August 2, 2025 • 18 mins
The father of faith. This chosen patriarch of God stumbled through his calling, never quite able to fully live in the promise God made him. But where he fell short, Jesus followed through.
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As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel.
They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history.
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To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. Abraham believed in God, and it was
counted to him as righteousness. Romans four three. Dear Lord,
we understand that no righteous deeds or religious ceremonies could
ever replace pure faith in You. Trust in your promises
(00:21):
and redemption are what save us, not works. Keep us humble,
and ground it in that knowledge, so we would not
become boastful or arrogant. Just as Abraham believed in You
and it was accounted to him as righteousness, we declare
belief in the work of Christ. May that faith transform us,
(00:44):
empower us to live righteous lives and glorify You daily.
In Jesus's name. Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories of the
Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Abram's head leaned against the stone, and slowly he drifted
away to sleep. He closed his eyes and then opened
them to see a terrible vision. He sprang up and
looked around him. He saw hundreds of thousands of people
with scars on their backs, dragging stones through the sand
(01:30):
and mud. The voice of God spoke to Abram, saying,
know this, your offspring will be strangers in the land
that is not theirs. They will be slaves there and
afflicted for four hundred years. Abram looked at the people.
They were his descendants, a vast sea of faces.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
All somehow from him.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Their image faded, and Abram was shown a mighty torrent
of water thrashing against an army, and his descendants running
towards safety.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I will bring judgment on their oppressors, and once I
have breed them, they will have.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
A great reward.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Abram looked around him as millions flooded the valley he
called home. They outnumbered the stars. Then he saw nothing.
It was just him, and the Lord God spoke tenderly
to him, saying, ask for you, abrahen, you will have peace.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Welcome to another episode of the Stories of the Messiah podcast.
I'm your host, Rabbi Kirchsteider with discovering the Jewish Jesus.
I'm here to guide you through the Bible's most iconic
stories and showcase how they point us toward the ultimate
Redeemer and King Jesus. If this podcast says bless you
thus far, please take a moment to leave a commoner review.
(02:54):
Doing so will make sure others discover these life changing stories.
This season of story, the Messiah is called Jesus, the Greater.
As heroic and admirable as Noah, Abraham and Moses are,
they are mere shadows of the true hero who came
after them, the greater redeemer of the world, savior of mankind,
and author of faith, King Jesus. Today we visit the
(03:17):
story of Abraham. He is known as the Father of faith.
God made a promise to bless the entire world through him.
Is Abraham able to carry such a burden? We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Now.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Join me now as we immerse ourselves in a cinematic
retelling of Genesis fifteen, where God beckons Obram out of
his tent to gaze at the stars. Within the stars
is a promise, the promise of a greater hero that
will come from his lineage. Let's begin.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Fear not, the voice called out. Abram sat up in
a sweat. He looked around for the source of the voice,
but he could only see Sarah sleeping beside him.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
Fear not, Abram, the voice said again.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Abram looked forward. A cool breeze blew in from the
entrance of his tent. He stood to his feet and
walked outside. God was beckoning him, drawing him out of
slumber and into a vision. He heard the voice of
God again. This time it seemed he was speaking all
around and within him.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Fear not, Abraham, I am your sheild and your great reward.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Abram paused and considered God's declaration. As the cool breeze
brought the scent of falling leaves through the valley, his
bottom lip quivered slightly, both from the cold and from
the sadness within his heart. He closed his eyes and replied, O,
Lord God, whatever reward you have for me does not matter.
(04:46):
If I continue childless, my treasure will pass with me
and be given to my servant, and my name would
die along with me. Abram's doubt was not a denial
of God's promise, but rather a desire for god promise.
He wanted it to be true, but the one desire
of his heart had eluded him. God's presence surrounded Abram.
