¤[dramatic theme music]
00:00:15.04\00:00:17.35
¤[music ends]¤
00:00:17.38\00:00:19.51
>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
00:00:19.55\00:00:21.12
I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
00:00:21.15\00:00:23.82
Heroes are big business
today. Batman, Batwoman,
00:00:23.85\00:00:28.36
Captain Marvel, Ironman,
Superman, the Avengers--
00:00:28.39\00:00:33.50
fantasy figures
imbued with superhuman,
00:00:33.53\00:00:36.40
godlike characteristics.
00:00:36.43\00:00:39.30
Now, while it
doesn't take a genius
00:00:39.33\00:00:41.34
to figure out that
this might not be the best,
00:00:41.37\00:00:44.11
most
spiritually healthy material
00:00:44.14\00:00:46.61
for our children to watch,
00:00:46.64\00:00:48.74
or adults, for that matter,
00:00:48.78\00:00:50.91
people are watching.
00:00:50.95\00:00:53.25
So many that one
recent superhero movie grossed
00:00:53.28\00:00:56.05
almost three billion
dollars at the global box office
00:00:56.08\00:01:00.19
on a budget of
almost $400 million.
00:01:00.22\00:01:04.73
But what's a hero, really?
00:01:04.76\00:01:07.66
James Shaw Jr. was in a fast
food restaurant near Nashville
00:01:08.53\00:01:12.40
in 2018, when a mentally
unstable man began shooting.
00:01:12.43\00:01:16.97
Shaw was shot at twice.
00:01:17.01\00:01:19.31
When he noticed a
pause in the shooting,
00:01:19.34\00:01:21.31
he rushed the shooter, pulled
the rifle from the man's hand,
00:01:21.34\00:01:25.98
and then shoved him
out of the restaurant.
00:01:26.01\00:01:28.32
Without James Shaw's
courageous intervention,
00:01:28.35\00:01:30.59
it's almost certain that
many more than the four who died
00:01:30.62\00:01:34.72
would have lost their lives.
00:01:34.76\00:01:36.76
At a news conference
hours later, Shaw said this:
00:01:36.79\00:01:40.90
"I did that
completely out of a selfish act.
00:01:40.93\00:01:44.10
"I was completely
doing it just to save myself.
00:01:44.13\00:01:47.90
"I did save other people,
but I don't want people to think
00:01:47.94\00:01:50.61
"that I was the Terminator or
Superman or anybody like that.
00:01:50.64\00:01:54.41
"I figured if I
was going to die,
00:01:54.44\00:01:56.58
he was going to
have to work for it."
00:01:56.61\00:01:58.71
He said, "I haven't had
any specific combat training.
00:01:58.75\00:02:03.12
I just fight my daughter every
night so I can put her to bed."
00:02:03.15\00:02:07.66
He went on to say,
"I'll say it again.
00:02:07.69\00:02:10.59
"I didn't really fight
that man to save everybody else.
00:02:10.63\00:02:14.00
"I know that might
not be a popular thing,
00:02:14.00\00:02:15.63
"but I'm really honest. I'm
going to be honest to the core:
00:02:15.66\00:02:18.97
I took the gun so I
could get myself out."
00:02:19.00\00:02:22.90
But that was heroic.
00:02:22.94\00:02:25.61
A man put his life on the
line and saved not only himself,
00:02:25.64\00:02:29.11
but others as well.
00:02:29.14\00:02:31.11
A 69-year-old man who
saw a woman being attacked
00:02:31.15\00:02:34.12
by a polar bear in Manitoba,
Canada, grabbed a shovel
00:02:34.15\00:02:38.55
and fought the bear off
before the bear turned on him.
00:02:38.59\00:02:42.62
He stayed a week in a hospital
having an ear reattached
00:02:42.66\00:02:46.39
and having other
wounds taken care of.
00:02:46.43\00:02:49.06
A hero?
00:02:49.10\00:02:50.67
Sounds a lot like one.
00:02:50.70\00:02:52.50
Are sports figures heroes?
00:02:52.53\00:02:54.84
Well, some probably are.
00:02:54.87\00:02:57.41
Baseballer Ted Williams
spent five years in the military
00:02:57.44\00:03:00.64
before going on to become a
Hall of Fame baseball player.
00:03:00.68\00:03:04.18
Baseball's Jackie Robinson
was a pioneer who changed
00:03:04.21\00:03:07.32
the sporting landscape and
impacted society in a huge way.
00:03:07.35\00:03:12.12
Athlete Jesse
Owens was born in poverty
00:03:12.15\00:03:15.16
but went on not only to win
a clutch of Olympic gold medals
00:03:15.19\00:03:18.59
but to deliver a
stunning message to a tyrant.
00:03:18.63\00:03:22.33
Terry Fox wasn't a
sportsman, as such,
00:03:22.36\00:03:25.83
but a cancer survivor who
attempted to run all the way
00:03:25.87\00:03:28.90
across Canada, 4,300 miles, to
raise money for cancer research.
00:03:28.94\00:03:35.58
Fox's run started
with little fanfare,
00:03:35.61\00:03:37.91
but, running on a prosthetic
leg, he ran 3,339 miles,
00:03:37.95\00:03:43.52
making it all the way
from St. John's, Newfoundland,
00:03:43.55\00:03:46.79
to Thunder Bay, Ontario.
