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We all love to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. We love the vulnerability behind God’s choice of Mary, the young woman who was engaged to Joseph to be Jesus’ mother. We love the humility of his being born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. We love the magnificence of the angel announcing his birth to shepherds and then having the heavenly host of angels praising and glorifying God. We love the reverential sobriety of the wise men coming with gifts for the small child, Jesus. Some of the things we don’t focus as much attention on are how God used specific individuals surrounding all of these events to speak in a prophetic way and outline in great detail what this series of incredible experiences would mean. Today we pause and consider the words of Zacharias and Elizabeth who were the parents of John the Baptist, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Simeon the prophet and Anna the prophetess.
ZachariasLet’s begin with Zacharias, the Jewish priest who, because of his initial doubt, was struck mute by the angel Gabriel until the birth of his son John. This silence became a period of reflection, enabling him to connect Old Testament prophecies with Gabriel’s announcement. At John’s circumcision, Zacharias was again able to speak. He prophesied about both John’s role as forerunner and Jesus as the “horn of salvation.” His prophecy was powerfully based upon the words and promises of the Old Testament.
Elizabeth and MaryHis middle aged and childless wife, Elizabeth, rejoiced at God’s mercy in giving her a son. Filled with the spirit, she recognized Mary’s child as her Lord and humbly celebrated Mary’s blessing. Mary herself responded with faith and praise, further echoing Old Testament themes of God’s mercy, strength and justice.
SimeonAfter Jesus’ birth, Simeon, an aged and devout man who had been promised he would see the Messiah before death, prophesied about Jesus as salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles. Again, Old Testament prophecies were clearly linked to the work that Jesus would later accomplish.
AnnaAnna, an elderly prophetess, added her testimony, giving thanks and speaking of redemption to those awaiting Jerusalem’s deliverance.
Together, these accounts show God’s spirit orchestrating events and inspiring faithful individuals to proclaim truths that connected Old Testament promises with New Testament fulfillment. Their obedience, humility and prophetic insight highlight the broader plan of redemption for all, unfolding through Jesus’ birth.
The post How Did God’s Spirit Inspire Those Surrounding Jesus’ Birth? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
If you haven’t noticed, our world in a very big way has lost its grip on the value of gratitude. Instead of having a thankful heart for whatever our opportunities we may have and what we may receive, we seem to double down on living with a sense of entitlement. We can look at this and wonder where we went wrong! The fact is this issue is the result of human imperfection and has been around for a very long time. The story of the Ten Lepers in Luke 17 reminds us of this. Leprosy—once a living death—left its victims isolated, disfigured and desperate. Yet when Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to give thanks. Why does thankfulness matter so deeply to God? And what does this ancient disease reveal about the spiritual condition of humanity today?
This whole healing account offers a profound spiritual metaphor for sin and redemption, emphasizing the transformative power of gratitude and faith. Leprosy, a devastating disease in biblical times, aptly pictures the isolating, disfiguring and numbing effects of sin. Victims were socially ostracized, legally declared unclean and forced to live apart from society. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one—a Samaritan—returned to express gratitude, highlighting the rarity and depth of true thankfulness.
One uniqueness regarding this particular account is that the healing was not immediate; Jesus instructed the lepers to go show themselves to the priests, requiring faith before any visible change occurred. Their obedience mirrors the future resurrection, where humanity will walk toward complete healing through faith, not instant transformation.
Key spiritual parallels between leprosy and sin include:Progressive decay: Leprosy worsens over time, just as sin deepens without divine intervention.
Numbness: Leprosy dulls pain, leading to self-harm; sin desensitizes conscience, causing spiritual damage.
Isolation: Lepers were cut off from community; sin separates us from God and others.
The Samaritan’s gratitude was immediate and passionate, even before being officially declared clean. His response exemplifies the kind of faith that transforms—not just heals. Jesus’ phrase “your faith has made you well” implies both physical and spiritual restoration. This phrase appears only three times in the New Testament, each time marking a deeper healing tied to faith and gratitude.
While God’s mercy is freely given, gratitude is the evidence of transformative faith. The Samaritan’s return to glorify God reveals the heart posture God desires—faith expressed through gratitude, even in adversity.
The post What Does Leprosy Teach Us About Sin and Gratitude? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When examining God’s word as a whole, it quickly becomes evident that Jesus’ resurrection was the most awe-inspiring marker in the entire Bible. This recognition entices us to search out the specific leading Jesus gave to his followers on his first resurrected day. What did our Lord say and do to build a foundation for God’s plan to continue developing?
There were several unique and inspiring messages that Jesus relayed to his followers on that first day of his resurrection.
Here are a few:* Jesus began by echoing the angel at the empty tomb, instructing the women to “fear not” and to share the news of his resurrection with his disciples. This phrase, “fear not,” became a foundational theme, reassuring his followers and preparing them for the upcoming monumental shift in their faith. * Jesus directly addressed his disciples as “brethren” for the first time after his resurrection, signifying an elevation in their relationship—from servants to friends and finally, to family in the kingdom of God. This reflected the broader message of redemption and reconciliation with God. * When Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene who initially struggled with grief and disbelief, she experienced a profound transformation upon recognizing him. Her mission shifted from tending to his body to sharing the message of his resurrection, symbolizing the prioritization of spiritual devotion over earthly concerns. * Later that same day, Jesus encountered two of his disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. Consumed by grief and confusion, these two unknowingly engaged with Jesus. By reframing their understanding of the Scriptures, Jesus illuminated the fulfillment of prophecies and strengthened their faith before revealing his identity.
His method of teachingJesus’ first resurrection day messages focused on prophetic fulfillment as he encouraged His followers to overcome fear, embrace their mission and recognize their role in God’s plan. His method of teaching—through empathy, scriptural clarity and patient revelation—transformed grief into joy and doubt into conviction.
