April 24, 2024 • 12 mins
In this gripping episode of the Heartbeat of Faith, hosted by Dr. Andre Farley, we delve into the heart-wrenching journey of Mary and Joseph on the road to Bethlehem. Their visit was no joyous homecoming; instead, they were met with rejection at every turn. As they entered the city, the pangs of labor began to torment Mary, and Joseph desperately sought shelter, only to discover that the census had flooded the city with far too many people. This was far from a silent night.
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Despite being descended from David, Mary and Joseph faced unrelenting rejection when they arrived in Bethlehem. The city, theoretically their family's ancestral home, offered them no solace. Rejected by friends and family when they needed help the most, Mary and Joseph's cries for assistance fell on deaf ears. Their experience gives us a glimpse into the social rejection they endured. Their journey culminated in a stable where Mary gave birth, and from this chaos emerged peace as the world welcomed the newborn Son of God. The presence of Jesus brings tranquility, even in life's storms, and as we navigate this Christmas season, may the Lord bring you calm amid the chaos.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray you will keep whoever's mind is steadfast
in perfect peace because he trusts in you. Isaiah chapter
twenty six, Verse three. King Jesus, you bring perfect peace.
When storms rage and chaos ensues, I can lean on
(00:22):
you to steady my mind. I know life is filled
with trouble and there is no escaping it. But this
I also know with confidence. My God is for me
and never against me. I choose to stand firm in you,
pressing forward with perseverance when life gets hard. You are
(00:44):
my strength, and I am led by your spirit. Remind
me that you are my peace. When anxious thoughts lead
my mind astray, I am so grateful for my oneness
with you. Thank you that in all things my life
can glorify you. In Jesus's name, I pray Amen, Thank
(01:09):
you for praying with me today. Now discover the profound
intricacies of the heartbeat of faith with doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Their visit to Bethlehem was not a homecoming. Everywhere they turned,
they were rejected.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
As they entered the city, Mary began to feel the
pains of labor. Joseph rushed door to door trying to
find a place for the two of them to stay,
but the census had brought far too many people.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the chaos of
this event. It was not a silent night. Hi, I'm
doctor Andrew Farley, and welcome to another Christmas episode of
the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. We've embarked on a journey
together on the road to Christmas. The path leading up
(02:08):
to Christ's birth was not an easy one. There was
drama and danger that required faith to press forward. But
out of the chaos, the Prince of Peace was born.
Today we join Mary and Joseph on the road between
Nazareth and Bethlehem. The voyage wouldn't have been easy for anyone,
(02:30):
especially a young woman who was nine months pregnant and
her concerned husband.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
It was late and the night sky was painted with
bright stars. Joseph looked up at the vastness of the universe.
He felt small sitting under the galaxies, and thought about
the great plans of God. Then he looked down to
see Mary lying on her side under the blankets. Joseph
stroked her head and covered her shoulders with the covers.
(03:03):
They were on their way to Bethlehem for the census.
Joseph had wed Mary despite his doubts. It hurt at
first when he saw that she was with child, but
the Lord was faithful and visited him in a dream.
He told him of how Mary became pregnant. Joseph went
from overwhelming heartbreak to overwhelming gratitude. Why did the Lord
(03:25):
choose me, he thought to himself. He was honored and
felt the intense responsibility of caring for the Son of
God and his mother. He sat up all night, determined
to protect her and the unborn child. In just a
day's time, they would be in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David.
It was where Joseph's family was from. He looked at
(03:47):
his wife, filled with tender love for her and the
baby living within. She would give birth any day now,
and Joseph knew time was running out to get into Bethlehem.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
The census was not voluntary. Not only was it mandatory,
but it came at the worst time for the newlyweds.
Mary was struggling through the final stages of pregnancy, and
Joseph was still wrapping his head around the new role
that God had for him. The road to Bethlehem from
(04:19):
Nazareth was a ninety mile journey. An average traveler would
have taken anywhere between four to five days, but for
a pregnant woman, Joseph didn't take any chances. They probably
carved out a week for the journey, making frequent stops
for Mary to rest. Joseph was a Stonemason from Nazareth,
(04:43):
so they probably didn't have enough money to lodge somewhere
every night. They most likely camped under the stars in
the wilderness, occasionally accompanied by other travelers on the road.
