The Jewish roots of Christianity

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Bible teaching with an emphasis on Israel, prophecy and the Jewish roots of Christianity

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Episode: “The Good Shepherd”
“How well do you know your Bible?” Dr. Jeffrey Seif uses questions to teach about how Yeshua is the good shepherd.
Series: “Ask The Professor: Insights on the Gospel of John”
Viewers will have a chance to test their knowledge of the book of John as Dr. Seif sets up the questions with insight and visuals that will help us explore more about this beloved Gospel.

Caption transcript for Ask The Professor: Insights on the Gospel of John — “The Good Shepherd” (3/4)

  • 00:30 HEARTY SHALOM TO ALL OF YOU.
  • 00:32 JEFFREY SEIF HERE PLEASED TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN
  • 00:35 TO ANOTHER EDITION OF ZOLA LEVITT PRESENTS,
  • 00:39 THIS TIME PRESENTING THE THIRD OF A FOUR PART TREATMENT
  • 00:42 OF A SERIES THAT WE'RE CALLING "ASK THE PROFESSOR".
  • 00:47 IT'S KIND OF NATURAL FOR ME.
  • 00:48 IT'S NOT YOUR GARDEN VARIETY TV PROGRAM
  • 00:50 BUT I'VE GOT 21 YEARS AS A BIBLE COLLEGE SEMINARY PROFESSOR UNDER MY BELT SO...
  • 00:55 I'VE BEEN DOING THAT A WHOLE LOT LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ON TELEVISION.
  • 00:59 THE TITLE, "ASK THE PROFESSOR" CAN BE A TAD BIT MISLEADING
  • 01:03 BECAUSE THIS TIME I'M DOING THE QUESTIONING.
  • 01:07 AND I WANT TO PUT QUESTIONS TO YOU.
  • 01:09 I WANT TO KNOW, "HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR BIBLE?"
  • 01:11 AND I WANT TO KNOW, "DO YOU KNOW IT FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE?"
  • 01:14 AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.
  • 01:17 SEEMS TO ME A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE THE BIBLE CLEARLY.
  • 01:22 AND IN THE CASE OF THE 9TH CHAPTER OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
  • 01:24 THERE'S A STORY HERE OF A GUY THAT DID NOT SEE AT ALL
  • 01:28 PROMPTING YESHUA'S TALMIDIM, HIS DISCIPLES TO INQUIRE,
  • 01:39 WELL HE MIGHT HAVE BEGUN IN THAT SITUATION
  • 01:42 BUT BEFORE ALL WAS SAID AND DONE
  • 01:45 HE WAS EXTRICATED FROM HIS MISERIES
  • 01:47 AND HE'S GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE LORD... SEEING.
  • 01:52 AND THIS IS A TEMPLATE FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME,
  • 01:55 THAT IS TO SAY, PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT'S EYE-OPENING
  • 02:00 WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR INTERACTING WITH YESHUA, WITH JESUS.
  • 02:05 HEY, WHY NOT?
  • 02:07 THE WORD JESUS COMES FROM A HEBREW VERB "YESHUA".
  • 02:10 IT MEANS, "TO SAVE", "TO DELIVER", OR "TO REDEEM".
  • 02:13 AND HE DOES IT IN SO MANY WAYS AND SO MANY DAYS.
  • 02:16 NOW IN THIS PARTICULAR DAY HE SENDS THE FELLOW TO A POOL AND SAYS "GO WASH."
  • 02:23 I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION FOR YOU.
  • 02:27 WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE POOL?
  • 02:31 YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE HERE OF AN ANCIENT POOL.
  • 02:35 AND THOSE THAT GO WITH ME TO ISRAEL OR WATCH THE PROGRAM,
  • 02:38 WE TAKE YOU TO ISRAEL.
  • 02:40 WE WANT YOU TO SEE IT AND FEEL IT
  • 02:42 WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING NOW.
  • 02:44 AND IT HARKS TO THIS POOL HERE IN THE 9TH CHAPTER.
  • 02:47 WHAT IS IT?
  • 02:48 IS IT THE POOL OF BETHESDA?
  • 02:50 IS IT THE POOL OF SILOAM?
  • 02:52 THE POOL OF SILOAH?
  • 02:55 THE POOL OF SAMARIA?
  • 02:58 WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE POOL?
  • 03:00 WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PLACE?
  • 03:02 INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
  • 03:05 ACCORDING TO CHAPTER 9, VERSE 7, THE LORD SAYS,
  • 03:08 "GO WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM."
  • 03:13 THAT'S THE ANSWER.