Jesus’ resurrection was not just a miraculous event but a turning point that redefined his followers’ faith, understanding and purpose. This encourages us to embrace faith, trust in God’s plan and courageously share his message.
The post What Was the Message of Jesus After His Resurrection? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We have all heard the saying, “Life is what you make it!” It is usually at the approach of a new year or a birthday or some landmark life event when we turn our focus inward. We think about changes we would like to make. Normally, these changes are aimed at finding a greater measure of happiness, health or fulfillment in our daily lives. So, what should we decide needs changing? Even more importantly, how will we decide to implement those changes? On the surface this may sound easy, but for the vast majority of us, it is not. Life tends to get in the way, along with old habits and second thoughts. Then there is our old friend, our comfort zone! Why would we want to leave that, as it is so, well…comfortable? What can we learn from the Scriptures to help us actually implement God-honoring life changes?
WHY?The first big question to ask about making life changes is why. Why do I think I want to take this or that part of my life and alter it to fit some other mold or objective? What do I see as the real benefit? Answering this question honestly will give us insight as to what level of value the proposed changes truly hold for our future. Think about it. As a professed Christian, our whole lives are supposed to be about serving God, about doing His will. If the changes I seek are primarily focused on me and not Christlikeness, then what am I really pursuing?
Is it what I look like or what I really am?There’s a big difference between trying to make myself look better compared to others and trying to live up to my calling in Christ. Obviously, one way brings me into the center of everyone’s thinking and perception. Do I want to be more acceptable, more respected or more admired in relation to those around me? Or do I want others to more fully notice Christ in me? While this may seem like an odd way to look at making significant life changes, it certainly is a credible approach. Even if the life changes we seek are focused on our physical wellbeing or rethinking old habits, our motivation should always gravitate toward letting Christ shine through us.
Ok, so we may need to do some rethinking when it comes to our motivation. As we work on this reexamination, we also need to consider our comfort zones of old habits. Wait a minute – does changing for the sake of Christ mean that all of my comfort zones are now obsolete? Check out our December 30, 2024 podcast, “How Will I Choose to Live the Life That is Ahead of Me?” for answers. We look at the dynamics of making life changes as well as how to leave old comfort zones and find new ones. All of this brings us to being positioned to make truly valuable God-honoring life changes. Walk this path with us; it is well worth the effort!
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When Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, he came to pay the price for Adam’s sin by willingly offering himself as a just and equal ransom price to redeem Adam – and therefore the entire human race – from sin and death. To prepare for his coming as a man, God sent the angel Gabriel to deliver preparatory messages to John the Baptist’s father Zacharias, and to Jesus’ mother Mary. Joseph would be guided by spiritually driven dreams. When Jesus was born, a whole host of angels made the announcement to some lowly shepherds who were in the fields with their flocks. When this angelic announcement came, it was prefaced with some beautiful words of assurance, “Fear not!” This reassuring “fear not” sentiment would echo repeatedly throughout Jesus’ entire ministry!
What comfort!To be able to tell someone who is afraid to “fear not” and actually have a reassuring effect on them is powerful. Think about the strength those two words can have when someone is in a situation that for whatever reason, has overwhelmed them. To say “fear not” is to say that whatever is scaring you doesn’t have to. It is to say that you can be equipped to handle whatever it is that is coming your way. It is to replace fear with peace and assurance.
It’s eye-opening to think about how often the words “fear not” were proclaimed before, during and after Jesus’ ministry. What is even more impressive is who uttered these words and the authority with which they were spoken. Angels spoke these words several times before Jesus was born. Because these angels were sent from God, their messages were delivered with divine authority. When angels told Zacharias, Mary and a group of shepherds to “fear not,” they were relaying God’s personal assurances.
When God says, “fear not,” well, you simply don’t need to be afraid!Looking into the ministry of Jesus, we see this pattern of assurance continue. There were several instances where Jesus told his followers to “fear not.” When we begin looking into these varied accounts several significant observations begin to emerge. First of all, the life Jesus brought to his followers was like nothing they had ever previously seen or experienced. The magnitude of wisdom, miracles, teaching and challenges to their normal lives proved to be beyond their expectations. “Fear not” would not only become a common phrase they would hear from Jesus, but it would also be a necessary one as well.
Check out our December 23, 2024 podcast, “Why Did the Angel Say “Fear Not”? for more. We touch on the angel’s messages of assurance that prepared the key players and the world for the birth of Jesus. Then we focus one at a time on the several “fear not” messages Jesus spoke. We find a thrilling pattern of care and guidance for his followers at every level of their newfound discipleship. Join us and see how the lessons of their “fear not” experiences can bring us strength and comfort as we walk with Jesus today.
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Life is forever busy. Whether it’s a holiday season or tax season or baseball season or following this, that and the other influencers on social media, we always have too much to do and not enough time or energy to do it. With all of this being said, how often do we stop and think about being generous? You know – just giving of our time or resources because we see a need. Built on the question of giving generously is the matter of how to go about it. How do we know what to give, how much to give and when to stop? Is generosity always appropriate? What if there is no appreciation for a gift? Is that an indication that we should focus our giving elsewhere? So many questions! It looks like the subject of freely giving needs some “generous” consideration!
Christian generosityMany people are moved to be generous because something touches their heart, provoking them to contribute. While this is certainly good and to be encouraged, we need to be clear that Christian generosity is even bigger. Ideally, we want our giving to be modeled after God’s own principles of generosity. There is much written in the Bible that describes the kinds of gifts God gives here and now in this age. One basic principle of how He gives is that His gifts are always given for the ultimate good of the recipients. Understanding this single point helps us to glimpse just how important our generosity can be.