(05:08):
He was enveloped in the comforting embrace of the Lord Almighty.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Oh Abrahmen, a son from your flesh will be given
to you.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
God's presence called Abram to walk up a small grassy hill,
like the gentle nudge of a father looker and the heavens.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
God whispered.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Abram turned his gaze towards the heavens. Casting his gaze upward,
his eyes met a cosmic tapestry that stretched infinitely beyond
his reach, unobstructed by clouds are earthly illumination, A myriad
of twinkling stars painted the night canvas, each a distant sun,
(05:48):
a silent testament to the.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Vastness of the universe.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Abram found himself entranced, humbled and insignificant. God spoke to
Abram's heart in this state, all saying.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Your descendants without number the stars, through you, all the
nations of the world will be blessed.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Abram's heart melted as he surveyed the expanse of heaven.
He realized just how incredible it was that the creator
of the stars considered him, knew him.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And loved him. Abram believed God.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
He had faith that the Lord would follow through with
his promises. That belief that faith is what made Abraham righteous.
No deed, ceremony, or religious gesture would ever replace that
pure trust in God's word. Abram looked up at the heavens,
tears fogging his vision, and whispered to the Lord, Oh,
(06:49):
shall these things happen? Bring me a heathern goat, rare, turtle, dove,
and pigeon, the Lord replied. Abram knew exactly what God
was requesting. In his culture, covenants were made through sacrifice.
Two people making promises would split animals in half and
walk through the middle to seal the covenant with blood.
(07:12):
Meant that if one were to break that promise, it
would mean death. God intended to make an unbreakable vow
with Abram, a promise sealed in blood that would endure
throughout the generations. Abram took his eyes off the heavens
and retreated to his tent. The following day, he gathered
the necessary animals, split them in half, then waited. The
(07:36):
sun's heavy rays were briefly shaded by the wings of
vultures flying overhead. They descended on the carcasses of the animals,
but Abraham fought them off. Thrashing and screaming. He scared
them away, then sat on a stone and panted. Abram
was sure God would show up. He had heard his
voice so clearly. Abram leaned back and looked out on
(07:59):
the horizon. He waited for God's voice to return He
waited all day, staring, praying, pondering. Faith kept him hopeful.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
The day drew on.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
And Abram watched the sun slowly descend over the valley.
Hues of orange and crimson splashed the skies, matching the
blood soaking the ground near the slain animals. Abram's head
leaned against the stone, and slowly he drifted away to sleep.
He closed his eyes, then opened them to see a
(08:33):
terrible vision. He sprang up and looked around him. He
saw hundreds of thousands of people with scars on their backs,
dragging stones through sand and mud. The voice of God
spoke to Abram, saying, no, this.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Your offspring will be strangers in the land that is
not theirs. They will be slaves there and afflicted for
four hundred years.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Abram looked at the people. They were his descendants, a
vast sea of faces, all somehow from him. Their image faded,
and Abram was shown a mighty torrent of water thrashing
against an army, and his descendants running towards safety.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I will bring judgment on their oppressors, and once I
have freed them, they will.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Have a great reward.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Abram looked around as millions flooded the valley he called home.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
They outnumbered the stars. Then he saw nothing.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
It was just him and the Lord. God spoke tenderly
to him, saying.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
As to you, Abraham, you will have peace.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Abram opened his eyes to see something miraculous. God had
passed through the sacrifices himself. A smoking firepot and a
flaming torch stood at the other end of them. God
had made his promise to Abram and his offspring with
But what if the blood that required if I break
(10:04):
my part of the covenant, Abram wondered. God was the
one to pass through himself. That means God would be
the one to die if Abram and his descendants broke
their promise. God would later rename Abram, making him Abraham
a father of nations. He said that through his seed,
(10:26):
all the nations would be blessed. A son from his
lineage would rise to redeem and bless the world. Abraham
eagerly awaited that time. He believed in the future redemption.
He hoped for that future blessing, and one day he
would meet the promised son in eternity.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
What a moving moment between God and Abram. Could you
feel the intimacy between them. Could you sense Abram's doubt
melting away under the warm embrace of his heavenly father.
