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December 15, 2024 15 mins

Mary and Joseph are wed before God, forcing them to endure ridicule, gossip, and shame from their community. Will this break their marriage before it has even begun?

Today's Bible verse is Ephesians 5:32, from the King James Version.

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and
of the Assembly Ephesians five thirty two. Dear Heavenly Father,
we are reminded this season of the depth of your
love for us, a love so deep that it is
compared to the bond between a husband and a wife.

(00:23):
We are the Church your bride, and Jesus Christ is
our heavenly bridegroom. Thank you, Lord for this sacred relationship.
Thank You for your unconditional love, enduring patience, an unending
faithfulness to us. Help us to truly grasp this divine mystery,

(00:48):
to respond to your love in a way that honors you.
May we be faithful to you, seeking to know you
more each day, and living in a way that reflects
your love for the world. Teach us to love one
another as you have loved us, fostering unity, kindness, and

(01:11):
understanding within the body of Christ. As we ponder this
great mystery, fill us with awe and gratitude for your love.
Then guide us and walking in faithful response to it.
In the name of Jesus, we pray Amen.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
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 fall into the

(01:57):
black abyss until a 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

(02:17):
struck by awe and reverence. You're not Joseph, son of David.
What is conceived? And Mary 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 around Joseph like a warm embrace, filling

(02:37):
him with an understanding that transcended earthly wisdom.

Speaker 3 (02:42):
Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. Today's episode is a dramatization
of Mary in Joseph's marriage. What a strange and beautiful
event that must have been. The circumstances surrounding their union
were fat from ordinary. The customs back then were set

(03:03):
in stone, and nobody deviated from them. It was not
the path Mary and Joseph imagined for themselves. But I
suppose that's how life is. Sometimes we expect life to
follow a predictable course, but unexpected twists and turns force
us to adapt. The Bible shows us that a life

(03:24):
truly lived in obedience to God is rarely predictable. I'm
reminded of James Chapter four, verses thirteen through fifteen, where
it talks about making plans. It says, now, listen, you
who say today or tomorrow will go to this or
that city, spend a year there, carry on business and
make money. You do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

(03:47):
What is your life? You are a miss that appears
for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you want
to say, if it's the Lord's will, we will live
and do this or that. James is communicating an important
life lesson for all of us. Life takes unexpected turns.

(04:08):
Life takes unexpected turns, and we must look for God's
will in all of it. Proverbs chapter sixteen, verse nine says,
a man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs
his steps. We don't rely on our plans or schedules
to get through life. Instead, we rely on the Lord's

(04:28):
direction and strength to overcome the unknowns. The Christmas story
was filled with unknowns. As this series continues, the plot
will thicken and become more dramatic. In all of the turmoil, danger,
and mystery, Mary and Joseph must rely on each other
for support and on God for guidance. In a sense,

(04:52):
that is what Christmas means for all of us. This
season is about immersing ourselves in the loving and of
family and in the majesty of our God. Let continue
down the road with Joseph as he seeks out Mary.
The Lord has given him a dream confirming that Mary
is pregnant with God's son. Joseph, determined to do right

(05:17):
by Mary, finds her and takes her as his wife.
Let's listen now join me afterwards so we can unpack
Christmas truths and applications to strengthen our faith.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
Joseph ran down the hill back to Nazareth with love,
in his heart and courage in his bones. His dream
had provided clarity and purpose. He and Mary were chosen
to raise God's son, the chosen Messiah, and save your
Israel had been waiting for. Joseph ran to Mary's house,
the angel's words still ringing in his ears. His feet
barely touched the ground as he rushed to tell her

(05:53):
of his divine revelation. He found her in the garden
outside her home. She was kneeling, her soft hands delicately
tending to the flowers. She had such a grace and elegance.
Her beauty, especially now enraptured Joseph. A flood of memories
from the childhood came rushing back to him. Even as
a boy, he had always known that she was the

(06:13):
one for him, Mary, Joseph said softly. She looked up.
Her eyes were still tinged with the sadness of the
last meeting. Joseph approached slowly and knelt beside her. He
took her hand in his, then placed another on her belly,
and smiled, his name will be Jesus. Mary's eyes widened
with amazement and relief, her lips pursed together holding back tears.

(06:38):
Joseph embraced her and allowed her to sob in his arms.
He stroked the back of her head and whispered, the
Angel told me everything I need to know. He pulled
back and held her face. He wiped tears from her
eyes with his thumbs and smiled. We will struggle Mary,
the people they will not understand.

Speaker 1 (06:59):
But I am with you.

Speaker 2 (07:01):
I will marry you. We will raise this child together
as a husband and wife. Whatever comes our way, we
know the Lord will be on our side. Joseph's words
were a healing balm to Mary's soul. She no longer
had to carry this burden and blessing on her own.
She would have someone by her side to walk the

(07:21):
peaks and valleys of God's divine path. She gently touched
Joseph's face and said something she had said before, but
never with the same weight and meaning. I love you, Joseph,
and those words, spoken honestly and without prompting, were exactly
what Joseph needed. Joseph wanted to hold, kiss and marry

(07:42):
her right there in the garden, but he knew he
had to show restraint. They had to tread lightly, for
the entire village thought Mary had been unfaithful it would
only be a matter of time before they speculated Joseph
was the father and they had both broken tradition. Mary
rose to her feet, sensing the thoughts racing through Joseph's mind.

Speaker 4 (08:01):
We will have to tell my parents, We will have
to tell everyone.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
Joseph nodded. Don't worry, he said, leave it to me. Mary.
I will not let anyone dishonor you.