How should we be giving?Now comes the question regarding how to apply this. How do we in a practical sense, give to others in need while keeping everyone’s ultimate good in mind? A good place to start is with the simple phrase, “Don’t just give to bail someone out of a problem, give to build them up.” This kind of giving stretches us to an entirely different level of thinking and action. Instead of just giving a handout and hoping we helped, we are now engaging in the activity. While this obviously takes greater effort and a measure of spiritual wisdom, it can also yield much greater blessings for all involved.
Giving can also be done in many different ways. We can support others financially. Perhaps we can assist with ongoing physical needs be they food, shelter or physical aid. We can also contribute to others through the generous gift of our time.
Check out our November 25, 2024 podcast, “How Generous Should We Be?” for more. We base our generosity conversation on God’s own principles while looking at the practicality of those three ways to give. We share several true stories of giving in these areas. Some of these experiences ended up working out well and resulted in great blessings. Others of these experiences ended up not quite the way we had planned. That brings us to another question. If our giving in a certain way ends up not working out, what do we do then? Join us on this wonderful journey of generosity and find out!
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Demons are scary. Not only are they mysterious, but they are also powerful beyond our human capacity. In our last episode, we mentioned scriptures that assure us they are restrained in “chains of darkness.” While this condition does limit them, they can still exert great influence on our world – and on individuals as well. We know Jesus cast many demons out of many people and some of his followers were able to do the same. The big question here has to do with whether or not such power and authority is still present within Christianity. Are we supposed to be casting out demons today? If so, who is supposed to be doing this and what scriptural instruction have we been given to follow?
Then and nowLooking through denominational Christian history over the last 1,900 year or so, we can observe a wide range of exorcism practices. From rituals, to prayers, to incense to relics, crosses and commands, these varied practices have widely been in use. The tragedy here is that until recently, there was not a deep understanding of mental health issues. Many of the “exorcisms” performed over the centuries ended up further harming those afflicted people instead of helping them. Looking at this in the most positive way, we see well-meaning efforts creating damage due to medical science ignorance.
How did Jesus do it?This brings us to the fundamental question about what Jesus’ actual instructions were regarding casting out demons. It is important to note that when he himself cast demons out, it was basic. His command simply brought them out. Every time. Interestingly, all of the other recorded examples of demons being cast out by his followers seem to follow that same pattern of simplicity. We have no record of any rituals, lengthy prayers or ceremony.
An amazing fact is the Greek word for “exorcist” is only used once in the New Testament. It may be surprising that this word actually means “one who binds by an oath (or spell) i.e. by implication an exorcist (conjurer).” This definition of the practice of exorcisms gives us a very different perspective on casting demons out than what Jesus did and taught. The sole use of this word was to describe some Jewish individuals in the Apostle Paul’s day who were in Ephesus. These men were posing as authorities regarding the casting out of demons and had their fraudulence dramatically exposed.
Check out our October 28, 2024 podcast, “Should Christians Be Involved in Exorcisms?” for more. We examine what Jesus instructed his followers to do and thoroughly look into one of the more dramatic examples of Jesus casting out demons. Through this example, we are able to glean an understanding of the powerful principles that cast demons away from their personal manipulation of individuals. We then directly address the question of what our role is and is not regarding demon possession today. Join us for this sobering and enlightening conversation. We follow the biblical path to knowing and handling our current-day Christian responsibilities.
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Let’s begin by stating the obvious: the world is a mess! Now, we all know the world has been a mess for a very long time, so the question is, is this even news? The answer is yes, it is! Our present-day mess has everything to do with the ability to be connected with as many perspectives on and interpretations of truth as we would like. We can now easily and often categorize, judge or ignore anything and everything that doesn’t fit into our personal worldview. All of this brings us to a place where we effortlessly define good and evil according to preference and not principle. We believe Jesus died and was resurrected to redeem the world from sin, and yet, we are now so much further from godly principles than ever before. How can we harmonize these seemingly conflicting thoughts?
It sure doesn’t look like things are getting better…We are currently witnessing continuous decline of Christianity throughout our world. Such a decline can easily lead us to the conclusion that Jesus’ mission to save the world is crumbling before our eyes. Such a conclusion would not only be a mistake, but it would also actually hide the truth. John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Near the end of his ministry, Jesus spoke of his crucifixion and of drawing ALL men to himself. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul tells us that ALL die in Adam and ALL will be made alive in Christ. All of this sounds great, but it certainly does not look like it’s happening.
Prophecy foretold the world would degrade.When Jesus prophesied about his second coming, he explained that the conditions of the world would be severely degraded, as in the days of Noah. When we look at the immoral and evil that existed then, we can certainly see its parallel today. Jesus not only makes this comparison to alert us of coming trouble, but also to assure us he knew things would look hopeless. The flood of Noah’s day fundamentally changed the way the world worked. Jesus was telling us the time of trouble would also do the same thing. However, this trouble would open the door for God’s kingdom as well.
Okay, so far we seem to be just going down the rabbit hole of death and destruction! Where does Jesus “saving the world” come into play? Check out our April 1, 2024 podcast, “If Jesus’ Resurrection Saved the World, Why is it Such a Mess?” for answers. We consider the prophecies of trouble and destruction within the context of the whole message of the Bible. Beneath the surface we can see the core reasons Jesus came to earth and gave himself as a ransom sacrifice. We collect the varied puzzle pieces the Old and New Testaments give us. Once assembled, these pieces present a breathtaking picture of just how Jesus DOES save the world. Join us as we document and appreciate these dramatic biblical lessons!
