P.O. Box 53055    
Los Angeles, CA 90053   

Needed: A Savior

CONNIE: If the help-wanted ad read “Needed, someone to save the world,” who would be qualified to respond?  Superman?  Batman?  How about   Wonder Woman?  Or, how about Jesus?           

Giving God’s trumpet a Certain Sound for more than 70 years, this is the Voice of Prophecy.

CONNIE: Hello, I’m Connie Jeffery,

LONNIE: and I’m Lonnie Melashenko.

CONNIE: You know Lonnie; probably the best-remembered radio show of  all time has got to be Orson Wells’s 1930s production of War of the Worlds

LONNIE: Yes, that one really shook up a lot of people.

CONNIE:  Those who tuned in late didn’t realize it was just a dramatic production.  They thought they were listening to actual newscasts and that the world was being rapidly taken over by monsters from Mars.

LONNIE: But of course Orson Wells was not the last one to produce a program about the ultimate end of the world. 

CONNIE: Actually it’s a favorite theme of Hollywood movies and big-name novels.  The world is facing ultimate destruction, life as we know it is about to be wiped off the face of the planet.  Unless someone steps in at the right place at the right time, history, as we know it will come to a screeching halt.

LONNIE: John Wayne, Bruce Willis, Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, all the big action heroes seem to get their Hollywood chance at rescuing the world from ultimate destruction.

CONNIE: But the thing I notice about these types of stories and movies is that it’s usually some sort of physical threat.  An asteroid, or an invasion, or the attack of the killer tomatoes--whatever--that’s threatening our world.  And what’s needed to save it is a powerful action hero who will take on the villains in one-on-one combat.

LONNIE: The idea is that it takes someone tough--someone really brave and strong to save us.  But there’s only one Man who merits the title Savior of the World. 

CONNIE: That would be Jesus, of course.

LONNIE: Of course.  But in most people’s minds, He doesn’t fit the typical image of a world-saving superhero. We speak of Jesus with words like “tender, meek, mild.

CONNIE: And He is a warm, caring Savior.  But there’s more to the picture than commonly meets the eye. 

LONNIE: That’s very true Connie, and our producer, Ken Wade, and I collaborated last year on some very special television programs that we called “The Story Behind the Christmas Story.”  Ken researched the background behind the things most people know about Jesus and came up with some fascinating insights that reveal a Superhero side to Jesus that often gets missed.

LONNIE: Welcome to the studio Ken .

KEN: Thank you

LONNIE:  Ken, you’re known around our offices as kind of the philosopher, historian, and theologian.  You really do have a deep interest in the historical background of the Bible, don’t you?

KEN: I think probably as I became a Christian I really got interested in the Old Testament. I studied a lot about Abraham, David, Gidieon, you know people like that.

LONNIE: The Old Testament focus. You weren’t really interested in Jesus so much.

KEN: Not so much in the New Testament. I kind of thought of Jesus in those stories as being kind of light and I was more into the manly kind of thing.

LONNIE: You didn’t care for the light fluffy miracles and so forth.

KEN:  No, but as I got to looking closer at the story of Jesus I began to realize that there were some fascinating things there that Jesus wasn’t just light and fluffy I guess you could say.

LONNIE: Not so obvious as the Christmas story.

KEN: Yeah you know as we got into the Christmas story and you and I have done a bit of work together on that, over in the Holy Land last year looking at the Christmas story.   What I like do is take the story like the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Get out a map. Look at the things that were going around in that area at the time. We found some pretty interesting things there didn’t we?

LONNIE: In fact we call it “The Story Behind the Story”.

KEN: Yeah

LONNIE: A little take off on Paul Harvey.

KEN: Yeah, the story behind the Christmas Story. Remember when we were filming over there we went to Bethlehem, but then we went a few miles down the road.

LONNIE: That’s right we went to Herodion, and found a similar story going on there, quite different though in terms of the focus and the purpose..

KEN: Yeah that’s what I like to do. Were looking at a place that Herod built. And taking a lesson and saying what does this teach us about Jesus? What can we learn? We look at Jesus being born here in Bethlehem, but most people don’t realize, hey he was just born a little ways from Herod's castle. Where Herod was preparing a place to be buried. So he was going right into the fray I guess you could say.

LONNIE: The contrast is so ironic and amazing because here's a little manger

KEN: Yes

LONNIE: Versus his pompous, gorgeous, spectacular a world class thing Herod was preparing.  Nobody goes to see that thing today. They all go see that little baby’s manger.

