August 5, 2025 • 19 mins
We begin at the very beginning, when mankind walked in unity with God. When that unity was painfully severed, a promise of hope was given.
Today's Bible verse is 1 Timothy 1:15, from the King James Version.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. That
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of
whom I am chief First Timothy one fifteen. Dear Heavenly Father,
in this season of joy and good will, we're humbled
by the reminder of why you sent your only begotten
(00:22):
son into the world. We were sinners, lost and unworthy.
Yet in your infinite love you offered us the greatest
gift of all Jesus, our redeemer Father. As the Christmas
lights twinkle and the carols are sung, let us never
(00:42):
forget the true essence of this season. It's not merely
a time of gifts and festivities, but to reflect on
the immense sacrifice you made for us. Amidst our merriments,
let us all carry a profound sense of gratitude for
the salvation we have received through Christ. We are all sinners,
(01:07):
yet we hope because of that blessed Knight in Bethlehem.
You sent your son not to condemn us, but to
redeem us, offering undeserved mercy and grace. As we celebrate
his birth, let it serve as a reminder of our
own spiritual rebirth. The second chance gifted to us through
(01:31):
your love. In Jesus precious name, we pray Amen, thank
you for praying with me to day. Stay tuned now
for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
In the dawn of all things, when the earth was
new and ripe with the Lord's grand design, there was
a garden Eden. Eden was a realm untouched by corruption.
Rivers weaved gracefully through emerald hills, and creatures of all
kinds thrived in sweet harmony. At the center of the
(02:15):
garden were two trees, representing the trajectory of humanity's journey
with God. Like a beacon, risen high amongst the wilderness,
stood the Tree of Life. Its strong trunk coiled upward,
connecting the heavens and earth in divine unity. This tree
represented perfect harmony with God eternal life. The tree's roots
(02:38):
were firmly planted into the ground, interweaving with other trees below.
Planted opposite the Tree of Life, hanging over the ledge
of a canyon, was the Tree of Knowledge. Much like
the Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge was pleasing
to the eyes. Its leaves were dark green, and its
fruit was bright red. Dangling from thick vines. When God
(03:00):
formed and breathed life into humanity, he gave them a
charge to go forth, multiply and tend to the earth
with creativity. He gave them the freedom to enjoy every
fruit that the garden had to offer, except for the
Tree of Knowledge. From this tree, God commanded, you shall
not eat, for if you eat from that tree, you
(03:22):
will surely die. God's decree was not one of constraint,
but of freedom. He knew the freedom of choice was
paramount to his relationship with them. If they refrained from
the tree, they would live in harmonious partnership with God
in the garden. If they ate from the tree, their
souls would be separated from Him and sin would plague
(03:44):
their hearts. God's desire, his thrill and joy, was to
be with humanity. God was with them, but he would
not force them into a relationship. He lovingly invited them
to dwell in Eden and fill the earth with cold, cure, music, love,
and laughter. The choice was theirs to make. Would they
(04:06):
want God with them or would they forsake unity with
Him to seize control.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Hello everyone, and welcome to a brand new season of
The Jesus Podcast. Ethan frompray dot Com. The Christmas season
is upon us, a time for family gatherings, gift giving,
and warm meals with loved ones. Let's face it, though
Christmas can be chaotic if we aren't careful, the busyness
(04:34):
of the Christmas season can rob us of joy. No doubt,
many of you will sing joy to the world during
church in the coming month, But do you have joy?
Has the Christmas story enlivened your faith and sparked your
passion for Christ? I hope this twenty five episode mini
(04:55):
series on the Nativity will ignite passionate joy in you
this Christmas. Some of you might be asking, if this
is a podcast about Christmas, then what are we doing
back at the story of Adam and Eve. That's because
the story of Christmas doesn't begin with Gabriel talking to Mary.
(05:16):
It begins at the very beginning, when mankind was ripe
with potential but squandered it for the sake of pride.
