#101 - Joby Martin // Daring to Be Defined by Christ, Not Your Scars - The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: The Daily Blade #101 - Joby Martin // Daring to Be Defined by Christ, Not Your Scars

Release Date: May 21, 2025

Introduction

In episode #101 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve into a profound exploration of identity, healing, and the transformative power of faith. Titled "Daring to Be Defined by Christ, Not Your Scars," this episode challenges listeners to reassess how past wounds and personal struggles shape their self-perception and daily living.

Unpacking the Miracle of Bethesda

Pastor Joby Martin (Speaker B) begins the episode by examining the biblical account from John chapter five, specifically the healing at the Pool of Bethesda. He meticulously reads and analyzes the scripture, emphasizing the historical and tangible aspects of the event to underscore its authenticity.

"Do you know what the Bible says? That it has five roof colonnades, because it actually has five roofed colonnades. It is details like this that help us understand that this is not a myth. This. This is not a fairy tale."
— Joby Martin [00:20]

By highlighting these details, Martin sets the stage for a deeper discussion on the nature of miracles and their relevance to believers today.

The Reluctance to Embrace Healing

Martin transitions into a critical examination of why some individuals resist the healing offered by Jesus, despite their long-standing struggles. He challenges the common assumption that everyone inherently desires healing, presenting several compelling reasons for this resistance:

Identity Tied to Struggles

Many individuals have internalized their wounds, addictions, or past abuses as core aspects of their identity. Releasing these struggles equates to losing a part of themselves they've come to depend on.

"They have been so defined by their wounds or by their scars or by their addiction or by how someone else treated them, that if you were to take away that thing in their life, that you would actually be taking away their identity."
— Joby Martin [02:15]
Excuse for Negative Behavior

Healing removes the excuse that individuals have for certain negative behaviors or emotions. Without these excuses, they may feel exposed or unprepared to change.

"If you were actually healed, then what would be your excuse for being so grumpy, being so angry? Then what would be your excuse for drinking too much or self-medicating?"
— Joby Martin [03:05]
The Effort Required for True Healing

Genuine healing, especially miraculous healing, demands significant personal effort and transformation, which some may find daunting or unattainable.

"Healing, even miraculous healing, takes an incredible amount of work. And some people just aren't willing to do the work that it takes to be healed."
— Joby Martin [04:10]

Challenging Listeners to Embrace Wholeness

Concluding his exposition, Martin issues a heartfelt challenge to his audience:

"I dare you to quit holding onto all of your excuses and to bring that thing in your life that needs to be healed to Jesus right now. Confess it and ask him to begin the hard work in you to heal that thing in your life that has defined you for too long."
— Joby Martin [05:00]

He emphasizes that true identity and worth are found in Christ, not in the scars or past hardships. Martin reassures listeners of God's desire for their wholeness, both in this life and beyond, citing Isaiah's promise:

"The Bible says in Isaiah that by his stripes we are healed. Now God doesn't always promise cures on this side of eternity, but through the blood of Jesus Christ, he has a future and a hope for us. And that future and hope is, is wholeness and healing."
— Joby Martin [04:45]

Conclusion

Pastor Joby Martin wraps up the episode by reinforcing the central message: embracing Christ's definition of oneself over the labels imposed by past struggles leads to true freedom and transformation. He calls listeners to take the courageous step of surrendering their burdens to Jesus, affirming that they are not defined by their scars but by their Savior.

Key Takeaways

Authenticity of Biblical Miracles: Understanding the historical context and details of biblical events reinforces their relevance and applicability today.
Identity in Christ: True identity is rooted in who Jesus says we are, not in our past wounds or current struggles.
Overcoming Resistance to Healing: Recognizing the subconscious reasons for resisting healing can pave the way for genuine transformation.
Call to Action: Surrendering personal struggles to Jesus requires courage and commitment but leads to profound wholeness and purpose.