KEN: Yes, so Jesus entered the fray and of course you’d think Herod would come out on top, he’s got the big hill top. Jesus has the little manger, but who comes out on top?

LONNIE: That’s correct.  Friends, you won’t want to miss our programs in the month of December, when we’ll be sharing some of these fascinating insights from the story behind the Christmas story.  But Ken, there’s something else you’ve done with your interest in digging deeper into the life of Jesus.

KEN: Well you know a few years back I was talking with Dwight Nelson, a well known preacher, and Dwight was telling me about his way of studying the life of Jesus and as I got into that you know you just find things. As you look at the story carefully you say, Why did Jesus do this, what was going on, what did it feel like to the people there. I began to find so much from the life of Jesus. And I thought to myself  that I’ve got to share this with somebody.

LONNIE: hmmm

KEN: And I had an interesting experience over the past few years¼e-mail is such a great thing now.

LONNIE: Everybody is doing it

KEN: Everybody is doing it. That week by week now I take the time that is to sit down and write a little devotional for myself basically. And I thought why not share this with other people and that’s what’s so great with e-mail.

LONNIE: And I’m getting those.  I’m on your recipient list. How many people are getting that now.

KEN: We’re somewhere over 600 on my list and another few hundred who get it through other lists

LONNIE: You get up in the morning and go through those stories and you just kind of reflect on it don’t you?

KEN: Yeah something to bring Jesus home to my life and hopefully to others’ lives to.

LONNIE: It is great Ken and I want to tell you how much I appreciate it. Is there a way other listeners can subscribe and receive that very weekly message if they have e-mail

KEN: sure, if they send  an e-mail to my little address called freshlook@att.net  I’ll put them on the list.

LONNIE:  Thanks, Ken, for sharing.  And as Ken mentioned, if you’d like to receive a devotional from his pen once each week by e-mail just send a message to freshlook@att.net and he’ll see to it that you get on the list.

KEN:  And put subscribe message in the header there and we’ll get you on the list

LONNIE: terrific

KEN: just in closing I’d just like to say you know as I’ve studied the life of Jesus I’ve really come to admire Jesus the man, Jesus the Corageuos Man who came to earth to save us

CONNIE:  It did take special courage and strength for Jesus to come to earth as the world’s superhero Savior.  But it was courage based on the strongest motivation of all--love.

MUSIC 1:            “Love Was When”, Del Delker

CONNIE:  The world was--and is--in need.  And God has the solution.  God IS the solution.  That’s why Jesus came to earth--to bring God down to us, to bring light to those of us who live in the dark basement of the universe.  To meet humanity’s needs through all the ages.

                            The book Desire of Ages is a Christian classic that tells the story of Jesus’ coming to earth in a fascinating, compelling way.  And if you’ll stay tuned to the end of our broadcast, I’ll share the secret of how you can get a free copy of this book--it would make great reading through the holiday season that will soon be upon us. 

Kenneth Richards joins us now, and shares a few paragraphs The Desire of Ages.

Desire of Ages, pp. 22, 25.

KENNETH:  The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, "with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:2.

     The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. . . . It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God's throne. From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.  . . . .

In stooping to take upon Himself humanity, Christ revealed a character the opposite of the character of Satan. But He stepped still lower in the path of humiliation. "Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. 2:8. As the high priest laid aside his gorgeous pontifical robes, and officiated in the white linen dress of the common priest, so Christ took the form of a servant, and offered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." Isa. 53:5.

     Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. "With His stripes we are healed."

CONNIE:  It’s true.  God has provided just exactly what we need.  It’s as if we ran a classified ad in the Los Angeles Times:  “Needed:  A Savior for the world,” and God Himself answered.  Let’s listen now to Lonnie’s message for today, “Needed:  A Savior.”

Sermon: Needed:  A Savior

LONNIE:  It was a cool, autumn day when Lee Sweitzer, Jerry Land, and Joanne Horn decided to go cruising on the Niagara River. . . . On the part just above the famous waterfalls.  They took along Joanne’s 18-month-old son, Michael.  They weren’t planning to go swimming--just boating.

They weren’t planning to be part of one of the most dramatic rescues ever attempted in the waters above the falls.  They just wanted to go for a quiet, relaxing boat ride.

But when you’re boating above a waterfall, you’d better be sure your engine is tuned up and running strong.  And you’d better have a backup plan, just in case.

Otherwise you’ll soon find yourself in need of a rescue--in need of a savior.

Everything went fine for the happy boaters, until their outboard motor died.

But they were a long way from the falls.  Nothing to worry about--just tinker a little here, fuss a little there, and nurse it back to life.

