The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

The story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah reveals profound foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice when Abraham discovers a ram caught by its horns in a thicket of thorns—essentially wearing a "crown of thorns" as the substitutionary sacrifice God provided.• Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his promised son Isaac on Mount Moriah• Isaac was likely a teenager or young adult who willingly submitted to being sacrificed• God stopped Abraham at the critical moment, providing a ram caught in thorns instead• The ram caught by its horns in thorny bushes previews Christ's crown of thorns• This substitutionary sacrifice points to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice God would provide• Abraham's declaration that "God will provide the lamb" was prophetically fulfilledShare this podcast to help equip other men for the fight and leave us a five-star rating and review.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

We begin our week-long journey to Golgotha by examining its Old Testament foundations in the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus form the bedrock of Christianity, but understanding their significance requires exploring biblical history that points to this ultimate sacrifice.• Abram's journey begins in Genesis 12 when God promises to make him a great nation• Abraham and Sarah wait decades for their promised son Isaac, born when Abraham was 100• Genesis 22 presents Abraham with an unthinkable test: sacrifice his beloved son Isaac• Contrary to popular depictions, Isaac was likely a teenager or young adult during this event• Abraham carries the mental burden of his son's sacrifice for three days• Isaac unknowingly carries the wood for his own sacrifice, asking "where is the lamb?"• This story foreshadows Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha centuries laterJoin us tomorrow as we continue this powerful story and discover what happens when Abraham and Isaac reach the top of Mount Moriah.If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

John 5 challenges us to examine whether we rejoice in God's miracles or criticize them like the Pharisees did when Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The passage reveals how religious leaders missed the miracle by focusing on rule-breaking rather than celebrating a life transformed after 38 years of disability.• Jesus heals a man who had been disabled for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda• The religious leaders criticize the healed man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath• The mat wasn't a burden but a testimony of transformation• Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful• We must choose to see the miracle, not just criticize the method• Christians often become critical like Pharisees when God works in unexpected ways• Our challenge is to rejoice in God's work even when it doesn't align with our preferencesIf 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.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Jesus encounters a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been paralyzed for 38 years, asking him a simple yet profound question: "Do you want to be healed?" The man responds with excuses rather than a direct answer, revealing our human tendency to blame circumstances rather than take responsibility.• Making excuses versus making things happen in our Christian life• The paralyzed man's excuse-making response to Jesus' offer of healing• Looking to the wrong source for solutions to our problems• Jesus showing extraordinary grace despite the man's complaining• Application to marriage and loving our wives as Christ loved the church• The call to push back darkness and fight for justice in our world• Getting off our mats to fulfill the Great Commission without excusesShare this podcast with others and leave us a five-star rating and review to help equip other men for the fight.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Jesus asks a seemingly obvious question at the Pool of Bethesda: "Do you want to be healed?" This profound inquiry reveals that many people don't actually want healing because they've built their identity around their wounds.• Many resist healing because wounds have become their identity• Some cling to injuries as excuses for destructive behaviors• Others avoid healing because it requires difficult, sustained work• Jesus is the Great Physician who offers true healing• True identity comes from Christ, not from our wounds or scars• Healing may involve both divine intervention and human effortBring whatever needs healing in your life to Jesus and dare to walk in the wholeness He offers. If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast and leave us a five-star rating and review.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Jesus visits the pool of Bethesda by Jerusalem's Sheep Gate, where society's "invalids" gathered, and demonstrates how our true identity comes not from worldly labels but from Christ's validation.• Sheep Gate was the easternmost gate on Jerusalem's northern wall where sacrificial animals entered• The location was symbolic—people treated like animals gathered at pools near the sheep washing areas• The English word "invalid" literally means "not valid"—revealing how society viewed these individuals• Satan tries to define us by our worst moments, failures, and weaknesses• Condemnation means "unfit for use"—the language the enemy uses against us• Jesus declares we are defined not by our scars but by His scars• In Christ, we are more than conquerors, sons of the Most High King, holy and blameless• Our worth is established because we were bought at a price• Just as the healed man wouldn't return to his mat, we shouldn't return to old identitiesIf 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.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Jesus reveals the true nature of miracles by performing signs that point to God's greater redemptive story, not just displays of raw power. His healing of a man at the Pool of Bethesda demonstrates how miracles often require a step of faith or obedience from those receiving them.• Miracles in John's gospel are always called "signs" because they point to something greater than themselves• The healing at the Pool of Bethesda involves a man who had been an invalid for 38 years• Jesus performs this healing on the Sabbath, creating controversy with religious leaders• Miracles often happen when people take a step of faith (like the disciples distributing bread, the blind man washing his face)• We can believe in miracles today because God has already performed the greatest miracle—the resurrection• "A miracle is simply when the unexplainable is run over by the undeniable"What miracle do you need today? Dare to ask Jesus for it, because if the tomb is empty, anything is possible. Share this podcast and leave us a five-star rating and review to help equip other men for the fight.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

God reveals seven key attributes of Himself in Exodus 34:6-7, providing a comprehensive self-description that balances divine mercy with perfect justice. We explore the final attribute—God's justice—and how it works together with His compassion, grace, patience, loving-kindness, faithfulness, and forgiveness to form His complete character.• God's justice requires that sin must be punished• Biblical examples of God's justice include the Fall, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Egyptian plagues• God doesn't show mercy by overlooking sin or compromising His justice• Christ's death on the cross satisfies God's justice while allowing His mercy to flow• The concept of propitiation means Christ's payment fully satisfies the sin debt we owe• No amount of good works can pay our sin debt; only Christ's sacrifice is sufficient• Understanding all of God's attributes gives us a complete picture of His characterIf 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.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

We explore God's attributes in Exodus 34:6-7, focusing on His faithfulness and forgiveness as revealed directly by God to Moses. These divine qualities provide a foundation for understanding God's character and how we should respond to others.• God is faithful, meaning He overflows with truth and always fulfills His promises• God's faithfulness demonstrated through promises to Abraham, Israel's exodus, and David's eternal throne• God's forgiveness covers all types of sin: iniquity (wandering), transgression (rebellion), and sin (missing the mark)• Forgiveness isn't a feeling but a decision to cancel someone's debt• Our willingness to forgive others serves as evidence that we've truly experienced God's forgiveness• Unforgiveness often stems from forgetting the immense debt Christ has already forgiven us• Withholding forgiveness prevents us from experiencing the abundant life God intendsIf 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.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

God reveals seven attributes of His character in Exodus 34:6-7, providing a powerful description of divine nature through His own words to Moses. We explore four of these attributes: God's compassion, graciousness, patience (slowness to anger), and His unfailing loving kindness (chesed).• God describes Himself as "slow to anger" – demonstrating incredible patience with humanity• The Hebrew word "chesed" means loyal love or "stubborn love" that persists despite obstacles• God's patience gives us multiple chances and serves as a model for our relationships• Romans 2:4 reveals that God's patience and kindness are designed to lead us to repentance• The Psalms repeatedly celebrate God's loving kindness that "never ceases" and is "everlasting"• God's loving kindness is particularly remarkable when we consider how difficult some people are to love• This divine patience should influence how we parent, lead, and build relationshipsIf 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.Support the showWant to connect? Email communication@coe22.com