  • 03:15 HERE IN THE GOSPEL ACCOUNT YESHUA DIRECTED THEM TO A PLACE.
  • 03:19 WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THE LORD IS DIRECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR KNEES.
  • 03:25 IF YOU'RE BLINDED IN DIFFERENT WAYS
  • 03:29 I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BESET YOU,
  • 03:33 THAT YOU SEE NO SOLUTIONS...
  • 03:35 I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD THAT CAN HELP YOU TO GET THE BETTER OF IT,
  • 03:40 DIFFICULTIES IN YOUR LIFE ASIDE.
  • 03:42 SPEAKING OF DIFFICULTIES,
  • 03:44 SOMETIMES PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE LORD AND THEIR DIFFICULTIES JUST BEGIN.
  • 03:51 I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE GOSPEL IS TYPICALLY PACKAGED AND MARKETED.
  • 03:58 AND BY THAT I MEAN,
  • 04:00 SO MUCH OF PREACHING CAN BE... "WPHOO"... BLOWING STARDUST IN PEOPLE'S FACE AND SAY,
  • 04:05 "YOU JUST ASK JESUS IN YOUR HEART AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO TURN OUT JUST RIGHT".
  • 04:11 I RAISE THE ISSUE HERE
  • 04:12 BECAUSE SOMETIMES IN THE JOURNEY WITH THE LORD, THINGS TURN OUT ALL WRONG.
  • 04:18 THE REASON WHY I SAY THIS HERE
  • 04:20 IS THIS FELLOW, WHO EXPERIENCED THIS GREAT MIRACLE,
  • 04:23 AND HE'S SO BLESSED BY THE LORD,
  • 04:26 AND HE'S GOING TO WIND UP BEING CURSED BY SOME OF HIS OWN
  • 04:28 WHO ARE GOING TO WANT TO THROW HIM UNDER THE BUS.
  • 04:31 EXCOMMUNICATION WAS THE ISSUE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, THE 9TH CHAPTER.
  • 04:37 THIS FELLOW THAT WAS BORN BLIND INVOKED THE IRE OF SOME OF THE RELIGIOUS ELITE WHO, WE'RE TOLD,
  • 04:43 FINALLY IN VERSE 34,
  • 04:45 THAT THEY CAST HIM OUT.
  • 04:50 MY QUESTION TO YOU IS,
  • 04:52 "EXCOMMUNICATION ITSELF...
  • 04:55 IS THAT SIMPLY THROWING SOMEONE OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE WHERE THEY CAN NO LONGER PRAY,
  • 05:00 OR IS IT NOT ONLY THAT
  • 05:04 BUT THROWING THEM OUT OF JEWISH SOCIAL LIFE ENTIRELY
  • 05:08 WITH THE NET RESULT OF THEY'RE ALONE AND COMPLETELY ALIENATED IN THE WORLD... WHICH IS IT?
  • 05:14 INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
  • 05:17 BEING THROWN OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE WASN'T SIMPLY BEING CAST OUT OF A PLACE FOR PRAYER.
  • 05:22 IT'S BEING CAST OUT OF THE COMMUNITY WITH A NET RESULT IS THAT YOU CAN'T PRAY WITH THEM.
  • 05:28 NOT ONLY THAT, THAT NO ONE IS GOING BUY YOUR CORN OR SELL TO YOU.
  • 05:33 IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO LET THEIR CHILDREN BE MARRIED TO YOURS.
  • 05:38 YOUR SONS WILL NOT FIND GIRLS
  • 05:39 AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL NOT FIND GUYS.
  • 05:41 YOU BECOME "PERSONA NON GRATA".
  • 05:44 THERE'S NOT MUCH CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLINE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY, BUT IF THERE WAS,
  • 05:49 SOMEONE SAYS, "OH LOOK, I GOT THROWN OUT OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH...", WHATEVER,
  • 05:53 "...THE PRESBYTERIANS WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE ME."
  • 05:55 OR WHATEVER, PEOPLE JUST DUST IT OFF AND GET ON DOWN THE ROAD AND NO ONE KNOWS ANY DIFFERENT.
  • 06:00 THEY JUST GET LOST IN THE BIG CITY.
  • 06:02 WHEN SOMEONE WAS EXCOMMUNICATED HERE, HOWEVER, YOU DIDN'T JUST GET LOST IN THE CROWD, NO,
  • 06:07 YOU WERE TAGGED AND IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE.
  • 06:12 IT'S AMAZING THE LORD GAVE GRACE TO ENDURE THE HAVING TO STAND ALONE.
