Season 4 Podcast 99 “The Law of Restoration.” 

Of course, one cannot separate the final judgment from three primary laws:

1.              The irrevocable law of justice

2.              The equitable law of mercy

3.              The eternal law of agency

The law of restoration is governed by the law of justice. Because of justice, there is both a heaven and a hell, good and evil, God and Satan.  How can it be otherwise?  

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:11-12)

It is because of the law of justice, the law of mercy, the law of agency, and the law of restoration that the Savior revealed to John, “my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”  To be God carries Godlike responsibilities. Nothing can be arbitrary or there would be a respecter of persons. Unjust to unjust, filthy to filthy, righteous to righteous, and holy to holy are a form of restoration.  The law of restoration is also encapsulated in the following favorite Christian proverb:

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

That bread may be good or evil. At the end of the chapter, The Preacher warned:

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)

The law of restoration means that good will be restored for good and evil will be restored for evil in the final judgment.  Justice demands it. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior warned:

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7: 1-2)

The word “measured” suggests the precision of the law of restoration at the final judgment. Consider bread to be our works.  Consider “after many days” to be the judgment.  

The law of justice is inextricably connected to the restoration of all things.  If we do good in this life, then God shall restore good unto us.  If we do evil in this life, then justice shall restore evil unto us. When Adam fell, he fell outside the law of justice.  He was condemned forever to both a physical and spiritual death.  

One must be able to ascend as high as he can fall or fall as far as he can ascend.  Lucifer was once near to God.   Because of justice, there will be a perfect law of restoration.  We must pay attention to the little things for they will be restored to us. We must guard our words. James warns us:

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8)

We must also guard our thoughts, our actions, our desires, our wants, our emotions, our temper—in other words, we must govern everything that makes us who we are for we will all stand before God pierced through with his all-seeing eye.  

When we leave this earth, we carry our essence with us.  Our physical body dies, not our immortal spirit. Those who think there shall be a sudden transformation at death shall be sorely disappointed.  

Season 4 Podcast 98, “The Necessity of Law Pt II.” 

Those spirits who rejected Lucifer and followed Christ chose to come to earth, to know good from evil, and to have agency.  Every spirit who comes to earth to gain a body wanted freedom.  Everyone who comes to this earth chose to come to this earth. God protects freewill and agency at all costs. 

Those spirits who come to earth to gain a physical body fought with Michael against Lucifer and his angels for the privilege.  The spirit of freedom is inherent in mankind.  That is what I mean by “The New Voice of Freedom.”  Let us take back that which is ours by inheritance, that which we fought for in the war in heaven against Lucifer, and that which we continue to fight for in the battle on earth against Satan.

It is very possible that there are angels in heaven who didn’t choose to follow Lucifer but chose not to have the earthly experience, who remained in heaven as spirits, never to have a physical body.  They chose salvation without risk but also without eternal progression, a mystery that we must yet learn.

The advantage, however, though at high risk, is with those who chose to come to earth and to gain a body.  If, like Paul, we “fight a good fight” and endure to the end, we will enjoy eternal progression or eternal life with God. Having had the earthly experience, heaven will be a greater heaven because our eyes will be open and as John said, 

(1 John 3:1-4)

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 

To be like Christ, we must adopt all of his virtues.  Without opposition, there is no growth.  Look at what Christ had to endure to become the Savior of the World. He is defined by his works. Had Christ remained in heaven, he would still be God because he was God before he came to earth, but he would not have been Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. That required sacrifice. His glory came because of his inimitable sacrifice for man.  His entire reason for being is to bring about our salvation. That is why Christ is incomprehensible.  Being God was not enough. He wanted to fulfill the desires of his Father. He wanted to be our Savior.  He entwined his happiness with our happiness, his joy with our joy.  He was God because he was the Son of God.  He was perfect because he obeyed the laws of his Father perfectly. He was Christ because he sacrificed himself for our sins and saved the world.