00:03:46.82\00:03:49.22
He ran for 143 days
on a prosthetic leg--
00:03:49.26\00:03:53.60
remember, even as cancer
was returning to his body.
00:03:53.63\00:03:58.00
The Terry Fox Research
Institute reports that to date
00:03:58.03\00:04:01.97
800 million dollars has
been raised in his name.
00:04:02.00\00:04:05.94
Terry Fox is a hero.
00:04:05.97\00:04:09.68
Society tosses the word
"hero" around pretty easily,
00:04:09.71\00:04:13.05
especially when
it comes to sports.
00:04:13.08\00:04:15.52
Now, we get it; the player
does something spectacular,
00:04:15.55\00:04:18.29
a team wins,
maybe a championship,
00:04:18.32\00:04:20.86
and we whip out
that word, "hero."
00:04:20.89\00:04:23.19
We get it.
00:04:23.22\00:04:24.43
David Ortiz led the Boston
Red Sox to a World Series title
00:04:24.46\00:04:28.06
for the first time
in almost 90 years.
00:04:28.10\00:04:30.73
That's a big deal
in the sporting world.
00:04:30.77\00:04:33.10
Evidently a great
guy, an outstanding player.
00:04:33.13\00:04:36.14
He brought a lot of joy
to a lot of people. But hero?
00:04:36.17\00:04:40.81
I mean, in a
certain context, sure.
00:04:40.84\00:04:42.61
It, it, it's a bit like loving
your spouse and loving your dog
00:04:42.64\00:04:46.72
and loving ice cream.
00:04:46.75\00:04:48.12
It's "love" every time,
but it's not the same love.
00:04:48.15\00:04:53.56
Tom Brady wins a
slew of Super Bowls.
00:04:53.59\00:04:56.42
Michael Jordan wins a
collection of NBA titles.
00:04:56.46\00:04:58.86
Serena Williams dominates
tennis for more than 20 years.
00:04:58.89\00:05:02.53
Usain Bolt wins eight Olympic
track-and-field gold medals
00:05:02.56\00:05:06.67
and sets two world records.
00:05:06.70\00:05:08.44
Michael Phelps
and his outrageous
00:05:08.47\00:05:10.54
23 Olympic gold medals.
00:05:10.57\00:05:13.04
They're all freakishly
talented and outstanding
00:05:13.07\00:05:16.31
in their chosen
fields, but as a general rule,
00:05:16.34\00:05:20.08
being really good at
hitting a ball with a bat
00:05:20.12\00:05:22.35
or throwing a
football or running fast
00:05:22.38\00:05:25.62
doesn't qualify you as a hero.
00:05:25.65\00:05:28.56
And I'm pretty sure each of
the sports people I've named
00:05:28.59\00:05:31.33
would agree with that.
00:05:31.36\00:05:32.83
Great achievements,
they've redefined their sports,
00:05:32.86\00:05:35.40
they've made a lot of people
happy and done historic things,
00:05:35.43\00:05:37.80
and we call them heroes because,
00:05:37.83\00:05:40.27
well, that's the
best word we can think of
00:05:40.30\00:05:41.94
when someone does
something really remarkable.
00:05:41.97\00:05:44.87
The United States military
has a special way of honoring
00:05:45.61\00:05:49.94
people we would
classify as heroes.
00:05:49.98\00:05:54.02
The Medal of Honor is the
United States' highest award
00:05:54.05\00:05:57.32
for military valor in action.
00:05:57.35\00:06:00.36
Those who receive the
Medal of Honor have demonstrated
00:06:00.39\00:06:02.86
bravery, courage,
sacrifice, and integrity.
00:06:02.89\00:06:08.60
More than 3,500 Medals
of Honor have been awarded
00:06:08.63\00:06:11.70
to 3,511 individuals.
00:06:11.73\00:06:15.14
Five sets of brothers
have received the award
00:06:15.17\00:06:17.24
and two father-and-son pairings;
00:06:17.27\00:06:19.64
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th
president of the United States,
00:06:19.67\00:06:22.81
and his son Theodore Jr.,
00:06:22.84\00:06:25.05
and Arthur MacArthur and his
son General Douglas MacArthur.
00:06:25.08\00:06:30.95
Once upon a time the
Medal of Honor would be sent
00:06:30.99\00:06:33.92
through the mail, but
more than 100 years ago,
00:06:33.96\00:06:36.93
regulations were changed,
00:06:36.96\00:06:38.49
stipulating that the
medal must be presented
00:06:38.53\00:06:41.26
in a formal ceremony.
00:06:41.30\00:06:43.30
There are more than 60 Medal
of Honor recipients alive today.
00:06:43.33\00:06:48.40
The first Medals of
Honor awarded were presented
00:06:48.44\00:06:51.34
to the six Union Army volunteers
who commandeered a train,
00:06:51.37\00:06:55.88
known as The
General, in northern Georgia
00:06:55.91\00:06:58.51
and took it towards
Chattanooga in the north,
00:06:58.55\00:07:01.18
damaging train lines and cutting
telegraph wires as they went.
