Chapter 4: This is My Son
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and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1.15 Dear Lord, you have perfect timing for all things. The time of the fulfillment of the arrival of the predicted Messiah was now. Jesus knew that after John the Baptist was imprisoned, it was the fullness of time for the world to know the Messiah was among them.

He began to preach the importance of knowing that time was short and the kingdom of God was at hand. I have no idea when Christ is going to return to the earth in the final days. No one but the Father knows when the fullness of time will be, so it's important to be ready. Just as Jesus called the people to repent for their sins, I need to keep my soul clean through repentance. Repentance can become despair without faith in the gospel of good news.

and faith can become presumption without repentance. Without faith and repentance, there's no way to be saved. No human effort of good works will achieve righteousness. When I put my faith in the gospel, I receive liberty from the law, peace, forgiveness, the right standing with God through Christ. There is no other way to salvation and eternal life except

through the grace of God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, amen. Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from Pray.com's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.

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If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please share it with your family and friends so they can know Jesus Christ in a personal way, because knowing Jesus is the key to understanding the Bible. Welcome to The Greatest Story Ever Told. It is the greatest story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph over death and darkness.

This is a story that continues to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart of God right into the hearts of you and me. In this episode, Jesus enters the public scene. With the ushering in of John the Baptist, the public ministry of Jesus begins. This episode offers us dozens of glimpses into the divinity and humanity of Jesus, foreshadowing the rest of his time on earth.

Jesus is fully man and fully God, and his story showcases the Spirit of God within him overcoming the flesh. This is the great war that rages within all of us, and it is the war that Jesus will ultimately win. This episode shows us the communal heart of Jesus. Although he is sufficient and powerful, he invites people into his ministry. He gains followers, friends, and fellows to fight for the freedom of mankind.

We are introduced to a few of the disciples in this episode, and we should take note of how they all met Jesus. Each individual met him through another, reminding us that a relationship with God is often shared between friends and family. Just like these new disciples, we are just starting to get to know Jesus. This episode is a great introduction, and I am excited to see what else comes. First, we will begin with a prelude, a story captured from another time and place.

This prelude brings us to the time of Moses when the Hebrew slaves looked to the future for deliverance. Here is episode four, This Is My Son. Are you ready to have your bacon-loving mind blown? Well, here it is. Oscar Mayer takes 12 hours to smoke some delicious thick-cut bacon. Most other bacon out there is smoked for four to six hours.

But Oscar Mayer doubles that time. Let's put that into perspective. You could drive from Detroit to Omaha and Oscar Mayer thick cut bacon wouldn't be finished smoking. You could spend the morning and all afternoon watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy in full. You could even go to bed, get a full night's sleep, wake up, shower, have breakfast, including some delicious Oscar Mayer bacon, and then drive to work and to think that the bacon would still be smoking. The

The point is, all of these take at least half a day to complete, and Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips for a really long time until it tastes really good. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick cut bacon now and enjoy.

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In Orlando, anything is possible if you can imagine it. Plan your escape today and save at visitorlando.com. That's visitorlando.com for everything you need for an amazing getaway. Prelude to Chapter 4. Their lives had been marked by blood, tears, and the sound of whips. The Hebrew people had been enslaved by the Egyptian nation for hundreds of years.

Entire generations were raised in a cycle of heavy labor, hunger, and fear. The God of their forefathers heard their cries for redemption. So, God sent them an advocate to proclaim freedom and led them to the promised land. Moses was the chosen hero of God, empowered by his spirit to stand up to Pharaoh. Yet it was God that provided the deliverance.

God parted the seas, God drowned the armies of Egypt, and God sent manna from heaven. Moses was a lesser champion, ultimately pointing to the deliverer of mankind promised from the very beginning. Moses often spoke of this deliverer, a new prophet that would arise to bring ultimate freedom. So the people of God waited.

They were given the law so that they might saturate themselves in the character of God until He walked among them and fulfilled it. Years had passed, and the kingdom of Israel had grown in size and strength. It was a large target for the ancient kingdoms of the East. God vanquished many of their enemies, yet they turned their backs on Him. The people of Israel had descended into a pit of their own filth and sin.

