This is the final week in our study of 400 years of Kings and Prophets from Solomon to Jeremiah.

King Josiah
    •    Young King seeks God
    •    Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem
    •    Book of the Law discovered
    •    Reform beyond Judah
    •    Passover observance  – King Josiah gives an order to all people to observe God’s Passover. This had not been celebrated according to what was written, not even in the days of the judges, nor in the days of any of the kings of Israel and Judah. Josiah made sure the celebration was carried out according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. He, like David, was a man after God’s own heart. He reads the scriptures and applies them and a time of revival begins.  We read in 2 Kings 23:25 “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”
    •    Death at Megiddo – A prophetic word comes from Huldah telling Josiah of the judgment that is coming from God against the people, but that because Josiah’s heart was repentant he would not see the judgment that would come.  During this time there was great international upheaval between Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon.  2 Kings 23:29 “While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.”  Jeremiah and the nation were devastated by the loss of king Josiah. Then Josiah’s 3 sons reign. None were the king that their father was. They returned to the old ways for faithlessness to God.

Josiah’s 3 Sons
    •    Jehoahaz – 2 Kings 23:31-33; 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 – reigned 3 month doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was imprisoned by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who was the one who had killed his father. Jehoahaz dies in Egypt.
    •    Jehoiakim – 2 Kings 23:34 – 24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 – reigned 11 years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was an evil and inefficient ruler. Constructed a new palace and Jeremiah denounces him for ignoring the people and ignoring God. Jehoiakim rejects Jeremiah and even burns the first copy of the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:23) The city of Jerusalem is overtaken in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and many of the people are deported to Babylon. (Daniel was one that was taken – Daniel 1:1-2). When Jehoiakim dies he is given the “burial of a donkey.” Jeremiah 22:13-19. Johoiachin, his son reigns for 3 months doing evil like his father and was taken captive by Babylon – 2 Kings 24:8-16; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10
    •    Zedekiah – 2 Kings 24:17 – 25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 39:1-10 – reigns for 11 years and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Zedekiah breaks the treaty with Babylon (Ezekiel 17:18). He looks to Egypt for deliverance but didn’t receive any. The false prophets encouraged him in his evil ways. Jeremiah warns Zedekiah of coming suffering and prophecies. But Zedekiah does not change his way and Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians and Zedekiah dies in a tragic way. Jeremiah 39:6-7. 

And so ends our study with the nation, the city of Jerusalem a the Temple destroyed in 586 B.C. 

Interestingly enough the Temple would once again be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. in the same month, on the same day. This was a day Jesus predicted because they did not recognize Him and had rejected Him.

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The message starts with Matthew 1:18 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” 

Pastor explores today’s question: “What about the Virgin Birth?” by tackling these 5 questions:

    ⁃    Is the “Virgin Birth” really that important?
    ⁃    Why do only Matthew and Luke mention it?
    ⁃    Couldn’t this have been a later development?
    ⁃    This seems impossible to the modern mind!
    ⁃    Isn’t it based on pagan mythology?

Importance of the Virgin Birth
    ⁃    It is taught by clear Scripture throughout the Bible. Note: Matthew 1:18 (above) and Matthew 1:22-23 “…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
    ⁃    It is foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15 – a Messiah from the seed of a woman.
    ⁃    It is announced by angelic authority
    ⁃    It explains the sinlessness of Christ
    ⁃    It confirms Christ’s two natures – that Jesus is both fully human – but also fully divine. He is God incarnate, became flesh. His nature shows the Good News, because God loved this world so much He offered up His only Son for each one of us. This is the Good News.

Only in Matthew and Luke?
    ⁃    Only 2 Gospels (Matthew and Luke) mention the Nativity
    ⁃    John (from the Gospel of John) goes back to the beginning, “In the beginning was the Word and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us…”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…”
    ⁃    Mark repeatedly asserts Jesus’ deity
    ⁃    See Philippians 2:5 & Colossians 1:15-16 – these verse tell us Jesus was in the very form and nature of God and took on human flesh, died and rose. Makes it clear that God has come down to earth in the flesh and that the universe was created by the pre-incarnate Christ.

A later development?
    ⁃    Early dating of the New Testament – always been a part of the testimony from eye-witnesses
    ⁃    Clearly taught by early authors (examples: writings by Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and the great scholar Irenaeus,)
    ⁃    Testimony of the early Christian Creeds – the virgin birth was from the early teaching of followers.