Christ agreed to come to earth and atone for our sins even before Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden.  Those who return to heaven are only those who choose to return to heaven.  They prove their desires, not by words but by obedience to the laws of Christ.  

Ultimately everything is about freedom and agency.  At the final judgment, we will not be able to blame God for anything.  That is what The Law of Equality means.  We were all created equal by God, with equal potential.  God is our Father; therefore, we have the potential to become like him but only if we keep his commandments.  We have freewill.  We will discover that how we exercise freedom, agency, and liberty was our choice all along the path of eternal progression. 

Season 4 Podcast 97, “The Necessity of Law Pt I.” 

If we live the laws of liberty perfectly, we will have perfect freedom.  Any violation of those laws leads to captivity.  If the laws of man are not in harmony with the laws of God, then freedom, agency, and liberty will fall.  A measure of disorder is a measure of the absence of obedience to the laws of God.  One may as easily change the tides by howling at the moon like a coyote as to try to restore freedom by disobeying the laws of God.

The reason the law of mercy is necessary is because the law of justice cannot be compromised.  If the law of justice were compromised, then God would cease to be God, order would give way to chaos, and all would end as our misdirected scientists claim into a giant heat death or maximum equilibrium. 

The law of justice is the embodiment of the perfections and power of God.  The law of mercy is the demonstration of the perfect love of Christ for his children. Because Christ obeyed the law of justice perfectly, he never fell under the penalty of the law; however, because none of us can live the law of justice perfectly, we all fall under the condemnation of the law.  The law of justice must exist, or absolute chaos would take over.  If God violated the law of justice, he would cease to be God. That is why absolute standards are necessary. Sin is not arbitrary. Sin is the violation of the commandments of God. The commandments of God represent his perfection. Without law there would be no sin, but also without law there would be no God, no heaven or hell, no good or evil, and no order and creation—there would be nothing!

Science, which only considers temporal law, is closer to the truth than they know because without the law of justice, all creation would reach maximum equilibrium, also called ‘the giant heat death.’  Maximum equilibrium is absolute chaos, the only chaotic state.  Science discounts the existence of God, the existence of absolute law, and the existence of immortality and eternal life.  By excluding spiritual law or the absolute power of God, science, because of entropy, can arguably arrive at no other conclusion but maximum equilibrium.  After all, in the scientific world, all things are measured by mortal measurements, all that lives must die, including the cosmos.

Also, because science accepts only temporal law, which is deterministic, they cannot account for the immortal spirit, the resurrection, eternal life, or freewill. The mortal body, for example, is governed entirely by law; therefore, science claims, man cannot have freewill. Given their false premise, their conclusion is perfectly logical.  It is for that reason that they compare man to animals, one of the greatest fallacies of our age. The arguments of science are meticulously logical; however, because their fundamental premises are false—that God does not exist, that immortality does not exist, that spiritual laws do not exist—their arguments, no matter how logical, are unsound.  

Remove God from the equation and science has no other option but scientific nihilism and cosmic cynicism.  Regardless of the appearance of liberty on earth, if science were correct in their assumptions, then death would be the final act.  They cling to Darwinian evolution because what else is there based on their false premises?  They walk by sight and not by faith. 

The theory of evolution is a mortal matter only, strictly governed by temporal law; therefore, it is limited by temporal law and, though it accounts for the continuation of species, it cannot account for the origin of species.  It is a perfect explanation for the variety of life on earth and the endurance of life on earth, but it is not an explanation for the beginning of life or the continuation of life after death.  

Season 4 Podcast 96 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 2 A Episode 4 “Duessa.” 

In the previous Podcast, # 91, Archimago, the wicked magician, lures The Red Cross Knight, Una, and the Dwarf to his cabin, where using a false dream convinces the Red Cross Knight that Una is untrue. Now we move to Canto II. 

CANTO II

The guileful great Enchanter parts

the Redcrosse Knight from truth,

Into whose stead faire Falsehood steps,

and works him woeful ruth.