Fathers sacrificed their children. Kings erected temples of fornication and murder. They had rejected the one who brought them out of slavery. Instead, they chose to enslave themselves to their own sin. Eventually, the kingdom of Israel was faced with a great enemy, an enemy they were ill-prepared and ill-equipped to defend. The colossal nation of Babylon came and went away. It consumed the people of Israel.

Families were separated, men's heads were put on hikes, and the people of God were carted off as captives once again. Yet there was a voice of hope in the midst of despair. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming Redeemer, one who would vanquish the darkness that raged within mankind since the Fall. This Redeemer would end sin by suffering its eternal weight.

He would bear the iniquities of mankind and exchange their filth for righteousness. So the captive people awaited this Redeemer. They longed for Him. Yet Isaiah spoke of another that would come, a voice crying out from the wilderness that would prepare the way of the Redeemer, one like Elijah, a voice that would precede the coming King and set the path for Him to enter.

Malachi would call him the great messenger. He would be the one to gather people and prepare their hearts for the Messiah. Chapter 4: This is my son. John's eyes opened as the morning light slowly slid its way through the top of his tent. "Thank you, Lord, for another day," he smiled, sitting up. John left the tent and stretched his arms out wide, soaking in the new sun and whistling along with the birds.

The crisp morning air was sharp and refreshing. He made his way down to the stream beside his camp and washed his long dreaded hair. The light glistened across the wakes, bouncing in a thousand different directions. John grinned at the beauty around him, thanking the Lord for yet another day to perform his will. After finishing his prayers, he followed the Jordan River down towards a small beach outside the city.

He stood at the Jordan shore and took a deep breath, then, after basking in the sun a little more, jumped into the water. John was a well-built man, yet clearly marked with years of living in the wilderness. His long dreads revealed a commitment to never cut his hair, for he had taken the Nazarite vow. He lived as an outsider, camping in the wilderness of Judea, living off locusts and honeycomb.

He was a strange man, quirky yet filled with charisma, passion, and wisdom. However, the most distinct thing about John was not his long dreads, camo-fur clothing, or strange diet. It was his voice. John's voice was particularly special. It was deep, smooth, yet also able to capture attention easily.

Words poured from his lips like a steady rain, enrapturing all who would hear him. John floated in the water for a while, considering the depths of God's love, power, and plans. There was a twinkle in John's eye when he thought about his God. From an early age, he had felt the prompting of his spirit. It was more than a calling. It was a fire shut up in his bones. If he were to remain silent, it would surely consume him.

As John continued to float in his own little world with the Lord, a large group of people made their way to the shore. Dozens became hundreds, and hundreds quickly became thousands. People from the city of Jerusalem and all of Judea had come for John. They came to hear his voice. John waded his way to shore, looking at the vast crowd gathered in front of him. He looked at their faces. Some of the crowd had come to hear from God.

They were desperate for a word of hope. Others from the crowd had come to doubt John. They came to cast judgment and gather ammunition against him. The people stood there in silence, waiting for that special voice to speak. John smiled and turned his head to heaven. He spread his arms out wide and bellowed, "'Repent!' His voice resonated through the throng of people."

He spoke with the authority of an ancient prophet. The kingdom of heaven is nearer than you may think, my brothers and sisters. Now is the time for the people to turn away from their selfish ways and be restored to God. Come and be baptized. Put away the old habits of corruption and seek God's forgiveness. His atonement is on its way. John continued to speak of repentance and God's willingness to forgive.

He spoke of the coming Messiah and a new hope emerging. People were nodding their heads in agreement. They desired to turn towards God once again. One by one, John would lead them into the Jordan and baptize them. John would dip them back into the water and lead them back up. Cheer as people dedicated their lives to God once again. The hearts of God's people were being primed for a new work.

As the people were cheering, John caught a glimpse of a few Pharisees scowling at him from the crowd. John's blood boiled at the sight of them. For decades they had propped themselves up as a false standard of holiness. They met John's piercing gaze and began to turn back to leave. John would not allow it. With the titanic voice of a prophet, John's words boomed straight through the crowd. "'Brood of vipers!' he yelled.

The Pharisees turned in dismay. They could see in John's eyes a holy fire, a passion that should be respected. John stepped out of the water and pointed at them. "Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Come, humble yourselves and bear fruit worthy of repentance!" John could see the religious leaders stirring, looking for a response to relieve themselves of responsibility.