It makes sense that Aburn would be doubtful of God's promises.
Think about it. He was old and had tried to
have children for years. He feared all his blessings wouldn't
(11:10):
be shared with his descendants. But God comforted Obraam and
made a promise that his offspring would outnumber the stars
in the sky. They would multiply suffer from slavery, be rescued,
and prosper in the land promised to them, and through
them a greater hero would come. Abram took all this
(11:31):
in and had faith in God. The faith was accounted
to him as righteousness. It wasn't any good deeds, holy exploits,
or obedience that made him righteous. It was his belief
in the promises of God. To seal the promises he
made to Abram. God made a covenant. He had Abram
prepare sacrifices for them to walk through together. These types
(11:54):
of contracts were weighty back then. Whoever broke their side
of the agreement would be held accountable with blood. That
is why God walked through the sacrifice on his own.
He was going to bear sole responsibility for the promise.
If Abram or any of his descendants broke the covenant,
God would pay the penalty, not them. He would eventually
(12:16):
do that through the sacrifice of Jesus. Abram was eventually
renamed Abraham, and God promised that all the nations would
be blessed one day through his seed. Abraham looked forward
to that time. He hoped in God and believed his
promised descendant would save the world. He knew this prophesied
son would be greater than him, mightier. The Bible is
(12:39):
covered in prophecies like this, and you can hear me
unpack more of them at Discovering the Jewish Jesus dot com.
Now let's fast forward to when Abraham's descendants are great
in number, they have an established culture and way of life.
They look back at Abraham as the ultimate example of righteousness.
But they seemed togarten that someone greater than him was
(13:01):
supposed to come.
Speaker 6 (13:05):
Shore straight.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Miget, one of the scribes, shouted from a group of
Jewish leaders.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
You are a Samaritan dog cannot possessed by a demon.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
The crowd stirred, uncomfortable with the accusation. Jesus remained calm
under scrutiny, His eyes pierced through his accusers. He exhaled
and shook his head. I do not have a demon,
he replied, matter of factly, I owner my father.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
In all things. Yet you stand here in dishonor me.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
I won't fretter with this though, for I do not
seek my own glory. There's only one who seeks my glory,
and he is the ultimate judge between you and me.
He looked away from the group of accusers, turned to
the crowd and said, truly, truly, I say to you,
if anyone keeps my words, you never see dead. The
(13:55):
group of scribes and Pharisees stirred. Their holy veneer was
slowly eroding, giving way to a more perturbed and petty countenance.
Now we are sure that you have a deed.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
They shouted.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
They began to spit on the floor and mock him.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
Abraham died, as did all the prophets. Yet you say,
whoever keeps your word will never taste death. Who do
you think you are? You think you're greater than Abraham?
Speaker 2 (14:23):
The Jews postured to threaten Jesus, but he remained unperturbed
by their presence, Jesus stepped towards them, and they took
a few paces back as he approached. I would tell
you again, I do not aim to give myself glory.
If I did, it would mean nothing. It is my
father who glorified your God. But you don't know him,
(14:43):
do you. I knew him, and your father Abraham knew him.
He rejoiced that one.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Day you would get to see him.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
He had faith in me and was filled with joy.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Ridiculous, they shouted.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You're not even fifty years old, yet you claim to
see Abraham. Jesus's gentle countenance shifted slightly at that moment.
It was as if the air around him became thick
with glory. Jesus spoke, his voice resounding with calm authority.
I was before Abraham, before Abraham, was the great I am.
(15:19):
Those were the words they had been waiting for. Jesus
had claimed to be God himself. With zealous rage, the
Jews ran to retrieve stones. They wanted to end Jesus's life.
