Dewey Bertolini's Podcast

If you have ever asked yourself any of the age-old questions like... What’s it all about? Why am I here? What is my purpose? If you have ever asked yourself these or similar questions, then you are in for a treat in this latest PODCAST. Because in this podcast, you will get the answer to these most-important questions. So let me start with a news-flash for you. One of considerable consequence. Yet one that you will not find to be surprising at all. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

Not to be clichéd! But if the words, “Mission Accomplished” ever meant anything to anyone in any situation, they absolutely apply here in John 17. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, this is the moment, courtesy of John, now forever frozen in time. The singular moment toward which all of human history, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, had been slowly but steadily building. The seminal moment from which the remainder of human history, down to our present day, has been rapidly descending. The consequential moment when Jesus could literally look up to Heaven and finally acknowledge, “I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.” Such mystery, such majesty, in these few words. Indeed, a Mission -- the Mission -- Accomplished! That mission that Jesus Himself defined when He said in referring to Himself, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10). Which, as you are about to learn, means far more than pulling people out of Hell. Ind

On this Thursday night of Jesus’ final week, mere hours before the crucifixion, Jesus was worried about His disciples. And as you are about to hear in this PODCAST, He was worried for a very good reason. I don’t know if you have ever associated the word worry with Jesus, but as you will hear, in this case, at this time, in this place, that word worry is most appropriate. Don’t worry (pun intended). I’m not trying to get all psychoanalytical on you. I am not fluent in psychobabble. And I’m not about to subject Jesus to a psychoanalysis. But let us not overlook the fact that this is one of those rare glimpses into Jesus’ mind and heart on this -- the single most traumatic night of His storied life. What we see is a most-endearing picture of Jesus in all of His humanness on full display before disciples. I say endearing because the fact of the matter is this: Jesus is equally worried about you. And that for the exact same Very.Good.Reason. So what did Jesus do in response to His loving concern, His worry, His an

Get yourself ready for a massive dose of encouragement. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, it’s amazing to me how a couple of significant storylines are coming full circle with Jesus’ words John 15. Specifically, last week we saw how Jesus’ assertion, “I am the vine,” is final of Jesus’ seven “I Am” statements recorded in the Gospel of John. Now, for this discussion, here’s a Bible Trivia Question for you: What was the very first parable that Jesus taught as recorded in the Gospels? I’ll give you a couple of hints: 1. It’s found in Mk 2. 2. It’s a parable about a new day coming, the Messianic Age dawning, a day that began in Bethlehem, a day filled with bright hopes and blazing anticipation. A part of that first parable goes like this: Jesus said, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” New wine, symbolic of a new day, a great day, a beautiful day, a day of God’s

Oh how I love a good irony. That being said, how ironic in terms of timing is it that in this PODCAST, on this our fourth anniversary together as a Safe Haven family, we come to Jesus’ statement here in John 15, in the Upper Room Discourse, when He said to His men (and to us!), “I am the vine, you are the branches”? The irony to which I refer lies in fact that this statement completes John’s portrait of Jesus.  You talk about Jesus in High Definition. How about seven layers of definition, skillfully painted on the canvas of John’s Gospel, that leaves us with no doubt as to the true character of Jesus as the God-man. Understand that from start to finish, John had but one goal in mind, one purpose to his writing, one theme, one image that he sought to paint in this his artful masterpiece of his master. One the he painted in such beautifully breathtaking detail. A portrait of Jesus to which John alerted us in the very first verse of his glorious gospel. Right out of the gate, John stated his theme, clearly and u

Welcome to Part Three in this 3-part mini-series within a series concerning the Mysterious Member of the Trinity, AKA The Holy Spirit. As you will hear in this PODCAST, here in the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus presented to His disciples the first extended discussion of the Holy Spirit to be found anywhere in the Bible. Yes, the Holy Spirit was very present and quite active in the Old Testament, making His first appearance in second verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:2. But not-so-strangely enough, there is within the pages of the Bible no extended discussion of the Holy Spirit until we break the seal on John 14-17, the Upper Room Discourse. I say not-so-strangely because of a tantalizing little detail that Jesus shared with His men right in the middle of the Upper Room Discourse, in John 15:26 (CEV): “I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about Me.” The Holy Spirit, third person in the Triune Godhead, did not inspire the biblical writ

You could call the Holy Spirit Jesus’ going away present, first to His disciples, and then, of course, to each of us. As you will hear in this PODCAST, we’re talking about The Third Member of Trinity, the Mysterious Member of the Trinity. Here in John 14-17 -- the so-called Upper Room Discourse, even though as we noted last week, Jesus taught the amazing truths of John 15-17 after He and the disciples-minus-Judas had hastily departed the Upper Room, steps ahead of the Judas-led-posse seeking Jesus’ arrest -- we have the first extended theological discussion of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, actually in the entire Bible. Up until now the biblical writers have been largely silent regarding the multifaceted ministry of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit is mentioned throughout the Old Testament. But the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is not developed in the Old Testament. This, as you are about to hear, for very good reason, one that harkens all the way back to the very first podcast in this series. So he