The triumph of Christmas begins with the tragedy of the Fall. Yet,
as we've explored before, within the story of Adam and
Eve is a kernel of hope, a promise of redemption.
(05:41):
Let's explore this tale of Wool together in a cinematic
retelling of Genesis chapter three. Afterward, we'll mind the deep
Christmas truths packed into this story.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Adam and Eve walked hand in hand down the grassy
path from the Tree of Life. Adam, a man crafted
from dust, walked up the strength of the earth and
stone he was hewn from. Eve, a woman delicately sown
from flesh in the morning mist, walked with curiosity, at
vibrant grace, like the petals of the garden's flowers. They
(06:15):
were in harmony with one another in God, naked and unashamed.
As they rounded the path, a shadow caught Eve's eye.
Something was rustling in the branches of the Tree of Knowledge.
Eve approached carefully and observed the great tree. In the
shadows of its leaves, A strange creature appeared, the serpent,
a creature inbued with wisdom and cunning, eclipsed all of
(06:38):
Eden's animals. His eyes sparkled with a tantalizing knowledge and
a flicker of forbidden understanding. With a voice as sweet
as the forbidden fruit itself, he whispered into Eve's ear,
his words carrying the allure of the unknown, tell me, Eve,
did God really say you couldn't eat any in this garden?
(07:02):
Both startled and entranced by the creature, Eve responded.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
No, our Creator forbade us to even touch this tree.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
The serpent let out a breathy laugh. His voice was soft, silky,
and sinister. And why would he do that? The serpent's
voice curled around Eve's curiosity like a tender caress.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Because if we do, she replied, we shall surely die.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
A smile curled around the serpent's face. Death. Oh no, no, no,
not death, Eve, you.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Will not die.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
In truth, the fruit of this tree will bring enlightenment, knowledge,
making you like God himself.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Like God.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
The words were tantalizing on Eve's lips. She felt a
thrill of fear and desire thread through her beam to
be like her maker, to understand the world as he did.
It was an intoxicating thought, a secret song that strummed
her curiosity like an instrument. As she stared at the
forbidden fruit, its skin glistening in Eden's radiant light, it
(08:17):
seemed less a symbol of death and more a promise
of transcendent knowledge.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
We can be my God.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
She reached out her hand trembling slightly, and plucked the
fruit from the tree. It felt warm to her touch,
filled with a vibrant life that pulsed beneath her finger tips,
and as she took the first bite, an explosion of
flavors unlike anything she had ever experienced filled her senses,
flooding her with a bitter sweet euphoria that was both
(08:50):
terrifying and exhilarating. Her rebellion was sweet for a moment.
The serpent, content that his work was done, slowly slithered
back into the leaves, His eyes still peered down at
the woman. Adam had been watching all along. He too,
knew full well that his wife was transgressing against God,
(09:12):
but he couldn't contain his own curiosity, so he waited
and watched, unwilling to act upon his convictions. Crimson juice
dripped from Eve's smiling face. Her eyes were wide with fear, exhilaration,
and fascination. She extended the fruit to him. Adam looked
at her, and then down at the fruit. A cloud
(09:32):
of concern enveloped me, Yet, driven by his love for
Eve and an insatiable curiosity to see if he too
could become like God, he took the fruit and bit
into it. A tremor passed through the garden as the
forbidden fruit juice trickled down Adam's chin and on to
the floor. It was as if Eden shivered in response
(09:55):
to their disobedience. Shadows crept into the heart of the garden,
darkening Eden's vibrant colors, and a chill wind swept across
the landscape. Adam and Eve looked at each other and gasped.
They felt exposed, vulnerable, naked, their eyes were open to
the possibility of sin. Therefore, they no longer felt completely
(10:18):
safe with each other. Desperate to hide their shame, they
covered themselves in leaves. Then they heard him. They used
to come alive at the sound of his arrival, but
now they were afraid. Adam was the first to run.