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As Christians, when we think about Jesus and his reason for being born as a man, we’re always inspired by the selflessness of his sacrifice to redeem Adam and all of humanity from sin and death. This gift is truly beyond anything we deserve. When we think of the Messiah, we instinctively think of Jesus. In our last episode, we explored a Jewish perspective regarding their expectations of Messiah. What we found were several differences, but also several inspiring similarities. Today, we delve deeply into many Old Testament prophecies. We’ll focus in on the astounding detail with which they not only describe Jesus, but also provide all of humanity with the hope for a new life and the opportunity to live it forever. The bottom line? We’re blessed to have God’s amazing plan unfold through Jesus our Lord and Messiah.
It’s a rare wordThe word messiah is only translated as “Messiah” twice in the Old Testament. As we discussed in Part I, this does NOT in any way minimize the importance of who the Messiah is and what he does. When we begin to explore the Old Testament prophecies that describe this chosen one, a startling fact emerges: This Messiah, this chosen one, is the primary subject of countless prophecies written by many God-inspired authors over thousands of years. Though rarely called out by name, he is THE central focus of God’s entire plan for humanity.
Prophecies begin in early Genesis, when God hands down the pronouncements for sin to Adam, Eve and Satan. The fact that the “seed of the woman” would crush the “head of the serpent” (Satan) begins the revealment of Messiah. In Exodus, Moses speaks of a prophet like him, whom the people are urged to listen to. These prophecies continue right through the entire Old Testament. They end in the last chapter of Malachai, the last book of the Old Testament.
Not only are there countless prophecies with incredible details all over the Bible, but they are interlocked in amazing ways. Because Messiah is described in so many different ways, we can research from prophetic writing to prophetic writing and author to author and trace even greater depths of meaning. Finding agreement in these various ways verifies the unity of Scripture and solidifies the inspiration of God’s Holy Word.
As good as all of this is, there’s more!Not only do we have prophecies verifying one another, but we also have them verifying Jesus as the one and only promised Messiah. Skeptics say Jesus could have scripted his experiences to fit what the prophecies said. I suppose that could be true with minor details here and there regarding his earthly life. But it is simply impossible for all of it to have been acted out. Check out our December 26, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Know Jesus is the Promised Messiah? (Part II)” for more. We detail several prophecies and bring them forward to show their unmistakable New Testament fulfillments. This is a scriptural conversation absolutely worth engaging in. Don’t miss it!
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Christians differ on a lot of things, and sometimes these differences can be troublesome. The basics we all agree on are centered on Jesus. We believe he died for our sins, and we believe he came to give his truest followers the opportunity to be in heaven with him. We also believe he is the Messiah. As a matter of fact, we look at the Old Testament prophecies and have a hard time comprehending why those of the Jewish faith aren’t able to recognize his Messiahship. It seems obvious! Obvious until we realize a few startling scriptural facts. First, the label “Messiah” is only used twice in the Old Testament. It is only used twice in the New Testament as well. This means that what we see as overtly obvious, may in fact be more hidden than we ever thought. So, what do we do now?
AnointedThe word translated “Messiah” only twice in the Old Testament is used 37 other times. Because this word simply means “anointed” or “consecrated,” it actually applies to many individuals. The priests of the Jewish Law were “anointed.” Kings of Israel were “anointed.” As a matter of fact, King Saul was one of those anointed ones. When Saul was pursuing David to kill him and David had opportunities to do Saul harm, his reaction was always the same. He continually repeated that he would not touch the Lord’s anointed.
But there are a lot of chosen ones!This tells us the position of being one anointed by God is a very special designation. It shows us they have been chosen to do God’s work and represent His way. So, does this minimize our Christian perspective of THE Messiah? Does it make him just another chosen one in a long line of chosen ones? While the short answer is “of course not,” this answer certainly needs a lot of explanation. By digging into many Old Testament prophecies, we learn that Messiah is represented in many different ways. While rarely called the Messiah, he is often described as a king, a priest, a shepherd and a lawgiver. The list goes on.
Was Jesus disqualified?This understanding helps us to see the comprehensiveness of exactly who Messiah is and what he stands for. However, there are other issues. According to the perspective of some Jewish faithful, Jesus could not be the Messiah due to several points. First, they claim the genealogies given in Matthew and Luke have a variety of problems that would disqualify Jesus. Second, they state that because Jesus died, it means he failed, and that failure disqualifies him as well. What do we do with all of this? Check out our December 18, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Know Jesus is the Promised Messiah? (Part I)” for answers. We open several prophecies, put scriptures in context and uncover the deep truths of how Jesus is plainly shown as THE Messiah. There are inspiring scriptural discoveries here you don’t want to miss!
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The world around us moves so fast that it’s easy to forget to pause and consider just how profoundly God has blessed us. In the United States, somewhere tucked in between the massive Halloween parties and the exhilaration of Christmas, Santa Claus, presents and fun, is a holiday called Thanksgiving. While we won’t take the time to discuss how it came to be, we do want to remember why. Thanksgiving’s origin was actually simple. It was proclaimed to pause and consider just how profoundly blessed those settlers were to have lived through a hard winter and now experience a harvest in preparation for the next hard winter. In short, the thanksgiving they gave was to God above, period. Today we’ll talk about a similar thanksgiving to God but under the biblical name of Ebenezers.
The name of a place and a rockBack in the days of ancient Israel, even before they had a king, Samuel was God’s prophet for the people. In spite of Samuel’s presence, a series of events led them down a road of essentially abandoning God for over 20 years. Finally, under Samuel’s leadership, they begin to turn back towards God. As their enemies the Philistines are preparing to attack, the people urged Samuel to pray to God for their deliverance. God does miraculously deliver them, and Samuel immediately places a big rock as a remembrance of their experience and proclaims, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” He names the rock Ebenezer.
