Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000026
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00:01 During the end of His ministry,
00:02 Jesus arrived here on the Mount of Olives. 00:05 Looked out over Jerusalem and He began weeping, 00:09 "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 00:10 how often would I have gathered you, 00:12 as a mother hen gathers her chicks 00:14 under her breast, and you would not." 00:18 Jesus desired nothing less than 00:20 a wonderful relationship with His children, with His people. 00:24 He called. He beckoned. 00:26 He yearned to have a fellowship and friendship with them, 00:30 but they seemed like they would not. 01:07 Right behind me is the Russian Orthodox Church 01:09 there on the Mount of Olives. 01:11 You'll notice the four smaller pinnacles. 01:13 Those represent the gospel messages, 01:15 the four men of the gospel, the taller one, Jesus Christ. 01:20 Jerusalem is a very sacred and holy place to many faiths. 01:23 The Christians, the Muslims, 01:25 the Jewish people even the Bahá'i faith. 01:28 Jerusalem the capital city of Israel 01:30 has been the capital of the Jewish Kingdom, 01:32 since about 1000 B.C., when King David captured it. 01:36 Since then, the city has been captured 01:38 and recaptured many times. 01:41 Jerusalem is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world 01:44 and dates back to the fourth millennium B.C. 01:48 Excavations have revealed early Canaanite 01:50 and Hebrew settlements. 01:52 A wealth of Hebrew seals 01:53 and everyday utensils have been found 01:56 as well as early streets running from the Zion Gate 01:59 through the restored Jewish border. 02:03 Jerusalem is a city of contrast between the old and the new, 02:06 the sacred, the secular. 02:09 It is still a city of people 02:10 in need of renewed touch of the master's hand. 02:15 This is the most recent wall that surrounds Old Jerusalem. 02:18 I'm told that Suleiman, 02:20 the Turk actually built this one. 02:22 Jerusalem has had many walls built at many times. 02:24 I asked one local resident what, 02:26 how many times it had been rebuilt. 02:28 He said, "Oh may be even seven times. 02:30 But the most famous was in A.D. 70 when Titus, 02:33 the General destroyed everything." 02:37 It seems that the walls of Jerusalem 02:39 are still under siege. 02:40 In 2002, there was a bulge 02:42 in the walls near the Al-Aqsa mosque. 02:44 At the time it was expected 02:46 that more than 200,000 Muslim pilgrims 02:49 would visit the mosque during Ramadan. 02:51 Engineers feared that the walls would collapse 02:53 under the weight of so many people. 02:56 Finally, in 2003, after a lot of controversy, 02:59 the wall was repaired. 03:03 Immediately behind me is a wall that is supporting the mosque. 03:06 It wasn't there at the time of Jesus. 03:08 And during this recent archaeological dig, 03:10 they found that this was the main entrance to the temple. 03:13 But picture Jesus walking up and down 03:16 these stairs preaching, sharing the gospel message 03:18 with everyone around. 03:20 Tremendous time. 03:21 Imagine the Festival of Tabernacles, 03:25 during that time with everyone living 03:26 in their own little places with bowels over them covered, 03:30 coming to the temple ceremony, coming and hearing Jesus say, 03:34 "I am the water of life, partake of me freely." 03:38 It's hard to imagine but that's where it occurred is right here. 03:49 I understand--it's no longer called the Wailing Wall. 03:52 No, it was never called a Wailing Wall. 03:54 It was never called that. No, it was-- 03:57 it's the Western Wall of the temple compound. 04:00 And it's written in the-- 04:03 that the divine presence never leaves this, this place. 04:07 This wall is such an ancient piece of history. 04:11 That's why this section called the Western Wall 04:14 is so important to these people, 04:16 because it is part of the original wall of Jerusalem. 04:21 So they see this as a tie to the past and a tie 04:25 to God when He was blessing them so much. 04:28 And they don't believe that the presence of God 04:30 has ever left this location either. 04:31 No, no that's why there is such an attraction to come back 04:35 to Jerusalem and establish the temple again here. 04:39 That's why there is so much conflict 04:41 among nations politically as well. 04:45 Just on the other side of the wall 04:47 you have the Muslim mosque. 04:48 That's right. Mm-hmm. 04:50 The Muslims and the Jewish people are of course 04:53 the most in conflict but there is a Christian quarter 04:57 and an Armenian quarter here in Jerusalem as well. 05:00 And this one in 1948, the Jordanians came in 05:03 virtually massacred everybody. 