  • 06:18 AND OF COURSE BELIEVERS COMPACTED TOGETHER AND FORMED FELLOWSHIPS
  • 06:21 IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A HEDGE AGAINST THE ALIENATION IN PART.
  • 06:25 WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE EXPLORING THE JEWISH ROOTS OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
  • 06:28 AS WE CONTINUE WITH "ASK THE PROFESSOR".
  • 06:51 FOR INSIGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES OF ISRAEL AND BIBLE PROPHECY
  • 06:55 ASK FOR OUR FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
  • 06:57 "THE LEVITT LETTER".
  • 06:59 WHEN YOU CALL BE SURE TO ASK FOR OUR FREE CATALOGUE WITH THE LATEST VIDEOS, BOOKS, AND MUSIC.
  • 07:05 OUR CORRESPONDENCE COURSE,
  • 07:06 "THE INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH CHRISTIAN STUDIES"
  • 07:08 INCLUDES READING PACKETS, TEACHING CDS, AND MAIL-IN TESTS.
  • 07:13 YOU MAY WANT TO JOIN US ON AN UPCOMING TOUR OF ISRAEL OR PETRA
  • 07:17 OR CRUISE THE MEDITERRANEAN VISITING GREECE AND EPHESUS.
  • 07:20 PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION.
  • 07:26 THE PICTURE OF JESUS SHEPHERDING SHEEP
  • 07:31 IS EMBLAZONED ON THE MEMORY OF AMERICAN PROTESTANTISM.
  • 07:36 IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE POPE CAN BE ENVISIONED
  • 07:38 AS AN UNDER-SHEPHERD AND SOMETIMES FILLS THAT ROLE.
  • 07:41 BUT PROTESTANTS PRINCIPALLY HAVE NO SUCH FRAME OF REFERENCE
  • 07:46 AND THE PICTURE OF JESUS WITH HIS FLOWING BROWN HAIR LEADING THE SHEEP
  • 07:50 IS JUST SO VERY POPULAR EMPLOYED BY ALL KINDS OF DENOMINATIONS.
  • 07:55 IT'S A PICTURE THAT MAKES ITS WAY ON TO HOMES, LIVING ROOMS,
  • 07:59 DINING ROOMS, BIBLES, AND HEARTS AND MINDS.
  • 08:04 MY QUESTION TO YOU IS RATHER SIMPLE.
  • 08:07 IN JOHN CHAPTER 10
  • 08:09 JESUS WENT ON RECORD CLAIMING TO BE THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
  • 08:16 TRUE OR FALSE?...
  • 08:18 THE EMPLOYMENT OF THIS VISUAL IMAGE WAS UNIQUE TO JESUS.
  • 08:27 FALSE
  • 08:28 MOSES AS YOU MIGHT RECALL
  • 08:30 IS CONSTRUED AS SHEPHERDING THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL THROUGH A WILDERNESS.
  • 08:35 AND IN FACT, HE WAS A SHEPHERD FOR SOME FORTY YEARS.
  • 08:38 HE CUT HIS TEETH ON THE WILDERNESS.
  • 08:40 THOUGH HE LED THE ISRAELITES THROUGH THE SINAI FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE'D BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
  • 08:45 HE KNEW THE TREES, THE MOUNTAINS,
  • 08:47 THE WATERINGHOLES AND ALL THE REST.
  • 08:49 HE CUT HIS TEETH ON IT.
  • 08:50 BEYOND THAT, IN THE SCRIPTURE WE KNOW THAT DAVID WAS A SHEPHERD.
  • 08:54 AND PSALM CHAPTER 23, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD"
  • 08:57 IS AS POPULAR AS THE PICTURE THAT I WAS ALLUDING TO EARLIER.
  • 09:01 THE IMAGERY OF GOD SENDING SHEPHERDS TO LEAD PEOPLE IS OFT TOLD IN THE HEBREW BIBLE.
  • 09:09 SIMILARLY THERE'S CASTIGATION IN THE HEBREW BIBLE FOR BAD SHEPHERDS.
  • 09:14 I WANT YOU TO LOOK WITH ME PLEASE IN EZEKIEL CHAPTER 34.
  • 09:19 THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PROMISE HERE THAT GOES IN VERSE 23,
  • 09:30 WHEN EZEKIEL SPEAKS... YOU KNOW DAVID'S BEEN DEAD FOR CENTURIES
  • 09:35 BUT IT'S ENVISIONED THAT ONE LIKE UNTO DAVID IS GOING TO EMERGE.
