paralyzed, unable to even speak. The men heard that
(20:48):
Jesus was in town and were hoping to have Jesus
heal their friend. However, they saw that people were overflowing
outside of the house. The three men looked down at
their common.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Is this small sat back really going to keep him
from being healed?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
One of them thought. He turned towards the house and
scanned its surroundings. He looked down at the base of
the home, then up with the roof. A small smile
cracked on the corner of his face.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
I have an idea, he said.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Jesus was teaching in the middle of the home. Hundreds
of people sat and stood around him, inching as close
to him as possible to hear. Jesus was speaking about
the coming of God's kingdom. He revealed the reason behind
God's law and the depth of his love revealed in it.
As Jesus was speaking, he felt a small piece of
(21:44):
plaster fall on his head. Startled, Jesus looked up to
see the roof being torn apart from the outside. Jesus
stood to his feet and the crowd stepped back as
more roofing crashed onto the floor, shattering all around the room.
A bright light shone through the ceiling. Then, like an
angel appearing, Jesus saw a silhouette of a man on
(22:07):
a stretcher being lowered down by ropes. The three friends
had found a way to Jesus. The paralytic was lowered slowly.
Jesus went under the man and helped him to the floor.
The crowd stirred and shouted up with the ceiling. Jesus
looked up. He could see the friend's guilty smiles. Jesus
(22:31):
grinned and nodded towards them. They had done well. The
mark of a true friend is how far they are
willing to go to get them to Jesus. He looked
down at the man. His face was stagnant and emotionless. However,
Jesus could see the longing in his eyes. He placed
(22:53):
his hand on his shoulder and said.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
My child, your sins afgiven.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Blasphe A voice shouted from the corner. Jesus looked up
to see a scribe scoffing at Jesus. He stepped forward
and pointed.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
What authority do you have to forgive this man's sins?
For we all know he is paralyzed because God is
punishing him. Who do you think you are? God alone
has the authority to forgive sins?
Speaker 4 (23:24):
The scrime spat on the ground, Teeming with self righteous anger.
He scanned the room looking for approving nods. Jesus looked
back at the paralytic. He put his hand on his
head and smiled.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
Then tell me, scribe, Jesus began. What takes less authority
to say your sins are forgiven? Or get up and walk.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
As Jesus said this, the paralytics toes began to twitch.
His eyes widened as he began to move his fingers
as well. Then, with the first of energy. He sat up,
He moved his mouth and began to mumble under his breath.
He looked up at Jesus, eyes beaming with hope. A
(24:10):
large cheer could be heard from the ceiling as the
man's friends nearly fell through the hole in excitement. Jesus
helped the man to his feet. He looked down and
began hopping up and down. The two of them embraced,
and the man ran out to greet his friends. The
four of them leapt for joy, laughing and slapping each
(24:31):
other around. The scribes shrunk back into the crown, and
everyone applauded as the man left, walking shoulder to shoulder
with his companions. After these things, Jesus was making his
way through the city's streets. People followed at a distance
as Jesus conversed with Simon, James, and John. As they
(24:52):
made their way through the marketplace, Simon pointed out the
long line of people waiting to pay their taxes. They
yelled towards the front of the line, spitting on the floor.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Are you content to feed off of the suffering of
your own people?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Jesus looked to see the tax collector being berated by
the crowd. Tax collectors were considered Jewish traitors. They hoared
themselves to the Roman government and used corruption for their
own gain. Sitting at the booth was Matthew. He slumped
down quietly counting the coin, doing his best to block
(25:30):
out the noise. Jesus peered over to see a few
tears streaming from his face. Jesus approached the booth. Matthew
had grown accustomed to men and women coming to the
tax booth to spit on him and ridicule him. Jesus
simply smiled and said two simple words that would change
(25:51):
Matthew's life forever. Follow me, Jesus said plainly. Simon and
Andrew gasped when they heard Jesus. They looked at Matthew.