Impossible for modern people to accept this?
    ⁃    The ancients weren’t gullible! Even Joseph didn’t accept it until the angelic visit. 
    ⁃    The real issue is the miraculous. “If I haven’t seen a miracle, then they don’t happen!”
    ⁃    God is supernatural! He does supernatural things. Pastor shares some miraculous stories. 

When we, in our own wisdom, seek to remove and erase the miraculous, we are not proving our brilliance, we are showing, for all the world to see, our folly.

Pagan mythology?
    ⁃    Note the differences!  Example the “birth” of Athena from Zeus’ head

Pastor closes with a graphic showing: incarnation, virgin birth and deity of Christ stating that if these are true then that changes everything. And it changes each one of us because God loves us and wants us back.  He calls us to accept Him for who He really is: The Almighty Creator of the Universe who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for each on of us that we might live forever with Him! And THAT is the Good News!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

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The Gospel of John Week 25
Scripture: John 19:25-20:19

Today’s study will take us from the depths of hell to the heights of heaven!

We start at verse 25 of John chapter 19 and it starts with who is at the foot of the cross: His mother, His aunt, His cousin (John the author of this gospel) and  another aunt who was the wife of His step-father’s brother  – all family.  The disciples have all run except John and this group of women. Family. 

Verse 28 we read, “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” By saying this Jesus again fulfilled prophecy from Psalm 69:21 and from Psalm 22:15. But also let’s remember what Jesus said in John 18:18 when He told Peter to put his sword away and said, “Will I not drink the cup my Father has given me?” And here we see Jesus drinking the cup because as verse 28 says, He knew that everything had now been finished.

He took all the judgement of human sin upon Himself and then verse 30, “When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ And with that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

Pastor spends time digging into how the drink was given to Jesus and the correlation between the hyssop plant used at Passover and the hyssop plant used to give Jesus a drink.

And we see …. God is in control.

Our discussion turns to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb – He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Pastor talks about the Greek word for “finished” and its secondary meaning of an accountant’s terminology for a debt “Paid in Full.”

Jesus paid in full for every sin, every rebellion against God, everything we have done and ever will do, all paid for in full by the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Pastor shares interesting information about what was going on in the Temple at 3pm – the time of Jesus’ death. What he shares emphasizes what Jesus had said earlier, “No one takes my life from me. I have the power to lay it down and the power to take it up again.” And He chooses the exact time when He bows His head and gives up His spirit. It is Friday.

The Passover went for 8 days. On the first day of the week, Sunday, following the first Sabbath of Passover (Saturday) the Jewish people celebrated the Festival of First Fruits. And this is the day – Sunday – that Jesus rises from the grave. Paul writes, “He (Jesus) is the first fruits of those who rise from the dead.” Because Jesus rose, He is the guarantee that we will be raised when He returns!

As we continue with the story of what John witnessed. A soldier goes to break Jesus’ legs, but He’s already dead so the soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear. Pastor shares some medical information and the way the Roman spear was used to give a death blow – aimed right at the heart. Jesus not getting his legs broken and being pierced with a spear all fulfill prophecy and show God is in the details, He is in control, always has been and always is.

Next Joseph of Arimathea – a Jesus follower, asks for Jesus’ body. Nicodemus is with Joseph. He brings a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and the two of them wrapped Jesus body with the spices, in strips of linen as was the Jewish burial custom. In a garden there was a new tomb, it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Pastor shares the possibility that we may know where Jesus was buried. The history surrounding the location and where it can be found today, sharing the information about the current church built on what may be the actual site of Jesus’ tomb.

We continue with John 20:1 with several women going to the tomb and finding the stone moved away from the entrance. Mary shares with several disciples and they discover the strips of linen lying there inside along with the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. They leave the tomb with many questions.

Mary Magdalene comes again to the empty tomb and is crying outside it and she looks in the tomb and there are two angels and then she meets a man she thinks is the gardener, and then recognizes Him as Jesus!  Jesus is alive! He is risen from the grave! 

Jesus tells her to tell the others. She goes and tells the others the news, “I have seen the Lord!”

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Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

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    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king.  He did evil in God’s eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story.  He destroys everything good his father had done.