  • 09:39 AND I MENTION THAT BECAUSE IN THE PICTURE OF JESUS PRESENTING AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
  • 09:44 WHO LAYS HIS LIFE DOWN FOR THE SHEEP,
  • 09:46 WHAT CAN BE OBSCURED OR AT LEAST NEGLECTED
  • 09:50 IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FULFILLMENT OF HEBREW BIBLE PREDICTION.
  • 09:54 I NEED TO UNDERSCORE THAT I THINK
  • 09:56 BECAUSE MANY HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE JEWISH MOORINGS OF THE STORY.
  • 10:00 AND SOMETIMES THE THINGS THAT JESUS IS SAYING AND DOING...
  • 10:03 IT JUST GETS AWASH IN POPULAR PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC ENVISIONING
  • 10:08 AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THESE WERE PROMISES MADE TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE
  • 10:12 AND THAT JESUS CAME IN FULFILLMENT OF THOSE PROMISES.
  • 10:17 I THINK THAT'S A VERY COOL STORY.
  • 10:20 LAZARUS IS A FAMOUS INDIVIDUAL IN THE BIBLE.
  • 10:26 WHILE THE JOHN CHAPTER 10 STORY
  • 10:29 HARKS TO JESUS CALMLY LEADING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE CALM ALL THE TIME.
  • 10:35 THE 11TH CHAPTER IS PLAYED OUT
  • 10:37 AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF VEXED WOMEN CHAGRINED BECAUSE THEIR BROTHER HAS DIED.
  • 10:43 WE KNOW HIM AS LAZARUS.
  • 10:46 DID YOU KNOW THAT HIS REAL NAME IS ELIEZER?
  • 10:49 ...A VERY, VERY, VERY HEBREW NAME.
  • 10:51 WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS HE IS ENTOMBED AS YOU KNOW.
  • 10:55 YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A MAP NOW
  • 10:56 AND WE ARE REMINDED IN THE BIBLE
  • 11:01 THAT MARTHA, MARY AND ELIEZER WERE FROM A PLACE CALLED BETHANY.
  • 11:08 DO YOU KNOW WHERE BETHANY IS ON THIS MAP?
  • 11:16 PEOPLE LOSE SIGHT OF THE JEWISH STORY
  • 11:21 AND SOMETIMES THE GEOGRAPHY GETS OBSCURED AS WELL.
  • 11:25 IN FACT, I HEARD RECENTLY
  • 11:26 THAT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THERE'S A HEFTY PERCENTAGE IN AMERICA,
  • 11:31 THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE AMERICA IS ON THE WORLD MAP
  • 11:33 IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT.
  • 11:35 I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE PASSING... HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS.
  • 11:38 THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE REASONABLY WELL VERSED IN THE SCRIPTURES
  • 11:43 BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A KIND A SENSE OF BIBLICAL GEOGRAPHY.
  • 11:48 WHAT I WANT TO ALIGHT UPON IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT REAL ESTATE THERE
  • 11:52 IN PROXIMITY TO THE CITY OF JERUSALEM, GOD'S CAPITAL CITY
  • 11:57 VOUCHED SAFE TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN PERPETUITY IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS...
  • 12:02 THEIR LAND... OUR LAND...
  • 12:04 THE BIBLICAL HOMELAND.
  • 12:06 AND I WANT TO KNOW WHILE YOU'RE THINKING OF JESUS
  • 12:08 MOVING ABOUT AND WORKING WITH JEWISH PEOPLE IN AND AROUND JERUSALEM;
  • 12:12 I WANT TO KNOW WHY IS IT THAT TODAY INDIVIDUALS NEGLECT JERUSALEM ENTIRELY,
  • 12:17 THEY'RE INDIFFERENT TOWARD IT.
  • 12:19 AND IN CHRISTIAN CIRCLES TODAY WE'RE EVEN TOLD
  • 12:21 THAT THE LORD DOESN'T EVEN CARE ABOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THAT LAND.
  • 12:29 I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GEOGRAPHY.
  • 12:31 I'M GOING TO COME BACK A LITTLE BIT IN THE PROGRAM
  • 12:33 AND REALLY EXPLORE THE MIRACLE THAT HAPPENED THERE.
  • 12:37 BUT IF YOU'LL PERMIT,
  • 12:38 INASMUCH AS INDIVIDUALS HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE JEWISH ROOTS OF THE FAITH;
  • 12:42 SIMILARLY, LET ME UNDERSCORE THAT SOME HAVE LOST SIGHT
  • 12:45 OF THE HISTORICAL COMPONENTS TO THE FAITH AND WITH IT GEOGRAPHY AND ALL THE REST.