As the small city of David crested above the risin,
Mary began to feel the pangs of childbirth.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
The sun peaked its head above the valley, and Mary
awoke gracefully to the sound of chirping birds. She watched
as Joseph was already packing the donkey for the journey.
She saddled up and rode as Joseph walked beside them.
After a full day's journey, the couple could see Bethlehem
in the distance. As they entered the city, Mary began
(05:29):
to feel the pains of labor. Joseph rushed door to door,
trying to find a place for the two of them
to stay, but the censes had brought far too many people.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Let's pause and speculate for a moment. Mary and Joseph
were descended from David, making Bethlehem the place their whole
family needed to report for the census. It's very likely
that parents, siblings, cousins, and distant relatives were also staying
in Bethlehem. It's even more likely that they had distant
(06:04):
relatives or friends of the family lodging right there. But
their visit to Bethlehem was not a homecoming. Everywhere they
turned they were rejected. When Mary and Joseph needed help
the most, they were turned away. There was no room
for them or the precious child about to be born.
(06:27):
This event gives us a glimpse into the social rejection
that Mary and Joseph endured due to this pregnancy. Years later,
Jesus would go on to say, the.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests,
but the son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.
Matthew eight twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the chaos of
this event. It was not a silent night. Imagine Joseph
of carrying Mary in his arms, begging for people to
let them in, but every door was closed. Friends and
family rejected them, and Mary's cries of pain, harmonized with
(07:14):
Joseph's please for help, fell on deaf ears. For those
who know the entire story of Jesus, the chaos of
this event takes us forward in time to a raging storm,
where waves billowed against the side of Jesus's boats.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
The winds tore against the sails. There was a sharp
whistle coming from the north and south of the sea.
The two winds collided against one another in the middle
of the waters. It was as if the Disciples were
caught in the middle of a cosmic war. The waves thrashed,
and the rain began to drum against the boat. James
and Andrew leaned both their bodies against the rudder to
(07:57):
keep it in place, as Peter and John to in
the sails. The others desperately emptied the boat of water,
but to no avail. The ship would sink in minutes
if the wind and rain did not cease. Jesus was
still sleeping soundly at the bottom of the boat. Simon
looked down at Jesus, astonished that someone so powerful could
sleep through such a nightmare. Master he yelled, the boat
(08:22):
was jolted by a wave, and Simon was sent tumbling
into the side of the boat. He crawled to the
small space where Jesus was sleeping and shook him awake. Master,
do you not care that we are perishing?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mary and Joseph may have been asking the same thing.
Doesn't anybody care? Doesn't God care? One small act of
kindness is all Mary and Joseph needed. Finally, after searching
the whole city for a place to stay, they were
given refuge among sheep and goats.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
They finally knocked on the door of an inn. Although
there was no room for them, they had a stable
where the animals slept, so Joseph and Mary settled there.
As the sun was setting over the western horizon. Mary's
screams echoed throughout the cave like stable. The pain was unbearable,
and the animals were stirring as they watched her labor.
Joseph was beside Mary the whole time, unwavering in his
(09:23):
devotion to her. Just as the sun finished its descent,
the sound of a baby's cries filled the stable.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Out of the chaos, God brought peace through Jesus. The
light of the world had come, and the storm subsided
as the two lovers beheld the newborn son of God.
Years later, Jesus would calm a different storm and restore peace.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Jesus looked, stood up, and walked towards the front of
the boat. The wind howled like a mighty tightened. The
disciples were tossed all around the boat from the waves,
but Jesus's feet were sturdy As he marched. The wind
whipped at his back and the rain fell down like gravel.
Jesus looked at the storm like an adversary. The waves
were relentless and smashed against the bough to rock Jesus overboard.
(10:17):
God's hero stood firm. He stretched out his hand and said, hush,
now be still. He spoke to the wind and waves
like disobedient children, like a lion. Finally tamed, the wind
and waves subsided and calmed. The sun peered in through
the dark clouds, and the sea became still as glass.