05:05 So it wasn't until was in 1967 that actually the Jewish people 05:10 were able to come back here and again be at the wall. 05:14 And these little slips they pray, 05:16 first they come and they read their "The Bible" 05:19 and their prayer books 05:21 and because this is such a special place. 05:24 It's that longing to be in touch with the past 05:27 because they see God is blessing them in the past. 05:30 And they're longing to see that recovered. 05:33 They want to see the fulfillment 05:35 of all of those Old Testament prophecies literally. 05:38 You know the location of the temple is actually 05:40 about 20 feet down or at least the areas 05:43 where Jesus probably walked but, what an area of history. 05:46 That's right. 05:47 And then apparently this is so significant to God. 05:51 He is still coming back calls it the New Jerusalem. 05:53 That's true. Going to bring it down to this area. 05:55 And that will be great. We see stones here. 05:58 We'll see gold there. 06:00 Oh, I am looking forward to that time. 06:02 That's for sure. Yeah. 06:06 As with any site that's possibly sacred, 06:09 they built a church over it. 06:11 Matter of fact, there is a church 06:12 and a Muslim owns the key to the door, 06:14 but he lets the Christians come in. 06:16 What is the site? 06:18 The site of the crucifixion, 06:20 the site of the burial of Jesus Christ. 06:23 There is an area up in behind that has the tomb, 06:27 the garden tomb apparently. 06:28 There is also a slab where they laid Him. 06:31 But, you know, the most exciting thing, 06:32 the thing that really counts is He's not there. 06:35 The relics maybe there, 06:36 but Jesus Christ is not there because He's risen. 06:39 That's the hope, that's the desire and we look 06:41 forward to seeing Jesus Christ very soon. 06:44 He's coming for you. He's coming for me. 06:48 Tell me, where you always Christians? 06:51 You say you're a pastor, but where you always Christians? 06:53 No. No, we came to church at different times. 06:58 But God helped us find each other at the right time. 07:04 I came to Christ at 12 years old 07:06 I attended school and played soccer. 07:08 As soon as I started attending Church, 07:10 soccer became very distant. 07:13 We were watching on TV a cartoon called 07:16 Super Buck and Jesus became an interest. 07:20 In our mail box was an invitation to a church. 07:23 We went and this was the first time 07:26 we were introduced to a church and to the Bible. 07:29 Because of this book, the whole family started believing. 07:35 Mom, grandmother, his father, and his brother, 07:39 even he became a follower. 07:41 His brother actually became a pastor 07:44 at the same time as my husband. 07:47 And how about you? 07:49 Did you know Christ all your life or no? 07:50 You said, you didn't. 07:52 What's your story before you found Christ? 07:55 I came to God at 15 years old. 07:58 I was raised in non-Christian family. 08:01 My girlfriend invite me to come to church with her. 08:05 My third cousin introduced me with her friend. 08:09 And she is the one who invite me to her Church. 08:12 When I first went to Church, I couldn't find Him. 08:16 But later, God helped me. 08:18 June 30th was 7 seven years since I was baptized. 08:22 I love to serve God. 08:24 I just can't imagine my life without praising the Lord. 08:28 I feel like there is no point to live without God. 08:32 If you are not serving God, 08:34 why are you living on this planet? 08:36 This is just my personal opinion 08:41 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 08:46 Duang lay wide awake in his dark jail cell. 08:50 A Chinese man imprisoned in Thailand. 08:52 He had no family or friends to visit him. 08:56 Recently, Duang had begun 08:57 listening to the programs of Adventist World Radio. 09:01 The message of God's love and forgiveness 09:03 had so much appeal to him, 09:05 because he had plenty to be forgiven off. 09:07 Forced to become a child soldier in Burma when just 13, 09:11 Duang had committed many terrible sins. 09:14 He escaped into Thailand. 09:16 But quickly wound up in jail. 09:19 Now alone in his cell, Duang had ample time 09:23 to wonder would God really forgive him. 09:29 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 09:33 with millions of people everyday in their own languages. 09:37 For more information, visit awr.org. 09:43 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 09:47 Our first priority is to travel where missionaries cannot go. 09:52 We broadcast thousands of hours each day 09:54 in 70 major languages of the world. 09:57 AWR has the capability and capacity of blanketing 10:00 almost 80% of the world's population. 10:04 Not only do we broadcast via shortwave radio, 10:07 but our signal is on over 1,000 FM and AM stations 10:10 around the world as well. 10:13 Our podcast subscribers, Internet users, 10:16 satellite downlinks are growing rapidly, 10:18 evidenced by the 100,000 plus emails, letters, 10:22 and phone calls we receive each and every year. 10:25 Yes, AWR is your mission radio. 