But John was too quick. Do not say to me, well, we are sons of Abraham, so his favor is accounted to us. No, hear my words. God is able to make these rocks sons of Abraham if he chooses. John picked up a rock and threw it into the water. Many Jews had relied on their heritage to replace personal holiness and closeness to God. John would not allow such excuses. John stepped forward even more.

His every word was filled with the passion of a prophet. People were beginning to wonder if John himself was the promised Messiah. "Listen," John exhorted, "the axe is laid out to the root of every tree. If a tree does not bear good fruit, it will be cut down." When John said these things, the entire crowd was stirred. "Then what shall we do?" they asked. "How shall we bear good fruit?" John was silent for a moment.

The people had been so entrenched in religious custom that they had forgotten the purity of good-natured actions. He pitied them. Using his voice gently, he encouraged them, saying, ''If you have two tunics, share with the one who has none.''

It is that simple. The tax collector from the crowd shouted another question. What of us tax collectors? How shall we repent and bear good fruit? John smiled. Do not let greed guide your decisions. You will have many opportunities to take more than you are authorized to. Don't.

Be fair and look out for those who struggle." A few Roman soldiers were also in attendance. "Teacher, what shall we do?" they asked. "You have much power as a soldier. Do not use it to threaten, extort, or bully. You also have much privilege. Be sure to not grow discontent with your wages. Corruption is knocking at your door continually. Do not give in like King Herod, who stole his brother's wife." He replied,

John was not afraid to speak truth to power. However, those in power were listening. The mob continued to hang on every word John spoke. His proclamations about the kingdom of God hit their hearts like well-aimed arrows. Whispers in the crowd continued to surface of John being the Messiah. As John was preaching, one man shouted out, "Are you the Promised One? Are you the Messiah?" John froze for a moment.

A smile curled up behind his shaggy beard. His glistening eyes reflected the water near his waist. He looked down at the water and cupped some in his hand. John's silence was palpable. He let the water spill out slowly, making a soft, trickling noise. "I baptize you with water," John said, breaking the silence. "Yet there is one who is coming, one far mightier than I."

"'You think I am some special messenger? Even I am unworthy to bend down before him and untie his sandals.' John's nearly perfect voice began to tremble for a moment. "'I baptize you with water,' he repeated. "'But the one who is coming will baptize you with the fire of the Holy Spirit.' "'Then who are you?' they asked John. "'I am a voice crying out in the wilderness,' John said.'

The people looked at one another, knowing that he had just quoted the prophet Isaiah. "I am here to prepare the way of the Lord." John continued to exhort the crowd until a figure caught his eye. A man standing amidst the people. There were no physical traits or facial features that set him apart from any other man. Yet John's eyes were locked. The people quickly caught on that John was looking at this man.

The man smiled back at John and slowly made his way to the front of the crowd. John waded out of the water with his eyes watering with unbelievable joy. Behold, John said with awe in his voice, the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world. Standing before John was Jesus. The crowd did not know him, but they soon would. Jesus held John's shoulders and embraced him.

"Will you baptize me, John?" he asked with a grin. John seemed almost insulted by the notion. "Of course not, my lord! A sinful man like me needs to be baptized by you! Why would you come to me?" Jesus made his way into the water, beckoning John to follow him. "You should baptize me, John, for you and I must both carry out the will of God." John, amazed by the humility of Jesus, followed him into the water.

Jesus had no sins to repent of. However, he was to identify with humanity in every way. By being baptized, Jesus modeled repentance for all to see. The crowd watched as John and Jesus stood beside one another in the water. All were silent, perplexed by what was happening. John took Jesus' back and slowly dipped him into the water.

Jesus was under for a moment, and when he emerged, the heavens opened up like a breaking dam. Light poured forth from the skies. People watched in amazement, and tears fell down John's face as he beheld the glory of heaven. Light spread in hundreds of directions, causing the crowd to watch in awe. Then, from the opening in the skies, the Spirit of God descended like a dove.

Gracefully, the spirit soared around Jesus and settled on his shoulders. Jesus pulled his wet hair back and looked up with a smile. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, basking. Cutting through the silence, a voice poured forth from the heavens. It was a voice that could be heard audibly, but also within the hearts and minds of everyone in attendance. The voice spoke clearly, saying,

"This is my beloved Son. It is in Him I am pleased." Then, in an instant, the radiance dissipated into the atmosphere. Without saying another word, Jesus hugged John and departed. The baptism of Jesus signified the beginning of a new era, a new chapter in the story of God. Emmanuel, God with us, had entered the scene and began His ministry.