King Manasseh
    ⁃    Apostasy and Idolatry – 2 Chronicles 33:33
    ⁃    Sacrificed his children  – 2 Chronicles 33:6
    ⁃    Innocent blood shed including the blood of prophets –  2 Kings 21:16. (Hebrews 11:37 – ancient Jewish tradition that says it was during Manasseh’s reign that Isaiah was sawn in half by Manasseh)
    ⁃    Captivity in Babylon – Manasseh was taken prisoner by Assyria and taken to Babylon  – 2 Chronicles 33:11
    ⁃    Repentance and return to Judah- while in prison Manasseh had a change of heart, humbling himself greatly before God and praying. The Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, proving to Manasseh that He is the true God – 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

What we learn: God is a gracious God and hears the cries of those who humble themselves before Him.  He responds to a repentant heart. 

In the final years of his life, Manasseh worked to redo things but to no avail as his son, King Amon takes the throne. Amon reigned from 642-640 B.C. and his story is found in 2 Kings 21:19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21-25. Amon did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

King Amon
    ⁃    Return to idolatry – 2 Chronicles 33:22-23
    ⁃    Conspiracy and Assassination – 2 Chronicles 33:24-25 – Josiah, Amon’s son was then made king.

King Josiah
Josiah is just a boy when he begins his 31 year reign and in Pastor’s opinion, the greatest king of Judah. Josiah reigned from 640-609 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 and 2 Chronicles 34-35.

During his reign there were many prophets: Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Huldah.  God is working to bring the nation back to Himself.

During King Josiah’s reign, Judah experienced three of its happiest decades: peace, prosperity and revival. 

King Josiah
    ⁃    Young King seeks the God of David – he followed in the ways of David – 2 Kings 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 34:3 
    ⁃    Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem – 2 Chronicles 34:4-5
    ⁃    Book of the Law of God written by Moses (possibly the original Torah) is discovered  – 2 Chronicles 34:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14, 2 Chronicles 34:19, 2 Chronicles 34:22.  In 2 Chronicles 34:27 we read of Huldah who tells the king that God says that judgment is coming, but because he (Josiah) had humbled himself before God, wept and torn his robes, that Josiah will not live to see the destruction. Josiah recognizes the Lord’s graciousness and he sets forth to bring revival. 
    ⁃    Revival happens 2 Kings 23:2-3 – God’s people pledge themselves to the covenant of God.
    ⁃    Revival and reform go beyond Judah – 2 Kings 23:15, 17

Josiah was a bright, brilliant, incredible and godly leader, a man bold in his faith and one who trusted God.  May we learn from his example.

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Today’s message looks at the words of John the Baptist from Matthew 11:2-3, “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'”

John although a deep believer came to a point where he had his doubts. Such big doubts that he had his own disciples travel 100 miles to ask Jesus that question.

Matthew 11:4-5 “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” 

These are words from the Old Testament’s prophecies, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 35:5-6 “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.” 

And Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

Jesus quoted these verses about the prophecies of the Messiah to show that He was the Messiah, that He and the prophecies were one.

John’s disciples are still listening as Jesus goes on and says in Matthew 11:11-15 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist…For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Again, these words are quotes from Old Testament Scriptures found in Malachi 3:1, Malachi 4:45-6 and Isaiah 40:3 that tell about the one who will prepare the way for the coming Messiah.  These are words about John the Baptist.

The Controversy: What kind of Messiah? 
    ⁃    Will he be prophetic, priestly or kingly? 
    ⁃    Will he be a Messiah of mercy or judgment?
    ⁃    Would he suffer or reign?
    ⁃    Will there be 2 Messiahs who come once or 1 Messiah who comes twice?

The Biblical Evidence for Messiah:
    ⁃    Birthplace Micah 5:2
    ⁃    Lineage Isaiah 11:1 
    ⁃    Miracles Deuteronomy 18:15 
    ⁃    Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11
    ⁃    Resurrection Isaiah 53:11

We close with Pastor’s heartfelt encouragement to let the word of God speak to our hearts, to search the scriptures and find what Jesus the Messiah has to say to us.

No matter who you are, think about this: If Jesus really is who He claimed to be, there is nothing more important than knowing Him and being known by Him.

Jesus is different than what we expected….

But

He is exactly what the Bible predicted!

If God loved us so much He was willing to take on human flesh and fulfill everything spoken beforehand by the prophets, lay down His life on a cross, rise from the grave and announce forgiveness to all who believe, who would reject such an offer? 