That’s it. Other than being the name of a location, Ebenezer is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. So, why would we be focusing on this one little experience with a named rock for lessons about gratitude? The conclusion is that like so many other things in Scripture, there is an incredible substance beneath the surface. Think about it, this rock was just an ordinary boulder in its natural form. Why not carve it into a shape? Why not engrave something on it? And why name the rock “Ebenezer,” of all things? And why say, “Thus far” the Lord has helped? Did Samuel think God was going to change His mind?
Check out our November 20, 2023 podcast, “What is Your Ebenezer?” for answers. We dig into all of these questions and find an amazing depth of wisdom in the answers. With the principles we uncover, we trace Ebenezer-like experiences in the New Testament. We find that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul used these principles as valuable ways of capturing the gratitude we should have when God delivers us.
Life can be hectic.It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the current of world events, social media and the dramas of every day. All of this is really about gratitude and finding practical ways to keep thanksgiving relevant in very specific ways. It turns out, Ebenezers can be powerful and significant tools to remember God’s deliverance with heartfelt thanksgiving, if we know how to use them. Join us and learn what the prophet Samuel taught by simply naming a rock.
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The last week of Jesus’ earthly life was both eventful and tumultuous. His riding triumphantly into Jerusalem four days before his crucifixion was a dramatic and unmistakable display of hope and respect by the hundreds of thousands who honored him as he rode. The events that would take place after his kingly entrance into the city would also be dramatic, as the wheels of betrayal and murder would furiously spin towards their grisly end. Through all of this, Jesus never faltered in his character or objectives. Today we will focus on the powerful messages and prophetic fulfillments that came from his inspiring ride into Jerusalem, as its meaning is far deeper than many realize.
The Old Testament is full of prophecies, stories and individuals that point to Jesus.When considered, they give us a panoramic picture of what many of the details of his life would look like. Not the least of these revealed details is the prophecy in Zechariah chapter 9. This prophecy plainly revealed that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem and the people of Israel riding on a donkey and being proclaimed as their king. The prophecy shows the expansiveness of Messiah’s future kingdom, and sadly also alludes to the people rejecting their Savior.
Jesus literally fulfilled this prophecy. He literally borrowed a donkey and rode into the city. Now, one could argue he staged the event. After all, he did have to borrow the donkey! While that detail is true, we need to remember that it was impossible for him to stage the hundreds of thousands who welcomed him, lauded him as king and sought for deliverance through him as their Messiah. He could not have staged such love and adoration.
Why was this particular event so public and so important?Why did Jesus know it had to happen? It turns out that this prophecy is unquestionably linked to some other Old Testament events that also foreshadowed Jesus and his earthly mission to save the world. It also turns out that this prophecy had to be fulfilled at a precise time because of its connection to these other Old Testament events. One of the amazing parts to this whole puzzle of God’s foresight and providence is the fact that Jesus knew so many of the details and fulfillments ahead of time.
Check out our recent podcast, “Why Did Jesus Ride Into Jerusalem?” for the details. We go over the details of this event commonly known as “Palm Sunday” and their larger meaning. What we find are amazing connections to many other scriptures that profoundly deepen the meaning of God’s plan behind Jesus’ sacrifice. There is one other thing we discuss that we will simply state as a question here. What if the traditional view and appreciation of Palm Sunday was flawed? What if the Bible plainly stated that some important details of this event were absolutely different than the tradition we so easily accept? Join us for this fascinating and inspiring journey into Bible prophecy and its fulfillment!
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Christmas is such a great time of year! It gives people something to look forward to, something to be excited about. Decorations spring up and brighten our environment. We love giving gifts and we certainly love receiving them. Most of us get some extra time off to be with family or to just be able to do things. Sadly, the foundational reason behind this great time of year has become less and less relevant. All of this giving and good will stems from recognizing and honoring the birth of the most influential and heroic human being in all of world history. With the birth of Jesus, the world began to change. For most people that change has been imperceptible for the last 2,000 years, but it is happening. How do we know? An angel told us! Did you hear what he said?
400 years of silenceGod often communicated with ancient Israel by sending prophets and angels to deliver His messages. Before the time leading up to Jesus’ birth, there was a 400-year prophetic and angelic silence from God. When angelic messages began to be delivered after this 400-year silence, it meant that something of great importance was happening. That something was the birth of Jesus, and it was a sacred and important event in God’s eyes. When angels speak, those being spoken to should listen with care.
Zacharias was literally left speechlessTo have one angelic message delivered regarding a specific series of events would be dramatic, especially after centuries of God’s silence. It could easily have left the recipient speechless, and as a matter of fact, that is exactly what happened. Zacharias, the man who would be John the Baptist’s father, was struck speechless when he was visited by an angel and doubted the angel’s message. Zacharias learned much from this, and his experience made him stronger in faith and devotion. The point is, after his initial doubts, he listened to the angel and acted on what he had heard.
To have two angelic messages delivered would be awe inspiring. Mary would be the next recipient of an angelic message. She also listened to the angel, even though her responsibilities from that message would fundamentally change every aspect of her life. One common thread from both of these angelic messages was their connection to ancient biblical prophecies. By listening to the angel’s messages, both Zacharias and Mary were also listening to Bible prophecy.
But this is just the beginning. In all, there were seven messages from God to those who were involved before and after Jesus’ birth. Check out our December 26, 2022 podcast, “Am I Listening to the Angel?” for more. We outline these seven messages and look at their connection to prophecy and God’s plan. What we find is a profoundly revealing pattern. Those angelic messages were not merely meant for those specific individuals to whom they were given. They were and are ageless messages for all of us. The question is, are we listening to the angels?