Speaker 4 (08:11):
We can't keep others from judging us. Mary said, all
we can do is obey the Lord and trust that
he will go before us.

Speaker 2 (08:19):
The two of them left the garden and ventured to
Mary's home. There they sat together and explained everything to
her parents. Mary's father listened skeptically, the cultural traditions and
judgments weighing heavily on his mind. He did not reject
Joseph's words outright, but wore an expression of deep concern.
The villagers and extended family tool were unreceptive, whispers of

(08:40):
scandal and disbelief circulating like a bitter wind. Even so,
Joseph and Mary were determined to be wed. They planned
a modest wedding, simple but filled with the profound joy
of their unique bond. Mary underwent all the cleansing rituals,
and Joseph gathered a few faithful men to blow Chaffar's.
They held the serahremony in the olive grove just before sunset.

(09:03):
As the day's last rays trickled through the trees, Joseph
saw his bride approach. His heart fluttered at the sight
of her. Although their union was under strange circumstances, he
found himself hopeful that his future with Mary would be
filled with quiet joy. Surrounded by only a few who
accepted them, they exchanged vows and gifts. Their eyes met,

(09:23):
and in that sacred moment, they saw each other and
the incredible journey ahead, the excitement for their new life,
the child they would raise, and the love they would share,
was captured in that single, timeless glance. That night in
the Huppa, they did not consummate their marriage. Joseph knew
something sacred was at work within Mary. He would not
know her intimately until after the birth of Jesus. Instead,

(09:47):
he tucked Mary into her bed and laid at her feet.
He had a tenderness towards his wife, but it was
not a weak devotion. His love was protective and a
testament to the strength of his character. By the warm
flickering of candle light. They spoke of their future, their hopes,
their dreams, and their fears, but always with faith in
each other and in the divine plan that had brought

(10:09):
them together. The world might doubt and scorn, but Joseph
and Mary knew they were a part of something greater,
something beautiful, something eternal. They were not alone. They were guided,
protected and loved by the creator of all things, and
that was all they needed.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
In deciding to marry Mary, Joseph demonstrated his obedience to
God's directive and his willingness to face potential societal backlash.
Even though the rest of the world might not understand
Mary and Joseph's predicament. They had each other and that's
all they needed. Their decision to get married and remain

(10:51):
devoted to each other reflects the strength of the marriage covenant.
Marriage is not just a physical bond, nor is it
a government contract, as some would lead you to believe.
Many see marriage as a recognition of two people's love
for each other, like being recognized in marriage is a

(11:11):
validation of your identity. But marriage is so much more
than that. Marriage is a covenant before God, a sacred
commitment and a sanctuary of support, love, and strength. Marriage
is not just about the world validating your love. If
it were, then Joseph and Mary wouldn't have been married,

(11:34):
since nobody approved of what was happening. No, marriage is
a bond designed to endure trials and the unexpected turns
of life, and ultimately, marriage is a reflection of Christ's
love for us. In Ephesians chapter five, Paul describes marriage
as a mysterious and profound image of the love and

(11:56):
devotion Christ has for the Church and the Church has
for Christ. Joseph's willingness to proceed with the marriage despite
the appearance of scandal, highlights marriage as a partnership designed
to weather storms. He and Mary must have drawn strength
from each other throughout their challenging yet divinely appointed journey.

(12:19):
This act is an encouragement for all married couples, a
call to stand by each other in the face of adversity,
providing mutual support, understanding, and love. Marriage is a steady
pillar when the world around us begins to crumble. We
know that Mary and Joseph must have had that to
endure what they did. In the coming episodes, we'll see

(12:41):
their relationship put to the test as they brave a
harrowing journey to Joseph's homeland. Another theme explored in this
episode is surrendering expectations. Mary and Joseph both had to
surrender their expectations of traditional marriage life. They had to
embrace God's extraordinary plan, which involved potential ridicule and misunderstanding

(13:08):
from their community. This surrendering of expectations is a central
theme of the Christmas narrative. It points to the idea
that God's plans often defy human expectations and require our
obedience and trust. Yet there seemed to be a misunderstanding
many Jews of the time had about the Messiah. They

(13:32):
expected some sort of political liberator and king to come
and deliver them from Roman oppression. Instead, the Messiah came humbly,
feeding the poor and fishing with all the commoners. God's
greatest gift to humanity, Jesus arrived in a way that
defied all human expectations, not in the palace, but in

(13:53):
a humble stage, not to a queen, but from a
virgin in Nazareth. The willingness of Mary and Joe, as
if to change their expectations and to obediently align with
God's plan allowed for the First Christmas and the arrival
of our Savior. As we reflect on the Christmas story,
we can draw inspiration from Mary and Joseph's experiences. Christmas

(14:17):
is a time of joy and celebration, but it's also
a time to reflect on our own willingness to trust
God when his plans for us defy our expectations. This season,
let us remember the strength of the marriage bond as
exhibited by Mary and Joseph. Let Us also embrace the
humility and obedience they showed even when God's plans were

(14:41):
beyond their understanding. This Christmas, let us welcome Jesus into
our hearts, homes, and lives, willing to surrender our expectations
in favor of God's divine plan. Maybe your traditions will
be shaken up this year, maybe dreams will fall through.
Do you know that's okay? Because the one constant of

(15:03):
Christmas is Christ and that will surely never change. And
that will certainly never change. Thank you for joining me
today on our journey through the Nativity. Be sure to
tune in next time as the plot thickened and Mary
and Joseph are forced to leave Nazareth because of a
decree made by Caesar. Thanks for listening to today's Bible

(15:27):
in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.
Download Theprey dot com at and make prayer a priority
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(15:53):
God bless you.
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