This is Spoken Gospel.

We are dedicated to seeing 
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s 
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

For decades, the Israelites have 
been exiled from their home.

Though Ezra began to rebuild Israel’s 
temple, God’s people are not safe.

Jerusalem’s city walls have been 
broken down and destroyed by fire.

When Nehemiah, a high-ranking
Jewish official to the king of Persia,  

hears about the walls and the state of 
his people, he weeps, fasts, and prays.

He prays from the book of Deuteronomy.

Nehemiah laments that he and
his people have broken God’s law.

He mourns that their current
exile is the consequence of their sin.

The law has been fulfilled in their exile.

But God also promised that if his people kept the law’s
commands and returned to him, he would bring them back home.

Nehemiah wonders if he can fulfil this promise on his
own and as Israel’s representative. Perhaps

Nehemiah’s obedience and intercession
can end Israel’s exile.

After about four months of fasting and praying, Nehemiah
reveals his sadness for his people to the Persian king.

It’s a calculated risk.

Nehemiah wants to save his people, 
and he knows the king can help.

But Nehemiah’s livelihood is also
on the line if the king responds poorly.

When the king asks what’s wrong, Nehemiah asks to leave
the king and return to Israel with the promise of royal protection.

Nehemiah also wants the money and 
resources necessary to renovate the wall.

And astonishingly, the king agrees.

God’s hand is on Nehemiah and
turns the king’s heart on his behalf.

God responds to Nehemiah’s prayerful obedience and
begins to bring his people home.

[music]

Since creation, it's always been God’s
plan to have a home where he can live with us.

That’s what the garden of Eden 
was—a home for God and his people.

But just as it happened in the garden, God’s people
disobey and are separated from their home with God.

Exile isn’t just a political term, it's a spiritual reality.

But God has made gracious promises to bring 
his people out of exile and back to himself.

He even promises to transform the ruins 
of Israel back into a new garden of Eden.

But these promises can only come true when someone like
Nehemiah is willing to intercede and obey on behalf
of people who won’t and can’t. That leader is Jesus.

Jesus is the leader who can 
fulfill all of God’s promises.

As Nehemiah interceded for
the exiles, Jesus intercedes for us.

As Nehemiah obeyed on behalf of
his people, Jesus fulfills the law for us.

Like Nehemiah, Jesus sacrificed his 
high position to save his needy people.

And just as God’s hand rested on the king
of Persia to provide protection and provision  

for Nehemiah and God’s people, God’s
hand rested on the authorities of Jesus’ day.

God protected and provided a home for his people, 
not with money, but at the cost of his own Son.

Willingly, Jesus gave up his 
authority to give us a home.

Sacrificially, Jesus gave up
his life to free us from exile.

Perfectly, he obeyed to death so that by faith we
can live as righteous natives in a new garden of Eden.  

Jesus is the leader our exiled hearts need.
Trust him and soon you will be home.

I pray that the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to 
see the God whose grace is greater than our sin.

And that you will see Jesus as the one 
who enters our exile to bring us home.