 Morpheus, the God of dreams, at the command of Archimago, causes The Red Cross Knight to have salacious dreams. Evil sprites conjured up by Archimago take on the false form of the true Una and her lover while the real Una sleeps innocently in her bed in another room. 

 Eftsoones he took that miscreated faire,

And that false other Spright, on whom he spread

A seeming body of the subtle air,

Like a young Squire, in loves and lustybed

His wanton days that ever loosely led,

Without regard of arms and dreaded fight:

Those two he took, and in a secret bed,

Covered with darkness and misdeeming night,

Them both together laid, to joy in vain delight.

 The Redcross Knight, unaware that it is only his own lustful dreams, is invited voyeur-like by the wicked Archimago to witness the dreadful betrayal of his true love. 

 Forthwith he runs with feigned faithful haste

Unto his guest, who after troublous sights

And dreams, gan now to take more sound repast,

Whom suddenly he wakes with fearful frights,

As one aghast with fiends or damned sprights,

And to him calls, Rise, rise, unhappy Swaine

That here wex old in sleep, whiles wicked wights

Have knit themselves in Venus shameful chain,

Come see where your false Lady doth her honor stain.

 The Redcross Knight rises quickly from his bed and draws his sword. He wants to kill Una but Archimago stops him. Ironically had he actually destroyed the villains who were counterfeiting Una in a dream, falsely accusing her of infidelity, he would have discovered the truth. But the Redcross knight thinks Archimago is a holy man and believes him over what before he knew to be true, that Una was the epitome of holiness and virtue. In fact, only with Una could the Redcross Knight obtain holiness.  Without her he would once again fall into errors endless train. The purpose of Archimago is to separate the Red Cross Knight from truth, thus preventing him from become Saint George, the famed knight of old who slayed the fiery dragon.

 All in amaze he suddenly upstart

With sword in hand, and with the old man went

Who soon him brought into a secret part

Where that false couple were full closely ment

In wanton lust and leud embracement:

Which when he saw, he burnt with jealous fire,

The eye of reason was with rage yblent,

And would have slain them in his furious ire,

But hardly was restrained of that aged sire.

 Horrified to see Una in the luxurious bed of salty love, the Redcross Knight returns to his own bed in horror at his discovery. At the break of dawn, the Redcross Knight takes the Dwarf and they hastily abandon Una who all this while innocently slept, guiltless of any sin. It was the Red Cross Knight’s own salacious dreams that he was running from. The fault was in him not her. 

 Returning to his bed in torment great,

And bitter anguish of his guilty sight,

He could not rest, but did his stout heart eat,

And waste his inward gall with deep despite,

Irksome of life, and too long lingering night.

At last faire Hesperus in highest sky

Had spent his lamp and brought forth dawning light,

Then up he rose, and clad him hastily;

The Dwarf him brought his steed: so both away do fly.

Season 4 Podcast 95 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 9”

We offer a weekly podcast, Monday thru Friday. Each Friday we discuss the New Testament, King James’ Version. We are now on Matthew Chapter 9.

Chapter Nine begins with Jesus healing a man who was paralyzed.

Matthew 9:6-8

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Faith is the first principle of the gospel because it is the principle of power. However, not only is faith the principle of power. Faith is also the principle of action.

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight:

As we see from the healing of the paralytic, faith, which is the principle of action and power, always precedes the miracle. Without faith there can be no miracle. Even Christ was restricted by the faith of those whom he healed.  But faith also precedes hope. In fact, as we increase in faith we increase in hope.

2 Corinthians 10:15

 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly.

Galatians 5:5

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Faith even precedes charity,

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Faith also precedes salvation.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Paul tells us that faith is a law.

Romans 3:27

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

So what is faith?  Again we look to Paul

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The key words are substance and evidence. 

Synonyms for substances are matter, material, element, mass, reality, actuality, realness, factuality, essence, essential part, solidity, significance.  

Synonyms for evidence are proof, confirmation, verification, validation, authentication, testimony, witness, substantiate, corroborate, confirm, validate, authenticate.