He seemed just as shocked as they did. Jesus began
walking away. The choice was Matthew's to make. He had
made a great deal of wealth being a tax collector.
(26:13):
He had favor with Rome and coins in his purse.
Yet there was no favor with man or riches of
the world that could truly satisfy him. He longed for purpose,
He longed to be known for those he helped, not exploited.
Was Jesus worth following, Matthew looked at Jesus walking away.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Yes, he is worth everything.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
He thought to himself. Matthew stood to his feet and
ran after Jesus.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
My Lord, he yelled, my King.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Jesus turned around and laughed. The two of them embraced.
Simon and Andrew were perplexed. Why did Jesus choose a
tax collector, they thought.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
To themselves, doesn't he know they are all corrupt?
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Yet they did not understand what Jesus understood, that there
are none that are righteous. Jesus did not choose Matthew
because he was morally higher than the rest, or more talented.
He saw beyond what man saw, He saw the heart.
That night, Jesus and his followers ate at Matthew's house.
(27:23):
More tax collectors came to eat with them. Jesus enjoyed
their company, enduring the glares of the Pharisees. Far off,
the Pharisees stood outside the house with their arms crossed.
They stopped one of his disciples and said.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
Look how he dies with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't
you ashamed to follow him? The disciple paused, unsure of
how he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus
stepped outside and approached them. His eyes were piercing, filled
with deep wisdom. There was a silence between them. Although
(28:00):
the Pharisees were the religious rulers of the time, Jesus
still intimidated them. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a
doctor more, the sick or the healthy? The Pharisees said nothing,
knowing the answer was obvious.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
You sit here praising yourselves for your good health, all
the while ignoring those who suffer around you. Had not
come to sit at the table of the righteous and
bask in my own glory like you do. I've come
to help the sinners in need.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
Jesus left with his disciple back inside. As he left,
he gestured for the Pharisees to join them. They sneered
and laughed. Jesus never scoffed at the sinners. He did
not shame the prostitutes or shun the tax collectors. He
ate beside them. He laughed with them, He heard their stories.
(28:52):
He taught them about a life lived with God. When
people met Jesus, they became righteous. They did not become
righteous to meet Jesus. Not long after, Jesus and his
disciples were walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath.
They had been walking for quite some time and were
(29:13):
beginning to get hungry. Andrew slid his hand through the
grain as they sauntered beside it. Taking one in his hand,
he plucked the grain and tossed it to John. The
men were hungry, and the outer layer of the grain
fields were okay for eating. They continued to pluck, eat,
and walk until they spotted the Pharisees walking their way.
(29:36):
Simon quickly tossed his grain away and John scarfed his
down in his mouth. Jesus chuckled, seeing how they became
flustered children when the Pharisees arrived.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Are you going to do anything about your followers, Jesus?
They're harvesting grain on the Sabbath.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Jesus took a piece of grain and rolled it on
his fingers.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
Aren't you men who know the scriptures.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Jesus asked sarcastically, do.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
Not remember how David ate bread designated for the temple
when he was overcome with hunger.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
The Pharisees were insulted by the insinuation that they had
not read the story. Jesus tossed a piece of grain
in his mouth.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Something greater than the Temple is here. I suggest you
read more and find the meaning behind the words of God.
I desire mercy over sacrifice. If you truly knew what
that meant, you were not come here badgering men who've
done nothing wrong. For the Messiah is Lord over the Sabbath.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Not you.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
Jesus continued walking toward the synagogue with his disciples behind him.
A faint laughter could be heard from them. They had
never heard anyone speak to the Pharisees that way. Before
Jesus entered the synagogue and sat to listen to the
word of the Lord. The Pharisees trickled in as well.
They came behind Jesus and just towards a man with
(31:01):
a withered hand.
Speaker 7 (31:02):
Tell us, Jesus, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?