He hid himself in the bushes, covering his ears. To
the sound of God's righteousness arriving, his voice called out
(10:40):
for him, Adam, where are you? His question was unbearable.
Could Adam truly hide?
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Could he run?
Speaker 5 (10:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
He couldn't.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
He had to face God. Naked and ashamed, Adam emerged
from the brush, his eyes gazed upward and around. God
was everywhere within without There was no escaping his voice
or his gaze. Here I am, Adam said, with a
trembling voice. I heard you coming, so I hid myself
(11:14):
because I'm naked and afraid. The Lord's voice quaked through
the garden. It was as if his words were moving
the ground beneath them. Yet even in the anger, there
was loving tenderness to his words. Who told you you
were naked? Have you eaten of the tree that I
commanded you.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Not to eat?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Of course, the creator knew the answer. His question was
not an accusation, but an invitation, an invitation into repentance, remorse,
and contrition. Would Adam accept such an invitation or would
he devolve into more corruption. Adam looked over at the tree,
then to his wife. His mind worked differently now he
(11:55):
knew the difference between good and evil. He now had
the choice to choose the path of repentance or pride. Adam,
with a trembling hand, pointed to Eve. It was the
woman you gave me. She ate the fruit first, and
she's the one she shared it with me. And there
it was. Adam, the first to be stamped with the
(12:15):
image and character of God, chose pride over repentance. God's
voice echoed to Eve. He offered her the same chance,
Perhaps she would take it.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
What have you done here?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Softly, Eve's knees buckled and she fell to the ground
in shame. Tears soaked the floor beneath her, and she
pointed back to the tree. The serpent deceived me.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
It was him.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
God's anger was ignited, and a rush of wind shook
the tree where the serpent hid. The creature fell to
the ground and writhed in pain. The wind of God's
spirit whistled through the forest, capturing Adam, Eve and the
serpent in a whirlwind. The creator of the universe shouted
to the serpent, because you have done this, cursed are
(13:03):
you on your belly?
Speaker 5 (13:05):
You shall crawl, and the dust shall be your food
all the days of your life.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
You shall fall, serpent. Then, out of tragedy and despair,
God declared a prophecy that would echo into the generations,
a warning to the serpent and a promise to humanity.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
You and the woman will be enemies, but one day
her offspring will rise up against you, and even though
you will bruise his heel, he will crush your head.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Then the Lord turned to his image bearers. The two
held each other, and God's loving anger poured forth. He
turned to Eve and said, because of.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
What has happened, childbearing will bring forth pain and anguish.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Your relationship with your husband will be fractured. Your desires
will be at ours with each other, and he will
struggle for power. He turned to Adam, the man crafted
from the earth, and said, because of this, cursed is
the ground. In pain you will labor to bring forth.
Crop in the earth will work against you all the
(14:14):
days of your life.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
Food will only come by the sweat of your brow,
until one day you returned to the ground. For you
were created from dust, and to the dust you shall return.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Adam and Eve watched the garden's golden hue dim and
God's intimate covering fade. Yet the tender mercy of the
Lord never left. A sheep passed them. God took it,
sacrificed it, and intricately wove Adam and Eve's clothes for them.