10:28 No walls and no borders. 10:30 For AWR that means change lives and change hearts 10:33 around the world because God is using 10:36 the airwaves of AWR to reach people everywhere. 10:45 I know that the things we see today on this planet 10:48 are just small portions of what God prepared for us. 10:52 So you don't care what other young people think, 10:54 it's just your relationship with God. 10:57 This is my relationship with God. 11:00 And with my friends, my relationship became better 11:02 because they became better and started respecting 11:05 me more for being a Christian. 11:07 Being a Christian can be hard and very unpopular, 11:10 but being strong spiritually makes you a stronger Christian. 11:14 Did you find it was the same for you at 15 years old 11:17 to become a Christian and continue in that pathway? 11:20 At 15 years old, I start believing. 11:23 But at 16, I got baptized to achieve that happiness 11:28 you have to grow year by year and become closer with God. 11:34 You told me that AWR has been playing a part in your life. 11:37 Before we came together today, you told me that. 11:41 What part has it played? 11:43 I was left alone for two years as an Adventist. 11:46 And listening at night to the radio, 11:48 I understood that I wasn't alone in this world 11:50 but a part of a big family. 11:52 They gave me hope and confidence. 11:55 Nice to hear the Christian songs in my language. 11:58 I really want to hear God's word, 12:01 who is calling to come to Him because the time is near. 12:05 I really want that and we'll pray for that. 12:08 I want His name to knock on every heart and everyone. 12:15 So you tell others about the AWR programs then? 12:19 About courses, no. 12:20 About the radio station, yes. 12:23 Not only did I tell them about it, 12:24 I turned it on for them so they could listen to it, 12:27 my non-Christian friends. 12:29 So they like the program too? 12:31 Yes, they listened. 12:32 And this may be telling a secret on you being a pastor 12:36 because you told me you're a part time pastor. 12:39 Do you listen to the AWR programs and make 12:41 some notes and share that on the pulpit. 12:43 No radio. 12:47 We just moved recently few days ago. 12:50 Everything is still packed away in the boxes. 12:56 Here in Jerusalem, perhaps, 12:58 it was a street something like this 12:59 that Jesus walked down with His disciples. 13:02 But at that time, the throngs where pressing in everywhere 13:05 around and people wanted to get close to Him. 13:08 But all of a sudden in the middle of all this 13:10 pushing and shoving, Jesus stopped. 13:12 He turned and said "Who touched me?" 13:15 And for a moment, everybody's looking, 13:16 thinking "What are you saying? 13:18 Everybody is touching you." 13:19 The disciple said, "Master, look at the throngs." 13:22 And then one dear little lady came up and said, 13:25 "I was the one who touched you." 13:28 And Jesus said, "You know, you are healed, dear lady, 13:30 because you touched me with faith. 13:33 You reached out and grabbed the hold of me 13:35 with all that you had, and desired to be healed." 13:39 Tremendous story, a casual touch does nothing in our lives, 13:43 but the touch of faith grabbing the hold 13:45 of Jesus that's what changes. 14:25 Most of the street are new stones 14:27 but this area they found 3 meters down. 14:30 These are the original pavements 14:31 where Jesus walked in the Via Dolorosa. 14:35 Carried His cross here for you and for me. 14:38 It's interesting that just right over here are men machine guns. 14:42 I'm sure Jesus looked forward to this time, 14:44 that's probably why He wept 14:46 up there on the hill overlooking Jerusalem. 14:53 I hadn't realized how long and arduous 14:56 the track for Jesus was carrying the Cross of Calvary 14:59 because it's all up hill. 15:01 At this point on the Via Dolorosa, 15:04 He collapsed. He could no longer carry the cross. 15:07 And here we're told Simon picked it up and carried it for Him. 15:12 They've actually built a little Chapel 15:14 in this area commemorating that moment. 15:19 It's exciting to me that you are young people. 15:21 You have accepted Christ in many marvelous ways it came together. 15:27 But the listeners and our viewers need to know that, 15:33 that God speaks every language. 15:35 I need an interpreter while at times to understand you. 15:38 But God speaks every language. 15:40 He reaches every heart around the world. 15:43 And what would you like to share with the people 15:45 now that are going to be watching, 15:46 may be listening to this program in different parts of the world. 15:49 What does Jesus Christ mean to you, 15:51 and what should they know? 15:53 God is love. God gives us a happy heart, hope, and belief. 