Faith then gives reality or factuality to that which we hope for. That is why faith must precede hope. Without faith hope is merely a wish, a want, or a desire without substance or essence or materiality.  Hope must be compounded with faith for it to be real.  The second part, evidence, is even stronger. Faith provides the proof or confirmation or validation for that which is unseen. Faith allows us to see it with spiritual eyes. Faith is why we are able to bear testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ without ever having seen him. Paul also said,

Season 4 Podcast 94 “Temporal Law vs Spiritual Law.” 

It is perhaps universally agreed that one of the great scientists of our day was Stephen Hawking. I have three of his books on my desk in front of me—A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking’s Universe, & The Grand Design. They are heavily marked, frequently read, and greatly admired. I am no scientist, so I appreciate his gift of clarity. I suppose that only scientists of equal understanding can judge his scientific conclusions. I am in no position to argue against his knowledge of the universe; therefore, I read his books for information. I become his enthusiastic student. 

He is, of course, very controversial for Christians because he uses his scientific knowledge as an argument to disprove the existence of God. That for me is his greatest flaw. It is the same flaw committed by Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion. I do not consider Richard Dawkins to be a scientist, but I do consider him to be an excellent science writer. Both, however, fall into the same fallacy.

It is not possible, through science to prove the existence of God or to disprove the existence of God, and on a purely logical basis, any attempt will result in logical fallacies. It is like arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? It is a silly question and can only provoke silly answers. The fallacy lies in the unprovable assumptions. That is the fallacy that both Mr. Hawking and Mr. Dawkins fall into.

There is one universal truth that if scientists deny, they must deny science. It is this: Everything in our world is predicated upon law. There are two classes of universal laws, both relying on the principle of causality, meaning where there is a cause there must be an effect, and where there is an effect, there must be a cause.

Temporal laws govern the known universe. It is familiarly called the laws of science. You cannot find God through temporal laws. For those who have faith in God, temporal laws provide evidence of his existence because law suggests intelligent design; however, the designer will always remain invisible. You cannot conjure up God in a laboratory. 

Imagine, for example, a jet stream in the sky that appears regularly but you never see the jet. For argument’s sake the jet is in another dimension, but only the jet stream is visible in our dimension. Those who believe in jets would attribute the jet stream to a jet. Those who don’t would look for temporal causes. Now let’s imagine two sets of science books. One set is written by temporal scientists who only see the jet stream. The other set is written by prophets who have not only seen the jet stream but also have seen the jet in vision. The temporal scientists would examine the jet stream entirely through temporal laws. Their facts could even be right about everything, but they would never discover the origin of the jet stream. The visionary scientists would connect the two and explain the existence of another dimension.  

Such is the case today between science and religion. All agree that life exists. All agree that earth is the perfect habitat for life which is called The Goldilocks Zone. They do not agree on how life is accounted for.  Science attributes the existence of life to chance; Prophets attribute the existence of life to God. Scientists write books on temporal law; prophets write books on spiritual law. Scientists gather information through the scientific method. Prophets gather information through visions, revelations, inspirations, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Prophets may accept the facts of science but not the conclusions about origins. Scientists, who are atheists, reject both the facts and the conclusions of the prophets.  Science attributes the origin of the Goldilocks Zone and life to luck; Prophets attribute the origin of the Goldilocks Zone and life to God. Only faith can bring them together. 

Season 4 Podcast 93 The Twenty-Third Psalm Pt II.”

Welcome to the second half of our discussion of the Twenty-Third Psalm. In Podcast 92 we discussed the following verses.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

If you haven’t downloaded Podcast 92, may we suggest that you do so first. In Podcast 93 We continue with the following verses.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

In this podcast we shall begin with the fifth concept:

Concept Number Five. 3 He restoreth my soul: 

The principle of repentance comes to mind where guilt is washed away by the blood of Christ, and peace is restored. 

·       Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy, Prov. 28:13 

·       Put away the evil of your doings … cease to do evil, Isa. 1:16.

·       Unrighteous man … let him return unto the Lord, Isa. 55:7.