Jealous and indignant, they turned with rocks to hurl at
Jesus that he had vanished. He had escaped from the
(15:40):
temple just in time. One day, the Jewish leaders would
successfully execute Jesus, but they would do so on his timing,
not theirs. He would use death as a tool to
fulfill the promise made to Abraham long ago. He would
be the seed that sprung up from the line of
Abraham to bless every nation.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Abraham did indeed become the father of a great nation.
God's promised to Abram was kept, and the children of
Israel were preserved through slavery, wilderness, war, oppression, and pride.
Despite themselves, God was faithful through them. The great hero
of Heaven came, but not everyone recognized him as the
Messiah right away. Jesus was continually challenged about his identity.
(16:29):
But we know now that he is the promised to redeemer,
the seed from Abraham that would bless every nation. In
his discourse with the religious leaders, he declared, before Abraham
was I am. What does that mean? That means that
Jesus pre existed Abraham and life itself. He was the
(16:50):
one that spoke life and light into existence. He was
the one who fashioned man from dust and crafted the
heavens and earth, was God himself. In this way, Jus
is more than just a patriarch of faith or a
member of a great lineage. He is God. He is
not just a man of faith. He is the one
(17:11):
who we've put faith in. Through Jesus, the lineage of
Abraham was extended beyond just a bloodline. He unified different nations, cultures,
and creeds under the banner of faith into a nation
of faith, the Church. Because of all this and more,
Jesus is greater than Abraham. Be sure to join us
(17:32):
next time as we explore another patriarch in the lineage
of Abraham. This man is not known for his courage
or strength. In fact, he willingly submitted himself to be
killed by his own father. Join us for the next
episode to discover why Jesus is the greater Isaac. Explore
more about Jesus and the Old Testament at discovering the
(17:54):
jewishgeis dot com. Also consider checking out my recent book,
Messing Up Prophecy. You revealed seeing Messiah in the pages
of the Hebrew Bible. You can get your hands on
it via my website. If you enjoy today's podcast, leave
us a review and share it with a friend. We
want the story of the Bible and the hope of
(18:14):
Jesus to spread worldwide, to make prayer priority and hear
more stories to inspire hope. Visit pray dot com
Let us pray. Abraham believed in God, and it was
counted to him as righteousness. Romans four three. Dear Lord,
we understand that no righteous deeds or religious ceremonies could
ever replace pure faith in You. Trust in your promises
(00:21):
and redemption are what save us, not works. Keep us humble,
and ground it in that knowledge, so we would not
become boastful or arrogant. Just as Abraham believed in You
and it was accounted to him as righteousness, we declare
belief in the work of Christ. May that faith transform us,
(00:44):
empower us to live righteous lives and glorify You daily.
In Jesus's name. Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories of the
Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Abram's head leaned against the stone, and slowly he drifted
away to sleep. He closed his eyes and then opened
them to see a terrible vision. He sprang up and
looked around him. He saw hundreds of thousands of people
with scars on their backs, dragging stones through the sand
(01:30):
and mud. The voice of God spoke to Abram, saying,
know this, your offspring will be strangers in the land
that is not theirs. They will be slaves there and
afflicted for four hundred years. Abram looked at the people.
They were his descendants, a vast sea of faces.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
All somehow from him.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Their image faded, and Abram was shown a mighty torrent
of water thrashing against an army, and his descendants running
towards safety.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I will bring judgment on their oppressors, and once I
have breed them, they will have.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
A great reward.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Abram looked around him as millions flooded the valley he
called home. They outnumbered the stars. Then he saw nothing.
It was just him, and the Lord God spoke tenderly
to him, saying, ask for you, abrahen, you will have peace.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Welcome to another episode of the Stories of the Messiah podcast.
I'm your host, Rabbi Kirchsteider with discovering the Jewish Jesus.
I'm here to guide you through the Bible's most iconic
stories and showcase how they point us toward the ultimate
Redeemer and King Jesus. If this podcast says bless you
thus far, please take a moment to leave a commoner review.
