Week 5 (Days 302-308): If Jesus defeated Satan, why does Satan seem to have power?

Hey Bible readers, welcome to TBR Deep Dive. I'm Emma Daughter. I'm Kirsten McCloskey. And today we have a very special guest with us. This is Dr. Kim. Dr. Steven Kim. Do you want us to call you Dr. Kim? Let's call Steven. Okay, Steven. Steven. I'm gonna try really hard to do that because Dr. Kim is one of our professors at Dallas Theological Seminary. So I am very used to calling him Dr. Kim, but Steven. It is wonderful to have you here. Thank you. Steven taught at Maltonoma. Am I saying that right? Biblical Seminary, which was in Portland, Oregon. And also pastored a church for a while in Nashville. And then now is teaching at Dallas Theological Seminary. And how long have you been there? I've been here since 2019. Okay, great. That's wonderful. And one thing that we just would love to know is as you're joining us today, and obviously you love teaching the Bible, you teach New Testament, right, at DTS, is that correct? I teach New and Old Testaments. Okay, what's your favorite? I would say the Gospels. The Gospels. I spend most time in the Gospels. Okay, that's good because, yeah. Which is perfect because we're covering the Gospels. I think that's why we had you today, actually. Okay, and one last thing before we get started. What do you love about teaching the Bible? I love teaching the Bible because the fact that God has revealed Himself to us through His Word is something that is life-transforming. I love the fact of teaching students the Word of God so that that can be the basis of their ministry, all their life. Praise God. Well, we're thankful that you're here with us. And so let's go ahead and dive in, shall we? Let's do it. Are we ready? Okay. So, we are taking this question from day 302. And the question is, why did John point out that Lazarus had been dead for four days? Is there something significant about that detail? Well, the simple answer to that is because there is a common Jewish belief that the spirit would hover over the body up to three days. And the fourth day, the body begins to decompose. Yeah. And so Jesus made sure that Lazarus was dead. Yes. And that, but his body had not begun to decompose. And that's the significance of it. Okay, interesting. So, he was really, really dead. Yes. And there is. Exactly right. He was a goner. So that there wouldn't be a misunderstanding of that being more of a resuscitation or the resurrection. Yeah, that makes sense. As I was researching, one of the commentators emphasized that this was highlighting Jesus' control over life and death, specifically that he waited till he was dead. Yes, he's the source of life and works miracles among the living, but is also over death. And the significance of that also the fact that Jesus was dead for three days and three nights. And his body had not begun to decompose on the fourth day. And so that's why he had to be risen on the third day. Okay, interesting. Because in Psalm 16, it talks about the fact that his body will not see decay. Oh, that's very interesting. I had not heard that before. So one of the things that I was researching a little bit was that in the ancient world, some people, like you said, so they weren't considered dead until after a few days, but were people, have you ever heard this, that people were sometimes mistakenly dead? Oh, really? Yeah. And so that was interesting. A false alarm. Yeah, like a false alarm, they thought they were dead and then they were covered. And so I had never before thought about that point. And so Jesus is really showing that, no Lazarus was truly dead. He was on his way to being gone. And so that's, I mean, obviously there's many things that make this miracle really amazing, but that seems to be kind of the main thing. Yeah, exactly. So it's interesting that even now, in so many parts of the world where they'll be grieving over and mourning for that person up to three days. And so that's where the process takes about three days. Something I encountered as I was researching was talking about how Jesus may have also been teaching his followers something by delaying. And the point I think this commentator was getting it was that just because Jesus loves us, that doesn't mean an immediate rescue in the physical will follow instantly. Jesus's provision doesn't always feel quick or instant. And I- In fact, you make a really good statement there because in John 11 says that Jesus waited two more days. And it says that Jesus loved Lazarus. So it was an intentional choice to delay, which has a really clear, I think practical application for us if we are like Lazarus's friends and family, longing for God to move or to do something, just because it feels like he's delaying his movement doesn't mean that he doesn't love us or care. He still sees us and cares. And the interesting thing about that miracle is the fact that it really, the miracle wasn't for Lazarus. Because Lazarus was where? In God's presence, in paradise. And so when Jesus called him back from the dead, when he came out of the tomb, I'm convinced that the first words out of his mouth was not hallelujah. He's like, what do you think they were? What am I doing here? Yeah, why am I here? Why have you brought me back? Exactly. So it really was for God's glory to be shown, the fact that he is the resurrection and the life. He who believes in him shall not perish