Steve Webb  0:00  
If any speech is forbidden, it's only a matter of time before your speech is forbidden.

Steve Webb  0:13  
And here we are, again, this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I'm your OG God caster Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we're reading through the entire Bible in a year and I'm really happy you've invited me into your day today. We're going to read John chapter seven through nine today, and I'll have some comments after the reading. I'm calling this episode, who decides the show notes page for today's episode is at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 234. My email address is Steve at Lifespring media.com case you'd like to write, I love to hear from you. Let's begin.

Steve Webb  0:50  
John, chapter seven. After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish festival of shelters. And Jesus brothers said to him, leave here and go to Judea where your followers can see your miracles. You can't become famous if you hide like this. If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world. For even his brothers didn't believe in Him. Jesus replied, now is not the right time for me to go. But you can go any time. The world can't hate you. But it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on? Well, I'm not going to this festival because my time has not yet come. After saying these things. Jesus remained in Galilee. But after his brother's left for the festival, Jesus also went though secretly staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued he's a good man, but others said he's nothing but a fraud, who deceives the people. But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. Then midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. How does he know so much when he hasn't been trained? They asked. So Jesus told them, my message is not my own. It comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God, or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves. But a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it. In fact, you are trying to kill me. The crowd replied, your demon possessed, who's trying to kill you. Jesus replied, I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath to when you obey Moses law of circumcision. Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs long before the law of Moses, for if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly? Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other? Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? But here he is speaking in public and they say nothing to him? Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? But how could he be for we know where this man comes from? when the Messiah comes, he will simply appear, no one will know where he comes from. While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he called out, yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I'm not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don't know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you. Then the leaders tried to arrest him. But no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Many among the crowds at the temple believed in him. After all, they said, would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs that this man has done? When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things they in the leading priests sent temple guards to arrest Jesus? But Jesus told him, I will only be with you a little longer than I will return to the one who sent me. You will search for me but not find me and you cannot go where I am going. The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. Where is he planning to go? They asked? Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks. What does he mean when he says you will search for me but not find me and you cannot go where I am going. On the last day the climax of the festival Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds. Anyone who was thirsty may come to me. Anyone who believe leaves in me may come and drink. For the Scriptures declare rivers of living water will flow from his heart. When he said living water he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory. When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, surely this man is the prophet we've been expecting. Others said he is the Messiah. Still, others said, but he can't be will the Messiah come from Galilee for the scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born. So the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. When the temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, why didn't you bring him in? We've never heard anyone speak like this. The guards responded. Have you been led astray to the Pharisees mocked? Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in Him? This foolish crowd follows him but they're ignorant of the law. God's curse is on them. Then Nicodemus, the leader, who had met with Jesus earlier spoke up is illegal to convict a man before he's given a hearing he asked, they replied, Are you from Galilee to search the Scriptures and see for yourself. No prophet ever comes from Galilee. Then the meeting broke up and everybody went home. 

Steve Webb  6:31  
John chapter eight, Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives. But early the next morning, he was back again at the temple. A crowd soon gathered at he sat down and taught them as he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. Teacher, they said to Jesus, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses says to stone her, what do you say? They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him. But Jesus stooped down and rode in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer. So he stood up again and said, All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone. Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with a woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn? You? Know, Lord, she said, And Jesus said, Neither do I go and sin no more. Gee, Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life. The Pharisees replied, You are making those claims about yourself. Such testimony is not valid. Jesus told him, these claims are valid, even though I make them about myself, for I know where I came from, and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect, because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my father who sent me is the other. Where is your father? They asked. Jesus answered, since you don't know who I am. You don't know who my father is. If you knew me, you would also know my father. Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested because his time had not yet come. Later, Jesus said to them again, I am going away, you will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going. That people asked, Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean you cannot come where I am going? Jesus continued, You are from below, I am from above. You belong to this world? I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am who I claimed to be, you will die in your sins. Who are you? They demanded. Jesus replied, the one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't, for I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me and he is completely truthful. But they still didn't understand that he was talking about his father. So Jesus said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own, but say only what the father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me. He is not deserted. Me, for I always do what pleases Him. Then many who heard him say these things believed in Him. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, you are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. But we're descendants of Abraham, they said, We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, you will be set free? Jesus replied, I tell you the truth. Everyone who sins is a SLAVE of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family. But a son is part of the family forever. So if the sun sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message. I'm telling you what I saw when I was with my father, but you are following the advice of your father. Our father is Abraham. They declared? No, Jesus replied, for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you're trying to kill me because I told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. Know, you are imitating your real father. They replied, we aren't illegitimate children. God himself is our True Father. Jesus told him, if God were your Father, you would love me because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can't you understand what I'm saying? It's because you can't even hear me. For you are the children of your father, the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me? Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God. The people retorted, you, Samaritan devil? Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon? No, Jesus said, I have no demon in me, for I honor my father, and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify Me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die. The people said, Now we know you're possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die. Are you greater than our father Abraham, he died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are? Jesus answered? If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my father who will glorify Me. You say He is our God, but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise. I would be as great a liar as you. But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad that people said, you aren't even 50 years old. How can you say you've seen Abraham? Jesus answered, I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was even born, I am. At that point, they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the temple. 

