Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Of the increase of his government and of peace. There
shall be no end on David's throne and on his kingdom.
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and
with righteousness. From that time on even forever, the zeal
of yahweh of armies will perform this Isaiah nine seven.
(00:24):
Dear Lord, this season we rejoice in the birth of Christ,
whose arrival was foretold by the prophets, and whose reign
will never end. We stand in awe of your divine
plan so beautifully unfolded in that humble manger. Your redemption
plan brings hope, peace, justice, and eternal life to all
(00:48):
who believe. As we decorate our homes with lights, sing carols,
and share gifts, let us also share the message of
Christ's eternal kingdom, a kingdom built on love, mercy, and righteousness.
Help us to be ambassadors of this kingdom here on earth,
(01:10):
extending your peace and joy to all around us. In
the name of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate and whose
return we await, we pray Amen.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Joseph's heart was a storm of emotion, his dreams shattered,
trust broken, and love betrayed. The news of Mary's pregnancy
had been a blow unlike any other. Anger, confusion, and
a profound sense of loss gnawed at his soul. He
lay down on a grassy hill where he and Mary
had one shared dreams and made promises to one another.
(01:56):
Lying on the soft earth, he looked up at the stars.
Those distant beacons of hope and guidance seemed dull, dimmed
by his grief and anger. His mind replayed their meeting
earlier in the day. He could still see the look
of regret in Mary's eyes? Or was it sorrow? Her
father's stern and unyielding voice echoed in his ears, granting
(02:18):
him the right to stone her. The very thoughts and
a shudder through him. How had they come to this?
Tears welled in his eyes and he clenched his fist,
wrestling with helplessness and anger. And yet through it all,
he couldn't ignore the look in Mary's eyes. She didn't
carry herself like someone who had done something wrong? Was
(02:39):
there somehow more to this story that he just couldn't grasp.
A fatigue slowly overcame his restless mind. He drifted into
a fitful sleep. His last thoughts were a prayer for clarity, guidance,
and Mercy.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
We're so glad you joined us on the Bible any
of Your podcast today. The Bible Any Your Podcast is
an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to
you each week through the support of listeners just like you.
Your support today is so important that we want to
thank you for your gift by giving you a copy
of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a
(03:14):
powerful guy that shows how every book of the Bible
points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth
of God's Word, will transform your life. So to get
a copy of The Jesus Book, simply go to Jack
Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot org
slash Jesus and thank you for your support. Today's story
(03:36):
is inspired by Matthew Chapter one, verse nineteen, when Joseph
discovers that Mary is pregnant. Joseph is a central figure
in the Christmas story and is often overshadowed by the
more prominent characters. Yep, I believe Joseph is an unheralded
hero of great character. In this story, we find Joseph
(03:58):
and a poignant crossroads, grappling with feelings of betrayal while
standing on the precipice of a divine intervention that would
change the course of the world. The Birth of Jesus
was filled with key moments when everything could have been thwarted.
One of those moments will happen in this story when
Joseph has the right to stone marry for adultery. Joseph
(04:23):
will find himself in a position that many of us
find ourselves in. We all have moments where we can
lash out in anger and show judgment, or choose the
path of mercy. Often, the way of compassion is the
more challenging trail to tread. Joseph could end all his
hurt and problems by showing Mary judgment. But the measure
(04:47):
of a man's character is often revealed not in how
he uses his power. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth. Meekness does not mean weakness,
It means power under control. Will Joseph lash out and
use his authority to end Mary, or will he show
meekness and mercy ushering in the greatest story ever told?
(05:12):
Let's find out now. In this cinematic retelling of Matthew,
Chapter one, verse nineteen afterwards, we'll unpack the deep and
hidden themes.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
In the depths of slumber, Joseph was caught up in
a vivid and terrifying dream. He found himself standing at
the base of a dark and foreboding hill. Jagged rocks
lace the trail ascending the mountain. Lightning flashed above it,
revealing a brief and terrifying image of a tree. No,
not a tree, something else, something more terrifying. Joseph couldn't
(05:46):
quite make it out, so he moved closer. In the darkness,
Joseph could see a silhouetted figure hanging.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
From the tree.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
He marched up the hill, working against the wind in rain,
he stumbled and fell onto his hands and knees. Joseph
looked at his hands in terror. The ground beneath him
was soaked with a mixture of water and blood. He
screamed and looked up again at the top of the hill.
The river of water and blood was running downward from
the tree above. What is up there? He thought? The
(06:17):
lightning flashed again with piercing light, and Joseph immediately found
himself elsewhere. He was at the base of a cave
carved into the side of a mountain. All was quiet,
and the only light source was from within the cave.
Joseph followed the faint glimmer, keeping his balance on the
cave's jagged walls. As he inched closer, the air became warmer,
(06:38):
like a room filled with the comfort of a fireplace.
The entire cave became filled with the scent of frankinsense,
and myrrh. As Joseph navigated the cave, he could hear
the sound of a child's cry, then a hushing lullaby.
The voice singing was gentle and soft, like the evening
spring breeze. Joseph knew that voice, Mary, is that you.
(07:00):
Joseph picked up his pace and rounded the corner towards
the light, But before he could see anything, the cave
flooded with water, and Joseph found himself swimming for his
life amidst a violent storm in the middle of the sea.
Waves and breakers crashed over him. He swam but made
no progress. The waves thrashed and the riptide dragged him
down underneath. Joseph sank in a free fold into the
(07:22):
black abyss until the current pushed him onto the shore.
The storm subsided, and Joseph looked out at a golden
sunset hovering over the glassy sea. Suddenly, a luminous figure
appeared before him, an angel standing upon the glassy water.