even though he dies. Wow, that's so good. Maybe that's why John didn't tell us what Lazarus said. He's left that out. He left that out. Because he was so disappointed. He's like, I'm just gonna keep going with this story, I can't. And it says that Lazarus, after he came back from the dead, that he actually spent some time with the disciples. Wouldn't you love to have been there? Yes, to ask him what it was like. Right? Oh. Yeah. So one last thing I was thinking about with this is, so in the Bible, there's all of these details because this is a story, this really happened. And so it's cool to point out that, yeah, I mean, some of the details might just be additional things that the narrator chooses to put in because they're telling a story. This is how you tell stories, you include the details. But some of these are, they bring such a depth of understanding of what's really going on. And so we do wanna notice, obviously, the bigger context of what's going on, but also the details. God is a God of details, and this was all part of his plan. Yeah. And the fact of that miracle is a fact that when Jesus actually saw that Lazarus had died, he really was troubled, and it's as if he was really troubled. And that word is word that appears only there in the New Testament. And that is more of a equestrian term. Interesting. It really speaks of a horse's snort when it's agitated or angry. The fact that God is angered by the fact of what sin had done and that abroad death. It's a great observation and insight. Yeah. We can move on to the next question. I wanna check, any more insights either of you would like to share before I move us along. I could talk about this for a while. Okay, okay, we'll do it then. The next question comes from day 303 of our reading, specifically Luke 18, 34, which I'll read for us, but the question is, why didn't the disciples understand what Jesus was clearly predicting? And Luke 18, 34 says this, but they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them and they did not grasp what was said. Yeah. I think a couple of things are in play and notice the passive voice of the fact that it was hidden from them and that there is a perfect timing of God revealing himself to them. At the same time he had revealed that he was going to die. But I think it really speaks to the fact that we have a hard time understanding and sometimes comprehending the way that God works. God's will sometimes very perplexing. Right, exactly. And the fact that they have been waiting for the Messiah all these years and the fact that he had come to reign into rule, what does that mean that the Messiah would die? Right. And that's something they had a hard time reconciling, the fact that the Messiah would now die on a cross. And so that's something that was really perplexing for them. Yeah. Well, and the other thing I was thinking about with this is that he gives some really clear specifics about what's gonna happen. So a couple of verses before where you read, Emma, he will be delivered over to the Gentiles, will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him and on the third day he will rise. And so it's so interesting. It seems so explicitly stated for them to not get it. Right, but we're on this side of it. And so we're looking back like, you guys come on clearly, but it helps. I mean, I think this is such a great question because it shows some consistency in people not really understanding or recognizing the prophecies and what that meant and when they're fulfilled. And also these people were human. And it was hard for them, like what you were saying, this was so outside of what their expectation was. Yeah, yeah. I think it was also a play as maybe willful ignorance. Oh, interesting. As if they really don't wanna know. They don't wanna accept it. Yeah, they don't wanna write. Yes, you hear something, but then you really don't want to accept it. I thought of, they may have had the wrong expectations, expecting some sort of military liberator. And you mentioned the reconciling that this is the Messiah who will die, that that would have seemed like a possible contradiction. I wondered if it was maybe a contradiction to them mentally because they were expecting someone who would free them from Rome. Rather than a spiritual Messiah. I think fear had a lot to do with it. The fact that the Messiah, if the Messiah is killed and if the leader is killed, then what's gonna happen to the followers? And so the disciples are like, that really can't be true. Kind of a wolf-lignify. Yeah, cause we can't. Well, and I think too sometimes in my life, there've been so many ways that God has answered prayers or led me to things where I'm like, I could never in a million years have guessed that this was how you were gonna do that. And so I think even that, they had no context for imagining how this could actually take place. Yes, yes. Okay, the other thing that I found as I was looking at this, kind of some different options that commentators presented. So the idea of the suffering Messiah was too difficult for them to accept one option. Another one, they weren't really able to see how such a death that Jesus spoke of would fulfill the Old Testament. So they couldn't really reconcile that. The third option was they didn't understand why the Messiah had to die. And then the fourth one, which I thought was interesting, was that God had chosen to veil this truth