(02:54):
Doing so will make sure others discover these life changing stories.
This season of story, the Messiah is called Jesus, the Greater.
As heroic and admirable as Noah, Abraham and Moses are,
they are mere shadows of the true hero who came
after them, the greater redeemer of the world, savior of mankind,
and author of faith, King Jesus. Today we visit the
(03:17):
story of Abraham. He is known as the Father of faith.
God made a promise to bless the entire world through him.
Is Abraham able to carry such a burden? We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Now.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Join me now as we immerse ourselves in a cinematic
retelling of Genesis fifteen, where God beckons Obram out of
his tent to gaze at the stars. Within the stars
is a promise, the promise of a greater hero that
will come from his lineage. Let's begin.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Fear not, the voice called out. Abram sat up in
a sweat. He looked around for the source of the voice,
but he could only see Sarah sleeping beside him.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
Fear not, Abram, the voice said again.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Abram looked forward. A cool breeze blew in from the
entrance of his tent. He stood to his feet and
walked outside. God was beckoning him, drawing him out of
slumber and into a vision. He heard the voice of
God again. This time it seemed he was speaking all
around and within him.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Fear not, Abraham, I am your sheild and your great reward.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Abram paused and considered God's declaration. As the cool breeze
brought the scent of falling leaves through the valley, his
bottom lip quivered slightly, both from the cold and from
the sadness within his heart. He closed his eyes and replied, O,
Lord God, whatever reward you have for me does not matter.
(04:46):
If I continue childless, my treasure will pass with me
and be given to my servant, and my name would
die along with me. Abram's doubt was not a denial
of God's promise, but rather a desire for god promise.
He wanted it to be true, but the one desire
of his heart had eluded him. God's presence surrounded Abram.
(05:08):
He was enveloped in the comforting embrace of the Lord Almighty.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Oh Abrahmen, a son from your flesh will be given
to you.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
God's presence called Abram to walk up a small grassy hill,
like the gentle nudge of a father looker and the heavens.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
God whispered.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Abram turned his gaze towards the heavens. Casting his gaze upward,
his eyes met a cosmic tapestry that stretched infinitely beyond
his reach, unobstructed by clouds are earthly illumination, A myriad
of twinkling stars painted the night canvas, each a distant sun,
(05:48):
a silent testament to the.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Vastness of the universe.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Abram found himself entranced, humbled and insignificant. God spoke to
Abram's heart in this state, all saying.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Your descendants without number the stars, through you, all the
nations of the world will be blessed.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Abram's heart melted as he surveyed the expanse of heaven.
He realized just how incredible it was that the creator
of the stars considered him, knew him.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And loved him. Abram believed God.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
He had faith that the Lord would follow through with
his promises. That belief that faith is what made Abraham righteous.
No deed, ceremony, or religious gesture would ever replace that
pure trust in God's word. Abram looked up at the heavens,
tears fogging his vision, and whispered to the Lord, Oh,
(06:49):
shall these things happen? Bring me a heathern goat, rare, turtle, dove,
and pigeon, the Lord replied. Abram knew exactly what God
was requesting. In his culture, covenants were made through sacrifice.
Two people making promises would split animals in half and
walk through the middle to seal the covenant with blood.
(07:12):
Meant that if one were to break that promise, it
would mean death. God intended to make an unbreakable vow
with Abram, a promise sealed in blood that would endure
throughout the generations. Abram took his eyes off the heavens
and retreated to his tent. The following day, he gathered
the necessary animals, split them in half, then waited. The
(07:36):
sun's heavy rays were briefly shaded by the wings of
vultures flying overhead. They descended on the carcasses of the animals,
but Abraham fought them off. Thrashing and screaming. He scared
them away, then sat on a stone and panted. Abram
was sure God would show up. He had heard his
voice so clearly. Abram leaned back and looked out on
(07:59):
the horizon. He waited for God's voice to return He
waited all day, staring, praying, pondering. Faith kept him hopeful.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
The day drew on.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
And Abram watched the sun slowly descend over the valley.