15:58 Hope for the best, hope in the people. 16:01 For those watching this program, 16:04 for those listening to this word, 16:06 I want you to turn to God. 16:09 He really wants you to be next to Him. 16:12 What's your favorite part of the AWR program? 16:15 The songs and mostly the Bible study, 16:17 and when people discuss their relationship with God. 16:22 And how about you? Same question. 16:23 What's the most favorite part? The music. 16:26 And I am very thankful for His love 16:30 and is always trying to reach ones heart. 16:34 The radio has no limit, where ever you are, 16:37 just raise your antenna, tune in, and start listening. 16:41 What would you do if AWR wasn't there? 16:44 Had it never been there? 16:45 The radio is called voice of hope. 16:48 If there was no radio, there wouldn't be that voice of hope. 16:53 Upon the hill where the large church is, 16:55 I am told is where Jesus had the last supper. 16:58 And from that area they came on down the hill, 17:00 crossed over the Kidron up into the garden of Gethsemane 17:04 here in this area, the area of the final conflict. 17:45 Through the radio waves of AWR, 17:47 God is reaching people around the world. 17:51 We'd like to offer you an edition of making waves. 17:54 It's four of our episodes 17:55 brought to you from around the world. 17:57 God speaking to hearts, 17:59 the hearts of the listeners of AWR,exciting stories. 18:02 We hope that you'll share those with friends and neighbors, 18:05 acquaintances anyone who come in contact with. 18:07 Join us to make waves. 18:08 It's completely free. 18:11 Right now the information is on your screen. 18:14 For your free,no obligation DVD, write to Adventist World Radio, 18:19 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904 18:25 or call 1-866-503-3531. 18:30 Or log onto www.awr.org/MWDVD. 18:37 Be sure to Request Offer #10. 18:40 That number again is 1-866-503-3531. 18:46 To be here in the Garden Gethsemane, 18:50 to look at the size of these olive trees, 18:52 to think this is the location perhaps 18:55 that Jesus and the disciples walked, 18:57 where Jesus instructed them on everyday life, 19:01 the parables to help them understand, 19:03 to prepare them for their work for what was going to happen 19:07 next in their lives because these were the men, 19:09 they were going to reach the world for Jesus Christ. 19:13 These were the men who were preparing right then. 19:17 As Jesus looks up the olives and thinks about 19:19 the Holy Spirit, the oil of the spirit, 19:22 the oil that lit the temple lamps 19:24 that cast light everywhere. 19:28 The Holy Spirit is supposed to be in our lives to give us 19:30 the light that shines out to all the world. 19:39 I'm told they placed this pillar here, 19:41 from the Garden of Gethsemane. 19:43 Perhaps, it's the only thing that is left from that time 19:47 when Jesus came to struggle for the human race. 19:53 When the disciples and Jesus arrived 19:55 at the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked the disciples stay here 19:59 and pray while I go little distance from you and pray. 20:03 When He came back from His first agony, 20:06 He found them all asleep. He said, 20:08 "Could you not pray with me just for a little while?" 20:12 Later on coming back to them again, 20:13 He again found them asleep and finally He said, 20:16 "The spirit is willing but the flesh is truly weak." 20:34 I'm told that the olive tree 20:36 right behind me is 2,000 years old. 20:39 This tree could've been here in the Garden of Gethsemane 20:42 at the time of Jesus. It's something to think about 20:46 how our Lord knelt down, began weeping, 20:49 a young man on his early 30. 20:51 What young man of that age wants to die? 20:53 But He was willing to die for you and me, 20:55 to give His life for us. But He said, 20:57 "Father, please If there is another way, let it happen. 21:00 Let this cup pass from me, 21:02 nevertheless not my will but your will be done." 21:06 Three times he fought that battle with Satan, 21:09 three times he fought that battle with self. 21:11 But each time He surrendered himself to the father. 21:15 Said, that father, "Your will be done." 21:20 Because of the victory that Jesus gained 21:22 here in the garden of Gethsemane and then later on, 21:25 on Calvary's Cross, He was able to tell the disciples 21:28 to go into all the world and spread the Gospel message 21:31 with power, with strength, and with energy. 21:34 Again, because He had gained the victory first 21:38 and provided that power to His disciples 21:41 and ultimately to you and to me. 22:01 In the garden, Jesus was captured. 22:04 All of the disciples fled. They took Jesus back up 22:07 the hill again to the area 22:09 where He originally was with the last supper. 22:11 In that area, they held the first part of the trial. 