Joe White Drive Time Podcast

"Time Magazine recently had a cover story that was entitled, 'Rethinking the Resurrection' like the resurrection never took place. It was an ultra liberal opinion story. An interview in that magazine with an assortment of really liberal off-base theologians and other kind of experts that cast a shadow of doubt on the plausibility of this miraculous event - the resurrection of Jesus."

Family Discussions:

1. Why do unbelievers continue to scoff at the resurrection even though it's the most profitable event in all of human history?
2. How does the disciples commitment unto death give credence to the account?
3. What does Jesus' resurrection mean to you personally today?

Transcription:

"You think about the Mardi Gras parade and the Rose bowl parade and the Macy's Christmas parade and all these millions of dollars of floats and millions of dollars of cars and all this fanfare, but there wasn't a parade like this one. There's never been a parade like this one nor will there ever be."

Family Discussions:

1. Why do we call that day, Palm Sunday?
2. What was really going on in Jerusalem that day?
3. How can you lay your blanket before Jesus as he comes riding into your life, into your home?
4. How does Jesus' life of exemplary humility speak to you today?

Transcription:

"I heard an old country friend of mine say one time, "you know, there's only three things you need in life. Duct tape, wd 40 and Jesus." Well, I suppose that's true because Jesus is included."

Family Discussions:

1. How did Jesus' departure make you stronger than even if he was standing by your side?
2. How is the force similar to our faith? But how is the force of star wars different than our faith?
3. What difference does it make in your life today that Jesus is praying for you?
4. What difference does it make in your life today that Jesus, is building a mansion for you?
5. What difference does it make in your life today that Jesus is allowing his spirit to live inside of you?

Transcription:

00:14 I heard an old country friend of mine say one time, you know, there's only three things you need in life. Duct tape, wd 40 and Jesus. Well, uh, I suppose that's true because Jesus is included. You want power? You want authority? You want strength? You want courage? Hey, get into this devotional a day and you're going to find it. It's from Acts chapter one verses nine through 11. Jesus and disciples are on the Mount of olives and he's about to be taken away. It's called the ascension. And here's here it goes, Luke is writing. He says, "after he had said these things, he was lifted up while they were looking on and behold, a cloud received him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while he was departing, behold two men in white clothing stood beside them. And they also said, men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?

01:06 This Jesus who's been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you've watched him go into heaven." My little grandson, Dax, uh, who are loved so much. He is a big time star wars fan. And uh, you know, I remember in the first star wars movie, you know, where, I think Obi wan is talking to you know, Darth Vader and he says, if you kill me I'll be stronger. And, and what he's talking about is this new age idea about the force. May the force be with you, whatever. And of course it's, it's, it's a new age concept. It is absolutely useless. But there's something similar to that. Although this one is true where Jesus said to his disciples, I'm not going to leave you as orphans in John 14. He said, I'm going to come to you in a little while.

01:52 He said, the world will behold me no more, but you will behold me because I live. You shall live. Also in that day he's talking about he said, I will be in the father and you will be in me and I will be in you. He's talking about the Holy Spirit and you know what? The Holy Spirit, which of course is the spirit of God, is who you receive when Christ comes into your life. And, and y'all, you talk about motivation, you talk about power, you talk about hope. Now check this out. When Jesus went to be with the father, three things happen on that day. One, he went into the construction business because he said in John 14, he said, I'm going to go prepare a place for you. I'm going to go to prepare a mansion for you. The second thing that he did on that day is he begin a work in your life through the Holy Spirit.

02:45 And the third thing he did that day, he went to be with God. And as Romans eight says, he began to pray for you. He began to pray for you all the time. What would you do if Jesus came back and he literally, uh, begin to hold your hand and began to walk with you every where you went? You think you'd be powerful? You think you could be strong? You think you could overcome temptation? And what if Jesus was right over there? Next you and you saw him on his knees praying for you all the time? You think things in your life would change? You think your attitude would change? You think your faith will change? And then, man, what if, what if every morning you and I woke up and we saw this mansion, this mansion in heaven, that's going to be yours forever.

03:33 that he had personally built for you, what do you think? You think our life would change if those three things were reality in our life? Well I'll tell you something, they are. They're reality in your life. So here's the questions today, how did Jesus' departure make you stronger than even if he was standing by your side? And then in kind of a crazy way. How is the force similar to our faith? But how is the force of star wars different than our faith? And then what difference does it make in your life today that Jesus is praying for you? What difference does it make in your life today that Jesus, is building a mansion for you? And what difference does it make in your life today that Jesus is allowing his spirit to live inside of you and the lifeline for today is this live today in the power of his presence and watch what happens.