The post Am I Listening to the Angel? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Candy, costumes parties and fun! The Halloween season with all of its excitement and trappings is upon us. On top of the fun and the sugar rush, this is a time of year particularly specializes in seeking to be horrified as another form of entertainment. The party-like atmosphere is generously sprinkled with murder, mayhem, zombies […]
The post Is It a Sin If I . . . (Part IV) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When thinking about world-altering events, there is one that stands alone as the single most powerful world-changing event in the history of humanity. It is the raising of Jesus from the dead. Many call this Easter Sunday. When this event occurred so many centuries years ago, the vast majority of the world had no idea […]
The post Can Jesus’ Resurrection Revive My Faltering Faith? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When it comes to understanding your marriage relationship, there may not be a more revealing question to ask than, “What do I say when I talk to my spouse?” We make a life-altering decision to marry, and the passion behind it is clear and solid. We see it as a “forever” passion. Time passes and […]
The post What Do I Say When I Talk to My Spouse? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The source of the phrase, “The devil is in the details” is a bit unsure. It is thought to be a derivation of the phrase “God is in the detail,” thought to be from an old German proverb sometime in the 1800’s. Whatever the origin, both phrases are profoundly true. As we begin a new […]
The post Is the Devil in the Details of My Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, what is Christmas about? Well, that depends on who you are. For some, Christmas is traditionally a time for family and friends. It’s a time when we are more likely to put aside the stresses of our daily grind and give a little more, smile a little more and notice what is around us […]
The post How Do We Keep Christmas About Jesus? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Every Christian wants to be faithful in living their life with thankfulness. One immediate question that arises is, what causes us to be thankful? What life experiences bring us to gratitude? Most of us would answer that we feel appreciativeness when things fall into place or when a hard experience yields a righteous result. These […]
The post How Can I Rejoice in Trials? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Our shared human experience is linked by extreme grief at the loss of a loved one. COVID-19 has unexpectedly killed millions of people around the world, often with no time opportunity for meaningful closure. When a child dies, or a loved one dies tragically or simply passes away from sickness or old age, we want […]
The post Can the Dead Communicate With Us? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Christmas has changed. While the holiday has always had many non-Christian aspects it seems as though the Christ based pieces of the tradition are ever fading. In its place we have Santa, reindeer, trees, gifts, lights, ornaments, food, family and for this year, social distancing. Now most of those things are not bad, with the […]
The post How Do We Keep Jesus at the Center of Christmas? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Usually this time of year signals having a more festive outlook on things. Having the American holiday of Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas approaching signals cheerful, generous and pleasant interactions. Decorations, excitement and goodwill prevail! Usually. Then there was the year 2020 which brought a pandemic to the world, the likes of which had not […]
The post How Can We Be Thankful After the Year We’ve Had? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Are ghosts real? Is reincarnation a legitimate process in the patterns of life? For billions of people in our world today, the answers to one or both of these questions is a resounding yes. It all has to do with the mystery of what happens after we die. Life is precious, and because we cannot physically […]
The post Ghosts, Reincarnation and Humanity – What’s Real? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Easter Sunday is a widely celebrated holiday. It is a day that represents life. For Christians, it represents life in its highest form because it is about the resurrection of Jesus. It is far too easy to lose the deep meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory in the commotion and fanfare of Easter eggs, the […]
The post Jesus is Raised! How Does That Change Me? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Yup! It’s another New Year and that means another opportunity to start some things that are new, different and good for us! It also means we consider stopping (or at least reducing) those things in life that aren’t so good for us. It all sounds so easy, except for one little detail that can be […]
The post Should My Habits Be Kept or Broken? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When we talk about the “spirit” of something, we are trying to describe what that something was intended to look like or result in. Let’s take the spirit of a law. Whatever that law may be interpreted as meaning, or however it might be applied, needs to be checked against what the law was actually […]
The post What is the True Spirit of Christmas? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
This of the most basic manners we teach our kids. We generally start by instructing them how to appropriately make a request for something and how to graciously receive it. How do you ask? “Please!” What do you say? “Thank you!” These two simple communication tools (which incidentally seem to have been misplaced in our […]
The post How Can We Be Thankful When Life is So Hard? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The world is scary in a lot of ways. There is an “anything goes” mentality surrounding us. This gives us the feeling there is no buffer between us and the dark, worldly or spiritual influences that exist. One of these dark influences is reflected in the rising popularity of satanism. When we hear that word […]
The post What is Satanism? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We live in a time and place where we are blessed with freedom of speech. This means we have freedom to preach! Preach what? The Gospel of Christ of course! Now, depending on your perspective, the “good news” of the gospel can mean a wide variety of things. When we present Jesus to someone, are […]
The post Preach the Gospel! What Does That Mean? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The whole idea of fatherhood seems to have changed. In this age of one-parent families in which the present parent is overwhelmingly the mom, we accepted and embraced minimizing the need of a living-at-home dad. I certainly understand not wanting any child to feel inferior because they don’t have a dad in their life, but […]
The post Is Fatherhood Still Vital? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There is probably no role we as humans play that is more taken for granted than that of being a mother. From carrying the unborn to feeding and protecting the newborn to nurturing the toddler to teaching the child, she quietly continues. From understanding the adolescent to challenging the young adult to supporting the independent […]
The post Is Motherhood Still Vital? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
You can learn a lot about someone if you know how they pray and what they pray for, especially when they are in the midst of crisis. When we are in trauma, do we suddenly reach up to God with greater fervor and feelings of faith than we normally would? Do we focus just on […]
The post What Can We Learn From Jesus’ Final Prayers? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
‘Til death do us part! Not all that long ago those words (which were in some way included in every marriage ceremony) really meant something. They symbolized the depth of a promise made between a man and a woman to stand beside one another through any and all circumstances. This phrase might not be in […]