  • 12:50 WHAT'S ENVISIONED IS THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT IS SOME PIE IN THE SKY STORY.
  • 12:55 AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT GOD IS WORKING,
  • 12:58 NOT JUST EXCLUSIVELY WITH, BUT HE'S FOCUSING ON JEWISH PEOPLE,
  • 13:01 HE'S BROUGHT JEWISH PEOPLE TO A LAND, HE'S GIVEN IT TO THEM
  • 13:04 AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIBLE STORY, THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT,
  • 13:07 ITS PLAYED OUT AGAINST THAT BACKDROP.
  • 13:11 WHAT'S A BACKDROP IN THE BIBLE DRAMA
  • 13:17 HAS JUST FALLEN OFF THE PAGES OF MODERN CHRISTIAN CONSCIOUSNESS
  • 13:23 HENCE THE NEED, I BELIEVE, FOR A MINISTRY LIKE ZOLA LEVITT PRESENTS
  • 13:28 WHERE WE'RE ALL ABOUT PRESENTING THE BIBLE FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE.
  • 13:33 THANK YOU FOR GOING WITH US ON THE JOURNEY.
  • 13:37 WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO ISRAEL AND BRING YOU BACK
  • 13:40 AS WE CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES CALLED "ASK THE PROFESSOR".
  • 13:53 MY SUGGESTION...
  • 13:53 COME TO ISRAEL...
  • 13:54 YOU'LL ENJOY IT...
  • 13:56 THIS NINE - TEN DAY TRIP HAS TOTALLY REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY I LOOK AT...
  • 14:01 THE PROFOUND MEANING AND THE HISTORY BEHIND EVERYTHING AND...
  • 14:04 WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF GREAT THINGS...
  • 14:06 WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH...
  • 14:08 WHAT CAN BE MORE SPECIAL THAN COMING TO GOD'S LAND WITH GOD'S PEOPLE?
  • 14:11 IF YOU WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH ISRAEL AND GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE
  • 14:15 I INVITE YOU TO COME...
  • 14:17 YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
  • 14:19 JOIN US IN ISRAEL FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
  • 14:23 ISRAEL IS A GREAT PLACE
  • 14:26 AND THOSE THAT GO THERE
  • 14:27 SEE THE BIBLE COME ALIVE.
  • 14:30 AND IN SO MANY WAYS,
  • 14:31 THOSE THAT GO THERE
  • 14:33 COME ALIVE THEMSELVES
  • 14:34 DON'T THEY TRACIE?
  • 14:36 THEY DO...
  • 14:36 THEY SPIRITUALLY COME ALIVE.
  • 14:37 YOU KNOW EVEN AS YOU WERE TALKING
  • 14:39 I WAS THINKING HOW MANY THINGS IN LIFE EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
  • 14:42 AND I'M TELLING YOU FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
  • 14:45 AND FROM WHAT THE PASSENGERS SAY,
  • 14:46 GOING TO ISRAEL HAS EXCEEDED EVERY EXPECTATION THEY'VE HAD.
  • 14:50 THAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN A WORLD WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DISAPPOINTED BY PURCHASES.
  • 14:54 GOD DOESN'T DISAPPOINT. >>NO
  • 14:56 AND WALKING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS YOU'RE GUARANTEED FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
  • 15:00 YOU ARE AND I THINK WHAT SO NEAT IS EVERYBODY ON OUR TRIP
  • 15:02 IS EITHER A VIEWER OF THE PROGRAM OR THEY GET OUR INFORMATION IN THE MAIL.
  • 15:06 IT'S LIKE A FAMILY TRIP.
  • 15:07 AND PEOPLE ARE BLOWN AWAY,
  • 15:09 THEY JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
  • 15:11 THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THE PRESENCE OF YESHUA IS SO STRONG IN THE HOLY LAND.
  • 15:14 AND IT IS.
  • 15:15 AND TO CELEBRATE THAT WITH YOU...
  • 15:16 YOU KNOW DR. SEIF IS ON EACH TRIP
  • 15:18 AND THAT HAS REALLY BEEN A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.
  • 15:20 AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE STAFF THAT WORK AROUND THE CLOCK,
  • 15:24 I DO, TO PLAN THE TRIPS,
  • 15:25 WE HAVE ABOUT 7 OR 8 FULL TIME STAFF OVER IN ISRAEL
  • 15:28 TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE DETAILS DURING THE TRIP.