from them. And so I'm wondering if- Like God was withholding the information. Yeah, or what, do you have any thoughts on that? Well, even the disciples, remember the two disciples that were on the road to Emmaus? Right, yes. And they were kept from recognizing Jesus. And so I think the moment that I clicked for them came after the death of Christ. When the disciples saw what had happened. So do you think they were kept because of a hardness in their heart? Or just God's sovereignty? He didn't want them to know yet. I think both of those things are at play. Yeah, the hardness of heart and divine sovereignty. Keeping it from, until God's perfect timing, as you know, really it wasn't until the Holy Spirit came in the book of Acts that everything kind of came together. Clicked. And when I said that, when I said the Holy Spirit, he will bring to remembrance all these things that I've taught. Well, and I think that's kind of an interesting point because again, these books are being written down and compiled afterwards. And so there, the disciples have the 2020 vision now of being like, oh yeah, remember when he told us those very specific things, we did not. We did not. Remember how none of us knew what that was and we sat around the fire and we talked about it a lot and we couldn't figure it out? Yeah. That's good. Yeah, that's very interesting. It is. It's also a good reminder God's timing's perfect. Yes. Jesus is patient with their slowness to understand. Yes. He reveals the truth in his timing. He sent the Spirit to help us, literally. And so if you're listening and you're thinking, gosh, I kind of relate to the disciples. I'm reading through the Bible for the first time and I don't understand what I'm reading. You're in good company. But if you're a believer in Christ, you do have the gift of the Spirit. So a great practical step for listeners, maybe as you're sitting down to read the Bible recap today or tomorrow, reading the scriptures, ask the Spirit to help you, help you understand, grow your understanding. Illumination of the Holy Spirit. There it is. Yes, that's such a good point, Emma. That's a great, great practical application for that. Question three, TLC mentioned the Hebrew and the Gregorian calendar. What are the differences? So as a refresher, this is what TLC said. This was coming from day 305. So Passover always aligns with Easter because Jesus died and rose again during the Jewish holiday of Passover. And since Easter is subject to the Hebrew calendar, not the Gregorian calendar, that's why the date can fluctuate pretty widely from year to year. So I wanna start by defining the term. So we'll say Gregorian calendar, we're referring to the calendar we all used today, right? January through December. Whereas Hebrew calendar, we mean the calendar that was used during Bible times and is still used as a secondary calendar by many Jews today. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. What would you say? Well, just that one is, as you said, one is more of a religious calendar. Yes. And more of a secular civil calendar they use. And the Hebrew calendar, I believe if my research is correct, can validate, Stephen, it was based on the lunar cycle, which means the moon. That's right. Is that correct? That's right. And the lunar month would last a shorter amount of time than our months under the Gregorian calendar, which is why the dates don't always line up. Yes. But I think the point of this concept is the fact that the Passover is the fulfillment of what was the original Passover in the book of Exodus. Mm-hmm. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, that God delivered them from their spiritual bondage. And that was a foreshadowing of what Christ will eventually do on the cross, taking away the sins of the world. Yeah? And you see that, that the Old Testament concept of looking forward to the fulfillment that is in Christ is what's really important here. And the fact that he died on the Passover and that he was raised to life on the third day. Yeah? And that's the Old Testament, a Hebrew day of the first fruits that happened three days after the Passover. And so all those are foreshadowing of the ultimate work in the person of Jesus Christ. So when you see the seven festivals throughout the Old Testament, all seven are looking forward to the work of Christ by him. The spring festivals, of four of them look forward to Christ's work on the first advent. And by the way, the word advent, it means coming. So when you say the second advent, you mean the second coming of Christ, his return. So the four spring festivals are fulfilled in Christ's work on the cross in his first coming. And the latter three fall festivals are all fulfilled in his work in his second coming in his reign and rule. Cool. That's all cool. On day 307, we read Mark 11 verses eight through 10. And a question was raised, potentially submitted by one of our recapitans. The question is, why do people shout Hosanna? Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord immediately after laying cloaks and branches. Yeah. I think when you come to the Hosanna passage, it really is something that, again, it's very perplexing to the people because they're expecting Christ to come and reign into rule and set up his kingdom on earth and also deliver them from the Roman bondage. So the word Hosanna really means save, save us. It's that they're crying out for salvation and yet they're really not crying out for their spiritual salvation as much as more of a political deliverance from the Roman bondage. And so there is that duplicity in that, what they're crying out for. The very same people that cried out Hosanna wouldn't a matter of days be saying, crucify him, crucify him. We have no King with Caesar. The fickleness. They're very fickle. Yeah. And I was reading that this was a little bit of, well, most likely a nod to the Maccabean revolt, which had taken place in 167 BC. So Israel led a rebellion against the rulers. They were the Seleucids at the time, so just a different empire, different from Rome. And they actually gained independence. And so them crying out, laying down their cloaks and the palm branches is actually more of a political symbol than anything else, really. Which is really interesting, as I studied, I learned that the meaning behind Hosanna kind of changed over time. So initially it meant, save us, please, like cry for help, you're drowning, you're calling for the lifeguard, come get me. But it started to evolve into a like, almost gratitude, hooray, salvation's here, the lifeguard's gonna get me, this is good. And so they were cheering, not necessarily in it, oh my goodness, I'm begging Jesus, save us, like you are worthy, but like a thank goodness, the ruler is here, and it stepped on the scene. It became more of a nationalistic cry. Yes, exactly, exactly. And now we'll be free from Roman oppression. That's right, as they were freed from their Egyptian bondage, that they were crying out for their freedom from the Roman bondage. Yeah, cause this, so this quote is actually from Psalm 118, 25 to 26. So this is one of the halal Psalms, I'm not all the way through my Hebrew yet. What's a halal? That is a praise Psalm. And so this one is actually referred to as the Egyptian halal, or praise, because it's praising God for delivering them from Egypt. And so that's what they're referencing when they're saying that, Hosanna. So I would say it's fair to say that, it's both spiritual and political. I think there were people within the Jewish nation that were crying out for spiritual salvation as well. But by and large, people are crying out more for their political, physical. So I think it would be safe to say then that it's, we can't know for sure, the posture of the crowds, but we can be pretty confident. A lot of them were viewing this as more of a political salvation than a spiritual one. Those some. Yes. Okay. Well, and it's just so, yeah, kind of back to the fickle thing. They're so on board and so excited, but then when Jesus doesn't fulfill what they think should happen, or their expectations, then they turn on him and join the crowd in a different way. Yeah, remember the passage in Romans, or in John chapter six, where the feeding of the 5,000, remember when that happened? Yeah. Where all these people were following Jesus, but they were following Jesus for all the wrong reasons. Yeah, for food. Again, for food. A show. Entertainment. It's impressive. Because it evoked that kind of a nationalistic deliverance, because that was done during the Passover. So just as Moses delivered, Israelites out of Egypt, they were also expecting that messianic deliverance from the Roman bondage. Yeah, but when Jesus demanded hard discipleship, you know, when he said, unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no part with me. That was John's equivalent of the synoptic gospels, Jesus saying, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. At which point the people really turned off by that. And they're like, we just wanted bread. Oh, he wanted it was bread. Yeah, you're calling us to abandon our lives and follow Jesus. And so it says that everyone, all the disciples left Jesus that day, only the twelve remained. To which Jesus turns and says, will you also walk away from me? And Peter being the representative says, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Yeah, yeah. That's one of my favorite verses. Yeah, just imagine the loneliness that Jesus felt when all those people that were his countrymen, that he came to save and yet they abandoned him in droves. You mentioned the word synoptic. You're referring to Matthew, Mark and Luke, I assume. Thank you, yes. Could you give us a little more context on why that was the same again? The word synoptic means a seed together. And so when you have Matthew, Mark and Luke, you'll notice how all three of those gospels are very similar because they were written in a very similar time. But John was written much later. And so it's referred to as the fourth gospel that was written about 30 years after the rest of the gospels. And so John is very different because so much of what John has in his gospel is unique to him. Question. Next question. Yeah, let's do it. All right, so this question is coming from day 307 and coming out of Mark 11 and John 12. And the question is, did Jesus only come to die or did it matter how he lived as well? And specifically kind of coming from the verse in John 12, 27, where he says, but for this purpose, I have come to this hour. Yeah, yeah. And it's clear, it's clear that Jesus came to die, of course, but his death would have meant nothing if he didn't live the perfect, sinless life of the Son of God. Yes? So both are a play. And that he did come to live the perfect life which we couldn't live. And