The post What Does a Marriage Need to Be Strong? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As another year rolls around, many of us feel like it’s time to shake off the lethargy of our most recent habits and experiences and dive headlong into the “new me.” THIS time I’m gonna make those changes! This time I’m gonna see it through! This time I’m not going to let circumstances or feelings […]
The post Can You Ever Get Too Comfortable? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all know the often-quoted scripture that highlights Jesus’ birth: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” This announcement is stirring for many reasons, not the least of which is the comprehensiveness of its scope. It is a message to ALL people, and further, […]
The post How Do You Show Your Joy to the World? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is a day that was originally set aside as a national holiday to stop the activities of our busy lives and thank God for His providence. Fast forward a few hundred years and what do we have – a day set aside for family friends food and football. Being […]
The post How Can We Be Truly Thankful? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
October brings Autumn and Autumn brings a major change of seasons. Leaves brilliantly change color as they die, the harvesting of crops comes to its end and the colder weather sets in. It is at this time of nature “closing up shop,” this time of things dying, that Halloween and all that comes with it […]
The post Can Zombies Possibly Be Real? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Everyone loves the idea of being free, and in America we especially are reminded of the privilege of liberty at this time of year. Unfortunately I think many of us do not really understand what freedom and liberty are, and even more so what they are not. In reality, true liberty by very definition has […]
The post Do We Really Have Freedom of Choice? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Love your enemies. Once you dig down to the deepest meaning of this phrase it is perhaps one of the most daunting tasks ever put upon anyone. Jesus not only taught us in detail how to love our enemies, he showed us in living color how to profoundly care for them. He literally “walked the […]
The post Condemned to Death, How Did Jesus Love His Enemies? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
If you believe in the Bible then you believe there are two institutions that have existed as long as humanity has been on this earth. First, there was the institution of obedience and honor to the Almighty Creator. God created and blessed Adam, and he in turn owed his allegiance to God. The second institution […]
The post Are There Biblical Secrets to a Good Marriage? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Whether we think about it or not, we all leave a legacy behind us as a result of our life and experience. Sometimes that legacy can be rich with wisdom, accomplishment and example, and other times our legacy can be a sad tale of unfulfilled potential, broken dreams and a trail of “if only” and […]
The post What Would You Want Your Grandchildren to Know? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It is the Christmas season. It is a time for happiness, giving, receiving and appreciating. There was a time not so very long ago when the main focus of the Christmas season was the birth of Jesus as the world’s Savior. We are past that now, thanks to our political correctness, and Jesus is very […]
The post What Would Jesus Have Said to YOU? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Human nature is a funny thing. We live in an age of instant gratification, an age of virtually no waiting for anything. We send a text, a tweet, a message or we post, and our expectation is for an almost instant answer or follow or response or reaction. What we want we not only assume […]
The post How Do I Make Gratitude My Constant Companion? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, if you are a little kid it’s time for the excitement of “trick or treat” – costumes and candy. If you are older it’s time for parties, horror movies that look and feel so real they make your skin crawl, the undead, dark spells and generally unfettered behavior. Yup, we are talking about Halloween […]
The post Should We Be Worried About Witchcraft? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
241 years ago the course of world history changed. On July 4th, 1776, the 13 colonies adopted The Declaration of Independence, proclaiming to be “The United States of America.” Since then the United States has risen to become a world power and has been the source of many amazing world innovations. One innovation that seems […]
The post Does America Show Us the Nature of God? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
After the greatest act of love ever committed, Jesus lay dead in a donated tomb. His loyal companions and followers were stunned, sickened by what they had witnessed. But beyond the gory details of this death, they were hit with the uncomfortable thought that perhaps all they had known the past 3 ½ years was […]
The post Jesus’ Resurrection – What Changed? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
How is it that life seems to go by so fast? How is it that we more often than not look back on our life – the things we did and what we became – with a measure of regret, knowing that we could have been more or contributed more? Have you ever stopped to […]
The post So, What Should I Be Doing Differently? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Christmas has come – the hustle and the bustle, the lights, the music, the trees, the ornaments and the garland. Christmas has come – Santa and reindeer and elves and Frosty and movies and presents and gift wrap and cards. Christmas has come – whether you feel you can say “Merry Christmas” or just “Happy […]
The post Are You Dreaming of the Right Christmas? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Here’s a question…what do the 4th of July and Thanksgiving have in common? The most obvious answer is these two celebrations are uniquely American in that their very founding was undeniably linked to the founding of the United States. The less obvious answer is that these two holidays were also founded in humble recognition of […]
The post Is Gratitude Your Attitude? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, what is Halloween about anyway? Is it all about the costumes, the candy and the parties? Is it all about the social connections of people actually seeing and talking to other people or the excited grade school kid who gets to dress up like a video game hero? Or is Halloween all about the […]
The post Can Souls “Cross Over” on Halloween? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Easter Sunday is the Sunday that the Christian world traditionally celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Obviously this follows Good Friday, the day we honor his suffering and crucifixion. These events would change the world, both immediately after they happened as well as forever after that. Somehow these miraculous world-changing accounts of crucifixion and resurrection have […]
The post What is the Legacy of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Did you know that Jesus raised three different people from the dead? Most of us remember the raising of Lazarus and the dramatic scene when Jesus has the stone removed from the tomb and Jesus says with a loud and commanding voice “Lazarus come forth!” It is an event that sends chills down your spine […]
The post How Did Raising Others to Life Prepare Jesus for Death? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
“Happily ever after” is the very attractive and very much sought after life script which for most of us not only remains a complete mystery but is it as elusive as a winning lottery ticket. The question is, are we chasing a fantasy or can we actually have a life that includes the “ever after” […]
The post So, How Do You Stay in Love? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Happy New Year! …Or is it? Have you asked yourself if you are happy and excited about this New Year or do you fear the same old stuff will get in the way of the better life you had imagined? When you look at your own character and your own track record, what do you […]