He slew an animal to cover their shame. Then the
Lord spoke in plurality, speaking to himself, saying, they.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Have become like us, knowing good and evil. We must
banish them from the tree of life. Lest they live
forever in corruption and send.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
So the Lord cast them out of the garden east
of Eden. Adam and Eve were banished, pining after paradise,
but clinging to the hope that one day a sun
would arise to crush the head of the serpent and
bring them back to the tree of life. One day
God's presence would be among them again. God would be
with them, God would be immanual.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Let's explore today's Christmas story together. You know, I hear
many people talk about heaven very materialistically. They talk about
mansions and roads paved with gold, as if the stuff
in heaven is what makes it paradise. We treat Christmas
the same way. So many the magic of Christmas is
(15:55):
in the gifts and the material things. But I think
that's the wrong way to look at Heaven will only
be paradise because the presence of God will be there
and will dwell with him in harmony. That is what
made Eden special too. Adam and Eve lived in the gardens,
surrounded by providence, by a provision, and they walked with
(16:21):
God in the cool of the day. Their bliss didn't
lie with the material possessions they had, but in the
presence of God. When Adam and Eve fell, that harmony
with God was severed. With the knowledge of good and evil,
came the potential for sin and corruption. Such corruption could
(16:44):
not exist eternally with God, so Adam and Eve were
banished from the garden, lest they eat from the fruit
of the other tree, the Tree of life, and live
forever in that fallen state. But before they were banished
from the garden, God gave a prophecy, a promise one
(17:05):
day a son from Eve would rise up to crush
the head of the serpent. This was the very first
spoken prophecy of Jesus in the Old Testament. Adam, Eve,
and every generation after them hoped in this prophesied son.
They waited patiently and pined after his coming. Throughout history,
(17:30):
it seemed like the serpent was winning. Evil corrupted the world,
wicked empires rose, and people were oppressed under sin and shame.
Yet hope never died. Throughout the Biblical saga, God reminded
his people of the promised son. He assured them that
(17:50):
one day the serpent's head would be crushed, the grip
of sin and the nakedness of shame would be eradicated
under the mighty work of the Messiah. During Christmas, we
celebrate the long awaited birth of the promised Son of Redemption.
(18:12):
The fact that his arrival has been anticipated since the
Garden of Eden should make us all the more amazed.
During Christmas, the hero of history, who promised to restore
mankind and crush the head of Satan himself was born
into the world. I pray that truth will overwhelm you
(18:32):
today and restore a sense of awe during this Christmas season.
Don't let the busyness and chaos of the holidays steal
away the wonder and joy of Christ's birth. Because of Christmas,
Eden is restored in our hearts. That unity of God
that was lost during the Fall is made possible again
(18:57):
by faith in Jesus Us. For our next episode, as
we delve deeper into the prophetic proclamations of Christ's birth.
After that we'll be fully immersed in the story of Mary, Joseph,
Angels and Kings.
The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. That
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of
whom I am chief First Timothy one fifteen. Dear Heavenly Father,
in this season of joy and good will, we're humbled
by the reminder of why you sent your only begotten
(00:22):
son into the world. We were sinners, lost and unworthy.
Yet in your infinite love you offered us the greatest
gift of all Jesus, our redeemer Father. As the Christmas
lights twinkle and the carols are sung, let us never
(00:42):
forget the true essence of this season. It's not merely
a time of gifts and festivities, but to reflect on
the immense sacrifice you made for us. Amidst our merriments,
let us all carry a profound sense of gratitude for
the salvation we have received through Christ. We are all sinners,
(01:07):
yet we hope because of that blessed Knight in Bethlehem.
You sent your son not to condemn us, but to
redeem us, offering undeserved mercy and grace. As we celebrate
his birth, let it serve as a reminder of our
own spiritual rebirth. The second chance gifted to us through
(01:31):
your love. In Jesus precious name, we pray Amen, thank
you for praying with me to day. Stay tuned now
for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
In the dawn of all things, when the earth was
new and ripe with the Lord's grand design, there was
a garden Eden. Eden was a realm untouched by corruption.
Rivers weaved gracefully through emerald hills, and creatures of all
kinds thrived in sweet harmony. At the center of the
(02:15):
garden were two trees, representing the trajectory of humanity's journey
with God. Like a beacon, risen high amongst the wilderness,
stood the Tree of Life. Its strong trunk coiled upward,
connecting the heavens and earth in divine unity. This tree
represented perfect harmony with God eternal life. The tree's roots
(02:38):
were firmly planted into the ground, interweaving with other trees below.