"When an air plane, you know shoots down a runway, the wind rushing over the top of the wing creates a vacuum under the wing and the air that rushes in to fill that vacuum under the wing pushes the wing upward and gives that plane the lift that it needs to get off the ground." 

Family Discussion:

1. Why did Thomas need to touch Jesus to believe in?
2. How can you put faith in Jesus even if you've never seen him?
3. What's your favorite lift that God gives you and why?
4. Why do you have to put your wings in motion before you can fly?

Transcription:

00:14 Do you ever question your beliefs? and um, and, and do you, does your life, uh, need a lift today? I just, I just hope this devotional would give you a lift and I hope it will help you with your faith. Um, and you know what, if you, if you, if you've had a day when you don't believe, I hope this will encourage. We're in John Chapter 20 Verse 27 through 29. Um, it's after the resurrection of Christ and there was somebody there who has my middle name by the way, who didn't believe his name was Thomas. It goes like this. "Then he said to Thomas, reach here with your finger and see my hands and reach here your hand and put it into my side and do not be unbelieving, but believing. Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord and my God, Jesus said to him, because you have seen me, you have believed, but blessed are they who do not see and yet believe."

01:09 You know when an air plane, you know shoots down a runway, the wind rushing over the top of the wing creates a vacuum under the wing and the air that rushes in to fill that vacuum under the wing pushes the wing upward and gives that plane the lift that it needs to get off the ground. That's how it flies. As a Christian, God gives you wings to fly and even though you don't have to run to activate those wings, the more you swiftly activate the wings, the higher you go. Faith flies when you trust God with your needs, with your worries and with your plans and with your dreams. Hey, scripture flies when you read it carefully and do what it says. Prayer flies when you pray to God with a sincere believing heart. Your witnessing flies when you live a life that others can see is unique and not like the crowd. Fellowship flies when you keep the right friends and spend time with other believers. Let me ask you this questions today. Hey, why did Thomas need to touch Jesus to believe in? How can you put faith in Jesus even if you've never seen him? This is cool. What's your favorite lift that God gives you and why? And lastly, why do you have to put your wings in motion before you can fly? And the lifeline is this. What can we do to put lift under each other's wings in our family?

"In my billfold, I keep a baseball card of Willie Mays who struck out his first 36 strikes before his first hit. Unbelievable! Jim Abbott, I remember watching the game. He was born with only one hand, but he pitched the victorious gold medal game for the United States Olympic team and pitched a no hitter for the New York Yankees."

Family Discussions:

1. Describe a time when you thought your dream had died.
2. Why does God let visions die before they're completely successful?
3. What's the difference between down and out?

Transcription:

00:14 Hey, today I want to talk to you about your dreams. Your greatest dreams in sports. Your greatest dreams in art. Your greatest dreams in music. Your greatest dreams in academics. Your greatest dreams in business. Your greatest dreams in family. And then I want to talk to you about the greatest day of all. Can I do that? John chapter 20 verse one through eight. We'll never get tired of the resurrection story will we? It says this "now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was still dark and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and she said to them, picture it. They have taken away the lord out of the Tomb and we don't know where they've laid him." Can you picture the scene?

01:01 "So Peter and the other disciples ran to the tomb they went forth is they were going to the tomb. The two were running together, it says, and the other disciples ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. And stooping and looking in. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came following him and entered the tomb and he saw the linen wrappings lying there and the face cloth, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place all by itself. So the other disciples who had first come to the tomb then also entered and he saw and he believed." You know, that uh, Abraham Lincoln lost his, uh, first, uh, six elections before he became the most famous president, perhaps in United States history. Uh, in my billfold, I keep a baseball card of Willie Mays who struck out his first 39, 36 strikes before his first hit.

02:12 Unbelievable. You know, Jim Abbott, I remember watching the game. He was born with only one hand, but he pitched the victorious gold medal game for the United States Olympic team and pitched a no hitter for the New York Yankees. Believe it or not, Michael Jordan was cut from his ninth grade basketball team because they said he wasn't good enough. One of the great quarterbacks of yesteryear, Warren Moon, his junior high coach said he stunk as a quarterback. Another great quarterback from yesteryear, Joe Montana was knocked out of the game permanently. They said before he led the 49ers to a Superbowl championship. And yeah, Jesus was buried as a dead man before he rose from the dead on Easter morning. You know, your greatest dreams will die before their most glorious moment. Every dream I've ever had as died at one point or another before God brought it back to life. You know, you'll be knocked down every time you dream big.

