May 16, 2025 • 16 mins
Deeply flawed in his life, Samson’s greatest act was accomplished in sacrificing himself. He is a broken and flawed image of another who would sacrifice himself on a cross.
Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com.
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.
For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.
To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. Then, Jesus said to his disciples, if
anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires
to save his life will lose it, and whoever will
lose his life for my sake will find it. Matthew sixteen,
twenty fourth or twenty five. Dear Heavenly Father, we come
(00:24):
to you humbly, acknowledging that to follow you we must
deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow in the
steps of your beloved son. Lord. We realize that the
true meaning of life is not to gain the world,
but to find our lives in you. We pray for strength,
Dear Father, as we take up our crosses. We understand
(00:47):
that the journey may be challenging, but we know that
through every trial, through every tribulation, you are with us.
Help us to remember that in our weaknesses your strength
is made perfect. We ask, Dear Lord, for your grace
to guide us as we journey in this path of
self denial, and grant us the resilience to follow you wholeheartedly.
(01:12):
Irrespective of the trials that we face. Let us always
remember that we are not alone, for you are with
us today and always. In Jesus's name, we pray Amen,
Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now
for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Tell me, my love, what is the source of your strength?
Delilah whispered, running her hands down Samson's chest. Although he
was the hero of Israel, Samson wasn't much of a
hero at all. He was a weapon of destruction and chaos,
used by God Odd to ravage the Philistines. Samson was
gifted with an inhuman like strength, but moral compromises and
(02:07):
selfish ambition clouded his judgment. The Philistines knew they couldn't
defeat him in battle, so they had to use the
temptation of a woman to weaken him. Samson stretched his
arm out on the bed and smiled. He toyed with
her for a while, pretending he had a weakness for
different types of cords and bowstrings, but each time Delilah
(02:28):
tried to bind him, he easily broke free. Finally, Delilah's
sensuous demeanor turned angry, and she shouted, why do you
mock me?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
You say you love me and share my bed?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
But you refuse to tell me where your strength lies.
Samson rolled his eyes back and groaned, Ah, fine, I
will tell you. Samson ran his hands through his long,
dreaded hair. I am a Nazarite, meaning I have not
got my hair since birth. I've shaved them all. My
strength will leave me would just like any other man.
(03:03):
A cruel smile pursed around Delilah's lips, and she wrapped
her arms around his neck and kissed him. You surely
aren't like any other man. Then she brought him back
to bed. Samson fell into a deep sleep on her
lap as she gestured for some of the Philistines to
come and shave his head. When his hair had been
completely shaved off, Delilah shouted, Samson, the Philistines are attacking.
(03:27):
When the Philistines ambushed him, Samson leaped to fight back,
awaiting the surge of divine strength, but it didn't come.
God's strength had left him deprived of his divine favor.
The Philistines bound Samson and shackled his wrists and feet.
Samson watched in horror as Philistines took a white hot
iron rod and slowly brought it to his eyes. Tears
(03:50):
streaked his face as Samson watched it come closer, and
the world turned black as they scorched his eyes. His
torment echoed through the city as he was drive to
the Philistine Temple, his once mighty form now bound in chains.
I'm thrown into the darkness.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Stories of
the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Kirch Schneider with discovering the
Jewish Jesus. Our ministry is passionate about connecting the beauty
of the Hebrew Bible with the story of the Messiah.
If you've enjoyed our journey thus far, consider leaving us
review and sharing it with a friend. We want the
story of the Bible and the hope of Jesus to
(04:33):
spread worldwide. This season of Stories of the Messiah is
called Jesus the Greater. We have been exploring the highs
and lows of the Bible's most famous heroes, ultimately showcasing
how their stories foreshadow the greatest hero of all, Jesus.
So far, we have learned how Jesus is the greater. Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses,
(04:58):
and Joshua today we would dive deep into the dark
story of one of the Bible's most flawed heroes. Samson,
renowned for his inhuman like strength, has been tricked by
Delilah and taken captive by the Philistines. Up until this point,
Samson's life has been deeply disappointing. Although he amassed many
(05:18):
victories against the Philistines, he compromises faith constantly. Now he's
a prison with no strength and no eyes. His sad
and sorry state is an image of his spiritual life.
