July 22, 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.
Today's Bible verse is Romans 4:3, from the King James Version.
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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.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
A terrible vision.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
He sprang up and looked around him. He saw hundreds
of thousands of people with scars on their backs, dragging
stones through the sand and mud. The voice of God
spoke to Abram, saying, know this, your offspring will be
strangers in a land that is not theirs. They will
(01:41):
be slaves there and afflicted for four hundred years.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Abram looked at the people.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
They were his descendants, a vast sea of faces, all.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
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 freed them, they will have 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.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
To him, saying, ask for you, Abrahm, you will have peace.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
Welcome to another episode of the Jesus Podcast. I'm your
host Ethan from pray dot Com, here to guide you
through the Bible's most iconic stories. If this podcast is
blessed you thus far, please take a moment to leave
a comment and review. Doing so will make sure others
discover these life changing stories. And be sure to download
(02:54):
the pray dot com app to hear the Bible come
to life and make prayer a priority in your daily
walk with God. It's my hope that this podcast would
showcase the true hero of the Bible, Jesus, as heroic
and admirable as Noah, Abraham, and Moses are. They are
(03:14):
mere images of the true hero who came after them,
the redeemer of the world, the savior of mankind, and
the author of our faith. So join me now as
we immerse ourselves in a cinematic retelling of Genesis chapter fifteen,
where God beckons Abram out of his tent to gaze
(03:37):
at the stars. Within them is a promise, a promise
of a greater hero that will come from his lineage.
Let's begin.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
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 Sarai sleeping beside him. Fear not, Abram,
the voice said again. 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,
(04:13):
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 4 (04:22):
Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
And your great reward.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
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.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
From the cold and from the sadness within his heart.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
He closed his eyes and replied, O, Lord God, whatever
reward you have for me does not matter. If I
continue childless. My treasure will pass with me and be
given to my servant, and my name would dialogue with me.
Abram's doubt was not a denial of God's promise, rather
a desire for God's promise. He wanted it to be true,
(05:04):
but the one desire of his heart had eluded him.
God's presence surrounded Abram. He was enveloped in the comforting embrace.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Of the Lord Almighty.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Oh Abrahm, a son from your flesh will be given
to you.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
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 (05:28):
God whispered.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
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,
(05:49):
a silent testament to the vastness of the universe. Abram
found himself entranced, humbled, and insignificant. God spoke to Abram's
heart in this state of awe, saying.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Your descendants without number the stars, through you, all the
nations of the world will be blessed.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
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, and loved him.
Abram believed God. He had faith that the Lord would
follow through with his promises. That belief, that faith, is
(06:34):
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, shall these things happen, Bring
me a heaven goat Ram, turtle, dove, and pigeon. The
(06:58):
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. Meant that if
one were to break that promise, it would mean death.
God intended to make an unbreakable vow with Abram, a
(07:21):
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 sun's heavy rays
were briefly shaded by the wings of vultures flying overhead.
(07:43):
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 the horizon. He
waited for God's voice to return. He waited all day, staring, praying, pondering.
(08:11):
Faith kept him hopeful. The day drew on, 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
(08:31):
closed his eyes, 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 sand and mud. The voice of God spoke
to Abram, saying, know.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
This, your offspring will be strangers in a land that
is not theirs. They will be slaves there and afflicted
for four hundred years.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Abram looked at the people. They were his descendants.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
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 (09:15):
I will bring judgment on their oppressors, and once I
have freed them.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
They will have a great reward.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Abram looked around 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.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
As for you, Abraham, you will have peace.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
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 without him.
But what if the blood that's required if I break
(10:06):
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,
(10:28):
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 5 (10:52):
What a moving moment between God and Abram. Could you
feel the intimacy between them? Could you sense Abram doubt
melting away under the warm embrace of his heavenly father.
It makes sense that Abram would be doubtful of God's promises.
Think about it. He was bold and had tried to
(11:13):
have children for years. He feared all his blessings wouldn't
be shared with his descendants. But God comforted Abram and
made a promise that his offspring would outnumber the stars
in the sky. They would multiply, suffer from slavery, be rescued,
(11:34):
and prosper in the land promised to them, and through
them a greater hero would come. Abram took all of
this in and had faith in God. That faith was
accounted to him as righteousness. It wasn't any good deeds,
holy exploits, or obedience that made him righteous. It was
(11:57):
his belief in the promises of God. To seal the
promise he made to Abram, God made a covenant. He
had Abram prepare sacrifices for them to walk through together.
These type of contracts were weighty back then. That's why
God walked through the sacrifice on his own. He was
(12:17):
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 do that
through the sacrifice of Jesus. Abram was eventually renamed Abraham
and God promised that all the nations would be blessed
(12:38):
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 his prophesied son would be
greater than him, mightier. Now let's fast forward to when
Abraham's descendants are great in number. They have an established
(13:02):
culture and way of life. They look back at Abraham
as the ultimate example of righteousness, but they seem to
have forgotten that someone greater than him was supposed to come.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Sure straight mitt, one of the scribes shouted from a
group of Jewish leaders, you are a Samaritan dog. Can
I possessed by a demon? 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
(13:36):
do not have a demon, he replied, matter of factly.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I honor my father in all things.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Yet you stand here in dishonor me.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I won't fretter with this.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Though, for I do not seek my own glory. There's
only one who seeks my glory and He's the ultimate
judge between you and me. He looked away from the
group of accusers, turned to the crowd and said, truly,
truly say to you, if anyone keeps my words, you
never see death. A group of scribes and pharises stirred.