Speaker 4 (31:06):
They were goading him, trying to catch him breaking more
Sabbath law in front of more people. Jesus stood to
his feet and walked towards the man with a withered hand.
He brought him before everyone. He was not ashamed.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Tell me, Pharisees, how many of you have sheep or goats?
Speaker 4 (31:24):
A few of them nodded and raised their hand. Jesus
took the man's withered arm and examined it. Looking back
at the Pharisees, he asked, how many.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Of you, if your sheep fell in a pit on
the sabbath, would take hold of it and lift it out.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
They did not respond, since the answer was clear, Jesus
was angry at them. They could not see past their pride.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Tell me who is of more value, your sheep or
this man. I will say this once to you so
hear me. It is lawful to do good on the sabbath,
for the sabbath was made for man to rest in God,
not hide in fear of judgment.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
He turned to the man and said, stretch out your hand,
and the man stretched it out and it was restored
healthy like the other. The crowd awed, and the Pharisees
slipped out, conspiring how they might end him. After this,
Jesus took some of his followers up to a mountain.
(32:25):
The crowd followed them and remained at the bottom. Jesus
paused and looked out at the sea of faces. He
did not see what others saw. He saw sheep that
were without a shepherd. They need guidance, They needed to
be empowered and enlivened by God's spirit. There were a
few followers beside him. He looked at them and pointed
(32:49):
down at the crowd. Look out at them. The harvest
is plentiful. There's no shortage of people longing for hope.
Do not pray for the people to come, for they
are all among you. Pray for the laborers. Pray for
men and women to rise up and work in this field.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
The harvest is plentiful, but laborers are few.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
With those words, Jesus appointed twelve men to be his apostles,
chosen men they would follow Jesus everywhere. These men were
not chosen for their wisdom, influence, or skill. Each of
them had gifts, and each of them had flaws. They
were imperfect vessels chosen by God to do mighty works.
(33:34):
God chose them for their hearts, but also for their weakness,
for in their weakness God is shown to be strong.
He chose Simon, who he would now call Peter, which
means rock. Peter was loudmouthed and made rash decisions, yet
within him was the heart of a leader. He chose
(33:57):
James and John, the sons of Zebd. He nicknamed them
Sons of Thunder for their fire and enthusiasm. However, it
often got the better of them. He chose Andrew, Philip
and Bartholomew, the silent and humble servants. He chose Matthew
the tax collector, and Thomas the skeptic. He chose James
(34:21):
and Alphaeus. One of the most unique men he chose
was Simon the Zealot. He was one of the notorious
dagger Men, a league of assassins trying to overthrow Roman rule. However,
Simon renounced his old ways for the sake of following Christ. Finally,
he chose Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.
(34:46):
He chose him and loved him, despite knowing who he
would become. This was the heart of Christ. Jesus's first
call to the twelve was for them to be with him.
Their closeness to Jesus would prove to be the source
of their strength. Moments sitting by the camp fire, sharing
(35:07):
stories and laughing would prove to be useful. They would
learn to be with God before doing anything for God,
so they too would not grow prideful like the Pharisees.
Out of that relationship, Jesus would send them out to preach, heal,
and cast out demons in his name. The disciples were
(35:27):
empowered by Jesus, and their strength grew day by day.
Jesus overlooked the crowd below. He knew many would eventually
turn on him. He turned to the twelve and said.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
Whoever desires to come after me must first pick up
his cross and follow me. Whoever holds his life too
dear to lay it down will lose his life. However,
whoever loses his life for my sake will truly find it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains
the world's possessions but loses his own soul.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
Jesus called his disciples to a higher standard than the
Phariseesar's crimes. He called them to deny themselves instead of
elevate themselves. He did not call them to religious repetition
of vain practices. He called them to lay down their lives, money,
and convenience so that others may thrive. Jesus would model
(36:27):
this himself. He would sacrifice everything so that people could
be renewed.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Follow me. Those are the words that changed history. The
people chosen to follow Jesus in this episode were used
by God to spread the Gospel throughout the ancient world.