his death, well, he atoned for all of our sins that he died on our behalf. And so when Paul says in 2 Corinthians that he who knew no sin became sin for us, that we through his righteousness have become the righteousness of God. I think that's what he's talking about. That's good. I also think about how God's glory was revealed through his life, clearly and powerfully, that of course in a salvific sense, yes, we need Jesus's perfect life very practically for the equation to check out and work. But I love John 12, 27 through 28, adding on a little bit, Kirsten, to what you read. Now is my soul troubled and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. So I just see Jesus there framing his mission, especially his death, but his time on earth is about glorifying the Father. That past tense I have glorified it. I think close a sin to how he confused life. I think he really also speaks to his deity, but also his humanity in really wrestling and there is pain there on his part, knowing that he's gonna be separated from the Father. And just the fact that he will suffer and that kind of a horrific death that they saw in the first century on the cross. It was the most horrific way to die. And so the fact that he was afraid was something that really spoke to his humanity. Steven, that's a good point, because we've watched and even talked about it in this episode, the disciples wrestling with that reality, that he was going to die, that the death was coming. And some scholars would say, hey, Jesus lived in a way that prepared the world to understand the significance of his death. And I think that's really interesting to think about because at the time when he was living on the earth, people didn't get it. He would tell them this is gonna happen, I'm going to die, but it just didn't connect. Yeah, yeah, they were missing that. Yeah, this made me think of the verse in Hebrews where it's talking about how it was necessary for Jesus to live the perfect sinless life so that he could be a sacrifice on our behalf. So for it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. So it's just so important that Jesus's life was perfect. He fulfilled the law so that then he could give to us his righteousness. You know, Kristin, you mentioned the book of Hebrews, but in the Hebrews it says in chapter two that he learned obedience through suffering. And people wonder, where does that mean that he learned obedience? If he's a perfect son of God, how do you learn obedience? I think that's really experience. It's more of an experiential sense of having suffered. That he can become our merciful and faithful high priest. The fact that he could actually understand doesn't all that we're going through. Of what humanity, with the tales. Yeah, that was another thing that really struck me looking into this was that his humanity and the way that he lived a life is a comfort to me. Because he experienced everything. Yeah, but also from Hebrews 4.15, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without him. Perfect. And Hebrews 12 talks about the fact that he has gone before us. And he had already run that race for us to follow. The fact that he's now glorified and seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. And we'll talk about Satan a little bit later on, but the fact that Satan is the accuser of the brethren and is constantly accusing us. And yet we have the person of Jesus who is described as our intercessor. Yeah? Or we could even translate it as our defense attorney. And the fact that he is pleading for us. He's pleading for us. And not only that, but we have in the person of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, who's also interceding for us with groans that are too deep for words. You ever come to a place where you're suffering so much and you're so much in pain, where you kind of verbalize what you're going through. Yeah, oh yeah. It's like only when that really comes out of your mouth is, ugh. And yet that's exactly when the Holy Spirit intercede for us. With it says, with groans that are too deep for words. I think about how, because of Jesus' life, we see righteousness on display, as you mentioned, and without righteousness being imputed or put upon us because of what Jesus has done, we'd have no basis to stand before a holy God when it comes to not just life now, when we're suffering, but when we're glorified and we're standing before Him, we receive freedom from sin and forgiveness because of Jesus' death, but also His righteousness is put on us. And that, I think, is the most important part because we couldn't have His imputed righteousness if He hadn't lived righteously because He wouldn't be righteous, right? And so, yes, His ability to relate to us is beautiful, but even more than that, He has to be able to save us. To save us, He has to be perfect. I think that's what's really in play, is both His perfect deity and His perfect humanity and His wedded in the person of Jesus Christ. Yeah? Both the fact that He is God and the fact that He is man. A perfection sandwich. As we like to say, I just felt like I know Him. As I've said my whole life, I've never said that before. That's good, that's good. You ready for the next question? Yeah, let's do it. Okay, the next question came from day 307, John 12, 31, which reads, now is the judgment of this world, now will the ruler of this world be cast out? And the question is, if