Hues of orange and crimson splashed the skies, matching the
blood soaking the ground near the slain animals. Abram's head
leaned against the stone, and slowly he drifted away to sleep.
He closed his eyes, then opened them to see a
(08:33):
terrible vision. He sprang up and looked around him. He
saw hundreds of thousands of people with scars on their backs,
dragging stones through sand and mud. The voice of God
spoke to Abram, saying, no, this.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Your offspring will be strangers in the land that is
not theirs. They will be slaves there and afflicted for
four hundred years.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Abram looked at the people. They were his descendants, a
vast sea of faces, all somehow from him. Their image faded,
and Abram was shown a mighty torrent of water thrashing
against an army, and his descendants running towards safety.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I will bring judgment on their oppressors, and once I
have freed them, they will.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Have a great reward.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Abram looked around as millions flooded the valley he called home.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
They outnumbered the stars. Then he saw nothing.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
It was just him and the Lord. God spoke tenderly
to him, saying.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
As to you, Abraham, you will have peace.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Abram opened his eyes to see something miraculous. God had
passed through the sacrifices himself. A smoking firepot and a
flaming torch stood at the other end of them. God
had made his promise to Abram and his offspring with
But what if the blood that required if I break
(10:04):
my part of the covenant, Abram wondered. God was the
one to pass through himself. That means God would be
the one to die if Abram and his descendants broke
their promise. God would later rename Abram, making him Abraham
a father of nations. He said that through his seed,
(10:26):
all the nations would be blessed. A son from his
lineage would rise to redeem and bless the world. Abraham
eagerly awaited that time. He believed in the future redemption.
He hoped for that future blessing, and one day he
would meet the promised son in eternity.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
What a moving moment between God and Abram. Could you
feel the intimacy between them. Could you sense Abram's doubt
melting away under the warm embrace of his heavenly father.
It makes sense that Aburn would be doubtful of God's promises.
Think about it. He was old and had tried to
have children for years. He feared all his blessings wouldn't
(11:10):
be shared with his descendants. But God comforted Obraam and
made a promise that his offspring would outnumber the stars
in the sky. They would multiply suffer from slavery, be rescued,
and prosper in the land promised to them, and through
them a greater hero would come. Abram took all this
(11:31):
in and had faith in God. The faith was accounted
to him as righteousness. It wasn't any good deeds, holy exploits,
or obedience that made him righteous. It was his belief
in the promises of God. To seal the promises he
made to Abram. God made a covenant. He had Abram
prepare sacrifices for them to walk through together. These types
(11:54):
of contracts were weighty back then. Whoever broke their side
of the agreement would be held accountable with blood. That
is why God walked through the sacrifice on his own.
He was going to bear sole responsibility for the promise.
If Abram or any of his descendants broke the covenant,
God would pay the penalty, not them. He would eventually
(12:16):
do that through the sacrifice of Jesus. Abram was eventually
renamed Abraham, and God promised that all the nations would
be blessed one day through his seed. Abraham looked forward
to that time. He hoped in God and believed his
promised descendant would save the world. He knew this prophesied
son would be greater than him, mightier. The Bible is
(12:39):
covered in prophecies like this, and you can hear me
unpack more of them at Discovering the Jewish Jesus dot com.
Now let's fast forward to when Abraham's descendants are great
in number, they have an established culture and way of life.
They look back at Abraham as the ultimate example of righteousness.
But they seemed togarten that someone greater than him was
(13:01):
supposed to come.
Speaker 6 (13:05):
Shore straight.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Miget, one of the scribes, shouted from a group of
Jewish leaders.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
You are a Samaritan dog cannot possessed by a demon.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
The crowd stirred, uncomfortable with the accusation. Jesus remained calm
under scrutiny, His eyes pierced through his accusers. He exhaled
and shook his head. I do not have a demon,
he replied, matter of factly, I owner my father.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
In all things. Yet you stand here in dishonor me.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
I won't fretter with this though, for I do not
seek my own glory. There's only one who seeks my glory,
and he is the ultimate judge between you and me.