Welcome to the Upper Room Discourse. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, we are now standing on the precipice of Jesus’ passion -- Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denial, Jesus’ incarceration, His trials, His Crucifixion, climaxing of course in His glorious Resurrection. What should have been a night primarily of celebration  -- of the Passover, and all of its rich meaning -- quickly morphed into an evening of last-minute and desperate instruction. Jesus had to prepare His men for the tumultuous and turbulent events of the coming hours, culminating in the crucifixion, the tipping point of redemptive history, after which human history would never be the same again. As you might suspect, Jesus in the so-called Upper Room Discourse (You’ll understand why I say “so-called” as you listen.), Jesus hit on the themes most important to Him. There are three principle themes in the Upper Room Discourse. The first of which we will discuss now and next week. The remaining two we’ll dissect and discuss in the

It was an epic one-two punch to the gut. Jesus’ gut, not to put too fine a point on it. A brutal betrayal coupled with a devastating denial by two of Jesus’ handpicked and beloved disciples. In this PODCAST, I am referring of course to Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s three-time denial. If there is a silver lining to these increasingly billowing clouds, it is this: There is a clear pattern emerging here in John 13. A pattern that tells quite a tale, striking subtext to the entire crucifixion story. A pattern that should illuminate for you a bright, blazing beacon of hope to light your way during your darkest hours and most difficult days. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

So many things are going to become So.Very.Clear in this week’s PODCAST. You are about to hear something of… The precision of the Bible; What theologians call the “inerrancy” of the Bible; How the precious truths of the Bible sometime hinge on just one word; The relevance of the Bible; How a cultural reality from the time and place of Jesus speaks to us in real time, to our very real circumstances, even today. Most importantly: You will hear in unmistakable terms about the care and compassion of the God of the Bible, as Jesus paints the most poignant picture of just how much our gentle Jesus loves and cares about you. We truly are in for a treat this week, courtesy of Jesus. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

Welcome to the Upper Room, and Jesus’ farewell address to His beloved disciples. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, as we break the seal on this, Jesus’ final night before the crucifixion, I do so with something of a lump in my throat and the pinkish hue of embarrassment upon my otherwise rosy cheeks. This because this particular portion of the grand story of Jesus’ life and ministry hits me most personally. And if, as they say, “Confession is good for the soul,” then I make my confession to you, my beloved little Safe Haven family, tonight. There is embedded within this most amazing scene, Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, a timeless lesson that, if only I could turn back the hands of the clock and the passage of time, I would have taken to heart way back when I was just starting out in my ministry. This pointed and practical warning is as timely today as it was that night in that Upper Room when Jesus gave it to His disciples. A timeless truth that has come to define my life and, more to the point,

Welcome to the Thursday of Jesus’ final week. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, with these words, we are less than twenty-four hours from the crucifixion. Words wherein Jesus could just as well have said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare my final Passover meal together, so that we can eat it together.” Jesus will on this Thursday evening celebrate with His disciples THE singular observance on the Jewish calendar, from time of Moses (Exodus 12) even to today. Indeed, as Rabbi Joseph Telushkin so succinctly stated in his classic work, Jewish Literacy, “Passover is the most widely observed Jewish holiday.” But here’s the thing: Overshadowing this entire discussion tonight is this raw reality around which I cannot begin to wrap my mind: The centerpiece of Passover, of Jesus’ final Passover -- the Passover lamb -- has throughout redemptive history pictured one and only one person: Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That person, Jesus, whose sacrifice in less than twenty-four hours

It’s getting real. Real fast. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, something in the last few days of Jesus’ final week triggered Judas to do the unthinkable. You talk about someone selling their soul to the devil, literally or figuratively? Well, Judas did both. Judas sold his soul to the devil, literally and figuratively. “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” Why here? Why now? Why this? In order to answer these and additional questions, let’s meet Judas the Betrayer up close and personal. A fitting title because the very first time we encounter this tragic individual, we are introduced to him with these telling words: “Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).” How would you like that as your moniker? Who was this guy? And what does it all mean for us today? Allow me to set up this discussion in this way: It’s one of the most precious passages in all of the Bible. That is no exaggeration or overstatement. Yet, it gets relatively scant attention because in most of our English tr

Let me tell you! If you want to see in crystal-clarity the character and the heart of God, this is it. Right here, right now, in real time, in this PODCAST. This in a breathtaking public display for all the world to see, at which the whole world will marvel. The broken heart of our God whom Peter described as “not wanting anyone to be destroyed (a word that means to destroy fully, to bring to nothing) but (who) wants everyone to repent.” This portrait of our God -- Who persistently pursues everyone in every way, making every effort to bring every sinner to repentance -- comes at very end of Olivet Discourse in Matthew 25. Here we will see, in this parable of the end of the age, the eternal separation of committed Christ-followers from those who defiantly and unrepentantly want nothing to do with Jesus. Plus, we will see their ultimate eternal destiny in what Jesus called “the eternal fire prepared for devil and his demons.” An unpleasant topic, to be sure. But a #Most.Important.One, because we are talking abo