Samson was already weak. He was weak willed, and ineffectual
in his faith. Samson continually gave into his flesh and
(05:39):
never once thought about anyone but himself. He was also
spiritually blind. Samson failed to see the corruption within his heart.
He failed to see Delia's deception and the slippery slope
of sin. His outward state was a picture of his
inward reality. Now we enter back into his story, where
Samson will have a chance to redeem himself. Gowl offer
(06:02):
him the opportunity to finally do what's right. Will he
take it? Will he give up? Let's find out. In
the cinematic Retelling of Judges Chapter sixteen.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Samson was lost in darkness, bound and unable to see.
The Philistines brought him to the Temple of Dagon to
parade him around. His entertainment, he heard the drunken revelry
of Philistine's soldiers and nobles around him. Thousands of Philistines
dance and drank under the roofed colonnades, occasionally spitting in
Samson's face. Samson, chained between two pillars in the middle
(06:37):
of the temple, held his head down low in shame.
As the music swelled and the Philistines celebrated. Samson reflected
on his journey of pride and transgression against God. He
had lived selfishly, squandering the gifts God had given him,
and all for what a few nights with a woman,
the admiration of strangers revenge. Samson realized that his life,
(07:01):
through all its victories, had been.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
An utter failure. Some hero, he thought to himself.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Just then, his spirits stirred, not with resentment, regret, and
a renewed sense of purpose. He felt a small prompting
from God, a chance to redeem himself. He turned his
head to the servant boy who was beside him.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Boy, he whispered, buying my hands to the pillars.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
The boy did as he was told, placing Samson's hands
against both pillars holding up the room. Samson lifted his
head to heaven. Although he could see nothing, he knew
God could see him. His life had been a mess,
that perhaps his death would accomplish something. Lord, God, please
(07:46):
remember me, had strengthen me. Please only this one. A
roar erupted from his chest as he strained against the pillars.
His arms quivered under the exertion. The Philistines washed and laughed,
their joy short lived as they saw the pillars packing
under Samson's palms with a final declaration of war. Samson,
(08:07):
Israel's flawed hero, fellowed to the heavens Bendy di Whinn,
the Philistine ah My, whose sword of strength he broke
both pillars, causing the entire temple to collapse. The whole
temple was reduced to rubble, and oil and fire intermixed
and caused.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
The heat to catch a flame.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
All who were under the ruins perished, Samson included. As
dawn arrived, the sunlight peeked over the hills, casting its
glow on the ruined temple. The Knights of Revelie had
turned into a morning of devastation. The Philistines buried under
the rubble of their temple. Among them was Samson, his
lifeless body a testament to his final act of heroism.
(08:51):
His death achieved a greater victory than his life ever could,
in act of courage and sacrifice that foreshadowed another divide
hero sacrifice. This sacrifice would defeat the greatest enemy of
them all. The tale of Samson, said as a poignant
reminded that the path of true strength lay not in
pride and selfishness, but in obedience and self sacrifice.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Samson, God's flawed weapon of destruction, finally did something selfless.
In case you aren't aware of the beginning of Samson's story,
his entire life was one random act of selfishness after another.
He took advantage of his parents, had random outbursts of disobedience,
and heart everyone around him. Even though he was a
(09:39):
mighty warrior, he was a weak man. But at this
point in his life, chained to two pillars, Samson finally
had a moment of clarity. He could accomplish far more
in his death than in his life. The end of
Samson's story was tragic, but it offered us a few
kernels of wisdom and hope at discovering the Jewish Jesus,
(10:00):
we are all about finding hope. Even in the most
tragic stories. The hope of the Gospel is present amidst suffering,
dysfunction and destruction. So let's discover that hope now. First,
Samson's life reminds us that our sins eventually do catch
up to us. Some people walk around sinning foolishly thinking
(10:21):
their sins won't return to hurt them, but our sin
always ends up hurting us and others in the end. Second,
Samson's life reminds us of the power of self sacrifice.