00:07:01.22\00:07:06.09
More than 1,500 Medals of
Honor were awarded for valor
00:07:06.12\00:07:09.69
during the Civil War.
00:07:09.72\00:07:11.59
Almost 500 for World
War II, 261 for Vietnam,
00:07:11.63\00:07:15.83
a 146 for the Korean
War, 132 for World War I,
00:07:15.86\00:07:20.70
28 for the War on Terror,
00:07:20.74\00:07:24.51
and 965 for campaigns,
conflicts, and for peacetime.
00:07:24.54\00:07:30.21
More than 2,400 have been
awarded to U.S. Army personnel,
00:07:30.25\00:07:34.75
746 to those
who've served in the Navy,
00:07:34.78\00:07:37.99
297 for the Marine Corps.
17 for the U.S. Air Force,
00:07:38.02\00:07:42.82
8 civilian, 5 foreign,
00:07:42.86\00:07:45.33
and 1 U.S. Coast Guard.
00:07:45.36\00:07:47.86
More than 90 African
Americans have been awarded
00:07:47.86\00:07:50.97
the Medal of Honor.
00:07:51.00\00:07:51.83
That's a
comparatively small number,
00:07:51.87\00:07:54.87
best explained by African
Americans' place in society
00:07:54.90\00:07:58.27
up until the 1970s.
00:07:58.31\00:08:00.54
In fact, no African Americans
were awarded the Medal of Honor
00:08:00.58\00:08:04.41
during World War
I and World War II.
00:08:04.45\00:08:07.92
Those who were
eventually honored
00:08:07.95\00:08:09.85
were honored
decades after the fact,
00:08:09.88\00:08:12.75
in most cases posthumously.
00:08:12.79\00:08:15.86
Historian Glenn Knoblock wrote,
00:08:15.89\00:08:18.06
"It was not until the Vietnam
War that black servicemen
00:08:18.09\00:08:22.50
"not only served on an
equal footing with whites,
00:08:22.53\00:08:25.80
"but were also
awarded the Medal of Honor
00:08:25.83\00:08:28.97
in the same proportion."
00:08:29.00\00:08:30.97
So who do you think is
the greatest hero of them all?
00:08:31.01\00:08:33.74
And who are some of
the remarkable people
00:08:33.78\00:08:35.58
who have received
the Medal of Honor?
00:08:35.61\00:08:38.21
To find out, we're
going to go together
00:08:38.25\00:08:39.95
to the National Medal
of Honor Heritage Center
00:08:39.98\00:08:42.48
in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
00:08:42.52\00:08:44.35
And we'll do
that in just a moment.
00:08:44.39\00:08:47.09
¤[music swells, then ends]¤
00:08:47.12\00:08:54.83
>>Announcer: Desmond
Doss went into battle
00:08:56.56\00:08:58.20
armed with the Bible and prayer.
00:08:58.23\00:09:00.64
An Academy-award-winning movie
told the story of his exploits
00:09:00.67\00:09:03.94
on Hacksaw Ridge.
00:09:03.97\00:09:05.27
Our free offer today is
"The Faith of Desmond Doss."
00:09:05.31\00:09:08.58
To receive this free book,
00:09:08.61\00:09:09.91
call 800-253-3000
00:09:09.94\00:09:12.68
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:09:12.71\00:09:16.75
Find out how you can
have the same kind of faith
00:09:16.79\00:09:19.22
Desmond Doss had.
00:09:19.25\00:09:20.29
800-253-3000
00:09:20.32\00:09:23.12
or visit iiwoffer.com.
00:09:23.16\00:09:26.53
>>John Bradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
00:09:27.86\00:09:30.37
The National Medal
of Honor Heritage Center
00:09:30.40\00:09:32.73
in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
is a remarkable place.
00:09:32.77\00:09:36.00
It's a jewel, a
must-visit location.
00:09:36.04\00:09:39.31
It is here that Medal of Honor
recipients have been recognized
00:09:39.34\00:09:42.74
for their
heroism, their bravery,
00:09:42.78\00:09:45.71
for what's often referred to as
"deeds of conspicuous gallantry"
00:09:45.75\00:09:49.92
or "intrepidity."
00:09:49.95\00:09:52.32
But behind it all is the
reminder that Medals of Honor
00:09:52.35\00:09:55.96
were awarded amidst the
turbulence, the turmoil,
00:09:55.99\00:10:01.53
and the tragedy of war.
00:10:01.56\00:10:04.93
The Medal of
Honor has been awarded
00:10:04.97\00:10:06.33
by the United States government
more than 3,500 times.
00:10:06.37\00:10:10.11
Some remarkable acts of
heroism have been recognized.
00:10:10.14\00:10:13.31
Among them that
of Henry Johnson,
00:10:13.34\00:10:16.44
who served during World War I
00:10:16.48\00:10:17.85
and was awarded the
Medal of Honor in 2015.
00:10:17.88\00:10:22.52
His citation reads, in part,
00:10:22.55\00:10:25.82
"Private Henry
Johnson distinguished himself
00:10:25.85\00:10:28.86
"by extraordinary acts of
heroism at the risk of his life
00:10:28.89\00:10:33.33
"above and
beyond the call of duty.
00:10:33.36\00:10:36.10
"During combat
operations against the enemy
00:10:36.13\00:10:38.27
"on the front lines of
the Western Front in France.