03:14 Don't forget this, but down is not out because great success comes after what seems to be great failure, because that's when God gets all the glory. The Resurrection Day of Jesus, Imagine what that day was like. Hey, don't forget it when it looks like somebody is buried your dream. Hey, here's your question for today. Describe a time when you thought your dream had died. Let me ask you this, Why does God let visions die before they're completely successful? And here's the last question. What's the difference between down and out? And the lifeline is this specially in your home, Remember Easter and someone's in a tomb.

"The story goes of a kind missionary lady who gave her life to teach African kids how to read, write and understand a man named Jesus. In a secluded country along some port of the African coast, this missionary spent an unusually large amount of time with a nine year old local orphan boy as she walked him down the road from illiteracy to the wonderful world of knowledge." 

Family Discussions:

1. What does love mean? Long walk?
2. How much was Jesus' love for us? 
3. How long was his walk?
4. Why did God decide to walk from heaven down to planet earth? 
5. What do you think was the longest part of Jesus' walk for us?

Transcription:

00:13 Man, I don't know about you, but I love cool stories about, about neat little kids. I want to tell you when today. Uh, the scripture today is not a cool story. It's an amazing story. It's the story of the crucifixion. It's John Chapter 19, verse 30 through 36 and it says this, "Therefore, when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said it is finished and he bowed his head and he gave up his spirit. Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath was a high day, asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and on the other who was crucified with him. But coming to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and immediately blood and water came out and he who is seen John is speaking of himself here I believe, has testified in his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you may believe for these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, not a bone of him shall be broken."

01:32 The story goes of a kind missionary lady who gave her life to teach African kids how to read, write and understand a man named Jesus. In a secluded country along some, uh, port of the African coast, this missionary spent an unusually large amount of time with a nine year old local orphan boy as she walked him down the road from illiteracy to the wonderful world of knowledge. As the boy grew in his skills. He grew in his appreciation, his love for the teacher who had given him the gift of knowledge. One Christmas, the boy worried and ponder over his desire to give his beloved teacher a very special gift to express his heart that was filled with appreciation as it is. It's kind of like a balloon just before it pops without, without any money. What would he do? Man, a smile swept across his face

02:22 as he remembered a very rare seashell. His teacher had actually read to him about it could only be found on a secluded beach like a three day walk from his little beach hut. A week before Christmas, he set out on his long walk of love. Early on Christmas morning, the story goes, the teacher heard a knock on her door and she opened it. She saw this giant beam of success spread all the way across the boy's face. He opened his hand to present his valuable find. It is most unusual gift. "Here teacher. It's for you." She said, "This is beautiful! For me?" She says, "Where did you get it?" He said, "Three days walk down, beach, three days' walk." She said, "Well, why did you do that for me?" He said, "much love." She said, "I know, but you walk so far." She was amazed to which the boy humbly replied, "Much love long walk, much love long walk." What does love mean? Long walk? and hey, how much was Jesus' love for us? And how long was his walk? And take this question, why did God decide to walk from heaven down to planet earth? And finally, what do you think was the longest part of Jesus' walk for us? And here's the lifeline for the day. How can we like that little boy, make a long walk to thank him for what he's done for us?

"Kids all wait in line for days to buy a ticket to some gigantic rock concert. There's a rock concert where 16 people were literally literally smothered. Some of them almost smothered to death."

Family Discussions:

1. What would people do if Jesus came to your town?
2. What star would would you go across the street to see what? What star would you rush to see?
3. Who would you rather spend the night at your house? Your favorite actor, your favorite singer, your favorite icon or Jesus?
4. Why did the crowds say on this palm Sunday, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"?