  • 15:31 WE WANT YOU TO COME WITH US
  • 15:35 TO HAVE YOUR INTIMACY DEEPEN WITH THE LORD, WITH YESHUA,
  • 15:38 AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S AMAZING.
  • 15:40 YOU KNOW HERE...
  • 15:41 THINK OF THIS FOR A SECOND...
  • 15:43 IF I WAS VISITING ROME I WOULDN'T WANT A MESSIANIC JEWISH GUY...
  • 15:46 AND I MIGHT AS WELL GET A PRIEST OR SOMEONE
  • 15:48 THAT REALLY KNOW THE VATICAN AND ALL THAT IF THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE.
  • 15:52 IF SOMEONE'S GOING TO VISIT ISRAEL,
  • 15:55 WHY NOT LOOK AT IT THROUGH JEWISH EYES...
  • 15:57 OUR GUIDES, EVERYONE THAT WORKS WITH US IS A MESSIANIC JEWISH...
  • 16:00 PEOPLE GO SEE MESSIANIC CONGREGATIONS...
  • 16:03 I JUST THINK IT'S THE BEST THING AROUND.
  • 16:06 IF PEOPLE DON'T GO WITH US
  • 16:07 I SAY AT LEAST GO WITH SOMETHING MESSIANIC JEWISH
  • 16:10 TO GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
  • 16:11 ABSOLUTELY...
  • 16:12 I WAS TELLING A LITTLE ANECDOTAL STORY ABOUT
  • 16:14 HOW A PASSENGER FROM OUR TOUR LAST YEAR
  • 16:17 WROTE A POEM TO OUR GUIDE ZVI
  • 16:18 WHO'S BEEN WITH US FOR 25 YEARS.
  • 16:20 PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
  • 16:22 HE IS INGRAINED IN THE CULTURE,
  • 16:24 HE WAS IN THE WAR,
  • 16:25 HE TELLS THE MOST FABULOUS STORIES.
  • 16:27 HE KNOWS THE HISTORY BACKWARD AND FORWARD...
  • 16:29 THE BIBLE BACKWARD AND FORWARD.
  • 16:31 HE SUPPORTS EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
  • 16:32 AND THEN OF COURSE
  • 16:33 DR. SEIF IS GOING TO
  • 16:34 BRING YOU DEVOTIONS
  • 16:35 AT THE KEY HISTORICAL SITES.
  • 16:37 THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE AMAZING.
  • 16:38 DO DEVOTIONS IN THE EVENINGS.
  • 16:39 WE HAVE EVENING ACTIVITIES EVERY NIGHT.
  • 16:42 WE MAKE THIS THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME
  • 16:44 AND I INVITE YOU TO COME WITH US.
  • 16:46 YES, AND TRACIE YOU'RE THE BEST.
  • 16:49 YOU'LL GET TO MEET TRACIE;
  • 16:51 MY WIFE ACCOMPANIES ME, PATTY, ON TRIPS TOO.
  • 16:55 AND WE'RE ALL HERE FOR YOU.
  • 16:58 IF YOU CAN'T GO...
  • 17:00 WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE FOR YOU.
  • 17:03 IF YOU WOULD CALL 1-800-WONDERS
  • 17:07 OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE
  • 17:09 WWW.LEVITT.COM
  • 17:12 YOU CAN GET ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ABOUT ISRAEL
  • 17:16 WRITTEN FROM ISRAEL,
  • 17:17 TO ISRAEL,
  • 17:18 BIBLE PROPHECY,
  • 17:20 BIBLE TEACHING FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE AND MORE.
  • 17:23 CALL 1-800-WONDERS
  • 17:25 GO TO WWW.LEVITT.COM
  • 17:28 AND SIGN UP FOR OUR MAGAZINE,
  • 17:31 THE LEVITT LETTER.
  • 17:33 IF YOU'RE A REAL STUDENT OF THE WORD AND WANT TO LEARN MORE FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE
  • 17:39 LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO WHAT WE CALL
  • 17:42 "THE INSTITUTE OF JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN STUDIES".
  • 17:47 IN HEBREW HERE IT SAYS,
  • 17:48 "OHR V'EMET",
  • 17:50 "LIGHT AND TRUTH".
  • 17:52 WE WANT TO ENLIGHTEN YOU
  • 17:54 AND OPEN YOU TO THE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE.
  • 17:58 WE HAVE VARIOUS COURSES.
  • 17:59 IT'S THE OFFER ON THE PROGRAM TODAY.
  • 18:01 THIS ONE IS CALLED
  • 18:02 "OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY".
  • 18:03 THERE'S CD'S...
  • 18:05 THERE'S TESTS...