Notable Quotes

"Do you want it? If you want to be healed, then you need Jesus."
— Joby Martin [04:30]
"You are not that sickness. You are not that addiction, you are not that bitterness, you are not that abuse. But you are who Jesus tells you that you are."
— Joby Martin [05:05]

Final Thoughts

Episode #101 of The Daily Blade serves as a compelling reminder of the transformative power of faith and the importance of seeking identity beyond our scars. Pastor Joby Martin's insightful commentary encourages listeners to pursue true healing and embrace the identity offered through Christ, fostering a life of purpose and freedom.

Connect and Engage

Want to delve deeper into these discussions? Join Pastor Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson in person at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Secure your seat today at mensconference.com.

For more resources and to connect with the hosts, reach out at communication@coe22.com.

Stay tuned for more insightful episodes that equip and empower Christians to live out their faith daily.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:21]
B
Welcome back to day three of the Daily Blade. As we are unpacking this miracle or this sign that happens in John chapter five, the healing at the pool of Bethesda, we're going to reread some of the verses just for context, beginning in verse one. After this, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem, by the sheep gate, a pool in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. Do you know what the Bible says? That it has five roof colonnades, because it actually has five roofed colonnades. It is details like this that help us understand that this is not a myth. This. This is not a fairy tale. This is an actual event in an actual place, and actual details like this actually happen. Verse 3. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years. And when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, do you want to be healed? Now, when Jesus asked this question, do you want to be healed? Don't you think the obvious answer is, well, of course I want to be healed. Jesus, I mean, the brother has been here for 38 years. At first it seems kind of like a rhetorical question, because you would think the answer is, obviously, yeah, I want to be healed. Well, in reality, that's a legitimate question. Let me ask you, do you want to be healed? You see, I've been in full time vocational ministry for over 30 years, and one of the things that I've realized is I don't know that you can make the assumption that people actually want to be healed. You see, there's a lot of people that actually don't want to be healed. One of the reasons people don't want to be healed is because they have taken on such an identity. They have been so defined by their wounds or by their scars or by their addiction or by. Or by how someone else treated them, that if you were to take away that thing in their life, that you would actually be taking away their identity. Another reason some people don't want to be healed is because if you were actually healed, then you would no longer have an excuse for Your bad behavior. I mean, if you actually forgave your parents and you actually forgave your abuser, and if you actually forgave the person that cheated on you, if you actually forgave the person that wounded you, if you, if you were actually healed of that wound that you have been clinging to for so long, then what would be your excuse for being so grumpy, being so angry? Then what would be your excuse for drinking too much or self medicating? Then what would be your excuse for losing in everything in your life? You see, there are some people that actually hold on to their sickness, to their lameness, because it is the excuse for the life that they live. You see, another reason that a lot of people don't want to be healed is because oftentimes healing, even miraculous healing, takes an incredible amount of work. And some people just aren't willing to do the work that it takes to be healed. So let me ask you straight up, I mean, just between you and the Lord, do you want to be healed? Are you ready to be healed of that addiction? Are you ready to be healed of that bitterness that defines you? Are you ready to be healed of all the excuses that you bring up time and time again why you cannot be the person that God has called you to be? Are you ready to be healed of that unforgiveness that you have been holding onto for your entire life? Well, there's only going to be one place where you can find that healing. That Jesus is the great physician now, physically and mentally and emotionally. God heals in all kinds of ways through people's prayers and pills. But he and he alone is the great physician and he wants to heal you. He wants you to be whole. The Bible says in Isaiah that by his stripes we are healed. Now God doesn't always promise cures on this side of eternity, but through the blood of Jesus Christ, he has a future and a hope for us. And that future and hope is, is wholeness and healing. Do you want it? If you want to be healed, then you need Jesus. And I dare you, I mean I dare you to quit holding onto all of your excuses and to bring that thing in your life that needs to be healed to Jesus right now. Confess it and ask him to begin the hard work in you to heal that thing in your life that has defined you for too long. Because you are not that sickness. You are not that addiction, you are not that bitterness, you are not that abuse. But you are who Jesus tells you that you are. I dare you to walk in the healing and the wholeness that Christ has for you.
[05:16]
A
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.