Transcription:

00:14  This passage today, I can't wait to share with you. This is not only one of the greatest days that we celebrate each year before Easter, but uh, but this day was actually prophesied, uh, about 600 years before it ever happened by the Prophet Daniel. Here we go. This is awesome. John 12 verses 12 through 16, and it says this, "The next day the great crowd had come for the feast. They had heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took some palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna, Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.' Jesus found a young donkey and sat up on it as it is written, 'Do not be afraid O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming on a donkey's colt.' At first, his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they see that

01:13 They realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him." We call it Palm Sunday. Bless him who comes in the name of the Lord? This is awesome. Now you and I watch sometimes, you know, kids, you know, all wait in line for days to buy a ticket to some gigantic, you know, rock concert. I read about another rock concert where 16 people were literally literally smothered. Some of them almost smothered to death. It's 50,000 people, you know, crowded this stage at another, you know, rock concert. Uh, you, you know, you, you see, you know, television or maybe you've been to some of these concerts where tens of thousands will scream themselves breathless as, you know, some of these, you know, rock stars play their songs. What would we do if Jesus came to town?

02:06 Who would it be like, you know, the rock stars traveling these gigantic jets. Jesus came on a donkey, I heard about one, you know, rock star who made $161,000 a day. Uh, you know, uh, I mean, he could, he could walk down a sidewalk of gold into his concerts. Jesus rode in on simple palm leaves. Uh, you know, the stars are raised up on the stage, you know, with thousands of lights around. Jesus was raised up on a Roman cross. Funny thing about that. The stars will be forgotten almost, you know, after they played their last chorus. Jesus' song of love will be number one forever. What a paradox. Hey, here's the questions today. What would people do if Jesus came to your town? And then what star would, uh, would you go across the street to see what, what star would you rush to see? Um, well, let me ask you this question. Who would you rather spend the night at your house? Your favorite actor, you know, your favorite singer, um, your favorite icon or Jesus? And then, um, this is a good one. Why did the crowds say on this palm Sunday, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"? And here's the lifeline. Can you imagine the home, what it would be like if you gave Jesus the welcome he deserves every single day when he shows up at your Bible study?

Historians have said that there is more evidence and more writing about Jesus' resurrection from the dead than any other single historical fact in human history.

Family Discussions:

1. From these historical accounts, how do you think the resurrection took place?
2. What does Jesus' resurrection mean to you personally, today?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 If you have not read Josh McDowell's book, "The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict", you're in for a treat. Every believer needs to know this book. He has taught me so much, and he taught me a lot about what we're going to talk about today. We're in Matthew 27 in verse 62, and scripture says this, "Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilot and said, 'Sir, we remembered that when He was still alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again;' therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilot said to them, 'You have a guard. Go and make it as secure as you know how,' and they went and made the grave secure. And along with the guard, they set a seal on the stone."

01:12 The greatest single evidence that backs up Jesus' claim to be God in the flesh is this physical bodily resurrection on the Sunday after the crucifixion. No other religious leader in history can make that claim. If Christ was raised from the dead, your faith is as reliable as the food on the table in front of you. The critics, as expected, say it was just a hoax. You know, how do we know it's historical? Well, I'll tell you how. Number one, the Roman guard. Jesus' tomb was guarded by Roman guard called the custodian. According to Roman law, Pilot dispatched a guard, which was a group of 12 to 16 highly-trained soldiers able to defend their ground against an entire invading army. To retreat, to sleep on the job, or defect meant execution in hedonistic Roman fashion.

02:09 Secondly, the Roman seal. You Know Josh McDowell writes in this book, "Evidence That Demands A Verdict." He says this, "Considering in like manner the securing of Jesus' tomb, the Roman seal affixes thereon was meant to prevent any attempted vandalizing of the sepulcher. Anyone trying to move the stone from the tomb's entrance would have broken the seal and, thus, incurred the wrath of Roman law.

02:34 Third evidence, the stone. An extremely large rock weighing approximately one-and-a-half to two tons was rolled up against the tomb. According to Jewish eyewitness tradition, 20 men could not have moved the stone. Eyewitnesses' accounts documented in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John indicate that the stone was removed completely up and away from the entire tomb.

03:00 Next, the appearances. The book of John and I Corinthians documents that Jesus appeared alive and well to the apostles and 500 others. Their lives were completely transformed from questioning cowards to the most courageous band of men and women in the world's history. There is no doubt that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. In fact, historians have said that there is more evidence and more writing about Jesus' resurrection from the dead than any other single historical fact in human history.

03:31 My questions for you today are this: from these historical accounts, how do you think the resurrection took place? And the second question is, what does Jesus' resurrection mean to you personally, today? The thought for the day is this: the resurrected Christ guarantees that all Christian members of this family will never have to say goodbye. Be sure that the resurrected Jesus has your heart today.