March 17 (Numbers 16; Psalm 70; John 12)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry Episode: March 17 (Numbers 16; Psalm 70; John 12) Release Date: March 17, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year," hosted by Crossway and featuring bestselling author Jackie Hill Perry, listeners embark on a spiritual journey through selected scriptures. The March 17 episode delves into Numbers 16, Psalm 70, and John 12, exploring themes of leadership, faith, devotion, and the profound actions of Jesus. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and notable quotes presented throughout the episode.

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Numbers 16: The Rebellion of Korah

Overview: The episode begins with a detailed reading from Numbers 16, recounting the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron. Korah, along with 250 prominent leaders, challenges the established leadership, questioning the exclusive priesthood of Aaron.

Key Discussions:

• Challenge to Leadership: Korah and his allies confront Moses, saying, "You have gone too far... why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" (00:37).

• Moses’ Response: Moses emphasizes the sanctity of the entire congregation, stating, "For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them" (00:26). He warns against the rebellion by instructing Korah and his followers to perform a test of God's choice.

• Divine Judgment: The confrontation culminates in divine intervention. Moses declares, "the ground will swallow them up with all that belongs to them" (03:53), leading to the dramatic demise of Korah and his followers as the earth opens and consumes them (04:07).

• Aftermath and Further Rebellion: Despite God's decisive action, the next day witnesses continued grumbling against Moses and Aaron. The episode highlights human tendencies toward dissent, even after witnessing clear signs of divine authority.

Notable Quotes:

• Korah: "Small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel..." (01:12)
• Moses: "You have gone too far, sons of Levi." (01:03)
• Moses: "What is Aaron that you grumble against him?" (01:32)
• Moses: "Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works..." (03:42)

Insights:

Jackie Hill Perry reflects on the dangers of pride and the importance of recognizing God's appointed leaders. She emphasizes the necessity of humility and obedience within a faith community, drawing parallels to contemporary challenges in leadership and authority within the church.

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Psalm 70: A Prayer for Swift Help

Overview: Transitioning from the narrative of rebellion, the podcast presents Psalm 70, a heartfelt plea for God's immediate assistance. This short psalm encapsulates the psalmist's urgent request for deliverance from adversaries.

Key Discussions:

• Urgency in Prayer: The psalmist implores, "Make haste, O God, to deliver me" (06:46), highlighting the immediacy and desperation in seeking God's help.

• Trust in Divine Deliverance: There is a strong emphasis on trust, with the psalmist declaring, "You are my help and my deliverer" (07:02).

• Humility and Dependence: The declaration, "I am poor and needy," reflects a posture of humility and complete dependence on God's mercy (07:02).

Notable Quotes:

• David: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me, O Lord, make haste to help me" (06:46).
• David: "You are my help and my deliverer. O Lord, do not delay" (07:02).

Insights:

Jackie Hill Perry draws connections between the psalmist's plea and the human experience of seeking God's timely intervention. She encourages listeners to cultivate a habit of urgent and heartfelt prayer, trusting in God's timely response to their needs.

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John 12: The Anointing at Bethany and the Triumphal Entry

Overview: The episode concludes with an extensive reading from John 12, narrating two significant events: Mary anointing Jesus in Bethany and Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. These events prefigure Jesus' impending crucifixion and highlight His divine mission.

Key Discussions:

• Mary’s Devotional Act: Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive ointment, an act of profound worship and preparation for His burial. Judas criticizes her, revealing his own deceitful nature (07:21-08:17).

• Jesus’ Teaching on His Mission: In a poignant discourse, Jesus speaks about His impending death, stating, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone" (07:56). He emphasizes the necessity of self-sacrifice for eternal fruitfulness.

• Triumphal Entry: Jesus enters Jerusalem on a young donkey, fulfilling prophecy and symbolizing peace. The crowd's reception with palm branches and cries of "Hosanna" underscores the recognition of His Messiahship (08:31-08:57).

• Rejection and Belief: Despite witnessing miracles, many in the crowd still struggle to believe in Jesus. The hardened hearts of the authorities contrast with the genuine faith of some, highlighting the varied responses to Jesus' ministry (09:00-10:42).