Steve Webb  13:40  
John chapter nine. As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin? Jesus answered, neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him. We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day, the night when no one can do anything is coming. As long as I'm in the world, I am light for the world. After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground and mixed the spit with dirt. Then He smeared it on the man's eyes and told him wash it off in the pool of Siloam. Silo means set, the blind man washed it off and returned. He was able to see his neighbors and those who had previously seen him begging asked, isn't this the man who used to sit and beg? Some of them said, he's the one other said, No, he isn't. But he looks like him. But the man himself said, I am the one. So they asked him, How did you receive your site? He replied. The man people called Jesus mixed some spit with dirt, smeared it on my eyes and told me go to Siloam and wash it off. So I went there, washed it off and received my sight. They asked him. Where is that man? The man answered, I don't know. Some people brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. The day when Jesus mixed the spit and dirt and gave the man site was a day of worship. So the Pharisees asked the man again, how he received his sight. The man told the Pharisees, he put a mixture of spit in dirt on my eyes, I washed it off. And now I see. Some of the Pharisees said, the man who did this is not from God, because he doesn't follow the traditions for the day of worship. Other Pharisees said, How can a man who was a sinner perform miracles like these? So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions? They asked the man who had been born blind. Another question, what do you say about the man who gave you sight? The man answered, he's a prophet. Until they talked to the man's parents, the Jews didn't believe that the man had been born blind and had been given sight. They asked his parents, is this your son? The one you say, was born blind? Why can he see now? His parents replied, We know that He's our son, and that he was born blind. But we don't know how he got his sight, or who gave it to him. You'll have to ask him. He's old enough to answer for himself. His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. That's why his parents said, You'll have to ask him, he's old enough. So once again, the Jews called a man who had been blind, they told him, give glory to God, we know that this man who gave you sight is the center. The man responded, I don't know if he's a senator or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind. But now I can see. The Jews ask him, What did he do to you? How did he give you cite? The man replied, I've already told you but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become His disciples to the Jews yelled at him. You're his disciple. But we're Moses disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don't know where this man came from. The man replied to them. That's amazing. You don't know where he's from, yet he gave me sight. We know that God does not listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn't do anything like that. The Jews answered him, You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us then they threw him out of the synagogue? Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out of the synagogue. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, Do you believe in the Son of man? The man replied, sir, tell me who he is, so that I can believe in Him. Jesus told him, you've seen him. He's the person who was now talking with you. The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, I believe, Lord. Then Jesus said, I have come into this world to judge blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind. Some Pharisees who are with Jesus heard this. So they asked him, Do you think we're blind? Jesus told them, If you were blind, you wouldn't be sinners. But now you say we see. So you continue to be sinners.