It’s true He was different than what was expected, but He is exactly what was predicted and He’s coming back!  Therefore, we need to know Him and be known by Him.
 

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

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The Gospel of John Week 24
Scripture: John 18:38 – 19:24.

As we begin our story today, Pilate is telling the crowd he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus. So he offered to free a prisoner asking if they wanted Barabbas or Jesus released.  The crowd wants Barabbas release and then Pilate has Jesus flogged.

Pastor talks in graphic detail what a flogging was like, the equipment used and what Jesus experienced: excruciating pain, horrendous suffering, brutal torture, and cruel ridicule. 

Again Pilate goes out to the crowds telling them he can find no basis for a charge. Pilate brings Jesus out in front of the crowd and the crowd shouts to crucify Him. The Jewish leaders insisted that Jesus had to die because he claimed to be the Son of God.

Pilate says to Jesus, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” And Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From that time on Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the Jewish leaders kept shouting, that if Pilate let Jesus go that he would be opposing Caesar. 

So then Pilate brought Jesus out and Pilate sat down on the judge’s seat and on this day, The Day of Preparation of the Passover, at noon, Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

The soldiers took Jesus. Carrying His own cross, Jesus was brought to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha) and Jesus was crucified with two others —one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Pastor shares in graphic detail about the brutality and reality of crucifixion. And how this is what Jesus endured for us. Jesus goes to the cross willingly, a clear testimony that God loved this world so much that He was willing to endure this and that, in a way beyond our ability to fully comprehend, is the love of the Living God in such a way that He took on human flesh, and He endured this for us. It is a clear indication of just how much He cares for us and when we read this it drives us to our knees realizing, “Oh Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.” The the Son of God came to save us, because we could not save ourselves.

Pastor goes on to talk about archeological discoveries and the possible locations of Golgotha and Jesus’ tomb along with sharing many personal photos including a picture of the “Jerusalem Cross.”

We pick back up with the story with Pilate having a sign posted on Jesus’ cross that said in three languages, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The religious leaders protested because they told Pilate it was what Jesus only “claimed.”

Pastor then shares a personal discovery that came to him as he was preparing for this study. It’s a fascinating piece about the name of the Living God, written by Pilate and placed over the head of the crucified Jesus. (No I won’t share any more than that!!  You will have to take a listen to Pastor sharing what he discovered!)

In verse 23 of chapter 19 we read that the soldiers took Jesus clothes, dividing them into 4 pieces and then took his undergarment and cast lots for it. This is a fulfillment of the prophetic words from Psalm 22:18.

Pastor takes the time to explore more of Psalm 22 that has several verses fulfilled in the death and crucifixion of Jesus. We see that this is not a miscarriage of justice by evil human beings. Rather, this is a profound fulfillment of God’s prophetic word that was uttered by King David a thousand years before it took place. And this is not just simply a story. This is history.  This is His – story.

This is my Savior’s story.

Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Today we come to one of the most fascinating times in the history of the kingdom of Judah, an amazing king who does amazing things by the power of an amazing God.

But first we take a look at King Ahaz who ruled from 731-715 BC. In 2 Kings 16:2-3 we read that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of other kings, even sacrificing his son in the fire.

King Ahaz
    ⁃    Finds himself under attack by Pekah and Rezin
    ⁃    Discovers there is a price to pay when you turn your back on the Living God
    ⁃    Seeks help from the Assyrians – Assyria was a massive growing super power.
    ⁃    Then God brings a rebuke through the prophet Isaiah (a most effective and influential prophet) but Ahaz refuses to listen.
    ⁃    Ahaz continues to turn away from God and desecrated the Temple of God as he continues to rebel against God.
    ⁃    His rebellion brings sadness and tragedy and he continues to suffer military attacks.

During Ahaz’s reign in Judah, we read in 2 Kings 17:5-6 that Israel is defeated by the Assyrians after a 3 year siege.

At the end of Ahaz’s reign we see that in spite of the faithlessness of God’s people, God remains faithful.  The next king of Judah is one of the best. King Hezekiah is Ahaz’s son and Hezakiah rules 715-686 BC.

King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Kings 18:3.  