These small moments had a great ripple effect into the future.
We begin with the call of Simon, who would later
be called Peter, a rough fisherman from Galilee. His to
(37:00):
catch fish all night left him grumpy and tired, but
Jesus quickly broke down his rough exterior. Andrew, Simon, James,
and John's failure to catch fish, followed by immediate success
when Jesus was with them, is a metaphor. We on
our own are unable to truly be effective for the
Kingdom of God. No matter how much we toil, we
(37:21):
are unable to succeed without the presence of Jesus leading
and empowering us. As long as he is in our boat,
we know we are on the right path. There will
be many scenes with Jesus in a boat with his
disciples in future episodes. Pay attention to those and search
for meaning when you encounter them. When the boat was
overflowing with fish, Andrew, James, and John cheered, but not Peter.
(37:45):
He fell on his knees and wept. Why wasn't he
happy about the fish? What compelled him to hide his
face from Jesus and say, depart from me, Lord. I
think it was because Simon knew he was unworthy to
receive anything from Jesus. He was a salty fisherman from
an unremarkable city. We also know he had a temper
and a tendency to run his mouth. To put it plainly,
(38:08):
Simon was a sinner. When he came face to face
with the goodness of Jesus, he no longer felt worthy
to be in his presence. Those who truly come in
contact with the holiness of God feel this way and psalmate.
David looks up to the heavens and says, when I
consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon
and the stars which you have made. What is Man
(38:29):
that you are mindful of him? And the Son of
Man that you visit him. When we truly consider the
splendor of God, we feel small and insignificant. Who are
we that God would bless us and call us? The
fact that God regards us at all is humbly. I
think that is what Simon experienced on the boat that morning.
He experienced the glory of God and was humble. Jesus
(38:52):
responded to Simon with a call with tenderness, and power.
He said, follow me, and I will make you a
fisher of men. This statement is consistent with the theme
of the episode. Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John
and told them he would make them fishers of men.
It wasn't that they were already fishers of men. Rather,
(39:13):
Jesus would make them into what they were meant to be.
This is similar to the call of Abraham and Genesis twelve.
God called Abraham to follow him and said, I will
make you a great nation. I will bless you and
make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.
God didn't call Abraham because he was already great. He
(39:34):
called Abraham and made him great. In the same way,
the disciples were not called because they were already great,
but Jesus would make them great. Let this encourage you today.
Who we become when we follow Jesus is more important
than who we are when we begin following Jesus. After
the interaction with Simon in the boat, we were thrust
(39:55):
into another scene with the demon the sea. Was supposed
to scare us a little bit and remind us that
there is another spiritual realm outside the line of sight.
Jesus didn't just come to help people catch fish. He
came to wage war against the dark forces at work
in the hearts of men and women. Jesus preached great
sermons and helped many people with their physical ailments, but
(40:16):
he also came to establish authority over people's hearts. Jesus
quickly established dominance over the demon and cast him out.
This event is a small taste of the spiritual battle
waging around us. There are dark entities at work, and
we would be wise to not ignore them. Nevertheless, we
shouldn't be scared. This scene also reminds us that Jesus
(40:38):
has ultimate authority and power over the demons. They know
him and quake in fear of him. The scene with
the leper on the side of the road and the
paralytic lowered from the roof were both related to the
scene with the demoniac. When Jesus heals people, it is
meant to be a metaphor for the inner healing he
does in all of us. The sin that plagues our
(40:58):
heart decays our like leprosy. The shame of sin paralyzes
us and keeps us from walking a life of purpose.
Jesus addresses the physical needs of these men but the
greater work is the salvation and sanctification of our souls.
