Way of the Bible Dr. Philip Zimmerman

Welcome to Episode #144 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our last of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series, Son of God and Son of Man.  On this episode we’re going to take A Walk on the Beach with DrZ and explore together the intersection and conflagration of all things when God and sin converge. There can be only on God; and in the end that reality will be self-evident.
So glad you could accommodate a change of locations on such short notice to join me at the Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City for our walk on the beach. As you could see when you pulled in the parking lot, we’re across Front Beach Road from the beach with a huge condo complex between ourselves and the water. Both of which we’ll be visiting after we leave here. But not before our talk and a surprise. I hope you all brought your swim suits.

This is our eighteenth walk, and while it is gorgeous on the beach right now you have to admit sitting here in the first and second rows of the dolphin arena is pretty cool as well. On several of our previous walks we’ve seen pods of these guys swimming alongside the sandbars, but now we can see them up close and personal. To understand why I’ve brought us here is the topic of our walk so let me metaphorically jump right in.

I had the intention when starting this mini-series of beginning to go through the gospel’s week by week and episode by episode to expose the foundations of Jesus as the Son of God and Jesus as the Son of Man. What I was not expecting were the revelations being given to me by the Holy Spirit as I too walk along the path of discipleship following Jesus. 

The revelations concerned a deeper understanding and insights into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. These were regular, almost daily revelations, as we all walked through the Lentin season culminating in Holy Week and Easter Sunday just a couple of weekends ago. 

Covering the Holy Week topics from the perspective of Jesus being both the Son of God and the Son of Man seemed to be a keyway for God dropping bursts of understanding into my daily morning meditations and podcast preparations. Everyday I’m constantly encountering that this world we live in is not all that it seems and certainly not all that there is. The earth and the world that dwells upon it is infinitesimal in comparison to the enormity of the heavens and the beings God has created to inhabit them. And they too are infinitesimal compared with the enormity of God within whom all things exist. But I digress.

Welcome to Episode #143 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our seventh of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series entitled, Son of God and Son of Man. 
On this episode, THE KEY of Faith, we’re going to tie together why we are exploring the life of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospels. This exploration has begun already and will takes several more mini-series to complete. 
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he was not hesitant to let people know his identify as the Son of God and as the Son of Man. More often than not he would perform miraculous signs and wonders to authenticate that he was Son of God while verbally articulating he was the Son of Man prophesied in Daniel Chapter 7. At his trial before the Sanhedrin, He admitted openly to the chief priests and rulers of Jerusalem that he was both the Son of God and the Son of Man; and because of his admission he was condemned to die.
Mark 14:61-65 – Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows. 
We know what happened next regarding the death and burial of Jesus. Given our time constraints of one episode, we’ll only be addressing what happened on the third day after Jesus was crucified. He didn’t just rise and ascend. He bodily appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days after his resurrection to speak to them about the kingdom of God. We’ll address those days, Lord willing, on future episodes.
The resurrection of Jesus is found in all four gospels. I’ll be reading passages from Matthew and Luke for the resurrection and from the book of Acts for His ascension. As I read, and when you later read these same passages for yourself, picture yourself in the account. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through the action. He was there and an eye witness. This was not a normal day.
Paul emphatically expresses the importance of the resurrection of Jesus in the full Chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. We’ll only take a look at a brief snippet.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 – Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Welcome to Episode #142 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our sixth of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series entitled, Son of God and Son of Man. 
On this episode, Mutual Comfort, we’re going for a trilogy of one-episode sidebars on our exploration of the life of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospels. We’ll be exploring the fallout of following the resurrected Jesus and the benefit of experiencing such fallout.
With that short introduction we’re going to jump right into it. What you’ll see in the book of Acts and then spread throughout the epistles is that becoming a believer in the resurrected Jesus was serious and dangerous business. At a minimum you were persecuted and intimidated. If Jewish, if you didn’t observe the sacrificial laws and ordinances, you could be kicked out of the synagogue and ostracized by the community. You would be considered dead by family and friends.   
If you were a gentile, you would be prevented from conducting any business in public markets as Christians didn’t offer the required daily sacrifices to the gods. Not honoring the gods was grave and could put you in the grave.
Alexander the Great made a special dispensation for the Jews as a protected religious class. The Romans continued that tradition. The Jews made sure the Romans knew Christians should not be mistaken as a Jewish sect, but rather a false religious cult.
As a gentile Christian you became part of an unprotected religious class within Rome. That designation opened you up to the full gambit of rejection, persecution, punishment, and even death for dishonoring the gods of Rome. It wasn’t long before it became acceptable and rewarding to arrest, persecute and even kill Christians while confiscating all their goods as plunder like spoils of war. 
This persecution went on for three centuries, and at times was promoted and unhindered by the emperors of Rome. There are lot of well-respected scholars and experts who have investigated Christian persecutions by Roman emperors, and it was a dirty business. An evil and darkness that was dispelled in the early fourth century.
In the mid to late 19th Century this darkness and persecution of Christians emerged back into the world through atheistic philosophers and agnostic and atheistic scientists. By the 20th Century the emergence of darkness empowered the rise of atheistic leaders who instigated wars and revolutions killing over 180-million people. It was the bloodiest century in human history, by far!!
After WWII, a global philosophical shift occurred that allowed Christian persecutions to reemerged in predominately Muslim nations. This was almost immediately followed by the emerging darkness of Christian intimidation, persecution, and ostracism in the public and private sectors.
As we sit here in the Spring of 2024, let us look back to the Spring of 2020 and see what was unleased on the world by dark forces of evil. A global pandemic, daily riots and looting sprees across the country and globally as an expression of grievances. 
As the citizenry of the world surrendered most of their rights to governments and special interest groups, by January 2021 the riots and looting mysteriously stopped. Even though none of the grievances that were given for the riots and looting were ever addressed. It was as if it were all arouse to silence the opposition for what is coming.
I don’t know what is coming, revival or global persecution. The signs of the times indicate the latter. 