Planted opposite the Tree of Life, hanging over the ledge
of a canyon, was the Tree of Knowledge. Much like
the Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge was pleasing
to the eyes. Its leaves were dark green, and its
fruit was bright red. Dangling from thick vines. When God
(03:00):
formed and breathed life into humanity, he gave them a
charge to go forth, multiply and tend to the earth
with creativity. He gave them the freedom to enjoy every
fruit that the garden had to offer, except for the
Tree of Knowledge. From this tree, God commanded, you shall
not eat, for if you eat from that tree, you
(03:22):
will surely die. God's decree was not one of constraint,
but of freedom. He knew the freedom of choice was
paramount to his relationship with them. If they refrained from
the tree, they would live in harmonious partnership with God
in the garden. If they ate from the tree, their
souls would be separated from Him and sin would plague
(03:44):
their hearts. God's desire, his thrill and joy, was to
be with humanity. God was with them, but he would
not force them into a relationship. He lovingly invited them
to dwell in Eden and fill the earth with cold, cure, music, love,
and laughter. The choice was theirs to make. Would they
(04:06):
want God with them or would they forsake unity with
Him to seize control.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Hello everyone, and welcome to a brand new season of
The Jesus Podcast. Ethan frompray dot Com. The Christmas season
is upon us, a time for family gatherings, gift giving,
and warm meals with loved ones. Let's face it, though
Christmas can be chaotic if we aren't careful, the busyness
(04:34):
of the Christmas season can rob us of joy. No doubt,
many of you will sing joy to the world during
church in the coming month, But do you have joy?
Has the Christmas story enlivened your faith and sparked your
passion for Christ? I hope this twenty five episode mini
(04:55):
series on the Nativity will ignite passionate joy in you
this Christmas. Some of you might be asking, if this
is a podcast about Christmas, then what are we doing
back at the story of Adam and Eve. That's because
the story of Christmas doesn't begin with Gabriel talking to Mary.
(05:16):
It begins at the very beginning, when mankind was ripe
with potential but squandered it for the sake of pride.
The triumph of Christmas begins with the tragedy of the Fall. Yet,
as we've explored before, within the story of Adam and
Eve is a kernel of hope, a promise of redemption.
(05:41):
Let's explore this tale of Wool together in a cinematic
retelling of Genesis chapter three. Afterward, we'll mind the deep
Christmas truths packed into this story.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Adam and Eve walked hand in hand down the grassy
path from the Tree of Life. Adam, a man crafted
from dust, walked up the strength of the earth and
stone he was hewn from. Eve, a woman delicately sown
from flesh in the morning mist, walked with curiosity, at
vibrant grace, like the petals of the garden's flowers. They
(06:15):
were in harmony with one another in God, naked and unashamed.
As they rounded the path, a shadow caught Eve's eye.
Something was rustling in the branches of the Tree of Knowledge.
Eve approached carefully and observed the great tree. In the
shadows of its leaves, A strange creature appeared, the serpent,
a creature inbued with wisdom and cunning, eclipsed all of
(06:38):
Eden's animals. His eyes sparkled with a tantalizing knowledge and
a flicker of forbidden understanding. With a voice as sweet
as the forbidden fruit itself, he whispered into Eve's ear,
his words carrying the allure of the unknown, tell me, Eve,
did God really say you couldn't eat any in this garden?
(07:02):
Both startled and entranced by the creature, Eve responded.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
No, our Creator forbade us to even touch this tree.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
The serpent let out a breathy laugh. His voice was soft, silky,
and sinister. And why would he do that? The serpent's
voice curled around Eve's curiosity like a tender caress.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Because if we do, she replied, we shall surely die.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
A smile curled around the serpent's face. Death. Oh no, no, no,
not death, Eve, you.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Will not die.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
In truth, the fruit of this tree will bring enlightenment, knowledge,
making you like God himself.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Like God.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
The words were tantalizing on Eve's lips. She felt a
thrill of fear and desire thread through her beam to
be like her maker, to understand the world as he did.