Notable Quotes:

• Jesus: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone" (07:56).
• Jesus: "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (09:10).
• Jesus: "For I have not spoken on my own authority. But the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment what to say and what to speak" (10:19).

Insights:

Jackie Hill Perry explores the themes of sacrificial love and the steadfastness required to follow Jesus. She reflects on Mary's act of devotion as a model for believers and discusses the significance of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as the culmination of His earthly mission. The episode challenges listeners to examine their own faith and commitment in light of Jesus' example.

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Insights and Reflections

Throughout the episode, Jackie Hill Perry interweaves the readings to highlight the continuity of God's sovereignty and the call to faithful obedience. From Korah's rebellion to Mary's devotion and Jesus' purposeful journey to the cross, the narratives collectively underscore the importance of alignment with God's will.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership and Humility: The rejection of Korah's challenge serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of envy and the destabilizing effects of undermining divinely appointed leaders.

• Devotional Worship: Mary's selfless act of anointing Jesus exemplifies true worship, characterized by sacrifice and recognition of Jesus' imminent sacrifice for humanity.

• Faith Amid Rejection: Jesus' teachings and experiences during the triumphal entry reveal the complexities of faith, where genuine belief coexists with skepticism and opposition.

• Divine Purpose in Suffering: Jesus' acknowledgment of His troubled soul and His submission to the Father's will illuminate the purposeful nature of suffering in God's redemptive plan.

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Conclusion

The March 17 episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year" offers a profound exploration of scripture, tying together narratives of rebellion, heartfelt prayer, and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Jackie Hill Perry adeptly guides listeners through these passages, providing insightful reflections that encourage deeper faith and understanding. Whether grappling with questions of leadership, seeking God's swift help, or contemplating the depth of Jesus' mission, this episode serves as a rich resource for spiritual growth and biblical comprehension.

Transcript

[Moses]

A reading from the Book of Numbers. Now Korah the son of Izar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. And on the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men, and they rose up before Moses with a number of the people of Israel, 250 Chiefs of the congregation chosen from the assembly, well known men, they assembled themselves together against.

[Korah]

Moses and against Aaron, and said to.

[Moses]

Them, you have gone too far. For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above.

[Korah]

The assembly of the Lord?

[Moses]

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Korah and all his company, in the morning.

[Korah]

The Lord will show who is his.

[Moses]

And who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses, he will bring near to him.

[Korah]

Do this.

[Moses]

Take censers, Korah and all his company.

[Korah]

Put fire in them, and put incense.

[Moses]

On them before the Lord tomorrow.

[Korah]

And the man whom the Lord chooses.

[Moses]

Shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi. And Moses said to Korah, hear now, you sons of Levi, is it too.

[Korah]

Small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from.

[Moses]

The congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord, and to.

[Korah]

Stand before the congregation to minister to them? And that he has brought you near.

[Moses]

Him and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you?

[Korah]

And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore it is against the Lord that.

[Moses]

You and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him? And Moses sent to call Dathan and.

[Korah]

Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they.

[Moses]

Said, we will not come up. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a.

[Korah]

Land flowing with milk and honey to.

[Moses]

Kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us.

[Korah]

Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards.

[Moses]

Will you put out the eyes of these men. We will not come up. And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, do not respect their offering.

[Korah]

I have not taken one donkey from.

[Moses]

Them, and I have not harmed one of them. And Moses said to Korah, be present you in all your company before the Lord, you and they and Aaron tomorrow. And let every one of you take.

[Korah]

His censer and put incense on it. And every one of you bring before.

[Moses]

The lord his censer 250 censers. You also? And Aaron each his censer.

[Korah]

So every man took his censer and.

[Moses]

Put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.

[Korah]

Then Korah assembled all the congregation against.

[Moses]

Them at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

[Korah]

And the glory of the Lord appeared.

[Jesus]

To all the congregation.

[Korah]

And the Lord spoke to Moses and.

