You may wonder how the ancient history of the Bible should define your modern faith walk. Or how the stories of the Old Testament have any bearing on the death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as on your own life today.

Historian and teacher Ray Vander Laan has been studying and teaching Jewish culture for decades using the methods of Jewish education. His ministry is focused on understanding the Bible in light of the historical and cultural context in which God placed it. When you travel with Ray to the Holy Land and hear his insights in biblical history, you deepen your appreciation for God’s redemptive story.

Bible Gateway interviewed Ray Vander Laan, author of The Path to the Cross (Zondervan, 2015).

Below are the time stamps for the video interview above at which point Ray Vander Laan begins to answer each question.

00:06 — What is the importance of experiencing the Holy Land?

00:53 — What is the overarching message of The Path to the Cross?

02:04 — What is the concept of Shalom?

03:37 — How does the Path to the Cross Video Bible Study help a person prepare for Resurrection Sunday?

04:30 — What is the significance of John the Baptist ministering in the desert?

05:47 — How did the baptism of John the Baptist differ from today?

07:30 — How did God use the desert to test his people throughout the Bible?

08:46 — How did Jesus use Passover to teach about his mission?

10:04 — What is the 5th cup you refer to in The Path to the Cross?

13:03 — What is a favorite Bible passage of yours? (1 John 2:6)

13:57 — What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway?

The Path to the Cross is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.

Bio: Ray Vander Laan is the founder of That the World May Know Ministries and creator of the Faith Lessons video series with Focus on the Family. An ordained minister, he holds the chair of biblical cultural studies as a religion instructor at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan. He and his wife, Esther, have four children and 15 grandchildren.

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