(14:07):
Their holy veneer was slowly eroding, giving way to a
more perturbed and petty countenance. Now we are sure that
you have a deem.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
They shouted.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
They began to spit on the floor and mock him.
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.
The Jews postured to threaten Jesus, and he remained unperturbed
by their presence. Jesus stepped towards them, and they took
(14:40):
a few paces back as he approached. I would tell
you again, I do not aim to give myself glory.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
If I did, it would mean nothing.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It is my father who glorifies me, your God. But
you don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Him, do you.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I knew him, and your father Abraham knew him. He
rejoiced that one you would get to see him. He
had faith in him and was filled with joy. Ridiculous,
they shouted, You're not even fifty years old, yet you
claim to see in Abraham. Jesus's gentle countenance shifted slightly
at that moment. It was as if the air around
(15:15):
him became thick with glory. Jesus spoke, his voice resounding
with calm authority. I was before Abraham, before Abraham, was
the great I Am. Those were the words they had
been waiting for. Jesus had claimed to be God himself.
(15:35):
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.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
But he had vanished.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
He had escaped from the 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 5 (16:14):
Abraham indeed became the father of a great nation. God's
promise to Abraham 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,
(16:36):
but not everyone recognized him as the Messiah right away.
Jesus was continually challenged about his identity. But we know
now that he is the promised Redeemer, the seed from
Abraham that would bless every nation. In his discourse with
the religious leaders, he declared that he was there before Abraham.
(16:59):
He said, before Abraham was the great I Am. Before
Abraham was the great I Am. What does that mean.
That means that Jesus pre existed Abraham and life itself.
He was the one who spoke life and light into existence.
(17:19):
He was the one who fashioned man from the dust
and crafted the heavens and the earth. Jesus was God himself.
In this way, Jesus is more than just a patriarch
of faith or a member of a great lineage.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
He is God.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
He's not just a man of faith. He is the
one we put our 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 under the banner of faith,
(17:59):
into a nation of faith the Church. Because of all
this and more, Jesus is greater than Abraham. Be sure
to join us 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
(18:21):
himself to be killed by his own father. Join us
next episode to discover why Jesus is the greater Isaac.
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.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
A terrible vision.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
He sprang up and looked around him. He saw hundreds
of thousands of people with scars on their backs, dragging
stones through the sand and mud. The voice of God
spoke to Abram, saying, know this, your offspring will be
strangers in a land that is not theirs. They will
(01:41):
be slaves there and afflicted for four hundred years.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Abram looked at the people.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
They were his descendants, a vast sea of faces, all.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
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 freed them, they will have 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.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
To him, saying, ask for you, Abrahm, you will have peace.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
Welcome to another episode of the Jesus Podcast. I'm your
host Ethan from pray dot Com, here to guide you
through the Bible's most iconic stories. If this podcast is
blessed you thus far, please take a moment to leave
a comment and review. Doing so will make sure others
discover these life changing stories. And be sure to download
(02:54):
the pray dot com app to hear the Bible come
to life and make prayer a priority in your daily
walk with God. It's my hope that this podcast would
showcase the true hero of the Bible, Jesus, as heroic
and admirable as Noah, Abraham, and Moses are. They are
(03:14):
mere images of the true hero who came after them,
the redeemer of the world, the savior of mankind, and
the author of our faith. So join me now as
we immerse ourselves in a cinematic retelling of Genesis chapter fifteen,
where God beckons Abram out of his tent to gaze
(03:37):
at the stars. Within them is a promise, a promise
of a greater hero that will come from his lineage.
Let's begin.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
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 Sarai sleeping beside him. Fear not, Abram,
the voice said again. 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,
(04:13):
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 4 (04:22):
Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
And your great reward.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
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.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
From the cold and from the sadness within his heart.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
He closed his eyes and replied, O, Lord God, whatever
reward you have for me does not matter. If I
continue childless. My treasure will pass with me and be
given to my servant, and my name would dialogue with me.
Abram's doubt was not a denial of God's promise, rather
a desire for God's promise. He wanted it to be true,
(05:04):
but the one desire of his heart had eluded him.
God's presence surrounded Abram. He was enveloped in the comforting embrace.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Of the Lord Almighty.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Oh Abrahm, a son from your flesh will be given
to you.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
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 (05:28):
God whispered.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
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,
(05:49):
a silent testament to the vastness of the universe. Abram
found himself entranced, humbled, and insignificant. God spoke to Abram's
heart in this state of awe, saying.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Your descendants without number the stars, through you, all the
nations of the world will be blessed.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
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, and loved him.