It was an intoxicating thought, a secret song that strummed
her curiosity like an instrument. As she stared at the
forbidden fruit, its skin glistening in Eden's radiant light, it
(08:17):
seemed less a symbol of death and more a promise
of transcendent knowledge.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
We can be my God.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
She reached out her hand trembling slightly, and plucked the
fruit from the tree. It felt warm to her touch,
filled with a vibrant life that pulsed beneath her finger tips,
and as she took the first bite, an explosion of
flavors unlike anything she had ever experienced filled her senses,
flooding her with a bitter sweet euphoria that was both
(08:50):
terrifying and exhilarating. Her rebellion was sweet for a moment.
The serpent, content that his work was done, slowly slithered
back into the leaves, His eyes still peered down at
the woman. Adam had been watching all along. He too,
knew full well that his wife was transgressing against God,
(09:12):
but he couldn't contain his own curiosity, so he waited
and watched, unwilling to act upon his convictions. Crimson juice
dripped from Eve's smiling face. Her eyes were wide with fear, exhilaration,
and fascination. She extended the fruit to him. Adam looked
at her, and then down at the fruit. A cloud
(09:32):
of concern enveloped me, Yet, driven by his love for
Eve and an insatiable curiosity to see if he too
could become like God, he took the fruit and bit
into it. A tremor passed through the garden as the
forbidden fruit juice trickled down Adam's chin and on to
the floor. It was as if Eden shivered in response
(09:55):
to their disobedience. Shadows crept into the heart of the garden,
darkening Eden's vibrant colors, and a chill wind swept across
the landscape. Adam and Eve looked at each other and gasped.
They felt exposed, vulnerable, naked, their eyes were open to
the possibility of sin. Therefore, they no longer felt completely
(10:18):
safe with each other. Desperate to hide their shame, they
covered themselves in leaves. Then they heard him. They used
to come alive at the sound of his arrival, but
now they were afraid. Adam was the first to run.
He hid himself in the bushes, covering his ears. To
the sound of God's righteousness arriving, his voice called out
(10:40):
for him, Adam, where are you? His question was unbearable.
Could Adam truly hide?
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Could he run?
Speaker 5 (10:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
He couldn't.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
He had to face God. Naked and ashamed, Adam emerged
from the brush, his eyes gazed upward and around. God
was everywhere within without There was no escaping his voice
or his gaze. Here I am, Adam said, with a
trembling voice. I heard you coming, so I hid myself
(11:14):
because I'm naked and afraid. The Lord's voice quaked through
the garden. It was as if his words were moving
the ground beneath them. Yet even in the anger, there
was loving tenderness to his words. Who told you you
were naked? Have you eaten of the tree that I
commanded you.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Not to eat?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Of course, the creator knew the answer. His question was
not an accusation, but an invitation, an invitation into repentance, remorse,
and contrition. Would Adam accept such an invitation or would
he devolve into more corruption. Adam looked over at the tree,
then to his wife. His mind worked differently now he
(11:55):
knew the difference between good and evil. He now had
the choice to choose the path of repentance or pride. Adam,
with a trembling hand, pointed to Eve. It was the
woman you gave me. She ate the fruit first, and
she's the one she shared it with me. And there
it was. Adam, the first to be stamped with the
(12:15):
image and character of God, chose pride over repentance. God's
voice echoed to Eve. He offered her the same chance,
Perhaps she would take it.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
What have you done here?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Softly, Eve's knees buckled and she fell to the ground
in shame. Tears soaked the floor beneath her, and she
pointed back to the tree. The serpent deceived me.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
It was him.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
God's anger was ignited, and a rush of wind shook
the tree where the serpent hid. The creature fell to
the ground and writhed in pain. The wind of God's
spirit whistled through the forest, capturing Adam, Eve and the
serpent in a whirlwind. The creator of the universe shouted
to the serpent, because you have done this, cursed are
(13:03):
you on your belly?