With the favor of the Father and the power of his Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness. There was an enemy waiting for him, a giant even greater than Goliath. It was time for the Messiah to go into battle on behalf of humanity. Are you ready to have your bacon-loving mind blown?

Well, here it is. Oscar Mayer takes 12 hours to smoke some delicious thick-cut bacon. Most other bacon out there is smoked for four to six hours, but Oscar Mayer doubles that time. Let's put that into perspective. You could drive from Detroit to Omaha, and Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon wouldn't be finished smoking. You could spend the morning and all afternoon watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy in full. You could even go to bed, get a full night's sleep, wake up, shower,

shower, have breakfast, including some delicious Oscar Mayer bacon, and then drive to work and to think that the bacon would still be smoking. The point is, all of these take at least half a day to complete, and Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips for a really long time until it tastes really good. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon now and enjoy.

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It was dusk, and Jesus was looking over the land of Judea. The sound of chirping crickets began to harmonize with the rustling grass. It was time for Jesus to begin his fast, depriving his body of food for forty days. He would remove comfort and cling to God. However, he was not alone. An ancient enemy lurked among the reeds behind him, waiting for a moment to strike. For forty days, Jesus had gone without food.

His body was beginning to eat away at itself, and his mind was experiencing the dull effects of starvation. The weakness of humanity was felt in full force by Jesus. His body trembled, longing for any form of sustenance. It was in this moment a slithering presence emerged from the darkness. He slid his way behind Jesus and whispered in his ear, Look, it is the Son of God.

shaking like a starving animal. Satan hissed. His voice was quiet and sharp, like the silent sting of a scorpion. If you truly are the Son of God, why not just command these stones to become bread? Surely the Creator himself deserves some food. This was the first temptation, the lust of the flesh, a tactic that worked for Adam and Eve once in the garden.

Jesus' body ached from hunger. The pain was nearly unbearable. He considered for a moment what a small piece of bread would do. Yet, Jesus came to identify with the weakness of mankind. If he simply turned the stones into bread, he would take advantage of the power God gave him. Besides, he did not need bread. The comfort of the Father was enough.

Jesus, not looking behind him, replied with scripture, saying, "It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone, but by the very words uttered from God himself.'" It was difficult for Jesus to speak. He had a fever from the hunger, and the chills caused him to shiver. Satan, still behind Jesus, scowled. In an instant, he took Jesus up in his vision.

The two of them stood overlooking the earth. Satan showed Jesus the nations of the world: gold, silver, and jewels, armies, thrones, and monuments. "You see all this," Satan hissed. "These kingdoms are mine. They have been taken by me and are mine to give. All this, all this glory could be yours." Satan leaned in closer to Jesus.

"Look, Son of God, look at all that could be yours to rule. All you must do is worship." This was the second temptation, the lust for power, a temptation Eve once fell for when Satan promised she would be like God. Jesus' weary eyes looked upon the nations. Satan made an enticing offer to rule over his people once again

Yet, corruption was not the way to win the hearts of man. Jesus closed his eyes and quoted the scriptures once again, saying, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God. Him and him alone you shall serve.'" Satan scoffed and wrapped his cloak around Jesus. All of a sudden, the two of them were standing over the Temple of Jerusalem. They were at its highest point, overlooking the people below.

The wind howled as Jesus stood at the very tip of the massive structure. "Look!" Satan screamed through the wind, pointing to the people below. "They are all here waiting for you to show yourself, make a spectacle and jump off. For you and I both know what the scriptures say. They claim that the Lord will order his angels to protect you." This was the third temptation.

Jesus looked down at the people coming in and out of the temple. If they were to see a man flying on the wings of angels over the holy temple, surely they would worship him. Yet, it would be no greater than a circus act. Jesus knew that it was not signs and wonders that would save mankind. He knew what his true purpose was. Jesus answered silently,

Satan sneered at Jesus, ready to tempt him again. Before he could speak, Jesus turned around, looking him in the eyes for the first time. "Enough!" Jesus rebuked. Satan jarred back. The two of them were standing in the wilderness once again. The stars were settled high in the sky and the howling evening wind rolled over the hills. Satan shrunk at the voice of Jesus. They were not equals.