00:10:38.30\00:10:42.10
"In the early morning hours,
00:10:42.14\00:10:43.64
"Private Johnson and another
soldier were on sentry duty
00:10:43.67\00:10:47.34
"at a forward outpost when
they received a surprise attack
00:10:47.38\00:10:51.35
"from a German raiding party
00:10:51.38\00:10:52.95
"consisting of at
least 12 soldiers.
00:10:52.98\00:10:55.85
"While under intense
enemy fire and despite receiving
00:10:55.88\00:10:58.95
"significant wounds,
Private Johnson mounted
00:10:58.99\00:11:01.82
"a brave retaliation resulting
in several enemy casualties.
00:11:01.86\00:11:06.96
"Displaying great courage
he continued to hold back
00:11:07.00\00:11:09.93
"the larger enemy force until
the defeated enemy retreated,
00:11:09.96\00:11:14.10
"leaving behind a large
cache of weapons and equipment
00:11:14.14\00:11:17.17
"and providing
valuable intelligence.
00:11:17.21\00:11:19.67
"Without Private Johnson's quick
actions and continued fighting,
00:11:19.71\00:11:22.94
"even in the face of
almost certain death,
00:11:22.98\00:11:26.31
"the enemy might have succeeded
00:11:26.35\00:11:27.68
"in capturing
prisoners and the outpost,
00:11:27.72\00:11:30.39
without abandoning
valuable intelligence."
00:11:30.42\00:11:34.09
James Anderson Jr.,
Vietnam War, U.S. Marine Corps:
00:11:34.12\00:11:38.03
"Private First Class Anderson
found himself tightly bunched
00:11:38.06\00:11:41.16
"together with the
other members of the platoon
00:11:41.20\00:11:43.06
"only 20 meters
from the enemy positions.
00:11:43.10\00:11:45.97
"Suddenly, an
enemy grenade landed
00:11:46.00\00:11:48.50
"in the midst of the
marines and rolled alongside
00:11:48.54\00:11:51.01
"Private Anderson's head.
00:11:51.04\00:11:52.97
"Unhesitatingly and
with complete disregard
00:11:53.01\00:11:56.31
"for his personal
safety, he reached out,
00:11:56.34\00:11:59.45
"grasped the grenade,
pulled it to his chest
00:11:59.48\00:12:03.12
"and curled
around it as it went off.
00:12:03.15\00:12:05.85
"Although several
marines received shrapnel
00:12:05.89\00:12:08.16
"from the grenade, his
body absorbed the major force
00:12:08.19\00:12:11.49
"of the explosion. In
this singularly heroic act
00:12:11.53\00:12:16.03
"Private Anderson saved his
comrades from serious injury
00:12:16.06\00:12:19.53
"and possible death.
00:12:19.57\00:12:21.87
He gallantly gave his
life for his country."
00:12:21.90\00:12:25.74
There was Alvin York,
who during World War I
00:12:25.77\00:12:28.24
in northeastern France,
near the border with Belgium,
00:12:28.28\00:12:31.51
assumed command of his
platoon when others were killed
00:12:31.55\00:12:34.22
or wounded, then
overran a machine gun nest,
00:12:34.25\00:12:37.39
capturing four officers, 128
soldiers, and several weapons.
00:12:37.42\00:12:42.72
It was a phenomenal feat.
00:12:42.76\00:12:44.69
He was a humble
man and, after the war,
00:12:44.73\00:12:46.66
turned down offers
to profit from his name.
00:12:46.70\00:12:49.66
Instead, he donated
his influence to support
00:12:49.70\00:12:52.70
a number of charitable causes.
00:12:52.73\00:12:55.40
Alwyn Cashe, War on
Terrorism, Iraq, U.S. Army:
00:12:55.44\00:12:59.47
"After extracting
himself from the vehicle,
00:12:59.51\00:13:01.61
"Sergeant First Class Cashe
set about extracting the driver,
00:13:01.64\00:13:05.35
"who was trapped in the vehicle.
00:13:05.38\00:13:07.08
"After opening
the driver's hatch,
00:13:07.12\00:13:09.18
"Sgt. First Class Cashe
and a fellow soldier extracted
00:13:09.22\00:13:12.12
"the driver, who was
engulfed in the flames.
00:13:12.15\00:13:15.22
"During the course of
extinguishing the flames
00:13:15.26\00:13:17.29
"on the driver and
extracting him from the vehicle,
00:13:17.33\00:13:19.46
"Sgt. First Class
Cashe's fuel soaked uniform
00:13:19.49\00:13:23.83
"ignited and caused
severe burns to his body.
00:13:23.87\00:13:27.30
"Ignoring his painful
wounds, Sgt. First Class Cashe
00:13:27.34\00:13:30.81
"then moved to the rear of the
vehicle, to continue in aiding
00:13:30.84\00:13:34.54
"his fellow
soldiers who were trapped
00:13:34.58\00:13:36.11
"in the troop compartment.
00:13:36.14\00:13:37.88
"At this time, the
enemy noted his movements
00:13:37.91\00:13:40.52
"and began to direct
their fire on his position.