Selfish and prideful living only gets you so far. James
Chapter four reminds us that God resists the proud, but
(10:41):
gives grace to the humble. When Samson finally humbled himself
and let go of his ego, he accomplished great things. Lastly,
Samson's death points to another death. Through Samson's final sacrifice,
he buried the enemy in the ground. Israel's enemies were
to because Samson gave up his life. This event hearkens
(11:04):
to another selfless act from a hero even greater than Samson.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Clouds shrouded the sky, covering the land and darkness. Under
the swirling storm clouds, the architect of creation, Jesus Christ,
was suspended on a cross. Roman soldiers, religious leaders, and
onlookers mocked him. They threw food and stones at him,
teasing and jeering at the hero of God. The priests
(11:33):
looked at him contemptuously, yelling he saved others and let
him save himself. They taunted him with cruel delight. Here's
the Christ and the chosen One. Why doesn't he command
angels to help him? The soldiers joined in the scornful parade. Suddenly,
lightning split the heavens, casting an eerie light over the
hill called Calvary. Jesus was dangling between heaven and earth,
(11:57):
his body wrecked by flogging. Crucifixion was not merely a
death sentence, but a slow, tortuous asphyxiation. Every breath required
excruciating effort. Every intake and exhale was a painful struggle
against the nails that pierced his hands and feet. Yet
amidst his torment, his divine compassion overflowed in his prayers
(12:20):
for his markers. Papa, forgive them.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
They know not what they do, He prayed.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
His voice was a whisper in the storm. His divine
authority could command the brewing storm to smite his tormentors,
yet he refrained. Their derision merely highlighted their desperate need
for salvation, strengthening Jesus's resolve to conquer the beast of sin.
His life had been perfect, but he knew his death
would accomplish something even more. Gazing skyward, he received the
(12:50):
furious judgment of Yahweh. He the sinless one, became the
embodiment of Sin, an act of incredible self sacrifice to
reconcile humanity with God.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
His anguish was palpable.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Then aurar erupted from his chest as he strained against
the cross, his arms quivered under the exertion. The Pharisees
and Romans watched and laughed, but their joy was short
lived as they saw the lightning.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Match Jesus' words the final declaration of war against Sin. Jesus,
Israel's true and perfect hero, bellowed to the heavens this seness.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
He lowered his head and surrendered his spirit to the Father.
All the sins of humanity were crushed under the weight
of God's judgment. Through Jesus's sacrifice, sin and shame were
defeated once and for all.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
It's impossible not to be in awe at the bravery
and selflessness of our Lord Jesus. In a selfless act
of defiance against sin and shame, Jesus gave up us life.
Do you see the parallels between Jeus and Samson. Through
Samson's sacrifice, Israel was saved from the Philistines. Through Jesus's sacrifice,
(14:07):
we are saved from sin and death. Jesus declared, I
am the good shepherd, and a good shepherd always lays
down his life for his sheep. Jesus was the triumphant shepherd,
hero and savior of the world. Through his selfless sacrifice,
he saved us from the ultimate enemy. The life of
Jesus and Samson teaches us a valuable lesson about sacrifice.
(14:30):
Jesus said that whoever wants to be his disciple must
pick up his cross and follow him. He also said
that whoever wants to be first and the kingdom of
God must be the servant of all. This podcast is
meant to showcase what it means to be truly great,
and we have learned about the greatness of Jesus. But
how do we share in that greatness? How do we
(14:52):
embody greatness in our own lives? Well, Jesus made it clear.
Lay down your life for others of the people around you,
Let go of your ego, and do what's right. Jesus
declares that whoever wishes to gain his life must lose it.
So that's my encouragement for you today. Find a way
to set aside your selfish ambitions and preferences and do
(15:16):
something selfless for someone else. In doing so, you will
march to the beat of God's heart. Samson took a
while to figure that out, but it was Jesus's mission
from the beginning. That is why we're convinced that Jesus
is the greater Samson. In the next episode, we'll talk
about a lesser known hero, a humble man of noble character.
(15:38):
Through small acts of kindness, he became a redeemer to
a woman named Ruth. He didn't know it, but the
world savior would be born through their union. Join us
next time to discover how Jesus is the greater Boaz.
If you want more resources on Jesus in the Old Testament,
visit us at discoveringthe Jewishist dot com. Another resource you
(16:01):
might find impactful is my new book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed
Seeing Assai in the Pages of the Hebrew Bible, which
could be found on 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 Jesus to spread worldwide, to make prayer a priority,
(16:22):
and hear more stories to inspire you.