His eyes were filled with wisdom and compassion. Joseph was
(07:42):
struck by awe and reverence. Fear not, Joseph, son of David.
What is conceived and mery is of the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall call his
name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
The words wrapped round Joseph like a warm embrace, filling
(08:02):
him with an understanding that transcended earthly wisdom. Joseph wanted
to ask questions, but he couldn't speak. Instead, his gaze
was turned to the sea. The sunset's colors painted the
glassy water with images of prophecy, promise, and divine love.
He saw his forefather, David and the mighty Temple. He
(08:23):
saw a humble child, a mighty king, a savior and
a servant. He saw Mary, her face radiant with grace,
her role, and the divine plan, both beautiful and burdensome.
Joseph was left with a profound sense of peace, a
clarity that resonated through every fiber of his being, he
knew what he must do. The sea receded into the sunset,
(08:45):
as if gravity's force was polling at backwards. A great
wall of water loomed over him. Then, with a mighty crash,
the ocean fell on to Joseph. He awoke with panic, confusion,
and awe. The night was quiet, and the light of
the stars was replaced with the rising sun's first light.
Joseph stood to his feet and wiped the sweat from
(09:07):
his brow. The morning sun radiated over the hills, splashing
the valley below with vibrant color. Joseph's once anxious heart
was filled with excitement. He still didn't entirely know what
was happening, but he knew God was on the move.
Joseph's path was more evident now.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
He would take.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Mary as his wife, trust in the Lord's plan, and
embrace this miraculous journey before them, For the child they
would raise was not just a fulfillment of prophecy, but
a beacon of hope and redemption for all mankind. The
doubts and fears of yesterday were gone, replaced by faith, love,
and a determination to serve the will of the Most High.
(09:44):
It wasn't the life Joseph imagined for himself.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
It was better.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Although struggle awaited him, it was the path to purpose.
Joseph ran down the hill back to Nazareth with love
in his heart and courage.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
In his bones.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
This story offered us a dramatized version of Joseph's dream.
Truth be told, we don't know the exact imagery of
his dream, but we do know what God told him
through his vision. The Angel of the Lord came to
Joseph and addressed him as Joseph son of David. Does
that title sound familiar to you? If you've read the
(10:23):
Gospels before, you'll know that son of David is one
of the many titles given to Jesus. The title son
of David is one of those. Both Joseph and Mary
were descendants from the lineage of King David. Now this
holds significant way, since the Messiah was prophesied to come
from the line of David. Second Samuel Chapter seven mentions
(10:47):
the Messiah coming directly from David's line. However, the title
son of David embodies more than mere physical lineage. It
acknowledges Jesus as a king greater than David. Isaiah chapter
nine is one of the most famous Christmas prophecies we have.
It reads like this, For a child is born to us,
(11:12):
a son is given to us, and the government will
be on his shoulders. His name will be called wonderful
counselor Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the
increase of his government and of peace. There shall be
no end on David's throne and on his kingdom. To
establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness.
(11:35):
From that time on even forever, the zeal of Yahweh
of armies will perform this. When individuals addressed Jesus as
the son of David, their words were a testament to
their faith in him. The Pharisees, entrenched in pride and
self righteousness, remained blind to the truth that others so
(11:58):
readily accepted, and they became adversarial towards Jesus. Jesus used
the title son of David to confound the Pharisees further,
questioning how the Messiah, being David's son, could be addressed
as my Lord by David himself. This puzzle exposed their
(12:18):
lack of understanding regarding the Messiah's true nature. This event
illuminates the deeper meaning of the title the Messiah is
more than David's physical son. He is greater than David,
and as stated in Revelation chapter twenty two, verse sixteen,
he's both the root and the offspring of David. Joseph
(12:41):
was the right man to raise God's son, not just
because he was from the line of David, but because
he was a man of integrity, courage, and obedience. Joseph's
immediate response to this dream was obedience. He was not
merely accepting Mary. He was accepting God's call to be
part of a divine mission. To take Mary as his
(13:05):
wife amidst societal expectations and norms would require immense courage.
Joseph's courage was founded on faith, trust in God's word,
and his understanding of the enormity of God's plan. These
qualities made his forefather, David, a beloved and influential king.
(13:29):
Being the stepfather to Jesus knowing the child was not
his own, yet embracing him as his son was an
act of unmatched bravery. It required putting aside personal emotions, fears,
and societal judgments. The story of Joseph's dream interweaves themes
(13:50):
of divine intervention, obedience, faith, courage, and human cooperation with
the divine will. It reminds us of God's sovereign plan
and the individuals chosen to participate in it. As we
celebrate Christmas, May we reflect on Joseph's role in the
Christmas narrative, his courage, bravery, and integrity. May we be
(14:13):
inspired to live with similar faith, to heed God's call
in our lives, and to act with integrity and bravery,
embodying the true spirit of Christmas. The story of Joseph's
dream is a timeless reminder that God's plans are perfect
and he equips those he calls, even in the most
(14:34):
unexpected circumstances. In our next episode, Joseph will approach Mary
and they'll fight against culture and slander. Together. Their union
will strengthen them for the trials ahead and provide an
on remp for Jesus to be born. Thank you for
listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast, and before
(14:55):
we go, I wanted to let you know that the
Bible in a Year podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint
Ministries and can only come to you each week through
the support of listeners like you. Your support today is
so important that we want to thank you for your
gift by giving you a copy of my book called
the Jesus Book. This book is a powerful guide that
(15:17):
shows how every book in the Bible points to Christ
and how you can better read and understand the Bible
and how God's Word transforms our lives. So to get
your copy of the Jesus Book, simply go to Jaggraham
dot org slash Jesus. That's Jackraham dot org slash Jesus
and thank you for your support.