Abram believed God. He had faith that the Lord would
follow through with his promises. That belief, that faith, is
(06:34):
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, shall these things happen, Bring
me a heaven goat Ram, turtle, dove, and pigeon. The
(06:58):
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. Meant that if
one were to break that promise, it would mean death.
God intended to make an unbreakable vow with Abram, a
(07:21):
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 sun's heavy rays
were briefly shaded by the wings of vultures flying overhead.
(07:43):
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 the horizon. He
waited for God's voice to return. He waited all day, staring, praying, pondering.
(08:11):
Faith kept him hopeful. The day drew on, 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
(08:31):
closed his eyes, 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 sand and mud. The voice of God spoke
to Abram, saying, know.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
This, your offspring will be strangers in a land that
is not theirs. They will be slaves there and afflicted
for four hundred years.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Abram looked at the people. They were his descendants.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
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 (09:15):
I will bring judgment on their oppressors, and once I
have freed them.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
They will have a great reward.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Abram looked around 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.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
As for you, Abraham, you will have peace.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
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 without him.
But what if the blood that's required if I break
(10:06):
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,
(10:28):
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 5 (10:52):
What a moving moment between God and Abram. Could you
feel the intimacy between them? Could you sense Abram doubt
melting away under the warm embrace of his heavenly father.
It makes sense that Abram would be doubtful of God's promises.
Think about it. He was bold and had tried to
(11:13):
have children for years. He feared all his blessings wouldn't
be shared with his descendants. But God comforted Abram and
made a promise that his offspring would outnumber the stars
in the sky. They would multiply, suffer from slavery, be rescued,
(11:34):
and prosper in the land promised to them, and through
them a greater hero would come. Abram took all of
this in and had faith in God. That faith was
accounted to him as righteousness. It wasn't any good deeds,
holy exploits, or obedience that made him righteous. It was
(11:57):
his belief in the promises of God. To seal the
promise he made to Abram, God made a covenant. He
had Abram prepare sacrifices for them to walk through together.
These type of contracts were weighty back then. That's why
God walked through the sacrifice on his own. He was
(12:17):
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 do that
through the sacrifice of Jesus. Abram was eventually renamed Abraham
and God promised that all the nations would be blessed
(12:38):
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 his prophesied son would be
greater than him, mightier. Now let's fast forward to when
Abraham's descendants are great in number. They have an established
(13:02):
culture and way of life. They look back at Abraham
as the ultimate example of righteousness, but they seem to
have forgotten that someone greater than him was supposed to come.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Sure straight mitt, one of the scribes shouted from a
group of Jewish leaders, you are a Samaritan dog. Can
I possessed by a demon? 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
(13:36):
do not have a demon, he replied, matter of factly.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I honor my father in all things.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Yet you stand here in dishonor me.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I won't fretter with this.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Though, for I do not seek my own glory. There's
only one who seeks my glory and He's the ultimate
judge between you and me. He looked away from the
group of accusers, turned to the crowd and said, truly,
truly say to you, if anyone keeps my words, you
never see death. A group of scribes and pharises stirred.
(14:07):
Their holy veneer was slowly eroding, giving way to a
more perturbed and petty countenance. Now we are sure that
you have a deem.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
They shouted.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
They began to spit on the floor and mock him.
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.
The Jews postured to threaten Jesus, and he remained unperturbed
by their presence. Jesus stepped towards them, and they took
(14:40):
a few paces back as he approached. I would tell
you again, I do not aim to give myself glory.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
If I did, it would mean nothing.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It is my father who glorifies me, your God. But
you don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Him, do you.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I knew him, and your father Abraham knew him. He
rejoiced that one you would get to see him. He
had faith in him and was filled with joy. Ridiculous,
they shouted, You're not even fifty years old, yet you
claim to see in Abraham. Jesus's gentle countenance shifted slightly
at that moment. It was as if the air around
(15:15):
him became thick with glory. Jesus spoke, his voice resounding
with calm authority. I was before Abraham, before Abraham, was
the great I Am. Those were the words they had
been waiting for. Jesus had claimed to be God himself.
(15:35):
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.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
But he had vanished.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
He had escaped from the 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 5 (16:14):
Abraham indeed became the father of a great nation. God's
promise to Abraham 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,
(16:36):
but not everyone recognized him as the Messiah right away.
Jesus was continually challenged about his identity. But we know
now that he is the promised Redeemer, the seed from
Abraham that would bless every nation. In his discourse with
the religious leaders, he declared that he was there before Abraham.
(16:59):
He said, before Abraham was the great I Am. Before
Abraham was the great I Am. What does that mean.
That means that Jesus pre existed Abraham and life itself.
He was the one who spoke life and light into existence.
(17:19):
He was the one who fashioned man from the dust
and crafted the heavens and the earth. Jesus was God himself.
In this way, Jesus is more than just a patriarch
of faith or a member of a great lineage.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
He is God.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
He's not just a man of faith. He is the
one we put our 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 under the banner of faith,
(17:59):
into a nation of faith the Church. Because of all
this and more, Jesus is greater than Abraham. Be sure
to join us 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
(18:21):
himself to be killed by his own father. Join us
next episode to discover why Jesus is the greater Isaac.
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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