Let us pray. Then, Jesus said to his disciples, if
anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires
to save his life will lose it, and whoever will
lose his life for my sake will find it. Matthew sixteen,
twenty fourth or twenty five. Dear Heavenly Father, we come
(00:24):
to you humbly, acknowledging that to follow you we must
deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow in the
steps of your beloved son. Lord. We realize that the
true meaning of life is not to gain the world,
but to find our lives in you. We pray for strength,
Dear Father, as we take up our crosses. We understand
(00:47):
that the journey may be challenging, but we know that
through every trial, through every tribulation, you are with us.
Help us to remember that in our weaknesses your strength
is made perfect. We ask, Dear Lord, for your grace
to guide us as we journey in this path of
self denial, and grant us the resilience to follow you wholeheartedly.
(01:12):
Irrespective of the trials that we face. Let us always
remember that we are not alone, for you are with
us today and always. In Jesus's name, we pray Amen,
Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now
for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Tell me, my love, what is the source of your strength?
Delilah whispered, running her hands down Samson's chest. Although he
was the hero of Israel, Samson wasn't much of a
hero at all. He was a weapon of destruction and chaos,
used by God Odd to ravage the Philistines. Samson was
gifted with an inhuman like strength, but moral compromises and
(02:07):
selfish ambition clouded his judgment. The Philistines knew they couldn't
defeat him in battle, so they had to use the
temptation of a woman to weaken him. Samson stretched his
arm out on the bed and smiled. He toyed with
her for a while, pretending he had a weakness for
different types of cords and bowstrings, but each time Delilah
(02:28):
tried to bind him, he easily broke free. Finally, Delilah's
sensuous demeanor turned angry, and she shouted, why do you
mock me?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
You say you love me and share my bed?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
But you refuse to tell me where your strength lies.
Samson rolled his eyes back and groaned, Ah, fine, I
will tell you. Samson ran his hands through his long,
dreaded hair. I am a Nazarite, meaning I have not
got my hair since birth. I've shaved them all. My
strength will leave me would just like any other man.
(03:03):
A cruel smile pursed around Delilah's lips, and she wrapped
her arms around his neck and kissed him. You surely
aren't like any other man. Then she brought him back
to bed. Samson fell into a deep sleep on her
lap as she gestured for some of the Philistines to
come and shave his head. When his hair had been
completely shaved off, Delilah shouted, Samson, the Philistines are attacking.
(03:27):
When the Philistines ambushed him, Samson leaped to fight back,
awaiting the surge of divine strength, but it didn't come.
God's strength had left him deprived of his divine favor.
The Philistines bound Samson and shackled his wrists and feet.
Samson watched in horror as Philistines took a white hot
iron rod and slowly brought it to his eyes. Tears
(03:50):
streaked his face as Samson watched it come closer, and
the world turned black as they scorched his eyes. His
torment echoed through the city as he was drive to
the Philistine Temple, his once mighty form now bound in chains.
I'm thrown into the darkness.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Stories of
the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Kirch Schneider with discovering the
Jewish Jesus. Our ministry is passionate about connecting the beauty
of the Hebrew Bible with the story of the Messiah.
If you've enjoyed our journey thus far, consider leaving us
review and sharing it with a friend. We want the
story of the Bible and the hope of Jesus to
(04:33):
spread worldwide. This season of Stories of the Messiah is
called Jesus the Greater. We have been exploring the highs
and lows of the Bible's most famous heroes, ultimately showcasing
how their stories foreshadow the greatest hero of all, Jesus.
So far, we have learned how Jesus is the greater. Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses,
(04:58):
and Joshua today we would dive deep into the dark
story of one of the Bible's most flawed heroes. Samson,
renowned for his inhuman like strength, has been tricked by
Delilah and taken captive by the Philistines. Up until this point,
Samson's life has been deeply disappointing. Although he amassed many
(05:18):
victories against the Philistines, he compromises faith constantly. Now he's
a prison with no strength and no eyes. His sad
and sorry state is an image of his spiritual life.