The post Do You Like What You See in the Mirror? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, Christmas day is here. Hopefully it is filled with family, joy and happiness! Hopefully it provides some time to sit back and reflect on the amazing opportunities we have for freedom. Honestly, sometimes we at CQ look at Christmas as a bittersweet holiday. While we enjoy the story of Santa and his elves and […]
The post Does the Day Belong to Jesus or Santa Claus? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There was once a time (and it seems that it was long ago), that the whole idea of Thanksgiving as a holiday held deep and profound meaning. Seems kinda funny to say that, because when we think of Thanksgiving now, what do we think of? Family, turkey, football, stuffing, days off, pumpkin pie. Eating too […]
The post Can Thanksgiving Change Your Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
On July 4 we celebrate Independence Day, a day that for over 200 years has symbolized all that is good about these United States of America. How did the United States become such a modern day beacon of freedom over the last several hundred years? Is this country still the same beacon of the same […]
The post Is America Losing Its Christian Principles? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Today is Mother’s Day, a day to stop, think about and honor the role that motherhood plays in our lives. Be sure to express your gratitude to the mothers in your lives! Now, on this day that we honor motherhood we also want to look into the Bible’s treatment of womanhood. It sure seems like […]
The post Does the Bible Advocate for Women’s Rights? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It was 2,000 years ago today, early in the morning, that the world changed. It was not the brash outward change of a military coup, nor was it a treaty of the leaders of great nations to be lauded by the people. The world did not change because of some medical breakthrough or some magnificent […]
The post Jesus Lives! appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Today is a special day, for it was on this day over 2,000 years ago Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the adoration of the crowd. This would begin the final series of events that would lead to his death. Today is another anniversary as well, for it was on this day over 1,400 years before […]
The post Israel’s Passover – What Does It Mean To Us? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Love, marriage, tradition and happiness. As time goes on, these four timeless elements of our world seem to be drifting ever further apart from each other. It is almost as if we are at a point where we are not really sure what to believe in or how to believe in it. Well, stay with […]
The post Has the Marriage Institution Lost Its Luster? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Happy New Year! Happy new beginning! Happy new opportunity to resolve to make changes in your life once and for all, only to be shot down later by the steady force of habit, life and expectations later…wait a minute…that’s not happy! The truth is, for most of us a new year and a new beginning […]
The post If You Could Change One Thing, What Would it Be? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
‘Tis the season to be jolly! Christmas happened just a few days ago so we ask the question, what really happened? Did we have lots to eat – see lots of family and friends – give and receive lots of gifts? Did we smile and laugh and decorate? Did we watch Christmas specials and listen […]
The post What is the Point of Christmas? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Thanksgiving has come and gone. All that remains are leftovers from a great meal, the memories of family and friends, excitement or disappointment at the result of a football game or two and the results of Black Friday shopping… Was it fun? Yes! Was it worthwhile? Of course! Did our holiday really focus on the […]
The post How Often Does Thankfulness Occur to You? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In just a few days the costumes will come out, the candy will be distributed, the parties will roar on! The ghosts, the goblins, the skeletons – the superheroes, the princesses, the ballerinas – all will engage in a happy celebration of Halloween – ironically the night where pagan tradition says the veil between the […]
The post How Bad Can White Witchcraft Be? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We are free. We have liberty. We can speak our minds, make choices about our lives and be an influence on the influencers. Because of these things, we are truly among the most fortunate people to live on this earth today. As a matter of fact we are among the most fortunate people to ever […]
The post What Does Freedom Mean to a Christian? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life, death and taxes – those are three things that we as a race have all come to experience. It is a cycle that we accept and a process we adapt to even though the ending is not to our liking. About 2,000 years ago, a man born of a woman came to change all […]
The post Jesus is Risen and the World is Saved! appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Jesus knew when his time would be up and his sacrifice would be complete. He knew – down to the very hour – he knew. He understood the pain and suffering that awaited, and he also understood the immense difficulty and challenge that would unfold, not only for him but for his followers as well. […]
The post Jesus Was Prepared…Are You? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Just think – in just a few days the anticipation will be over and we will get to finally open all those presents! We will finally get to see if we will get what we really wanted or if we end up with some lame gifts… Wait a minute! Has it really come down to […]
The post What Are You Getting For Christmas? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Thanksgiving holiday – it is a most misunderstood and misapplied American tradition. We all love the day off, the gathering of families and friends, the abundant food and the design of the day for leisure, but what was it originally? What was the reason for that original feast back in 1621, and what was […]
The post Is Your Life a Thankful Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, it’s fall and once again we are all gearing up for the big holiday. You know the one – it’s the holiday where kids rule and get stuff, where everyone suddenly seems to be in a giving mood and for one night anyway, freely gives to anyone who passes by. It is the holiday […]
The post Trick or Treat – Really? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In this past week America has celebrated her birth as a nation and the 230+ years of freedom that followed. How did this American experience get its start? What was on the minds of those singular men and women whose lives were put on the spot, tested and changed so many years ago? What role […]
The post How are America, Christianity and Freedom Connected? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There have been many world changing events in human history. The printing press made knowledge accessible to the masses. The light bulb literally illuminated man’s course and fed an industrial revolution which brought previously unthinkable invention and convenience to many. Penicillin protected life in a new way. These and many other events changed man’s course […]
The post Jesus is Risen! appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In just seven days, the Christian world will be enraptured in the celebration of Resurrection Sunday – the celebration of the day – the event that actually changed the course of human history. What sometimes gets overlooked are the striking events of the week before and the significant part they play in tying Old Testament […]
The post Palm Sunday – What is the Real Story? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In just two days we will begin yet another new year. With it comes new experiences and new opportunities to make a difference in our own lives, as well as the lives of others. Many people make “New Year’s Resolutions” and most don’t keep them. Why? Why don’t resolutions usually work? Stay with us and […]
The post New Year – New Beginning – Now What? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.