Jesus reminded us of this by forgiving the paralytic sins
before healing his body. We are all in need of
(41:20):
God's forgiveness, and we are able to receive it because
of Christ's work on our behalf. The friends that lowered
the paralytic are placed in the story as a contrast
to the Pharisees and religious leaders. Think about it for
a moment. The Pharisees and scribes were meant to bring
people close to God. It was their job to teach
and serve people according to the law and prophets. Instead,
(41:44):
they created barriers between people and God. They set up
a system that made it difficult for others to access
the heart of God. However, the friends of this paralyzed
man did whatever they could to get their friend close
to God. They risk their safety and convenience to see
their friend heal. They are a stark contrast to the Pharisees.
(42:06):
Their faithfulness causes us to question the idea of friendship
and love. Do we have the same devotion as these men?
Do we lay us out our own convenience for the
sake of our friends being close to Jesus. What lengths
are we willing to go to make sure those close
to us can experience freedom in Christ. So far in
the story, we have seen Jesus reach out to the reject,
(42:27):
the lowly, and the sick. However, we have yet to
see him reach out to someone who is universally hated
among the Jews, tax collectors. Tax collectors were among the
most hated people of the time. They were called race
traders and apostates due to their loyalty to Rome. They
traded their kinship for money and actively exploited their fellow Jews.
(42:50):
Surely a man like this wouldn't receive any attention from
the Messiah. Right wrong. Tax collectors were often sought out
by Jesus, and they often sought Jesus. He gave him
the love that the countrymen refused to give. Matthew, one
of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, was one of them.
Jesus gave him a simple call, follow me. This is
(43:12):
the call he gives to all of us. It is
an invitation to adventure, growth and glory. But the call
of Jesus comes at a cost. Those who desire to
follow him must die to their old ways and embrace
the new way of living. Matthew considered the costs and
chose to follow Christ. The Pharisees didn't understand Jesus's motives.
(43:33):
They questioned his righteousness because he ate with sinners. Jesus, however,
has some coarse words for them. Tell me, Jesus said,
who needs a doctor more, the sick or the healthy?
The Pharisees said nothing, knowing the answer was obvious. You
sit here praising yourself for your good health, all the
while ignoring those who suffer around you. I have not
(43:55):
come to sit at the table of the righteous or
basque in my own glory like you do. I have
come to help the sinners in need. Jesus, being God,
refused to flaunt his righteousness like a merit badge. He
knew that true righteousness was acted out in love, not
displayed to make others feel inferior. A big sticking point
between Jesus and the Pharisees was regarding the Sabbath. Many
(44:19):
rules and regulations were formed around the Sabbath, which was
a day designed for rest and worship. So many rules
had been formed around the Sabbath that it was basically
a job to keep them. The irony was lost on
the religious leaders, but not on Jesus. When his disciples
plucked some grain to snack on, they were angry. Jesus
have Abbit was swift to point out their hypocrisy. If
(44:41):
the Sabbath was a day made for rest and worship,
then what good was it to place so much burden
on people to keep it. Like many vain religious traditions,
they accomplished the opposite of what they claimed to do.
That's why Jesus made it a point to heal the
man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He wanted
to show everyone that nobody should refuse to do what
(45:02):
is right just because it went against some moral tradition.
This is what the apostle Paul meant when he said,
but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearons, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self control. Against such things, there is no law. Love, faithfulness, kindness,
(45:23):
trump any religious tradition. Against these things, there is no law.
This episode ended with the calling of the twelve. Their
appointment brought us back to the prelude, reminding us that
God doesn't call the brave, strong, and perfect. He chooses
the fisherman, the tax collector, and the dagger men to
display his glory. All vain displays of religiosity are put
(45:45):
aside as. Jesus appoints a band of sinners and makes
them sings. I enjoyed my time with you today. Our
next episode will feature Jesus's most famous sermon. He establishes
the kingdom Ethos and reminds Us that character triumphs over sanctimony.
Join us next time for episode seven, My Burden is Light.
(46:07):
Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers
and wisdom to last the 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.
Forward slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify
to get the newest episodes right as they come out,
(46:28):
so you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus. God bless
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