Episode Transcript
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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, and 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 (01:40):
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 it. Joseph sank in a free fall into
(02:02):
the 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
(02:22):
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, where he will save his people.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
From their sins.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
The words wrapped around Joseph like a warm embrace, filling
him with an understanding that transcended earthly wisdom.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible
in a Year podcast. But before we began, I want
to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours
to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress,
and my prayer is that it will help you conquer
the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress
(03:07):
in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free
from Stress today by visiting Jack Graham dot org slash stress.
That's Jack Graham dot org slash stress. 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
(03:32):
their union were far from ordinary. The customs back then
were set 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
(03:57):
a life 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
(04:19):
happen tomorrow. 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. Life takes unexpected turns, and we must look
(04:45):
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 direction and strength to overcome the unknowns.
(05:06):
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, that is what Christmas means for all
(05:28):
of us. This season is about immersing ourselves in the
loving embrace 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
(05:50):
do right 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 (06:04):
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 Savir Israel
had been waiting for. Joseph ran to Mary's house, the
angel's words still ringing in his ears. His feet barely
(06:24):
touched the ground as he rushed to tell her 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
(06:46):
one for him.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Mary, Joseph said softly.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
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 ben another
on her belly, and smiled.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
His name will be Jesus.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Mary's eyes widen with amazement and relief. Her lips pursed together,
holding back tears. 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.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
We will struggle, Mary, the people they will not understand.
But I am with you. I will marry you. We
will raise this child together as a husband and wife.
Whatever comes our away, we know the Lord will be
on our side.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
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 will have someone by her side to
walk the 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,
(08:07):
and those words, spoken honestly and without prompting, were exactly
what Joseph needed. Joseph wanted to hold, kiss and marry
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
(08:30):
rose to her feet, sensing the thoughts racing through Joseph's mind.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
We will have to tell my parents, We will have
to tell everyone.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Joseph nodded. Don't worry, he said, leave it to me.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Mary.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I will not let anyone dishonor you.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
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 (08:52):
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, skinedically, the cultural traditions and
judgments weighing heavily on his mind.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
He did not.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Reject Joseph's words outright, but wore an expression of deep concern.
The villagers and extended family tool were unreceptive, whispers of
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
(09:25):
of their unique bond. Mary underwent all the cleansing rituals,
and Joseph gathered a few faithful men to blow Chaffar's
They held the ceremony in the olive grove just before sunset.
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
(09:46):
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,
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,
(10:10):
in the Hauppa, they did not consummate their marriage. Joseph
knew something sacred was at work with in Mary. He
would not know her intimately until after the birth of Jesus. Instead,
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
(10:32):
flickering of candlelight, 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
them together.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
The world might doubt.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
And scorn, but Joseph and Mary knew they were a
part of something greater, something beautiful, something eternal.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
They were not alone.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
They were guided, protected and loved by the creator of
all things, and that was all they needed.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
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
(11:24):
devoted to each other reflects the strength of the marriage covenant.
Marriage is not just a physical bond, nor is it
a mere 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
(11:44):
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,
(12:04):
then Joseph and Mary wouldn't have been married, 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
(12:27):
and profound image of the love and 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
(12:48):
their challenging, yet divinely appointed journey. 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
(13:09):
Joseph must have had that to endure what they did.
In the coming episodes, we'll see 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
(13:32):
marriage life. They had to embrace God's extraordinary plan, which
involved potential ridicule and misunderstanding 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
(13:53):
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 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
(14:15):
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 a humble stage, not to a queen,
but from a virgin in Nazareth. The willingness of Mary
and Joseph to change their expectations and to obediently align
(14:36):
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
is a time of joy and celebration, but it's also
a time to reflect on our own willingness to trust
(14:56):
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
beyond their understanding. This Christmas, let us welcome Jesus into
(15:19):
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 what That's okay? Because the one constant
of Christmas is Christ and that will certainly never change.
(15:42):
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. Thank
you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
Before we go, I want to let you know about
a unique ebook that's yours to download absolutely free today.
(16:06):
Is called Breaking Free from Stress, and my prayer is
that it will help you conquer the daily task and
pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download
your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by
visiting Jackgraham dot org slash stress. That's Jagraham dot org
slash stress.