Spoiler Alert: This PODCAST will not be paradigm-shifting. This podcast will be paradigm-shattering. There is so much going on here in Jesus’ conclusion to His landmark End Times Olivet Discourse that I hardly know where to begin. Last week, we saw that Jesus told a parable about ten bridesmaids, five who were wise and five who were foolish. This week, we’ll note that He told a follow-up parable about three servants, two who were faithful and one who was unfaithful. We are fast-winding down our study of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ End Times sermon that He gave to His disciples high atop the Mount of Olives. We are soon to pivot from the Tuesday of Jesus’ final week, to the Thursday of His final week, with detailed discussions of His final Passover Seder with His disciples, Judas’ betrayal, the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, His subsequent confinement in Caiaphas’ house, plus Peter’s denial. The countdown clock to Jesus’ crucifixion is ticking; the end of Jesus’ earthly minis

As you will hear in this PODCAST, we are fast-approaching the end of our mini-series within a series, this one having to do with all-things End-Times related. We are, as you well-know, well into the Olivet Discourse. Jesus’ primary teaching on End-Times events, as given on the Tuesday of His final week on earth. In two weeks, we will pivot to the Thursday of Jesus’ final week, including His Upper Room Discourse. It is curiously intriguing to me in the first letter that the Apostle Paul ever penned, 1 Thessalonians, he devoted so much of that letter to a discussion of the End Times. Which tells me that even from the very beginning, the first generation of committed Christ-followers had questions about Jesus’ return, even as they watched and waited for Jesus to come back. There was then, as there is today, much confusion about what was going to happen and when it would happen. One of the most encouraging things that Paul wrote -- you could consider it Paul’s commentary on this podcast’s Matthew 25 passage -- wa

I was away this week, sharing a precious memorial service for my dearly beloved mom with my family. Consequently, I have selected one of the MOST IMPORTANT podcasts that we have recorded in our Jesus in HD series. In this Encore PODCAST, as we continue in our chronological study of the life and ministry of Jesus, we come to Matthew 18:15-17 -- one of the most seriously significant passages in all of the New Testament, the so-called “Church Discipline” passage. Church Discipline, a teaching in many local churches that really rose into prominence in the late 1970’s and became quite the trend. I can remember attending church leadership conferences back then and hearing pastors -- I’ll use word “boast.” -- of the fact that they recently removed individuals from their congregations, thereby “preserving the purity of their churches.” Others would then oooh and ahhh at the boldness of these pastors in confronting the sin in his church and taking decisive action in order to preserve the purity of his church by the pr

As you will hear in this PODCAST, with Jesus’ words here in Matthew 24, the climax of human history as we know it will occur. No one will miss it. No one will mistake it. Everyone will know exactly what it is that is happening and why it is happening! The “it” to which I refer and which I intentionally repeated in the above sentences is Jesus’ Second Coming. What did Jesus say? “Then all the tribes of the earth… will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Quite a contrast to Jesus’ first coming, which you will remember was seen only by a few lowly shepherds out in the remote regions of Bethlehem. When Jesus came the first time, He came not with power and great glory, but as a newborn baby laid in an animal’s manger in the cold of a cave. That was Jesus’ First Coming. In the run-up to the crucifixion, the disciples were understandably fixated on the future, specifically on Jesus’ Second Coming. They were waiting; we are waiting. They were longing; we are longing. They we

As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:15, words that describe a singularly hair-raising event, the Great Tribulation will begin. A 3½-year period of unprecedented spiritual defection and oppression, along with its resultant worldwide suffering on a scale never seen before on this planet. Don’t take my word for that. Take Jesus’ word for that. In Matthew 24:21, “For then there will be great tribulation, greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.” The Great Tribulation, that will begin with the singular event to which Jesus alluded in Matthew 24:15, and will end with the climax of human history as we know it -- the glorious Second Coming of Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. Permit me the briefest of reviews. It is absolutely vital that we keep the end-times timeline straight. The next event on God’s prophetic timetable is that wondrous event we commonly call The Rapture, where Christ-followers throughout the world wil

Birth pains. It’s all about the birth pains. As you will hear in this PODCAST, as we enumerate the final three of the six "signs of the times," both Paul and Jesus made it crystal-clear that we are to think of these signs in terms of birth pains. Paul, who borrowed this most-meaningful metaphor from Jesus, used it most-appropriately when he in Romans 8 declared, "For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." It would not surprise me one bit to hear that some of you -- Or should I say some of us? -- have been groaning a little more than usual this past week. It is all about the birth pains, that increase dramatically in frequency and in intensity as the moment of birth approaches. This troubled planet of ours is undeniably in the later stages of its own labor pains, as it waits in breathless anticipation as the moment of Jesus’ return approaches. So said Paul. So said Jesus. Here in Matthew 24:8, spoken in the Olivet Discourse, on the Tuesday after