Samson was already weak. He was weak willed, and ineffectual
in his faith. Samson continually gave into his flesh and
(05:39):
never once thought about anyone but himself. He was also
spiritually blind. Samson failed to see the corruption within his heart.
He failed to see Delia's deception and the slippery slope
of sin. His outward state was a picture of his
inward reality. Now we enter back into his story, where
Samson will have a chance to redeem himself. Gowl offer
(06:02):
him the opportunity to finally do what's right. Will he
take it? Will he give up? Let's find out. In
the cinematic Retelling of Judges Chapter sixteen.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Samson was lost in darkness, bound and unable to see.
The Philistines brought him to the Temple of Dagon to
parade him around. His entertainment, he heard the drunken revelry
of Philistine's soldiers and nobles around him. Thousands of Philistines
dance and drank under the roofed colonnades, occasionally spitting in
Samson's face. Samson, chained between two pillars in the middle
(06:37):
of the temple, held his head down low in shame.
As the music swelled and the Philistines celebrated. Samson reflected
on his journey of pride and transgression against God. He
had lived selfishly, squandering the gifts God had given him,
and all for what a few nights with a woman,
the admiration of strangers revenge. Samson realized that his life,
(07:01):
through all its victories, had been.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
An utter failure. Some hero, he thought to himself.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Just then, his spirits stirred, not with resentment, regret, and
a renewed sense of purpose. He felt a small prompting
from God, a chance to redeem himself. He turned his
head to the servant boy who was beside him.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Boy, he whispered, buying my hands to the pillars.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
The boy did as he was told, placing Samson's hands
against both pillars holding up the room. Samson lifted his
head to heaven. Although he could see nothing, he knew
God could see him. His life had been a mess,
that perhaps his death would accomplish something. Lord, God, please
(07:46):
remember me, had strengthen me. Please only this one. A
roar erupted from his chest as he strained against the pillars.
His arms quivered under the exertion. The Philistines washed and laughed,
their joy short lived as they saw the pillars packing
under Samson's palms with a final declaration of war. Samson,
(08:07):
Israel's flawed hero, fellowed to the heavens Bendy di Whinn,
the Philistine ah My, whose sword of strength he broke
both pillars, causing the entire temple to collapse. The whole
temple was reduced to rubble, and oil and fire intermixed
and caused.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
The heat to catch a flame.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
All who were under the ruins perished, Samson included. As
dawn arrived, the sunlight peeked over the hills, casting its
glow on the ruined temple. The Knights of Revelie had
turned into a morning of devastation. The Philistines buried under
the rubble of their temple. Among them was Samson, his
lifeless body a testament to his final act of heroism.
(08:51):
His death achieved a greater victory than his life ever could,
in act of courage and sacrifice that foreshadowed another divide
hero sacrifice. This sacrifice would defeat the greatest enemy of
them all. The tale of Samson, said as a poignant
reminded that the path of true strength lay not in
pride and selfishness, but in obedience and self sacrifice.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Samson, God's flawed weapon of destruction, finally did something selfless.
In case you aren't aware of the beginning of Samson's story,
his entire life was one random act of selfishness after another.
He took advantage of his parents, had random outbursts of disobedience,
and heart everyone around him. Even though he was a
(09:39):
mighty warrior, he was a weak man. But at this
point in his life, chained to two pillars, Samson finally
had a moment of clarity. He could accomplish far more
in his death than in his life. The end of
Samson's story was tragic, but it offered us a few
kernels of wisdom and hope at discovering the Jewish Jesus,
(10:00):
we are all about finding hope. Even in the most
tragic stories. The hope of the Gospel is present amidst suffering,
dysfunction and destruction. So let's discover that hope now. First,
Samson's life reminds us that our sins eventually do catch
up to us. Some people walk around sinning foolishly thinking
(10:21):
their sins won't return to hurt them, but our sin
always ends up hurting us and others in the end. Second,
Samson's life reminds us of the power of self sacrifice.