00:13:40.55\00:13:43.45
"When another element of
the company engaged the enemy,
00:13:43.49\00:13:46.19
"Sgt. First Class Cashe
seized the opportunity and moved
00:13:46.22\00:13:49.99
"into the open troop door
and aided four of his soldiers
00:13:50.03\00:13:53.83
in escaping the
burning vehicle."
00:13:53.86\00:13:56.33
And then you find
these very short citations:
00:13:56.63\00:13:59.23
"Therefore Robert
Augustus Sweeney..."--
00:13:59.27\00:14:02.60
the only African American
to receive a Medal of Honor
00:14:02.64\00:14:05.64
on two separate occasions,
00:14:05.67\00:14:07.11
one of just 19
individuals to do so.
00:14:07.14\00:14:09.71
Interestingly, both medals
were awarded for acts of valor
00:14:09.74\00:14:14.48
committed during peacetime.
00:14:14.52\00:14:17.15
"First award: Serving
onboard the U.S.S. Kearsarge
00:14:17.19\00:14:20.66
"at Hampton Roads,
Va., 26th of October 1881,
00:14:20.69\00:14:25.13
"Sweeney jumped
overboard and assisted in saving
00:14:25.16\00:14:28.26
"from drowning a shipmate
who had fallen overboard
00:14:28.30\00:14:31.87
into a strongly running tide."
00:14:31.90\00:14:34.04
And then this:
00:14:34.07\00:14:35.07
"Second award: Serving
onboard the U.S.S. Yantic
00:14:35.10\00:14:38.74
"at the Navy yard, New
York, 20th of December, 1883,
00:14:38.77\00:14:42.84
"Sweeney rescued
from drowning A.A. George,
00:14:42.88\00:14:46.55
who had fallen overboard
from the U.S.S. Jamestown."
00:14:46.58\00:14:50.55
There's not an awful lot known
about Robert Augustus Sweeney.
00:14:51.35\00:14:55.82
He was born in Montserrat,
00:14:55.86\00:14:57.06
which at the time was part
of the British Leeward Islands.
00:14:57.09\00:14:59.86
Located in the Caribbean,
Montserrat is close to Antigua,
00:14:59.89\00:15:03.40
St. Kitts and
Nevis, and Guadaloupe,
00:15:03.43\00:15:05.70
and it's 250 miles
or so from Puerto Rico.
00:15:05.73\00:15:09.70
We don't know what became
of Robert Augustus Sweeney.
00:15:09.74\00:15:12.77
He died in 1890 and is
buried in the Calvary Cemetery
00:15:12.81\00:15:16.54
in New York
City, just three miles
00:15:16.58\00:15:18.71
from where he and J. W.
Norris saved A.A. George
00:15:18.75\00:15:22.08
from drowning in the East River.
00:15:22.12\00:15:24.79
So what makes a hero?
00:15:24.82\00:15:27.12
Kicking a Super
Bowl-winning field goal?
00:15:27.16\00:15:29.82
Some would say so, but you're
not going to rate that up there
00:15:29.86\00:15:32.19
with disarming a murderous
gunman on a shooting spree
00:15:32.23\00:15:35.60
or falling on a
grenade and saving the lives
00:15:35.63\00:15:38.10
of your fellow soldiers.
00:15:38.13\00:15:40.20
Was it heroic of civil
rights figures to jeopardize
00:15:40.24\00:15:42.97
their lives in order
to bring equality to all?
00:15:43.00\00:15:46.21
You'd have to say it was.
00:15:46.24\00:15:48.24
Was Desmond Doss a hero?
00:15:50.75\00:15:52.91
The famed Medal of
Honor recipient who became
00:15:52.95\00:15:55.22
the subject of the
movie "Hacksaw Ridge,"
00:15:55.25\00:15:57.52
Doss saved the lives
of 75 American soldiers
00:15:57.55\00:16:01.99
during fierce fighting on
the Japanese island of Okinawa
00:16:02.02\00:16:05.89
during World War II,
00:16:05.93\00:16:07.60
with complete
disregard for his own safety.
00:16:07.60\00:16:13.00
Desmond Doss was
awarded the Medal of Honor
00:16:13.03\00:16:15.07
by President
Harry S. Truman in 1945.
00:16:15.10\00:16:18.77
It was the first time
the medal had been awarded
00:16:18.81\00:16:21.11
to a conscientious
objector, although Doss
00:16:21.14\00:16:24.21
preferred the term
"conscientious cooperator."
00:16:24.25\00:16:28.55
Anyway you look at it,
00:16:28.58\00:16:29.68
the humble Desmond
T. Doss was a hero.
00:16:29.72\00:16:34.29
You could add teachers,
firefighters, the police,
00:16:35.69\00:16:39.06
doctors, nurses, and
others to a list of heroes.
00:16:39.09\00:16:42.96
They mold lives, save
lives, protect our communities;
00:16:43.00\00:16:46.67
they heal us and our loved ones.
00:16:46.70\00:16:49.40
There's something
very heroic about that.
00:16:49.44\00:16:51.57
If that's you, thank you.
00:16:51.61\00:16:55.34
So what about
someone who healed the sick,
00:16:55.38\00:16:57.85
raised the dead, and
offered life to every person
00:16:57.88\00:17:01.42
who ever lived?