Speaker 5 (13:05):
You shall crawl, and the dust shall be your food
all the days of your life.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
You shall fall, serpent. Then, out of tragedy and despair,
God declared a prophecy that would echo into the generations,
a warning to the serpent and a promise to humanity.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
You and the woman will be enemies, but one day
her offspring will rise up against you, and even though
you will bruise his heel, he will crush your head.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Then the Lord turned to his image bearers. The two
held each other, and God's loving anger poured forth. He
turned to Eve and said, because of.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
What has happened, childbearing will bring forth pain and anguish.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Your relationship with your husband will be fractured. Your desires
will be at ours with each other, and he will
struggle for power. He turned to Adam, the man crafted
from the earth, and said, because of this, cursed is
the ground. In pain you will labor to bring forth.
Crop in the earth will work against you all the
(14:14):
days of your life.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
Food will only come by the sweat of your brow,
until one day you returned to the ground. For you
were created from dust, and to the dust you shall return.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Adam and Eve watched the garden's golden hue dim and
God's intimate covering fade. Yet the tender mercy of the
Lord never left. A sheep passed them. God took it,
sacrificed it, and intricately wove Adam and Eve's clothes for them.
He slew an animal to cover their shame. Then the
Lord spoke in plurality, speaking to himself, saying, they.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Have become like us, knowing good and evil. We must
banish them from the tree of life. Lest they live
forever in corruption and send.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
So the Lord cast them out of the garden east
of Eden. Adam and Eve were banished, pining after paradise,
but clinging to the hope that one day a sun
would arise to crush the head of the serpent and
bring them back to the tree of life. One day
God's presence would be among them again. God would be
with them, God would be immanual.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Let's explore today's Christmas story together. You know, I hear
many people talk about heaven very materialistically. They talk about
mansions and roads paved with gold, as if the stuff
in heaven is what makes it paradise. We treat Christmas
the same way. So many the magic of Christmas is
(15:55):
in the gifts and the material things. But I think
that's the wrong way to look at Heaven will only
be paradise because the presence of God will be there
and will dwell with him in harmony. That is what
made Eden special too. Adam and Eve lived in the gardens,
surrounded by providence, by a provision, and they walked with
(16:21):
God in the cool of the day. Their bliss didn't
lie with the material possessions they had, but in the
presence of God. When Adam and Eve fell, that harmony
with God was severed. With the knowledge of good and evil,
came the potential for sin and corruption. Such corruption could
(16:44):
not exist eternally with God, so Adam and Eve were
banished from the garden, lest they eat from the fruit
of the other tree, the Tree of life, and live
forever in that fallen state. But before they were banished
from the garden, God gave a prophecy, a promise one
(17:05):
day a son from Eve would rise up to crush
the head of the serpent. This was the very first
spoken prophecy of Jesus in the Old Testament. Adam, Eve,
and every generation after them hoped in this prophesied son.
They waited patiently and pined after his coming. Throughout history,
(17:30):
it seemed like the serpent was winning. Evil corrupted the world,
wicked empires rose, and people were oppressed under sin and shame.
Yet hope never died. Throughout the Biblical saga, God reminded
his people of the promised son. He assured them that
(17:50):
one day the serpent's head would be crushed, the grip
of sin and the nakedness of shame would be eradicated
under the mighty work of the Messiah. During Christmas, we
celebrate the long awaited birth of the promised Son of Redemption.
(18:12):
The fact that his arrival has been anticipated since the
Garden of Eden should make us all the more amazed.
During Christmas, the hero of history, who promised to restore
mankind and crush the head of Satan himself was born
into the world. I pray that truth will overwhelm you
(18:32):
today and restore a sense of awe during this Christmas season.
Don't let the busyness and chaos of the holidays steal
away the wonder and joy of Christ's birth. Because of Christmas,
Eden is restored in our hearts. That unity of God
that was lost during the Fall is made possible again
(18:57):
by faith in Jesus Us. For our next episode, as
we delve deeper into the prophetic proclamations of Christ's birth.
After that we'll be fully immersed in the story of Mary, Joseph,
Angels and Kings.
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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