Steve Webb  18:23  
Before sharing my thoughts with you, I'd like to reread some excerpts from today's reading. In chapter seven, verse 13, we read, but no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. dropping down to verse 31. Many among the crowds at the temple believed in him. After all, they said, would you expect them aside to do more miraculous signs than this man has done? When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things they in the leading priests sent temple guards to arrest Jesus? Verse 33, so the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. And then back up to verses 19 and 20. They asked his parents, is this your son, the one you say was born blind? Why can he see now? His parents replied, We know that He's our son and that he was born blind, but we don't know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You'll have to ask him. He's old enough to answer for himself. His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews, the Jews that already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. So that's why his parents said, You'll have to ask him. He's old enough. All right, so I have a question for you. Do these passages sound at all familiar to you? Do they sound similar to anything that's happening? Oh, I don't know. today. We've talked about canceled culture on the show before but it bears repeating today based on today's reading. The Pharisees were used to being in control of the public narrative. People were afraid to voice their opinions if they differed from what the Pharisees taught. To the people couldn't see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears what Jesus did and what He taught. And some believed that he was who He said He was. But many were afraid to support him, lest they be thrown out of the synagogue. But there was one in our reading today who had courage. In chapter nine, verse 17, we read, they asked the man who had been born blind. Another question, what do you say about the man who gave you sight? The man answered, he's a prophet. So at this point in the narrative, the Pharisees have the interview with his parents, which we've already read. And as you know, they said, He's old enough, ask Him yourselves. So picking up at verse 24. So once again, the Jews called the man who had been blind, they told him give glory to God, we know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner. The man responded, I don't know if he's a sinner or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see the Jews ask him, What did he do to you? How did he give you sight? The man replied, I've already told you but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too? I love that. So what happened? The Jews yelled at him, you're his disciple. But where Moses disciples, we know that God spoke to Moses, but we don't know where this man came from. The man replied to them. That's amazing. You don't know where he's from, yet he gave me sight. We know that God doesn't listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn't do anything like that. This was the reply from the man who was given sight. So then what happened? The Jews answered him, You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us? Then they threw him out of the synagogue? Well, this man refused to alter his answer just to mollify the Pharisees and he paid a price, didn't they? But did he really? Starting in verse 35, Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out of the synagogue. So when Jesus found the man he asked him, Do you believe in the Son of man, the man replied, sir, tell me who he is so that I can believe in Him. Jesus told him, you've seen him. He is the person who is now talking with you. The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, I believe, Lord. So I would say that he gained everything, wouldn't you? Beloved, canceled culture is happening more every day. And I have a very recent example for you today. While the author of this article I'm going to tell you about does not specifically say that certain content should be de platformed. They are this close to it and I'm holding my fingers almost touching. This is from the Brooking Institute and the authors are Valerie vert Shafter and Chris Massar roll or miss Errol or something like that. The title of the article is policy recommendations for addressing content moderation in podcasts. It was published just a few days ago, April 18 2022. And just the title gives you a clue as to their intent. Here it is, again, policy recommendations for addressing content moderation in podcasts. James Cridland in SAM Sethi of the Portland news podcast, talked about it. Here, Sam

Sam Sethi  23:24  
talking about how platforms and their policies should be, I guess, restricting content and their discoverability, which is what it looks like Spotify is quietly doing here. She said, a great reckoning has arrived for content moderation in podcasts, what speech should be permitted and what speech should be shared? She says, and what principles should inform those decisions? I guess it's time for the platforms to step up.

Steve Webb  23:52  
So a great reckoning has arrived for content moderation and podcasts. Oh, really? Content moderation. This was the opening sentence in the article. And then one sentence later they say, What speech should be permitted? What speech should be shared? What principles should inform those decisions? Are you kidding me? What speech should be permitted? All speech should be permitted. That's what free speech is all about. If any one speech can be disallowed, then there is no free speech. Free speech is not about you can say whatever you want, as long as I agree with you. Free Speech guarantees the right to say whatever you want, whether anyone agrees with you or not. Because if any speech is forbidden, it's only a matter of time before your speech is forbidden. Then the article continues. debates over content moderation and podcasts hinge primarily on whether and how widely to share so called lawful but awful content. Don't you love that lawful but awful. The They continue. Major podcasting apps. The applications commonly used on smartphones, tablets and computers to listen and download. The podcast episodes already have policies and procedures in place to deal with blatantly illegal content. Spotify or Apple podcasts won't knowingly distribute in Islamic State recruitment podcast, since doing so would open them to prosecution for supporting a designated terrorist group. How podcasting apps should handle hate speech, misinformation, and related content that is legal but may have harmful societal effects is far less clear. The wait a minute, who's to say what harmful society effects are, who's going to call that specifically a left leaning proponent of the LGBT plus lifestyle would very probably say that this podcast, the Lifespring family Audio Bible would fall under the harmful societal effects umbrella, because I've read the Bible's teaching on homosexuality, and said that I believe the Bible. Let's continue the article. This will be the last excerpt I share. Below the level of blatantly illegal content, the most popular podcasting apps face a daunting challenge. On the one hand, given the scale and reach of apps like Spotify and Apple podcasts, each now enjoys more than 25 million monthly podcast listeners in the United States. Their content moderation policies need to account for the societal harms that can result from the mass distribution of hate speech and misinformation. Well, once again, I asked who decides what is hate speech and misinformation. We've seen very recently that what is deemed misinformation, one day becomes information, the next based on the whims of the CDC or Fauci, or whomever, beloved, we must be prepared. Christians are only a very, very short step away from being the next major target. I can see it very clearly. For example, when we plainly and boldly proclaim the gospel which says there is only one way to be saved, or when we plainly and boldly proclaimed that all are sinners in need of the forgiveness that only comes through Jesus, we will be tried and convicted of hate speech. Well, beloved, I have to ask, Will you bend the knee to these people? Or will you boldly stand for Jesus, the time is coming. Now the time is almost here, when you will need to make a decision. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 1033. But everyone who denies me here on Earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven, beloved, we must stand before men, and bow the knee only before Jesus Philippians two nine through 11 says For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the sun. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So you heard in that article, how these people want to control what apps like Apple and Spotify and the other ones will allow you to hear? Well, if you want to be sure that this show will continue to come to you, no matter what Apple or any other podcast app decides should not be allowed, it's important to remember that it will always be available at Lifespring media.com. That is the home base for this show. Not Apple podcasts, not Google podcasts,