Welcome to Episode #141 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fifth of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series entitled, Son of God and Son of Man. 
On this episode, Why They Killed Jesus, we’re going to follow-up our last one-episode sidebar with a second one-episode sidebar of our exploration of the life of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospels. Having just completed Lent, Holy Week, and the Paschal Mystery of Christ, I thought it appropriate to address the seemingly abrupt and brutal end of his ministry and life.
We are only beginning our exploration on Way of the Bible podcast of the life of Jesus in the gospels. Yet I find myself at this point in time addressing his end. In many ways Jesus’ end, his dying on the cross, was only the beginning of the next phase of God’s redemptive plan for mankind which he developed before time began. And we will get to that after we complete the exploration of Jesus’ life as presented in the gospels.
The term I used earlier, Paschal Mystery of Christ, is reference to the trial, death, and resurrection of Christ. That trilogy of events points to something not plainly clear to an observer. Why would the religious leaders of the Jews demand the Romans to put to death their own Messiah by crucifixion? They demonstrated they had the ability to execute Jesus themselves when these same people stoned Stephen, the first martyr of the faith (see Acts 7:58-60). 
What transpired on the cross such that Paul would write in Colossians 1:19-20 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And finally, how did Jesus go from dead and buried to resurrecting and appearing to his disciples over a period of forty days in a physical body of flesh and bone? And how did that flesh and bone body ascend into heaven. Acts 1:9-11 – And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 
The term mystery is a focal point of Paul’s doxology at the end of the book of Romans. Romans 16:25-27 – Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.  
First we need to see and UNDERSTAND, the revelation of this mystery to people hearing the gospel is what God is using to bring about the OBEDIENCE of faith. Second and just as important is faith is not an intellectual ascent. Faith involves a change of mind and will in a person that produces OBEDIENCE.
Paul speaks of the origin of faith in Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Faith that renders salvation is neither by mental ascent nor by works. Both faith and salvation are given by grace as gifts of God. Or put another way, faith and salvation begin the revealing of mystery by grace that leads beyond the veil of dimensionality and terminates in the mind and will of God. 

Welcome to Episode #140 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series entitled, Son of God and Son of Man. 
On this episode, Fix for Rebellion, we’re going to take a one-episode sidebar. As I’m writing, recording, and releasing episodes I’m also attending to my spiritual journey following Jesus. In October 2023, I started reading and following a guidebook for completing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. The author provides instructions and prompts for a seven day a week, thirty-two week journey. I’m just completing week 25 which deals with the trial and death of Jesus.  
I was convinced months ago, but God continues to give me daily reminders that He is in absolute charge of everything happening in my life at every possible moment. How is it that I complete the Passion narrative in the book I’m following at the same time I usually begin writing my next podcast that will release next Thursday (I’m writing and recording this a week the Saturday before the Thursday release). 
For a number of reasons I won’t go into, I’ve long been a proponent of a Thursday crucifixion of Christ rather than the traditional Friday observation. That means, my podcast episode Easter week is going to be released on what I consider the actual crucifixion day. How is it I’ve been looking at this day for an entire week in my morning meditations sitting before Jesus, the week before this day will be observed globally?
All this to say, we’re going to look at the Fix for Rebellion, God introduced at the beginning of time which will be completed at the end of time as we know it. Given the gravity of the situation we’re dealing with, I will have little to no running commentary and allow room for you and the Holy Spirit to discuss together lessons he has for you today.
With all that, let’s get started. And we’ll start at the beginning. 
NOTE: Before the six days of creation on the earth described in Genesis 1, there was a rebellion in heaven by angelic beings against God. The rebellion was initiated by the fall of Lucifer when pride was found in his heart because of his beauty (see Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28). Lucifer, the devil, took a third of the angels with him in his rebellion. 
God created mankind to end all rebellion, both in heaven and on earth. Mankind’s rebellion stared in the Garden of Eden. It will end when Jesus casts the devil, his angels, all those whose names are not written in the lambs book of life, and death and hades, into the eternal burning lake of fire. Then He will create a new heaven and new earth… But that comes later. Let’s begin with the rebellion on earth, war in heaven and consequences on earth.
Genesis 3:15 – And I [God] will put enmity between you [the Serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
REVELATION 12:7 - Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 3:8-10 – To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
THE FIX: Colossians 1:19-20 – For in him [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, mak

Welcome to Episode #139 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our third of eight episodes in our eighteenth mini-series which is entitled, Son of God and Son of Man. 
On this episode, Jesus Surprises/Terrifies Disciples, we’re going to look at some surprises that Jesus showed his disciples that terrified them at times. We’ve been walking with Jesus on this mini-series and hoping to get glimpses of Jesus as the Son of God and Son of Man.
As the Son of God, Jesus is the second person of the trinity. This imagery is seen in Psalm 2:7-12 – I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Jesus as the Son of Man is a reference to the Son of Man seen by the prophet Daniel in a vision. Son of Man was Jesus’ calling card name he used when addressing religious officials. It comes found Daniel 7:9-14 – “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. 
Mark ties these two names together in a passage from Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin. Mark 14:61-62 – Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  
Jesus was not just a sinless man while on earth; although that would have made him unique in the world. He was the exact image of God in human form. So much so, Jesus told the disciples that when they saw him they had seen God the Father. John puts it like this in 1 John 1:1-3 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
With that in mind, I thought we’d follow Jesus to see some of the ways he revealed his identity to his disciples that he didn’t plainly display to the public until the very end. What better way to display your unrestrained glory to a small group than in a boat at sea or on a mountain top.