[Moses]

To Aaron, saying, separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell on their faces and said, o God, the God of the Spirit, of all flesh shall one man sin.

[Korah]

And will you be angry with all the congregation?

[Moses]

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, say to the congregation, get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

[Korah]

And he spoke to the congregation, saying, depart, please from the tents of these.

[Moses]

Wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins. So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

[Korah]

And Dathan and Abiram came out and.

[Moses]

Stood at the door of their tents together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. And Moses said, hereby you shall know.

[Korah]

That the Lord has sent me to.

[Moses]

Do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord.

[Korah]

If these men die as all men.

[Moses]

Die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the.

[Korah]

Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new.

[Moses]

And the ground opens its mouth and.

[Korah]

Swallows them up with all that belongs.

[Moses]

To them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.

[Korah]

And as soon as he had finished.

[Moses]

Speaking all these words, the ground under.

[Korah]

Them split apart, and the earth opened.

[Moses]

Its mouth and swallowed them up with.

[Korah]

Their households and all the people who.

[Moses]

Belonged to Korah and all their goods.

[Korah]

So they and all that belonged to.

[Moses]

Them went down alive into Sheol. And the earth closed over them, and.

[Korah]

They perished from the midst of the assembly.

[Moses]

And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, lest the earth swallow us up.

[Korah]

And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

[Moses]

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. As for the censers of these men.

[Korah]

Who have sinned at the cost of.

[Moses]

Their Lives, let them be made into.

[Korah]

Hammered plates as a covering for the.

[Moses]

Altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy.

[Korah]

Thus they shall be a sign to.

[Moses]

The people of Israel. So Eliezer, the priests took the bronze.

[Korah]

Censers which those who were burned had.

[Moses]

Offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider who is not.

[Korah]

Of the descendants of Aaron should draw.

[Moses]

Near to burn incense before the Lord.

[Korah]

Lest he become like Korah in his company, as the Lord said to him through Moses.

[Moses]

But on the next day, all the.

[Korah]

Congregation of the people of Israel grumbled.

[Moses]

Against Moses and against Aaron, saying, you have killed the people of the Lord.

[Korah]

And when the congregation had assembled against.

[Moses]

Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.

[Korah]

And Moses and Aaron came to the.

[Moses]

Front of the tent of meeting. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

[Korah]

And they fell on their faces.

[Moses]

And Moses said to Aaron, take your censer and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on.

[Korah]

It, and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them.

[Moses]

For wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun. So Aaron took it, as Moses said.

[Korah]

And ran into the midst of the assembly.

[Moses]

And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And and he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.

[Korah]

Now those who died in the plague.

[Moses]

Were 14,700 besides those who died in.

[Korah]

The affair of Korah.

[Moses]

And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting when the plague was stopped. A reading from the book of Psalms to the choirmaster of David for the memorial offering.

[David]

Make haste, O God, to deliver me, O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt. Let them turn back because of their shame who say, aha. Aha. May all who seek you rejoice and.

[Jesus]

Be glad in you.

[David]

May those who love your salvation say evermore, God is great, but I am poor and needy. Hasten to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer. O Lord, do not delay a reading.

[Moses]

From the Gospel according to John.

[Jesus]

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

[Korah]

So they gave a dinner for him.

[Jesus]

There Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore, took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and. And anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he who was about to betray him, said, why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor? He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. And having charge of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, leave her alone so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came not only on account of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well. Because on account of him, many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day, the large crowd that.

[Moses]

Had come to the feast heard that.

[Jesus]

Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

[Moses]

Even the king of Israel.

[Jesus]

And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, your king is coming. Sitting on a donkey's colt.

[Moses]

His disciples did not understand these things at first.

[Jesus]

But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, you see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him Now. Among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, sir, we wish to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it. And Whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. And where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 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. The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, an angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered, this voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world. Now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him.

[Korah]

We have heard from the Law that.

[Jesus]

The Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? So Jesus said to them, the light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light. When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him. So that the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart. Lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him. But for fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. And Jesus cried out and said, whoever believes in me believes not in Me, but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge. The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority. But the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.