22:14 Peter denied his Lord there. 22:16 Then they let Him on into the city 22:18 for further trial with Pilate. It was on a courtyard 22:22 perhaps something like this where they brought Jesus 22:24 in the middle of the night 22:26 to arraign Him before the high priest.Peter snuck in. 22:29 Peter snuck in. People are milling around every where 22:32 but Peter didn't want to be noticed. 22:35 He came up. He saw a little fire. 22:37 He came up close to the fire, pulled his collar up 22:39 and there he sat trying to warm his hands. 22:41 Every once in a while, he would take a glance 22:43 and look and see what was happening to Jesus. 22:47 Someone noticed him. They asked him, 22:50 "Who are you? You are the one that was with Jesus?" 22:51 He says, "No, I am not. No, I am not." 22:53 And he huddles a little lower. 22:55 But soon they recognize him again. At this time, 22:58 he said,"No, I am not the one." But he huddles a little more. 23:02 He takes another look. Still Jesus is being tried 23:06 but soon someone says, 23:07 "You are the one. You are the very one." 23:10 And now he cusses and he swears 23:12 as an old fisherman that he used to be 23:14 and as with the words dripping from his lips, 23:18 he looks and Jesus turns and looks at him, 23:21 and his heart is broken and Peter runs away 23:26 In 1883, the British General, 23:28 Charles Gordon came across this location. 23:31 He saw what appeared to be a skull in the rocks. 23:33 He looked the eyes and the nose and the mouth 23:35 and thought could this be? The location is correct, 23:38 right outside the walls of Jerusalem. 23:40 This may be the place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 23:48 We're in a location called the Garden Tomb. 23:50 Now this may not be the actual location where Jesus was laid 23:53 but it's a tomb of someone rich like Joseph of Arimathea. 23:58 They took Jesus off the cross. They laid Him in the tomb. 24:03 They sealed it with a large stone. 24:04 On Sunday, the angel from heaven came down as a lightning flash. 24:11 The Roman guard, who was here to guard the tomb 24:14 and not allow entrance to anyone lay as a dead man. 24:16 The angel called Jesus forth, 24:18 Jesus, who had laid there dead, was now resurrected. 24:22 Interesting point is the soldiers 24:25 were from every country or many countries. 24:27 Imagine after their tour of duty had ended, 24:31 they went and told their countrymen everywhere. 24:33 Thus the Gospel was spread to many lands. 24:36 The angel stayed and waited 24:40 and the woman showed up 24:41 later that day to embalm the body of Jesus. 24:44 But the angel said, "He's risen, He is not here. 24:46 He's going to meet all of you. Go tell His disciples and Peter, 24:51 the Lord is risen." 24:52 Whatever you do, don't forget Peter who denied me. 24:56 Don't forget Peter who has forsaken me. 24:58 Don't forget Peter who is brokenhearted. 25:00 Remember Peter how much our Lord loves, and calls, 25:04 and yearns after every one of us. 25:12 Jerusalem, where God provided victory over sin, 25:15 and where His great commission was spoken, 25:17 "Go ye into all the world." 25:20 You just moved, you don't have a radio at the moment, 25:23 but are you looking forward to getting one, 25:25 you can have the program again? 25:27 For sure, of course. Certainly. 25:33 Oh, English? All right. Certainly, I understood that. 25:45 To listen is what I do. That's good. Yes. All right. 25:51 Adventist. Adventist. 25:53 I appreciate you coming tonight very much, thank you. 25:56 Bless you. Thank you very much. 25:59 Thank you. God bless you. 26:01 Today, Maxim is serving as a pastor on the weekends. 26:04 Well, he does his work to earn a living during the week. 26:08 He and his wife now as a team 26:11 have dedicated themselves to serve God. 26:14 And they love to listen and use the radio. 26:17 In fact,they gave away their own radio to someone 26:20 so that they could listen to the Voice of Hope programs. 26:25 Maxim and Lubo now are planning to use radio 26:30 in their outreach work. We asked them, 26:33 "What would happen if the Voice of Hope 26:35 was no longer on the air?" They said, 26:39 "If there is no voice, there is no hope." 26:44 Won't you join with AWR to make sure that it can be a voice 26:50 so that there can be hopes for the people of this world. 26:55 AWR is your mission radio and we are making waves. 26:58 Please join us 1-866-503-3531. 27:03 Or you can write us at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 27:07 Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. 27:10 Or log on to our website at www.awr.org. 27:16 Thank you for watching and please join us again 27:19 for another exciting gospel adventure 27:21 because around the world AWR is making waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17