·       Return ye now every man from his evil way, Jer. 35:15 

·       Repent, and turn … from all your transgressions, Ezek. 18:30.

·       Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matt. 3:2 

·       Bring forth … fruits meet for repentance, Matt. 3:8 

·       Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish, Luke 13:3 

·       Joy … in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, Luke 15:7.

·       Repent ye therefore, and be converted, Acts 3:19.

·       Commandeth all men every where to repent, Acts 17:30 ).

·       Turn to God, and do works meet for repentance, Acts 26:20 

·       Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, 2 Cor. 7:10.

·       Lord is … longsuffering … that all should come to repentance, 2 Pet. 3:9.

I personally believe, however, that the phrase, he restoreth my soul,” is a primary image of the resurrection. The poem is about death and the resurrection, and only Christ can raise us from the dead.  In Job we read

Job 19

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me

At Death the body and the spirit are separated. In the resurrection the body and the spirit are reunited. In Genesis we are told that the body and the spirit are the soul of man. 

Genesis 2:7

 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

In other words, “he restoreth my soul” means exactly what it is. The body and spirit were separated at death, they are restored in the resurrection and once again become a “living soul.”  

Season 4 Podcast 92 The Twenty-Third Psalm Pt. I.”

Probably every Christian is familiar with what is sometimes referred to as The Psalm of David. Considering there are 150 Psalms, to be referred to as The Psalm of David is a clue to its universal appeal. In this and the following podcast we shall attempt to show why it is so universal and so appealing. It is about Christ. It is the story of Christianity.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I have divided the Twenty-Third Psalm into fifteen separate concepts. In this Podcast Linda and I shall discuss concepts one through four. In the next Podcast we shall discuss concepts five through fifteen.  

Concept Number One: The Lord is my shepherd; 

In Idaho and Wyoming shepherds are common, some with hundreds of sheep. Because of the wild wilderness terrain, shepherds are generally on horseback accompanied by several highly trained sheep dogs. The very real enemies are wolves, coyotes, cougars, and mountain lions. Out on the desert some shepherds sleep in covered wagons, exposed to the elements. Jesus, of course, is the shepherd referred to as  

1.     the good shepherd

2.     the shepherd of Israel

3.     that great shepherd of the sheep

4.     Shepherd over all the earth

5.     Great and true shepherd

6.     Chief shepherd

David refers to the Lord as “My Shepherd.” And that is the way we should all regard him—our personal shepherd.  David adds. 

Concept Number Two: I shall not want.

We are very complex beings with many needs: spiritually, temporally, emotionally, financially, intellectually.  We must distinguish among wants, needs, appetites, and desires. We have direct access to God through prayer. What other king offers that accessibility.  We must ask ourselves which wants will the Lord supply.  Here are eight concepts about prayer taken from the Holy Bible.

1.     We are encouraged to Pray always

·       Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, Ps. 55:17.

·       Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, Matt 26:41

·       Men ought always to pray, and not to faint, Luke 18:1 

·       We will give ourselves continually to prayer, Acts 6:4.

·       Pray without ceasing, 1 Thes. 5:17 

·       I should sin … in ceasing to pray, 1 Sam. 12:23.

·       Watch ye therefore, and pray always, Luke 21:36.

2.     The Father and the Son are two separate beings. Jesus instructs us to pray directly to the Father in heaven.

 ·       Pray to thy Father which is in secret, Matt. 6:6.

·       Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask, Matt. 6:8.

·       After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matthew 6:9

Season 4 Podcast 91 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 1 C Episode 3 “Archimago.” 

In the previous Podcast, # 86, The Red Cross Knight defeats the dragon and earns his armor. He and Una and the Dwarf, who because of a storm had divagated from the straight and narrow path and wandered in the wilderness seeking shelter. That is how they came upon the Dragon’s lair. They leave the wild wilderness and get back on the path. Proud of his accomplishment, the Red Cross Knight is unprepared for his next test which comes in disguise. 

The three meet a holy man.  