Jesus alone held the power. So, Satan retreated back into the grass so he may scheme more about how to take the heart of man. Jesus then departed to eat, recover, and pray. He had successfully resisted the temptations of the enemy, temptations that had caused humanity to stumble for thousands of generations. Jesus, even in his most weakened state, was able to overcome it.

This would be a foreshadowing of things to come. Jesus, even at his most afflicted, would overcome. John was sitting beside the shore, next to two of his disciples. The three men talked to each other, staring out at the tide rising and falling. The ocean breeze gracefully swayed the harbored boats back and forth. John knew that his time was drawing to a close. Not only had he spoken out against Herod one too many times,

But Jesus had come. It was time for his followers to bind themselves to him. John looked to his left, seeing Jesus walking beside the ocean. "Look there!" John pointed. "There he is! The Lamb of God!" The disciples stood and peered into the distance. "This is the one you should follow," John said gently. "He is the one I've been speaking of this whole time!" The two disciples looked at John with sorrowful eyes.

John laughed. "Do not worry about me, my friends. I must decrease so He may increase. Go now!" John shooed his disciples away, and the two of them ran to catch up to Jesus. The voice crying out in the wilderness had said all that needed to be said. His purpose had been fulfilled. John's example would be followed by teachers for thousands of generations.

Preach the name of Jesus, then be forgotten. It was about four in the afternoon, and the heat of the day began to dissipate. Jesus enjoyed the solitude as he walked beside the water. He strolled for a while until he heard more footsteps in the sand behind him. Smiling, Jesus stopped. Can I help you? He asked. The disciples, admittedly embarrassed they had not spoken up sooner, asked Jesus where he was staying.

"Come and see for yourself," Jesus said. They went with him to where Jesus was lodging, and the three of them spoke for a long while about the things of God. One of the disciples was Andrew, the son of a fisherman. After mere moments speaking with Jesus, Andrew was convinced that this was indeed the Messiah. The next day, Andrew hurried to his brother Simon.

Simon was a rough man, a fisherman by trade. He was known for his quick tongue, brash demeanor, and stubbornness.

Simon was tending to the nets on his boat after a long night of fishing. Simon! Andrew yelled. We have found him! We have found the Messiah! He barely paid any attention to his brother. What makes you so convinced? Simon scoffed. Wasn't the man in camel fur your Messiah? I cannot keep track. No, not John. Another is here. Andrew said, shaking his head. Come and see for yourself. Andrew brought Simon over to where Jesus was sitting.

Simon looked down at him, a bit underwhelmed. He thought the Messiah may be taller. The two of them shook hands as Jesus rose to his feet. Simon was surprised at Jesus' grit. He had the hands of a craftsman, not a rabbi. No doubt, Jesus had spent many years working with stone and wood. The two were silent for an awkward moment.

Jesus peered into Simon's eyes. "Simon, son of John," Jesus said, "your name will soon be called Peter, Stone." Simon did not know what this meant, but he had a feeling this was not the last time Jesus would perplex him. The next day, Jesus returned to Galilee. He walked among the marketplace, enjoying the busyness of the city. He watched the children playing in the streets and vendors talking amongst one another.

His heart was filled with love for them. Jesus strolled by the corner of the marketplace. There he found a man named Philip sitting on a ledge whittling a piece of wood. Jesus stared up at him for a while. Philip was lost in his own world, content to be alone with his craft. "Philip!" Jesus said. Startled, Philip fell back and landed on his back with a thud. Jesus helped him to his feet. Philip was an awkward man, yet filled with a passion for life.

He brushed the dust off his tunic and looked up at Jesus. "May I help you?" Philip asked. "Follow me, Philip," Jesus answered. Philip had heard about Jesus from Andrew, so he followed. The two of them meandered through the marketplace, talking. Philip was enamored with the words of Jesus and marveled that such an eloquent teacher would take time to speak with him. As the day grew on, Philip was more convinced that Jesus was who people claimed him to be.

After speaking with Jesus, Philip had to find his friend, Nathaniel, but he was nowhere to be seen. Philip looked high and low but could not find him anywhere. So, Philip waited outside his home. At the bottom of a hill, about a quarter mile away from Nathaniel's home, was a fig tree. He often sat under there, speaking with God. Nathaniel leaned his back against the trunk of the tree, looking up at the rustling leaves above.