But as the moments ticked by, so did the milestones on the riverbank.  And the noise--that distant roar of water plunging 161 feet over Horseshoe Falls--well, it wasn’t sounding so distant anymore.

Finally, within half a mile of the falls, the boat approached Goat Island, moving rapidly now, as the water hurried toward its great leap.  There was no more time to tinker or try.  There was only one option left:  Abandon ship!  Coming to a fairly shallow spot in the rapids, the trio bailed out, holding little Michael just high enough to keep him dry.

The water was cold, waist-deep, and moving fast.  The nearest dry land was a good 150 yards away.  Much too far to risk with a baby in arms. Park Police in a sightseeing helicopter flew out to try a rescue. But when one of the stranded boaters reached up and grabbed one of he chopper’s skids, the pilot lost control and the helicopter plunged into the river.

Fortunately no one was hurt, but now there were three more people in need of rescue--in need of a savior.  Seven people standing waist-deep in the chilly Niagara River waters, far too close to the falls for comfort.

A police boat approached and then--believe it or not--the motor sputtered and quit.  Two men jumped into the water and joined the other seven, while another kept trying to restart the engine.  When he finally jumped overboard a hundred yards downstream, other officers linked arms and plunged into the river, forming a human chain to pull him ashore.

But now there were nine people soaking wet and shivering out in the middle of the river.

What could be done to help them?  Who would be willing to attempt a rescue?

You know, friend, the predicament of those nine people out in the middle of the Niagara River--well, it’s a good metaphor for life on a larger scale.  Because when you stop to think about it, we’re all kind of boating on the Niagara with a pretty weak motor.  Apart from God, we’re all trapped in the middle of a river, with a great abyss just downstream.  We all need to be rescued.

That’s the way it was when Jesus came to earth.

It’s the way it’s always been, ever since Adam and Eve first set sail in the rapids of rebellion against God.

When they ate the forbidden fruit, they cut away the ropes that firmly bound their little boat to the shore.  Satan had promised them that doing so would make them independent--free--able to go where they wanted, to cruise the river of life under their own power.

But what he didn’t admit was that Adam and Eve’s motor would soon sputter and die--just above the abyss.  And no matter how hard they might try to restart it, they would find themselves stranded, needing to be rescued.

And no matter how hard they tried, or their children tried, to solve the problem on their own, things would only go from bad to worse.  More and more people would end up stranded, in needing a rescuer--needing a Savior.

What’s the solution in a situation like that?  Would anyone else brave the chill rapids to try to save the hapless boaters?  It seemed like their predicament was contagious--that anyone who got near them ended up stranded with them.  So far two boats had gone over the falls, a helicopter had crashed, and now nine people, not four, were shivering in the water, waiting for rescue.  Waiting for a savior.

Finally someone got a better idea.  Get a cable out to them--something that can have one end tied firmly to shore.  Don’t send any more “unattached” people out there. 

Before I tell you how the story ends, let me share a Bible verse with you.  Just one simple verse that brings this story into focus.  Here it is, Matthew 26:39

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."  (NKJV)

You recognize that, don’t you.  It’s about Jesus--just before He was arrested, tried, and condemned to death. 

Now, we call Jesus the Savior of the world, but at first glance it might seem like He failed in His rescue efforts.  He seems a bit like those policemen who set out in a helicopter to rescue the boaters, but ended up being pulled down into the water.

But notice this.  When the weight of the world began to pull on Jesus, did He let it drag Him down?

No.  He stayed firmly attached to heaven when He came down to rescue us.  With one hand firmly grasping His heavenly Father’s hand, He held out His hand to us, to pull us up to safety.    Even as He faced death on the cross, He didn’t lose His grasp on heaven.  He found time to be by Himself and to pray to His Father.  That was the only safe way to rescue us.

By the time October 7, 1973 was over, 10 people had been rescued from the Niagara River.  One policeman by a human chain of men who linked arms and stayed attached to shore while plunging in to rescue him.  And nine others who made it to land by hanging on to a cable that was firmly attached to the shore.

My friend, Jesus still reaches out His hand today.  He’s in heaven now--firmly attached there.  But He was not afraid to plunge into the river to save us. He’s the ultimate human chain.  He’s the strongest cable you could ever hope for.

Grab onto Him today.  Hold onto Him today as He did to His Father--through earnest, faithful prayer.  Through study of His Word.  Hang on to Him.  He’ll lift you to safety.

 MUSIC 2:“The Ivory Palaces”, The Heralds