King Hezekiah
    ⁃    In the first month of the first year of his reign he had the Temple cleansed. 2 Chronicles 29:3-5
    ⁃    Then Hezekiah holds a national Passover celebration inviting all of Israel and Judah. They had a 2 week Passover celebration. 2 Chronicles 30:1.
    ⁃    Hezekiah destroys the sacred stones, high places and Asherah poles and also brakes into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had used to God’s glory but that had become an idol of the Israelites who had been burning incense to it. 2 Kings 18:4 
    ⁃    Hezekiah is facing the enemy of Assyria as they are coming to conquer Jerusalem and so in 2 Kings 20:20 we read that he built a tunnel and a pool. In the 1880’s the Siloam Inscription was discovered. It tells the story of the building of the tunnel. Hezekiah built this tunnel to ensure there would be water when under siege by the Assyrian army by diverting the Gehon spring into Jerusalem leaving no fresh water available to the Assyrian army. 
    ⁃    Then the siege begins against Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:28-29 the king’s commander, speaking in Hebrew, calls out that the king of Assyria says that Hezekiah has deceived you because he will not be able to deliver you from me and my army. The king of Assyria is trying to get the people in Jerusalem to just give up.
    ⁃    Then Hezekiah prays a beautiful prayer – 2 Kings 19:15-16 and God listens and the King of Assyria is defeated by God Himself. 2 Kings 19:35-36. The Assyrians withdraw and return to Nineveh and the siege is ended.
    ⁃    Then Hezekiah becomes very ill to the point of death. Isaiah comes to Hezekiah to tell him to put his house in order. Hezekiah weeps and prays and God sees Hezekiah’s tears and hears his prayer and God heals him. 2 Kings 20:1-5 
    ⁃    Hezekiah is visited by the Babylonians, a rising power that will ultimately defeat the Assyrians. 2 Kings 20:13 we read of Hezekiah being tempted by pride. The prophet Isaiah then brings a word to Hezekiah telling him that everything you just showed off to the Babylonians will be taken by Babylonians. Hezekiah repents.
    ⁃    The prophets Micah and Isaiah were very active during Hezekiah’s reign.
    ⁃    Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings the nation had ever known. 2 Kings 18:5-6 tells us that Hezekiah trusted the Lord, that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, both before and after him, that Hezekiah held fast to the Lord and did not stop following God and that he kept the commands of the Lord.

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We begin by looking at John the Baptist. Matthew 3:1-2 and 5-6 tells us.  “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

Pastor shares a personal visit to the Jordan River with pics of the area.

As our story continues we see John calling out to the Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to the Jordan River to see what he was doing. He tells them that they need to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. What John is saying is that when they truly turn to the Living God, it will change them, that their attitude, behavior and thought patterns will be radically transformed. 

John goes on in verse 11 of chapter 3 to say, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John’s message was repent. His message was that the Messiah they had been waiting for was coming. He says that the Messiah will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire, the fire of judgement. 

People were drawn to John the Baptist because he spoke the truth in love. He wasn’t the only one that talked about repentance.

The Call to Repentance
    ⁃    John the Baptist – Matthew 3:2
    ⁃    Jesus Christ the Messiah – Matthew 4:17
    ⁃    Apostle Peter – Acts 2:38
    ⁃    Apostle Paul – Acts 17:30
    ⁃    Holy Bible – 2 Peter 3:9

Repent means to:
Change your mind
Change your attitude
Change your thoughts
Change your direction
Turn around – do a 180

Repentance IS important.

Who needs Repentance?
    ⁃    Isn’t this the punchline to a joke? – No. Jesus says in Luke 13:3 that unless we repent, we will all perish. Jesus considers repentance to be absolutely essential.
    ⁃    Isn’t repentance just for bad people? – this depends on how you translate the word bad. The point of comparison is not against people, it is against a holy God. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Matthew 21:31 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
    ⁃    This isn’t for religious people, is it?  Jesus continues in Matthew 21:32 “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” Repentance is for ALL people especially the religious. This teaching brings anger and bitterness from the religious because it exposes them for what they really are not and for what they show to others.
    ⁃    Isn’t this Old Testament teaching? Yes, but it is also New Testament teaching as seen earlier in this message. 
    ⁃    Surely Christians don’t need to repent? From Jesus we read a series of seven epistles in Revelation. In Revelation chapters 2 & 3 Jesus says the word “repent” 7 times.

Martin Luther said in Thesis 1: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance”.

If you find yourself rebelling against what you are hearing today – we encourage you to hear the rest of the story.