Selfish and prideful living only gets you so far. James
Chapter four reminds us that God resists the proud, but
(10:41):
gives grace to the humble. When Samson finally humbled himself
and let go of his ego, he accomplished great things. Lastly,
Samson's death points to another death. Through Samson's final sacrifice,
he buried the enemy in the ground. Israel's enemies were
to because Samson gave up his life. This event hearkens
(11:04):
to another selfless act from a hero even greater than Samson.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Clouds shrouded the sky, covering the land and darkness. Under
the swirling storm clouds, the architect of creation, Jesus Christ,
was suspended on a cross. Roman soldiers, religious leaders, and
onlookers mocked him. They threw food and stones at him,
teasing and jeering at the hero of God. The priests
(11:33):
looked at him contemptuously, yelling he saved others and let
him save himself. They taunted him with cruel delight. Here's
the Christ and the chosen One. Why doesn't he command
angels to help him? The soldiers joined in the scornful parade. Suddenly,
lightning split the heavens, casting an eerie light over the
hill called Calvary. Jesus was dangling between heaven and earth,
(11:57):
his body wrecked by flogging. Crucifixion was not merely a
death sentence, but a slow, tortuous asphyxiation. Every breath required
excruciating effort. Every intake and exhale was a painful struggle
against the nails that pierced his hands and feet. Yet
amidst his torment, his divine compassion overflowed in his prayers
(12:20):
for his markers. Papa, forgive them.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
They know not what they do, He prayed.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
His voice was a whisper in the storm. His divine
authority could command the brewing storm to smite his tormentors,
yet he refrained. Their derision merely highlighted their desperate need
for salvation, strengthening Jesus's resolve to conquer the beast of sin.
His life had been perfect, but he knew his death
would accomplish something even more. Gazing skyward, he received the
(12:50):
furious judgment of Yahweh. He the sinless one, became the
embodiment of Sin, an act of incredible self sacrifice to
reconcile humanity with God.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
His anguish was palpable.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Then aurar erupted from his chest as he strained against
the cross, his arms quivered under the exertion. The Pharisees
and Romans watched and laughed, but their joy was short
lived as they saw the lightning.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Match Jesus' words the final declaration of war against Sin. Jesus,
Israel's true and perfect hero, bellowed to the heavens this seness.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
He lowered his head and surrendered his spirit to the Father.
All the sins of humanity were crushed under the weight
of God's judgment. Through Jesus's sacrifice, sin and shame were
defeated once and for all.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
It's impossible not to be in awe at the bravery
and selflessness of our Lord Jesus. In a selfless act
of defiance against sin and shame, Jesus gave up us life.
Do you see the parallels between Jeus and Samson. Through
Samson's sacrifice, Israel was saved from the Philistines. Through Jesus's sacrifice,
(14:07):
we are saved from sin and death. Jesus declared, I
am the good shepherd, and a good shepherd always lays
down his life for his sheep. Jesus was the triumphant shepherd,
hero and savior of the world. Through his selfless sacrifice,
he saved us from the ultimate enemy. The life of
Jesus and Samson teaches us a valuable lesson about sacrifice.
(14:30):
Jesus said that whoever wants to be his disciple must
pick up his cross and follow him. He also said
that whoever wants to be first and the kingdom of
God must be the servant of all. This podcast is
meant to showcase what it means to be truly great,
and we have learned about the greatness of Jesus. But
how do we share in that greatness? How do we
(14:52):
embody greatness in our own lives? Well, Jesus made it clear.
Lay down your life for others of the people around you,
Let go of your ego, and do what's right. Jesus
declares that whoever wishes to gain his life must lose it.
So that's my encouragement for you today. Find a way
to set aside your selfish ambitions and preferences and do
(15:16):
something selfless for someone else. In doing so, you will
march to the beat of God's heart. Samson took a
while to figure that out, but it was Jesus's mission
from the beginning. That is why we're convinced that Jesus
is the greater Samson. In the next episode, we'll talk
about a lesser known hero, a humble man of noble character.
(15:38):
Through small acts of kindness, he became a redeemer to
a woman named Ruth. He didn't know it, but the
world savior would be born through their union. Join us
next time to discover how Jesus is the greater Boaz.
If you want more resources on Jesus in the Old Testament,
visit us at discoveringthe Jewishist dot com. Another resource you
(16:01):
might find impactful is my new book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed
Seeing Assai in the Pages of the Hebrew Bible, which
could be found on 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 Jesus to spread worldwide, to make prayer a priority,
(16:22):
and hear more stories to inspire you.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com