Tears streamed down Nathanael's face. There he poured his soul out before God. The storms within Nathanael's heart and mind would often consume him. It was his time away with the Lord that gave him strength. Nathanael was a good man of good reputation. He had a tender heart and valued God's law. Yet his hard work and character did not come without faults.

After Nathaniel finished praying, he picked up his cart of dried goods and went back home. There he found Philip waiting for him. Philip helped Nathaniel unload baskets from a cart into his home. "We have found him, Nathaniel," Philip said. "The Messiah!"

He has come. I have been hearing rumors that John the Baptist was the Messiah, Nathaniel said. Is it not him? Philip shook his head. No, no. It is Jesus, the son of a craftsman in Nazareth. Nathaniel let out a laugh, nearly dropping the basket of dried figs. Did you just say Nazareth?

Philip, you have never been to that place. It is dull, dirty, and a breeding ground for criminals. Can anything good come from that place? See for yourself, Philip replied. I am meeting him soon. You can be the judge of whether anything good comes from Nazareth. The two men came to meet Jesus. He had just concluded teaching outside the synagogue. As Nathanael approached, Jesus smiled and opened his arms. Nathanael, now he is a genuine son of Israel.

A man with a noble heart and deep integrity. Nathaniel looked, puzzled. Jesus spoke as if he knew him. But surely they had never met. Perhaps Philip told Jesus about him. Nathaniel looked at Philip. Philip shrugged. He had not mentioned Nathaniel at all. How do you know who I am? Nathaniel asked. I could see you under the fig tree. Jesus replied gently. Nathaniel's eyes immediately widened. His bottom lip began to quiver.

He was sure that he was alone underneath that big tree. No one else knew, but he and those few words from Jesus were enough. Nathanael bowed at his feet, saying, "Rabbi, you truly are the Son of God, King of Israel. It is an honor to be near you." Jesus knelt down at eye level with Nathanael. He smiled and gave a kind laugh.

You believe all this because I saw you under a tree? Well, just you wait, my friend. Even greater things are yet to come. Jesus helped Nathaniel to his feet and brushed the dust off his tunic. I tell you the truth, Nathaniel. You will see heaven open and the angels of God showcasing the upward path between heaven and earth. Nathaniel looked back at Philip. A sly grin was on his face.

Apparently something good could come out of Nazareth. The next day, Jesus and a few of his new friends attended a wedding celebration in Cana. The ceremony and celebration had lasted days as guests, friends, and family laughed and danced. Mary, Jesus' mother, was also in attendance. Hundreds of people were dancing to music, sharing stories, and allowing the cares of the world to melt under the warmth of friendship.

Jesus loved listening to people laugh. He loved watching the children dance. He looked as the bride and groom cherished every moment together. These were the things he created for man to enjoy, and he was pleased to share it with them. As was custom in those days, the wedding lasted several days. Food and wine flowed as guests continued to dance and sing. Mary watched as wine cups continued to fill an empty glass.

She knew what was going to happen. The hosts were going to run out of wine, and sure enough, they did. People began to stir, and the hosts became more and more anxious about people enjoying themselves. However, Mary was not worried. She had bore and raised the Son of God, and He was several feet away. Jesus was reclined at one of the tables with a few of His followers. He looked up to see His mother approaching with purpose.

Jesus smirked. He had seen that look before. Mary put her hands on her hips. They are out of wine, Mary said. Jesus knew exactly what she was saying. And what does that have to do with me? Jesus playfully replied. He knew what she wanted. She wanted him to bring more wine. She wanted a miracle. You know my hour has not yet come to reveal myself, Mother. Jesus said gently.

In a way only a mother could, Mary ignored her son's answer. She beckoned the servants to come over and brought them to Jesus. "This is my son. Do what he tells you to do," she said. And with a sly grin, Mary walked back to her table to reassure the guests more wine was coming soon. Jesus chuckled and rubbed his temple. Even the Son of God was not above listening to his mother.

Jesus stood to his feet and gathered the servants. He greeted them and sent them to fill six stone jars with water. The servants were confused, but they did as they were told. The jars were massive and very heavy. It took two servants to carry just one jar. They traveled to the nearby well and filled the jars to the brim. Although it seemed like nonsense, they did as they were told.