00:17:01.45\00:17:02.65
Someone who had
power over nature,
00:17:02.68\00:17:04.39
someone who fed the hungry,
a person who lifted up others,
00:17:04.42\00:17:08.12
encouraged the discouraged,
a person who exemplified
00:17:08.16\00:17:11.33
the very best of
humanity at all times?
00:17:11.36\00:17:15.40
Would you call
that person a hero?
00:17:15.43\00:17:17.60
I think you would.
00:17:17.63\00:17:18.90
We're going to look
at the greatest, truest,
00:17:18.93\00:17:21.34
more real hero that
ever lived in just a moment.
00:17:21.37\00:17:26.41
¤music swells and ends.
00:17:26.44\00:17:37.89
>>Announcer: He
was raised in poverty,
00:17:40.29\00:17:41.89
born into a life that
was supposed to guarantee
00:17:41.92\00:17:44.56
he didn't have a future.
00:17:44.59\00:17:46.06
But when a young boy from
Alabama moved with his family
00:17:46.09\00:17:48.50
to Cleveland, OH,
everything changed.
00:17:48.53\00:17:51.83
As Jesse Owens ran and jumped
into the pages of history.
00:17:51.87\00:17:56.14
Join me for "Running the Race,"
00:17:56.17\00:17:58.57
the story of a young man
who overcame impossible odds;
00:17:58.61\00:18:01.98
Winning 4 Olympic gold medals
and delivering a knockout blow
00:18:02.01\00:18:05.55
to Adolf Hitler's
"master race" theories.
00:18:05.58\00:18:08.38
The Story of Jesse Owen's
victories against all odds
00:18:08.42\00:18:11.25
speak to the
experience of salvation.
00:18:11.29\00:18:13.52
All have sinned, and yet
all may have everlasting life
00:18:13.56\00:18:16.89
through faith in Jesus.
00:18:16.93\00:18:18.33
Even when others say
you don't deserve eternity,
00:18:18.36\00:18:20.83
Jesus steps in to
offer you everlasting life.
00:18:20.86\00:18:24.43
Don't miss "Running the Race,"
00:18:24.47\00:18:27.20
the inspiring story
of improbable victories
00:18:27.24\00:18:30.21
on the track, in life,
and where it matters most.
00:18:30.24\00:18:33.81
"Running the Race,"
00:18:33.84\00:18:35.11
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:18:35.14\00:18:37.85
¤[music ends]¤
00:18:37.88\00:18:38.91
>>Announcer: Desmond
Doss went into battle
00:18:40.62\00:18:42.08
armed with the Bible and prayer.
00:18:42.12\00:18:44.69
An Academy-award-
winning movie told the story
00:18:44.72\00:18:46.89
of his exploits
on Hacksaw Ridge.
00:18:46.92\00:18:49.29
Our free offer today is
"The Faith of Desmond Doss."
00:18:49.32\00:18:52.66
To receive this free book,
00:18:52.69\00:18:53.83
call 800-253-3000
00:18:53.86\00:18:56.56
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:18:56.60\00:19:00.60
Find out how you can
have the same kind of faith
00:19:00.64\00:19:03.17
Desmond Doss had.
00:19:03.20\00:19:04.51
800-253- 3000 or visit
00:19:04.54\00:19:07.74
iiwoffer.com.
00:19:07.78\00:19:10.41
>>John Bradshaw: It's not
often you hear Jesus referred to
00:19:11.45\00:19:14.65
as a hero.
00:19:14.68\00:19:16.69
But how else
could you describe Him?
00:19:16.72\00:19:18.82
To begin with, He had
supernatural abilities.
00:19:18.85\00:19:21.52
He could walk on water.
00:19:21.56\00:19:23.16
He entered a room by
passing through a wall.
00:19:23.19\00:19:25.86
He altered the
very nature of water,
00:19:25.89\00:19:28.56
transforming it
into grape juice.
00:19:28.60\00:19:31.03
He took a small boy's lunch
and, for the benefit of others,
00:19:31.07\00:19:34.74
turned it into a meal
that satisfied the hunger
00:19:34.77\00:19:37.81
of thousands of people.
00:19:37.84\00:19:39.54
He healed people--
00:19:39.57\00:19:40.81
and not just His own
friends or countrymen.
00:19:40.84\00:19:43.35
He healed the
servant of an enemy soldier,
00:19:43.38\00:19:45.95
He healed the demon-possessed
daughter of a foreign woman.
00:19:45.98\00:19:49.32
In fact, that same
passage in Matthew 15 says
00:19:49.35\00:19:52.52
that "great multitudes came to
Him, having with them the lame,
00:19:52.55\00:19:56.93
"blind, mute, maimed, and
many others; and they laid them
00:19:56.96\00:20:00.90
down at Jesus'
feet, and He healed them."
00:20:00.93\00:20:03.70
That's Matthew 15, verse 30.
00:20:03.73\00:20:06.10
He healed them all.
00:20:06.13\00:20:09.07
He worked to combat racism.
When His own followers wanted
00:20:09.10\00:20:12.44
to incinerate a Samaritan
village, He rebuked them,
00:20:12.47\00:20:16.01
saying, "You do not know what
manner of spirit you are of,
00:20:16.04\00:20:19.81
"for the Son of Man did not
come to destroy men's lives,
00:20:19.85\00:20:24.29
but to save them."