Steve Webb  28:35  
certainly not Spotify, not Amazon, nowhere else. If the show stops updating in your podcast app with no warning from me, then some outside force has pulled the plug. And then what you do is you go to Lifespring media.com, just to confirm whether there are or are not new episodes of the show. If there are new episodes, then you can subscribe from my website. You don't need Apple or any other Silicon Valley company. What I suggest you do, I've been talking about it. But here's another reason. Get one of the apps at new podcast apps.com. Those apps use the podcast index.org Podcast Directory, they don't use the apple directory. And the whole idea. The impetus for the entire project at podcast index was to preserve free speech. I could go on and on about this for a long time. But I'll stop here. Just be aware that there are forces that want to silence us, and we must do all that we can to keep them from being successful in their efforts. But this is not new. Ephesians 612 says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. But first John four four says you are of God little children and have overcome them because he who is in you is is greater than he who was in the world. The canceled culture we're facing today, beloved is not new. It's been around for 1000s of years. It just has a different face today. The technology may be different, but the aim is the same. Shut the people up. Well, my answer to that is greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. Amen? Amen. All right, if you've got a comment, please go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 234. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you'll see a box there where you can put your comments in. I read them all and I reply, tomorrow, our reading is First Timothy four through six boost. 

Steve Webb  30:45  
Well, if you believe in what I'm doing with the Lifespring family, Audio Bible, if you wanted to remain independent of outside forces that would silence the clear teaching of the Bible, then I need your support. There are costs to being independent. And if you think the show is valuable than I'm asking you to decide what that value is for you. And then go to Lifespring media.com/support. and donate that amount. And if you can donate time or talent, those gifts are very welcome as well. I need help with transcript correction and creating chapter art. Send me an email if you're able to help with either one of those, but whether you support the show with time, talent or treasure, I thank you, and I think God bless you.

Steve Webb  31:35  
On this date in church history, April 23 1982, w Cameron Townsend died, he was an American missionary pioneer and founder of Wickliffe Bible translators. Since then, Wickliffe has translated the New Testament into more than 130 native languages, they do great work.

Steve Webb  32:02  
Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for assuring us that the victory is already one. Jesus told us in John 1633 I've told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world. Lord, though we're still in the midst of skirmishes, you've already won the war. So even while we struggle against the enemy, we can have peace and we thank you for that assurance. We're not alone. And the battle is already won. Help us Lord as we engage with the enemy. Give us wisdom to know when where and how to engage. And Lord, I ask that you bless the Lifespring family. My thank you for each one. I pray this in Jesus name, amen. If you'd like to share a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer dot Lifespring media.com.

Steve Webb  33:00  
Well, I'd love to hear your comments on today's show. Go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 234. Email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. Please help to support the show at Lifespring media.com/support. My thanks to Sean of San Pedro for doing the chapters for every episode and thanks to Kirsty for putting out the newsletter every week. How did you like the picture in this one? Sign up at news dot Lifespring media.com Until tomorrow may God bless you richly. Thanks again for sharing your day with me. My name is Steve Webb, fight the good fight. Bye

Transcribed by https://otter.ai