Satan was defeated, how does he still have power to steal, kill, and destroy? How do we reconcile these two ideas? Well, the fact that he is a defeated foe, and yet he wants to take as many people as he can to hell with him. And the analogy that I think we can really relate to is the fact that the game is already won. Yes, 100% victory already accomplished. That's right, that's right. And yet, so in a sense, what he can do is limited, but he wants to do as much damage as he can. What we see in Revelation 12 is the fact that there is a war in heaven, and as a result of that, that Satan and his minions are cast out of heaven for good. And so they're thrust upon the earth, and they are now bent on creating as much havoc as possible before the end happens. Because even Satan and his demons know the future of their doom. And yet they wanna do as much damage as possible before their ultimate demise. Yeah, absolutely, yep. And I think this, we talked about kind of the already not yet concept, a couple episodes ago, but just this time that we live in where the truth and the reality of Jesus' victory over sin, over death, that is 100% true, that is what happened. But we still live in this space of, okay, but I'm still tempted to sin, they're still sin, they're still brokenness, and so that really feels like the tension that we're living in. So we wanna be clear victory has already been won, but Satan still is out to kill, steal, and destroy. Because he, again, like you're saying, he wants to take as many people down as he can. Some people refer to this as the scorched earth strategy. So, the scorched earth strategy. Yeah, I just tried to do a lot of damage. Yeah, that's right. It also raises the question, how do we live in the tension? If we're in the already not yet, the time between, yes, Jesus has won already, and final judgment's coming, what do we do in the meantime? Well, I think it's Paul, the apostle Paul speaks to that in Ephesians 6, the fact that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places. So what you see is the fact that believers ought to be arming themselves constantly throughout the day, because they know the fiery darts of the evil one that are constantly coming at us. I had a good friend in the Marine Corps that actually went to two tours in Iraq, during the Iraq War, and he was a sergeant, and so he was leading a platoon of soldiers, and every morning they would actually go out on a patrol, they would make sure that they were well-armed and well-protected. Imagine going into, because the next corner you turn can be where a sniper's waiting for. And the fact that they have to be on high alert is something that is absolutely critical to survival. So I think that's a good illustration for believers, knowing that we're going out into the world where there is so much evil, and so much satanic influence, so we want to be protected, and God's given us all the armor that we need. I love the words of the apostle Peter in 2 Peter chapter one, that we've been given everything we need for life and godliness. It's the fact that, as you've said, victory is already won, and we're simply called to live in light of that victory. Yeah, I think of 1 Peter 5, 8 through 9, be sober-minded, be watchful, your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. Yes, perfect. So what about people that say the devil made me do it? So I'm just thinking about the other side where it's kind of like, oh, well, all of anything that's going wrong is Satan attacking me or whatever. I think we've got some other enemies that we probably also want to address, right? So the world, the flesh, and the devil, as people refer to that as, what do you guys think about that? Yeah, well, my initial reaction is to the devil made me do it, is are you living dependently on the spirit to help you resist temptation and cling to the truth, James 4-7? So if you know that the spirit is the power of God living in you, you can't resist the devil without the spirit's power. In my own strength, I'm gonna fail. I'm gonna fail over and over and over again. So my question to that person would be, okay, are you quenching the spirit? Are you choosing to ignore the still small voice that's telling you, hey, that's not under into God, that's not what you do. You should go this way, you should go this way. And are you silencing that voice? I think the apostle Paul also speaks to that in Romans 6. We've been given a brand new nature. We still have the residue of the old fallen self, but that we've been given a new nature in that we no longer have to say yes to the enemy. We're no longer under his dominion, meaning we're given the freedom to say yes. I think that's what obedience is. We're saying yes to God, and that's something that we in our non-believing state couldn't say. Meaning we always had to say yes to sin, but now we've been given the freedom to say yes to Jesus and the obedience to God. Yeah, I wanna read from Romans 6 verses 16 through 18. Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you who are once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you are committed, and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Amen. That's good. Some young believers have said when they came to faith in Christ, their common often is, well, now that I'm a Christian, I can't do anything. Hmm. You know. Now my life is boring. Exactly, exactly. But that's what enslavement of sin used to be. You couldn't help but say yes to sin, but now you've been given the freedom to say yes to Jesus and obey him. Yeah, yes God. That's true freedom, isn't it? Yes, yes, 100%. And I think just kind of coming back to this, like the world, the flesh, the devil, that these are all realities that we as Christians, we need to be aware of. So not, you know, you might be struggling because you're tempted by something, or there might be someone got something going on with satanic work in the world, but the reality is that we have the armor of God that we can put on thinking about, I think that's such a helpful passage. And I do think, I think we can sway kind of too far in either direction, where we're terrified all the time because of the world of flesh and the devil, that we're always under attack, everything's kind of coming against us, or we never think about it. And I think that both of those are not a good place to be because the reality is that we are fighting a war on all sides really, but we have the armor that we need. We have God, the God of the universe on our side helping us in every way. Yeah, and so we don't have to be afraid, and we also shouldn't be naive or oblivious, I think. Yeah, that's a really good point. I think also the fact that we were never called to live the Christian life in isolation by ourselves, that we were called to live among a community of people. I think that's really important both in the Old and New Testaments. So if I can read the verse in Galatians chapter six, verse one, I love the fact that it says, brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. I love that word restore. It's actually a fishing term. That speaks of a net that's been broken, and a net that can be restored and mended. Fixed. Yeah, the fact that the net is mended again, and it's good for use for the kingdom of God. I think that's a good picture that we have of coming alongside people who are in a place of being broken, and that we can come alongside and really encourage and uplift them. I think that's what Hebrews 12 also speaks to, the fact that we're running this race together. Yeah, it's beautiful. Did y'all have a favorite insight? Oh yeah, good question. Studying these texts and preparing for the episode. Oh, let me think. Give me one. Is that my favorite? I know, honestly. Wow, I don't know. Do you have one off the top of your head? I think for me, well, I really liked the calendar. Oh, I have mine. I like finding out the calendar. I love that, you love that. I know that's so nice. God bless you. I really enjoyed learning about the calendar. I went on too much of a deep dive on the calendar. I know. Emma has a nerdy side. Yeah, exactly. She has one. I'm doing that. So I'll leave our listeners with one fun fact on the calendar. If you were wondering, why did the calendar change? Oh, really? Why did we ever switch to the Gregorian calendar? Well, it's because there's actually been three calendars. There was a Roman calendar, which most of the world used for a while. But in the year 1582, Pope Gregory the Eighth made a new calendar, which is that why it's called the Gregorian? Yes, and he made it because the Roman calendar had some mistakes. Like over time, it got off track. There's a lot there. We don't need to get into it. But you probably have it in your notes. Maybe. But Pope Gregory the Eighth fixed it and it's stuck ever since. That was one of my favorite things to learn about this episode. That praise God. What about you all? I love that. I love that. I got mine. I think thinking about the people shouting Hosanna to Jesus and then the flip that they did because he didn't meet their expectation. That was just a little bit of a heart and mind check for me of, do I have my hands open for whatever God might have in my life? For me, I think just, I know he's got good plans and I want to have my hands open to those good plans and not just, well, this is what I think should happen. So, I think just kind of a check on the expectations. That's great. For me, John 11 is always my favorite passage. Yeah, the Lazarus. Yeah. I think it speaks to, when Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life, I think he really speaks to the core of the Christian faith and that's the resurrection. We don't have a dead Messiah, but we have a risen Messiah that brings hope to all of us. Amen. Amen. And also, can we just, could you just hold up your Bible, Dr. Kim, just so everyone can see the amount of notes? When he flipped a Galatians, I was like, oh my, I mean, that's good. How long have you been using that Bible? Since Seminary. Oh, wow. Yeah, so it's really hard to part with it when you have so many moments in the margins, you know? Yes. Yes. I think we're going to get the same one from now forever. Do you just get it rebounded if it falls apart? Yes. So I'm actually scheduled to have it rebound again. Oh, okay, good. You're scheduled. You've got it on the calendar. Yes. That's how much he's like, next year? Yeah, right. It's good. Okay, amazing. Well, thank you so much for being with us, Stephen. Thank you. It was wonderful to have you. So enjoyable. Thank you so much. It's so much fun. Good. I'm so glad. We did as well. Yes. Always a fun conversation. So thanks so much for taking a deep dive with us and we'll see you next week as we continue to read, understand and love the Bible and the God who wrote it.