00:20:24.32\00:20:25.85
This Man was merciful in a way
00:20:25.89\00:20:28.12
that no one had
ever seen before:
00:20:28.16\00:20:30.09
interrupting a
funeral to raise a dead body
00:20:30.13\00:20:33.19
and reunite the young
man with his mother, a widow,
00:20:33.23\00:20:36.40
a woman with no
apparent means of support.
00:20:36.43\00:20:39.07
He was incredibly gracious.
00:20:39.10\00:20:41.90
When a tax collector who was
short of stature climbed a tree
00:20:41.94\00:20:46.04
in order to get
a glimpse of Jesus,
00:20:46.07\00:20:47.88
Jesus recognized the
desire of the man's heart
00:20:47.91\00:20:50.51
and invited himself
into the man's home,
00:20:50.55\00:20:53.28
something that
really wasn't done
00:20:53.31\00:20:55.08
in that culture at that time.
00:20:55.12\00:20:57.09
That act scandalized
the people, who said,
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.36
"He has gone to be a guest
with a man who is a sinner."
00:21:00.39\00:21:05.46
But instead of
rejecting the man,
00:21:05.49\00:21:07.86
who set himself up as
an enemy of his own people
00:21:07.86\00:21:10.37
by collecting taxes on
behalf of an occupying power,
00:21:10.40\00:21:14.04
Jesus uttered
these remarkable words:
00:21:14.07\00:21:17.87
"Today salvation
has come to this house,
00:21:17.91\00:21:21.38
because he also
is a son of Abraham."
00:21:21.41\00:21:24.71
And then He said, "For the
Son of Man has come to seek
00:21:24.75\00:21:28.55
and to save
that which was lost."
00:21:28.58\00:21:31.62
I mean, it goes
on and on, right?
00:21:31.65\00:21:35.02
He touched lepers,
people who hadn't experienced
00:21:35.06\00:21:38.56
meaningful human touch in years.
00:21:38.59\00:21:41.53
One suffering man said
to Him, "If You are willing,
00:21:41.56\00:21:45.90
You can make me clean."
00:21:45.93\00:21:47.54
Listen to what
the Bible says next:
00:21:47.57\00:21:49.54
"Then Jesus,
moved with compassion,
00:21:49.57\00:21:52.67
"stretched out His hand and
touched him and said to him,
00:21:52.71\00:21:57.91
'I am willing, be cleansed.'"
00:21:57.95\00:22:01.92
So you have Someone who is
all-powerful, compassionate;
00:22:01.95\00:22:05.35
He was merciful,
choosing to forgive sinners
00:22:05.39\00:22:07.86
and lift them up.
00:22:07.89\00:22:09.26
He was a healer, and
even though He could have,
00:22:09.29\00:22:12.39
He never used His
power for His own benefit.
00:22:12.43\00:22:15.76
He might have spent
His time impressing people,
00:22:15.80\00:22:18.70
but His mission was
to reveal to the world
00:22:18.73\00:22:21.60
what His Father was like.
00:22:21.64\00:22:24.07
He said He "did not come
into the world to be served,
00:22:24.11\00:22:27.58
but to serve, and to give
His life a ransom for many."
00:22:27.61\00:22:31.61
Matthew 20, verse 28.
00:22:31.65\00:22:34.25
To serve and to give
His life-- that's Jesus.
00:22:34.28\00:22:39.62
He was meek, but
meekness is not weakness.
00:22:39.65\00:22:44.59
As He was dying on the
cross, wicked men taunted Him.
00:22:44.63\00:22:48.70
They said, "Save Yourself!
00:22:48.73\00:22:51.27
If You're the Son of God,
come down from the cross."
00:22:51.30\00:22:55.17
And He didn't.
00:22:55.20\00:22:57.84
Because if He had, He'd have
turned away from His mission
00:22:57.87\00:23:01.68
to save the world.
00:23:01.71\00:23:03.88
Notice: not to save people
who were wearing His uniform.
00:23:03.91\00:23:08.25
Jesus came to the
world to save His enemies.
00:23:08.28\00:23:11.89
He said in Matthew
5:44, "Love your enemies."
00:23:11.92\00:23:16.59
He advocated lending and not
expecting to receive anything
00:23:16.62\00:23:20.16
back in return.
00:23:20.20\00:23:21.33
He said if
someone needs your cloak,
00:23:21.36\00:23:22.93
give that person
your tunic as well.
00:23:22.96\00:23:25.33
Paul wrote that
"when we were enemies,
00:23:25.37\00:23:29.10
we were reconciled to
God by the death of His Son."
00:23:29.14\00:23:32.64
Romans 5:10.
00:23:32.67\00:23:34.84
In everything that He did,
Jesus was seeking to lift up
00:23:34.88\00:23:40.25
fallen humanity.
00:23:40.28\00:23:42.32
And the same is true today.
00:23:42.35\00:23:44.02
He answers prayers.
00:23:44.05\00:23:46.02
He shows you the wonders
of creation so you can witness
00:23:46.05\00:23:48.86
the goodness of God.
00:23:48.89\00:23:50.59
He showers the world in
blessings and carries us
00:23:50.63\00:23:54.36
through our trials.