 At length they chaunst to meet upon the way

An aged Sire, in long black weeds yclad,

His feet all bare, his beard all hoary gray

And by his belt his book he hanging had;

Sober he seemed, and very sagely sad,

And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent,

Simple in shew, and void of malice bad,

And all the way he prayed, as he went,

And often knockt his breast, as one that did repent.

Fooled by appearances the three feel perfectly safe. The adventurous knight asks the holy man if he knew of any strange adventure that needed his attention.

He faire the knight saluted, louting low,

Who faire him quited, as that courteous was:

And after asked him, if he did know

Of strange adventures, which abroad did pass.

Ah my dear Son (quoth he) how should, alas,

Silly old man, that lives in hidden cell,

Bidding his beads all day for his trespass,

Tidings of war and worldly trouble tell?

With holy father sits not with such things to mell.

The old man assures them that he is but a hermit and doesn’t meddle with worldly things; however, he does know someone who can answer his question.

But if of danger which hereby doth dwell,

And homebred evil ye desire to hear,

Of a strange man I can you tidings tell,

That wasteth all this country far and near.

Of such (said he) I chiefly do inquire,

And shall you well reward to shew the place,

In which that wicked wight his day doth wear:

For to all knighthood it is foul disgrace,

That such a cursed creature lives so long a space.

Far hence (quoth he) in wasteful wilderness

His dwelling is, by which no living wight

May ever pass, but thorough great distress.

The Red Cross Knight, seeking adventure, wants to meet this strange man. It is the same curiosity that enticed him to look into the Dragon’s lair. He feels it is his duty as a knight to challenge such an evil man. Having learned nothing from his first experience, again he desires to run to a battle he never should have fought.

Una, however, immediately senses danger and as she warned the Red Cross Knight not to get too close to the dragon’s den, she warns him again not to go to this “wasteful wilderness.” Even the sun rests after a weary day and so should the Knight.

Season 4 Podcast 90 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 8, Vs 16-34”

We offer a weekly podcast, Monday thru Friday. Each Friday we discuss the New Testament, King James’ Version. We are now on Matthew Chapter 8, the Sermon on the Mount just concluded.

In, Podcast 85, we discussed Matthew 8: 1-15, in which the Savior cured the leper, the Centurian’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law. In verses 16 thru 34 the miracles continue.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

We always think of Christ as taking away our sins, but it is clear here that not only did he bear our sins, but he also took upon himself our infirmities and bare our sicknesses. Why is that important to know? 

We really don’t know all of the miracles that Christ performed, but every miracle recorded has a message for us. It is unlikely that anyone listening to this podcast has been spared from infirmities or sicknesses. Many call upon Christ for his healing powers, and many have witnessed personal miracles in their lives.

Christ did not just heal infirmities and sicknesses. He took upon himself our infirmities and our sicknesses meaning that he suffered every bit as much as we suffer and that includes headaches and toothaches and cancer and every other ailment. He felt our pain that he may have empathy for us in our anguish. When we cry out to God, he understands. The only way he can have empathy for us is to suffer as we suffer, whether it is sin or sickness or weakness or temptations or desires or appetites or passions.

 It is not an easy concept to grasp. For one thing he was sinless, yet he suffered for our sins; for another, he only lived to about age thirty-three or thirty-four, meaning he was in the prime of health, yet he suffered and died for us. The scope of the atonement is as broad as the pain of all humanity. What did Luke mean when he said of Christ in Gethsemane?

LUKE 22

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Christ shed his blood not only on the cross of Calvary, but also in the Garden of Gethsemane. Without gethsemane the cross would have been meaningless for it is there in Gethsemane where his blood spilt on the ground like sweat that he took upon himself the sins of the world. In gethsemane he suffered for our sins. On the cross he died for our sins and in the tomb he was the first fruits of the resurrection thus bringing about the resurrection of all mankind. His mission was to bring about our immortality and our eternal life with the Father.

Also remember Christ’s response when the woman with the issue of blood touched his garments and was immediately healed.

Luke 8

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.