Rolling up his sleeves, Jesus helped carry some of the jugs back to the celebration. Then, he gestured for the servants to take the water and pour them into people's cups. One of the servants darted his eyes towards Jesus, then towards the bride's father. "We will look like fools if we pour water into his cup," he thought. Nevertheless, all the servants did as they were told.

As they brought the jars of water to the guests, Jesus reclined at his table. The disciples were beside him, waiting to see what would happen next. One of the servants approached the host and gently poured the contents into his cup. To the servant's dismay, water did not come out, but wine. Deep, fragrant red wine flowed from the stone jar. The host took a sip and laughed. I see we have saved the best for last, he shouted.

The servants were shocked and the disciples were left speechless. The rest of the guests were served wine and the celebration continued. Mary looked over at Jesus from the other side of the room. Jesus raised his cup to her, smiled and nodded. Mary gave a look of contentment. It was a truly special moment. The first public miracle Jesus ever performed was not a grand gesture of strength, nor was it a mighty act of nature.

It was a small favor to please his mother. No one knew where the wine had come from except the servants and the disciples that watched. In this act, Jesus showcased the heart of Elisha. He showed that a miracle could be a simple and kind act of service towards the ones you love. Are you ready to have your bacon-loving mind blown?

Well, here it is. Oscar Mayer takes 12 hours to smoke some delicious thick-cut bacon. Most other bacon out there is smoked for four to six hours, but Oscar Mayer doubles that time. Let's put that into perspective. You could drive from Detroit to Omaha, and Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon wouldn't be finished smoking. You could spend the morning and all afternoon watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy in full. You could even go to bed, get a full night's sleep, wake up, shower,

shower, have breakfast, including some delicious Oscar Mayer bacon, and then drive to work and to think that the bacon would still be smoking. The point is, all of these take at least half a day to complete, and Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips for a really long time until it tastes really good. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon now and enjoy.

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In Orlando, anything is possible if you can imagine it. Plan your escape today and save at visitorlando.com. That's visitorlando.com for everything you need for an amazing getaway. Our King has arrived. This episode set the tone for the rest of our story to unfold. In a short time, Jesus' divinity, humanity, and personality were revealed to us. But a few things needed to happen before Jesus entered the scene.

First, we had a prelude highlighting Israel's need for a Savior. Moses and Isaiah were two of many in the Old Testament to prophesy about a promised Redeemer. Israel's problem from the very beginning was slavery. Not just slavery to foreign nations, but to their own sin. They constantly found themselves captive to their own depravity and selfishness. Their enslavement to Egypt, Babylon, and Rome were merely pictures of their inner struggle.

Israel was continually captive, unable to break their chains. So they pined after the promised deliverer to save them. How would they know who this person was or when he would come? God also promised a forerunner, someone to pave the way for Jesus to come. That person was going to be a voice crying out from the wilderness. That person ended up being the one and only John the Baptist.

The episode begins with John the Baptist, a rugged and interesting character. There was something mystic and strange about him, almost like a sage or hermit found in fairy tales. His earthly and naturalistic features were supposed to send us back to an ancient time when people dwelt in the Garden of Eden. John was a messenger from a different plane, hearkening to the coming of the promised son of Eve.

His message was simple, repent and be baptized. Although the message was straightforward, it was far from easy. At this point in history, the Jewish people were entrenched in ideology and dogma. Their tendency toward vain religiosity made it difficult for the message of repentance to sink in. The religious elite had a particularly hard time receiving the message John was proclaiming.

They had spent centuries protecting themselves under a religious system. John confronted their hypocrisy, and Jesus would later continue in that fight. John's passion drew a large crowd. Many people turned from their sin and devoted their lives to God. John was paving the way for a new hero to emerge, Jesus. Jesus came onto the scene and was baptized by John. It didn't take long for the story to reveal exactly who Jesus was.

The heavens opened up, the Spirit descended, and a voice cried out from the skies, declaring, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This event signaled the beginning of Jesus' ministry. By being baptized, Jesus identified with humanity's need for repentance. Jesus didn't have anything to repent from, but he was baptized to signal the beginning of something glorious. After Jesus was baptized, he retreated to the wilderness to fast and pray.