00:23:54.36\00:23:55.46
No, He doesn't take away
all of our pains and griefs
00:23:55.50\00:23:57.80
and struggles, but better than
that, He pledges to keep us,
00:23:57.83\00:24:02.27
hold us, comfort us
in the midst of them,
00:24:02.30\00:24:05.84
because God is love
and Jesus is only good.
00:24:05.87\00:24:13.21
So what do you do
with a hero like that?
00:24:13.25\00:24:18.79
What do you make of an
historical figure such as Jesus?
00:24:18.82\00:24:21.46
He's as real an
historic figure as,
00:24:21.49\00:24:23.69
as Genghis Khan or
Napoleon or William Shakespeare.
00:24:23.73\00:24:27.50
How did He live His life?
00:24:27.56\00:24:28.93
He lived His life selflessly,
for the benefit of others.
00:24:28.96\00:24:34.17
What kind of
example did He leave?
00:24:34.20\00:24:36.37
To love others.
00:24:36.40\00:24:38.91
He's just what
the world needed then,
00:24:38.94\00:24:42.68
and He's exactly what
the world needs today.
00:24:42.71\00:24:48.58
So where does He
feature in your life?
00:24:48.62\00:24:52.09
And how can He
feature in your life?
00:24:52.12\00:24:54.46
Paul quoted the
prophet Joel when he wrote,
00:24:54.49\00:24:56.56
"Whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved."
00:24:56.59\00:25:00.36
The same man told
a repentant sinner,
00:25:00.40\00:25:03.16
"Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and you will be saved,
00:25:03.20\00:25:08.34
you and your household."
00:25:08.37\00:25:11.81
Soldiers have followed
military leaders into battle.
00:25:11.84\00:25:15.01
People rally
around political leaders.
00:25:15.04\00:25:17.51
Kings and queens have inspired
the loyalty of millions.
00:25:17.55\00:25:21.68
But Jesus is
greater than them all.
00:25:21.72\00:25:25.59
He's the Creator of the
world, the Savior of the world.
00:25:25.62\00:25:29.72
And He's coming
back to this earth soon.
00:25:29.76\00:25:32.76
Is the Creator your Re-Creator?
00:25:32.79\00:25:36.16
Is the Savior your Savior?
00:25:36.20\00:25:39.00
Are you looking forward to
Jesus returning to the world
00:25:39.03\00:25:42.44
to take His people home?
00:25:42.47\00:25:44.64
Long ago Jesus died on a cross,
00:25:44.67\00:25:48.34
demonstrating the
love of God for the world.
00:25:48.38\00:25:50.98
He died on the cross giving
you assurance that your sins
00:25:51.01\00:25:55.45
may be forgiven.
00:25:55.48\00:25:57.25
He's a hero you can
follow, surrender to,
00:25:57.29\00:26:01.16
trust, really believe in.
00:26:01.19\00:26:04.76
There's no one else like
Him. There's only one Jesus.
00:26:04.79\00:26:10.57
Surrender your life to Him
now and let Him be your Jesus.
00:26:10.60\00:26:18.31
>>John Bradshaw: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:26:19.31\00:26:21.14
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:26:21.18\00:26:24.68
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:26:24.71\00:26:27.88
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:26:27.92\00:26:32.09
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:26:32.12\00:26:33.56
to the address on your screen
00:26:33.59\00:26:35.02
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:35.06\00:26:38.89
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:26:38.93\00:26:41.70
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:26:41.73\00:26:45.97
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:46.00\00:26:48.97
>>John Bradshaw: Let
me pray with you now.
00:26:50.24\00:26:52.57
Father in heaven, I
thank You today for Jesus.
00:26:52.61\00:26:56.58
We don't often
think of Him as a hero,
00:26:56.61\00:26:59.71
but He's the one
person ever to have lived
00:26:59.75\00:27:01.88
who's given His life
for this sinful world.
00:27:01.92\00:27:05.85
I thank You we can
trust Him, love Him in return,
00:27:05.89\00:27:08.92
and experience His
presence in our lives.
00:27:08.96\00:27:12.43
Friend, how is it with you?
00:27:12.46\00:27:14.96
Can you accept
Jesus into your heart now?
00:27:15.00\00:27:17.87
Ask Him to take your
life, and He'll make it His own.
00:27:17.90\00:27:21.24
He'll do it.
00:27:21.27\00:27:22.30
He'll flood your life
with His peace and assurance
00:27:22.34\00:27:25.04
if you'll let Him.
00:27:25.07\00:27:27.31
Tell God with me
that you believe.
00:27:27.34\00:27:29.44
Lord, we accept
Jesus as Savior and Lord,
00:27:29.48\00:27:33.38
and we pray in Jesus' name,
00:27:33.42\00:27:36.89
amen.
00:27:36.92\00:27:38.59
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:38.62\00:27:40.22
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:40.26\00:27:42.32
Until then, remember:
00:27:42.36\00:27:44.43
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:44.46\00:27:49.06
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:49.10\00:27:53.80
¤[dramatic theme music]
00:27:53.84\00:28:08.85
¤[dramatic theme music]
00:28:08.85\00:28:21.10
¤[music ends]¤
00:28:21.13\00:28:27.94