  • 18:06 THERE'S NOTES.
  • 18:07 IT'S OUR CORRESPONDENCE PROGRAM.
  • 18:10 WE HAVE ONE HERE ON THE OLD TESTAMENT...
  • 18:12 THE HEBREW BIBLE.
  • 18:14 THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON THE NEW TESTAMENT
  • 18:16 LOOKING AT JESUS FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE.
  • 18:19 AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE ON CHURCH HISTORY.
  • 18:22 ACTUALLY THERE'S TWELVE COURSES COMBINED.
  • 18:25 EXCUSE ME, JEWISH HISTORY.
  • 18:27 THERE'S TWELVE COURSES COMBINED.
  • 18:29 YOU CAN GET IT IN THIS PROGRAM
  • 18:31 EITHER ONE PROGRAM
  • 18:32 OR THREE OF THEM TOGETHER.
  • 18:34 WE WANT TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO YOU.
  • 18:36 I THINK THE LORD WANTS TO GET SOME INFORMATION TO US.
  • 18:39 THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BIBLE.
  • 18:41 WHETHER YOU GET THIS OR NOT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO ME
  • 18:45 AND SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT TO YOU
  • 18:47 BUT MAKE SURE YOU GET THIS.
  • 18:50 WHAT ARE WE GETTING?
  • 18:52 IN THE 11TH CHAPTER,
  • 18:54 I WANT TO PICK UP HERE AND SPEND SOME TIME,
  • 18:56 THERE'S A FELLOW, ELIEZER, WHO DIED.
  • 19:00 WE'RE TOLD IN THE GOSPEL, THE 11TH CHAPTER,
  • 19:06 THAT HE WAS DEAD FOR A SEASON AND THE LORD CAME TO HIM.
  • 19:11 MY QUESTION TO YOU IS RATHER SIMPLE.
  • 19:14 HOW LONG WAS HE IN THE TOMB?
  • 19:19 HOW LONG WAS HE DEAD?
  • 19:21 ONE DAY?
  • 19:23 TWO DAY... THREE... OR FOUR?
  • 19:27 HOW MANY DAYS?
  • 19:29 I RAISE THE QUESTION HERE.
  • 19:32 IF YOU'LL IN VERSES 5 AND 6,
  • 19:35 WHEN THE LORD HEARS THAT ELIEZER IS SICK, WE'RE TOLD:
  • 19:45 SO WHEN HE HEARD THAT HE WAS SICK HE STAYED TWO MORE DAYS IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS.
  • 19:49 YOU KNOW, FRIENDS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
  • 19:51 "OH... I HEARD SO AND SO WAS SICK.I LOVE EM.OKAY, I'LL JUST STAY HERE FOR AWHILE."
  • 19:55 DO YOU EVER GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE YOU ARE IN TROUBLE
  • 19:58 AND THE LORD DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S IN TOO MUCH OF A HURRY TO DO A RESCUE MISSION?
  • 20:03 IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE LORD LETS THIS STORY PLAY OUT.
  • 20:08 WE'RE TOLD IN VERSE 17,
  • 20:18 NOW IT BEGS THE QUESTION,
  • 20:20 WHY DID THE LORD WAIT FOUR DAYS?
  • 20:24 AND I'LL TELL YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
  • 20:27 ANCIENT JEWS BELIEVED THAT AFTER A PERSON DIED
  • 20:30 THE SPIRIT HOVERED AROUND FOR THREE DAYS AND ON THE FOURTH DAY LEFT.
  • 20:37 WERE THE LORD TO HAVE RESURRECTED HIM A DAY EARLIER
  • 20:41 IT COULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUED BY JEWS AS A RESUSCITATION OF A SORT.
  • 20:47 THAT IS TO SAY HE WAS KNOCKED OUT AND THE LORD REVIVED HIM.
  • 20:51 BUT IT WAS CONSTRUED ACCORDING TO THE PREVAILING NORMS OF THE DAY
  • 20:55 THAT THERE ON THE FOURTH DAY THE PERSON, IS GOING, GOING AND GONE.
  • 21:01 I MENTION THIS BECAUSE THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS,
  • 21:06 THE LORD WANTING TO COMMUNICATE THE MIRACLE OF THE RESURRECTION POWER
  • 21:11 INHERENT IN HIS OWN PERSONA TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
  • 21:15 AND THAT LITTLE TIDBIT IS SOMETHING THAT'S LOST IN MODERNITY
  • 21:19 WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE JEWISH CUSTOMS AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE GOSPEL STORY.