He looked away from the group of accusers, turned to
the crowd and said, truly, truly, I say to you,
if anyone keeps my words, you never see dead. The
(13:55):
group of scribes and Pharisees stirred. Their holy veneer was
slowly eroding, giving way to a more perturbed and petty countenance.
Now we are sure that you have a deed.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
They shouted.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
They began to spit on the floor and mock him.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
Abraham died, as did all the prophets. Yet you say,
whoever keeps your word will never taste death. Who do
you think you are? You think you're greater than Abraham?
Speaker 2 (14:23):
The Jews postured to threaten Jesus, but he remained unperturbed
by their presence, Jesus stepped towards them, and they took
a few paces back as he approached. I would tell
you again, I do not aim to give myself glory.
If I did, it would mean nothing. It is my
father who glorified your God. But you don't know him,
(14:43):
do you. I knew him, and your father Abraham knew him.
He rejoiced that one.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Day you would get to see him.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
He had faith in me and was filled with joy.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Ridiculous, they shouted.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You're not even fifty years old, yet you claim to
see Abraham. Jesus's gentle countenance shifted slightly at that moment.
It was as if the air around him became thick
with glory. Jesus spoke, his voice resounding with calm authority.
I was before Abraham, before Abraham, was the great I am.
(15:19):
Those were the words they had been waiting for. Jesus
had claimed to be God himself. With zealous rage, the
Jews ran to retrieve stones. They wanted to end Jesus's life.
Jealous and indignant, they turned with rocks to hurl at
Jesus that he had vanished. He had escaped from the
(15:40):
temple just in time. One day, the Jewish leaders would
successfully execute Jesus, but they would do so on his timing,
not theirs. He would use death as a tool to
fulfill the promise made to Abraham long ago. He would
be the seed that sprung up from the line of
Abraham to bless every nation.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Abraham did indeed become the father of a great nation.
God's promised to Abram was kept, and the children of
Israel were preserved through slavery, wilderness, war, oppression, and pride.
Despite themselves, God was faithful through them. The great hero
of Heaven came, but not everyone recognized him as the
Messiah right away. Jesus was continually challenged about his identity.
(16:29):
But we know now that he is the promised to redeemer,
the seed from Abraham that would bless every nation. In
his discourse with the religious leaders, he declared, before Abraham
was I am. What does that mean? That means that
Jesus pre existed Abraham and life itself. He was the
(16:50):
one that spoke life and light into existence. He was
the one who fashioned man from dust and crafted the
heavens and earth, was God himself. In this way, Jus
is more than just a patriarch of faith or a
member of a great lineage. He is God. He is
not just a man of faith. He is the one
(17:11):
who we've put faith in. Through Jesus, the lineage of
Abraham was extended beyond just a bloodline. He unified different nations, cultures,
and creeds under the banner of faith into a nation
of faith, the Church. Because of all this and more,
Jesus is greater than Abraham. Be sure to join us
(17:32):
next time as we explore another patriarch in the lineage
of Abraham. This man is not known for his courage
or strength. In fact, he willingly submitted himself to be
killed by his own father. Join us for the next
episode to discover why Jesus is the greater Isaac. Explore
more about Jesus and the Old Testament at discovering the
(17:54):
jewishgeis dot com. Also consider checking out my recent book,
Messing Up Prophecy. You revealed seeing Messiah in the pages
of the Hebrew Bible. You can get your hands on
it via my website. If you enjoy today's podcast, leave
us a review and share it with a friend. We
want the story of the Bible and the hope of
(18:14):
Jesus to spread worldwide, to make prayer priority and hear
more stories to inspire hope. Visit pray dot com
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