What is True Repentance
    1.    I am a Sinner – when I recognize this then I understand that
    2.    I need a Savior – turning to the only one who can save us. We are all sinners and we need a Savior. Without Him we are lost forever and it calls us to say
    3.    I trust in Christ alone – because the Living God stepped into this world, living a life of perfect obedience and willing went to the cross to pay for rebellion and sin and the one who rose victorious of death. Jesus is that Savior. We are called by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to trust in the redemption found only in Jesus and then to say
    4.    I will live for Him – repentance changes the way we think, the way we look at God and look others and the world, it changes the way we turn to the Living God and hang onto the Lord Jesus who is our Savior and Deliverer and seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit to live a life of faith, obedience, joy and peace, power in Him.
This true repentance.

Although the call to repent may sound scary, the gift of God through repentance is the greatest joy any one can know in this world and the life of the world to come.

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Join Pastor Dodge for Bible in Year 2026 Come join Pastor by video in the teaching classroom as together we journey through the Bible in a Year 2026! The Bible in a Year class takes a walk through the Bible from cover to cover. Maybe the Bible seems old and dry, and maybe yours has been sitting on the shelf collecting dust, but we will help you discover that your Bible is actually God’s Word and it is alive and active and has the power to impact lives.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn something new about old familiar stories and to see Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.  We will explore the history, timelines and geography of each book along with recent archeological discoveries. We will uncover truths and promises that change lives still today. Expect surprising insights and spiritual growth as we journey through each book of the Old and New Testaments and along the way we will discover that we have a very intentional God who desires personal relationship with each one of us. Make this the year you commit to read the Bible from beginning to end – we offer a weekly teaching video and podcast along with a one year reading plan and a study guide for each book of the Bible.

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The Gospel of John Week 23
Scripture: John 18.

Our story begins with Jesus in the Garden and soldiers, high priests, and Judas come to the garden carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus goes out to meet them asking, “Who is it you want?” Clearly showing who’s in charge. Something we will see Jesus repeat in the next hours.

Jesus is in charge and He’s always been in charge and that is a take home for us in our own lives as well. He’s in charge! He’s the Lord. Jesus knows all that is going to happen to Him. He’s shared that with His disciples, though they will not fully understand until Jesus’ resurrection. He is not blindsided by this group coming to the Garden. This is the reason He came, and this is the purpose for which He has come to carry out His work.

Then Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away – and Jesus says, Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?” Jesus knows what’s coming and is willing to go through with it all because it is the Father’s desire and the Son always obeys the Father.

Pastor delves into the personality of Peter and how we will see him go from cutting off the ear of this man, to denying he knows Jesus, to going on to become a powerful evangelist. And yet Peter was flawed, we are all flawed individuals. The Lord still used Peter. He transformed Peter and He transforms us and this story is a reminder that Jesus uses us, too.

As we return to our story we know Jesus is in control but He willingly allows His hands to be bound. Jesus is willing to go all the way to the cross for us. He is then taken to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 

Pastor shares some info on the recent discovery of an ossuary, bone box, belonging to Caiaphas and also some other archeological discoveries including a palatial mansion that may possibly be one of the locations where Jesus was tried. Pastor also reads some fascinating information from Eusebius’ History of the Church and puts together some interesting pieces of historical evidence to help bring light to all that John is telling us.

Now our story moves into Peter’s first denial of knowing Jesus. Followed by Peter’s second and third denial of knowing Jesus. And then we read that at that very moment the rooster crowed. And Peter suddenly remembers what he has done and what Jesus had said.

There is a contentious conversation, verses 19-24, “the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”

From Caiaphas Jesus was taken to the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. It is now early morning. Pastor shares the logistics of getting Jesus there and the possible location of the praetorium, the governor’s house. Pastor shares on the map the possible locations of this home.

Jesus is brought before Pilate in verse 29 and Pilate asks what charges are being brought against Jesus, thus opening a court proceeding.

Pastor shares interesting historical information about Jewish executions (stoning to death) and Roman executions (crucifixion), and what they were like. He shares the history of how the Romans, in the early first century, took away from the Jewish high priests and from the Sanhedrin, the right to convict and punish in capital cases and how the Romans demanded that they be the ones to carry that out. So this is why Jesus was crucified, and not stoned.

Pilate then begins his questioning of Jesus and they have an in-depth conversation during which Jesus says, “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  Pilate replies, “What is truth?” 

We live in a society where people are still asking that same question. And the answer is still the same. Jesus is Truth. The truth sets us free!

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    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

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