It is every leader's destiny to spend time in the wilderness. Moses, David, Elijah all spent time alone in the wilderness. It is the dry and hungry wasteland where leaders find their true strength in God. It was in the wilderness where Satan tempted Jesus. And it was in the wilderness where Jesus established his dominance over darkness.

Everyone, too, has moments of spiritual despair and temptation. In these moments, we realize how strong our faith truly is. Faith that goes untested is destined for failure. I want to focus on two moments in this episode that have implications for you and me. The first is the call of Nathanael. Initially, Nathanael was skeptical that anything good could come from a dirty place like Nazareth. His guard was up as he walked to meet Jesus.

However, his guard was immediately thrown off when Jesus acted like he knew him. Nathaniel asked if they had met and he responded, I could see you under the fig tree. This was clearly a space where Nathaniel met God. Nobody else but God could have known about the fig tree. Jesus immediately broke down the walls in Nathaniel's heart.

It is not a stretch for us to imagine what this fig tree was for Nathaniel. It was probably a secret place where he wrestled with his feelings about God, prayed, and meditated on the Word. Perhaps it was a quiet place of contemplation and rest. Whatever it was, we know it was a place where he was alone, and only he and God knew what went on there.

We all have these areas of our lives, areas that are unseen to the rest of the world. Moments of weakness, vulnerability, honesty, and maybe even dreams for the future. These are hidden parts of who we are that nobody else knows about. It is often in these secret places where God desires to do his greatest work. Psalm 51 says, Behold, you delight in truth and the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

There is great safety in having a God who knows us and is not surprised by our flaws or skeptical of our gifts. We saw Nathanael's cynicism melt away when he felt known by God. His skeptical posture shifted and he declared, Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.

Do you see the shift in posture? He went from, if this guy is from Nazareth, so he must be worthless, to you are the son of God. What changed? What changed is that Nathanael was disarmed. Jesus gave him a word of encouragement that piqued his interest and then reminded him that he was there when Nathanael was at his most vulnerable and alone. Jesus wants to remind you today that he sees you and understands you when nobody else sees you.

and he is there when you are at your most lonely. For any of you who have felt forgotten, misunderstood, and alone, Jesus is with you under the fig tree. The episode ended with Jesus' first miracle. There are two points I want to make about this event before we say goodbye. The first point is small but important. Jesus' first miracle was doing a favor for his mother. One of his final acts before dying on the cross will also be taking care of his mother.

Jesus was the Son of God, but he was also the Son of Mary. He was able to balance the divine call of God and the earthly call of family. The second point is a larger point. You guys know Scripture is multilayered. The Gospels are no exception. They weren't written on accident. And John, in particular, inserts more commentary in the words, imagery, and sentence structure than any other of the Gospel writers.

This story from a bird's eye view is a look at the new work Jesus is doing in replacement of the old Jewish law and tradition. The old religious system has run out and fallen short. Jesus is going to take what was lacking and fill it with something new and spectacular. His work is new wine. The tension we will see between him and the Pharisees in future episodes exemplifies this concept. Jesus has come to usher in a new and fresh way of living with God.

The old way has become empty and run out. New work is ahead. In our next episode, Jesus is going to showcase his new work through the lowly outcasts and people on the fringe.

His new work will not begin with flash, pomp, and glamour. It will begin with the sick, needy, and poor. Join us next time for Episode 5, The Outcast. Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime, go to Pray.com. And to expand your Heroes in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at TonyEvans.org forward slash heroes.

Share this podcast with a family member or friend so they can know Jesus Christ in a personal way. You never know how great of an impact the Bible and this podcast can have on someone's life. God bless.

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Now we have a level of privilege that our parents never had. So what do we do with it, right? How do we utilize the opportunities that we have that they don't, right? And a lot of that is educating ourselves, educating ourselves on how to not make the same mistakes they did. ♪

Like a good neighbor? State Farm is there. State Farm, proud sponsor of My Cultura Podcast Network. Hey, who doesn't love bacon? And did you know Oscar Mayer smokes their delicious bacon for 12 hours over real hardwood? That's a really long time to perfect the smoky flavor and even longer than it takes to go on a long road trip from Chicago to Pittsburgh, stop for food along the way, and still get there while the bacon is smoking.

The point is, Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips. There's no wrong way to enjoy it. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick cut bacon now.