  • 21:24 WELL, RETURNING TO THE RESURRECTION STORY,
  • 21:29 AS YOU COULD IMAGINE, LAZARUS CREATED QUITE A STIR.
  • 21:34 AND HERE'S MY QUESTION TO YOU.
  • 21:37 THOUGH LAZARUS' RESURRECTION RAISED EYEBROWS,
  • 21:41 JEWS ALREADY BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
  • 21:45 TRUE OR FALSE?
  • 21:47 EVEN BEFORE ELIEZER WAS RESURRECTED
  • 21:52 JEWISH PEOPLE BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
  • 21:56 TRUE OR FALSE?
  • 21:57 BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
  • 22:02 WITH LORD SPEAKING HERE IN CHAPTER 11 SAYING,
  • 22:11 BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS FIRST HEAR THE LORD SPEAKING OF THE RESURRECTION HERE,
  • 22:16 THE TENDENCY IS TO BELIEVE THAT THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION IN EFFECT BEGINS HERE.
  • 22:22 THAT'S NOT TRUE.
  • 22:23 BEFORE THE LORD WENT ON RECORD SAYING, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE",
  • 22:28 A WOMAN COMES TO HIM AND SAYS,
  • 22:34 THIS REFLECTS A PARTICULAR JEWISH UNDERSTANDING THAT'S NOT JUST PRONOUNCED IN ANTIQUITY
  • 22:40 BUT IS SIMILARLY ANNOUNCED IN MODERNITY.
  • 22:44 RAMBAN, OR MAIMONIDES,
  • 22:46 IS A FAMOUS JEWISH SAGE,
  • 22:48 CONDENSED JEWISH UNDERSTANDING DOWN TO 13 BASIC PRINCIPLES
  • 22:53 THAT JEWS HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO IN ORDER TO BE CONSTRUED AS AUTHENTICALLY ORTHODOX JEWS,
  • 22:59 ONE OF WHICH IS AN AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS,
  • 23:03 "I BELIEVE WITH PERFECT FAITH IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD",
  • 23:11 "TEHIYYAT HA-METIM" IN HEBREW...
  • 23:13 THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
  • 23:16 JEWISH PEOPLE BELIEVE IN A RESURRECTION.
  • 23:19 IN FACT, YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE BEHIND ME OF A TOMB.
  • 23:23 IN THIS CASE THERE'S JEWISH BURIAL CHAMBERS THAT ARE STILL UNEARTHED IN ISRAEL
  • 23:30 AND TRACIE AND I WITH THE VARIOUS BUSES TAKE PEOPLE TO SEE THAT.
  • 23:35 BEYOND THAT WE VISIT THE GARDEN TOMB
  • 23:37 WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE A SITE WHERE THE LORD MAY HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM.
  • 23:41 SIMILARLY WE VISIT THE CHURCH OF THE SEPULCHRE.
  • 23:44 THERE'S SO MUCH TO KNOW...
  • 23:47 SO MUCH TO SEE
  • 23:49 AND I'M THRILLED THAT YOU GO ON THE JOURNEY WITH ME.
  • 26:03 LIFE'S A JOURNEY IN SO MANY WAYS
  • 26:05 AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US GO WITH YOU ON IT EVEN FOR A MOMENT.
  • 26:10 WE... AND I DON'T MEAN "ME",
  • 26:13 I MEAN "WE"
  • 26:14 BECAUSE IT TAKES A NUMBER OF US TO PUT THIS ON FOR YOU
  • 26:17 AND WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT YOUR LIFE'S GOING TO BE RICHER
  • 26:20 BY VIRTUE OF YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE LORD WITH THIS PARTICULAR SLANT.
  • 26:25 WE THINK A JEWISH JESUS IS THE BEST WAY TO CONSTRUE HIM
  • 26:29 AND I KNOW YOU AGREE OR YOU WOULD HAVE GONE "CLICK" LONG BEFORE NOW
  • 26:33 CAUSE THAT'S WHY GOD CREATED REMOTE CONTROLS
  • 26:36 TO GET RID OF STUFF THAT YOU THINK'S WORTHLESS.
  • 26:38 THANK YOU FOR THINKING US WORTHWHILE.
  • 26:40 AND WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AND FINISH THIS FOUR PART SERIES.
  • 26:43 AS YOU GO NOW,
  • 26:44 SHA'ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM
  • 26:47 PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

Episodes in this series

  1. John’s Gospel, A Jewish-Related Story
  2. Jesus and the Feasts
  3. The Good Shepherd
  4. His Last Days

Guest organizations and links