(10:38):
The scattered rays of light fell on Jesus's face. He
closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
The presence of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring
you an abundance of peace in every aspect of your life.
Through Jesus, you have total peace with God. He's reconciled
you to the Father through his sacrifice on the Cross.
Your sins are completely forgiven, and you stand in the
(11:09):
grace of God, not under the burden of the law.
In Christ, you have a new heart that aligns with
God's desires, bringing you peace and harmony with Him. As
God's beloved child, you can rest assured that His peace
is always with you. The Holy Spirit, who dwells within you,
(11:32):
produces the fruit of peace in your life. So this
Christmas season, may you embrace the peace that Jesus offers
and find comfort in his indwelling presence. Thank you for
listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
Follow the podcast so you can learn the Bible in
(11:55):
this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the pray dot Com app,
and for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrew Farley
dot org. That's Andrew Farley dot org.
Let us pray you will keep whoever's mind is steadfast
in perfect peace because he trusts in you. Isaiah chapter
twenty six, Verse three. King Jesus, you bring perfect peace.
When storms rage and chaos ensues, I can lean on
(00:22):
you to steady my mind. I know life is filled
with trouble and there is no escaping it. But this
I also know with confidence. My God is for me
and never against me. I choose to stand firm in you,
pressing forward with perseverance when life gets hard. You are
(00:44):
my strength, and I am led by your spirit. Remind
me that you are my peace. When anxious thoughts lead
my mind astray, I am so grateful for my oneness
with you. Thank you that in all things my life
can glorify you. In Jesus's name, I pray Amen, Thank
(01:09):
you for praying with me today. Now discover the profound
intricacies of the heartbeat of faith with doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Their visit to Bethlehem was not a homecoming. Everywhere they turned,
they were rejected.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
As they entered the city, Mary began to feel the
pains of labor. Joseph rushed door to door trying to
find a place for the two of them to stay,
but the census had brought far too many people.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the chaos of
this event. It was not a silent night. Hi, I'm
doctor Andrew Farley, and welcome to another Christmas episode of
the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. We've embarked on a journey
together on the road to Christmas. The path leading up
(02:08):
to Christ's birth was not an easy one. There was
drama and danger that required faith to press forward. But
out of the chaos, the Prince of Peace was born.
Today we join Mary and Joseph on the road between
Nazareth and Bethlehem. The voyage wouldn't have been easy for anyone,
(02:30):
especially a young woman who was nine months pregnant and
her concerned husband.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
It was late and the night sky was painted with
bright stars. Joseph looked up at the vastness of the universe.
He felt small sitting under the galaxies, and thought about
the great plans of God. Then he looked down to
see Mary lying on her side under the blankets. Joseph
stroked her head and covered her shoulders with the covers.
(03:03):
They were on their way to Bethlehem for the census.
Joseph had wed Mary despite his doubts. It hurt at
first when he saw that she was with child, but
the Lord was faithful and visited him in a dream.
He told him of how Mary became pregnant. Joseph went
from overwhelming heartbreak to overwhelming gratitude. Why did the Lord
(03:25):
choose me, he thought to himself. He was honored and
felt the intense responsibility of caring for the Son of
God and his mother. He sat up all night, determined
to protect her and the unborn child. In just a
day's time, they would be in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David.
It was where Joseph's family was from. He looked at
(03:47):
his wife, filled with tender love for her and the
baby living within. She would give birth any day now,
and Joseph knew time was running out to get into Bethlehem.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
The census was not voluntary. Not only was it mandatory,
but it came at the worst time for the newlyweds.
Mary was struggling through the final stages of pregnancy, and
Joseph was still wrapping his head around the new role
that God had for him. The road to Bethlehem from
(04:19):
Nazareth was a ninety mile journey. An average traveler would
have taken anywhere between four to five days, but for
a pregnant woman, Joseph didn't take any chances. They probably
carved out a week for the journey, making frequent stops
for Mary to rest. Joseph was a Stonemason from Nazareth,
(04:43):
so they probably didn't have enough money to lodge somewhere
every night. They most likely camped under the stars in
the wilderness, occasionally accompanied by other travelers on the road.
As the small city of David crested above the risin,
Mary began to feel the pangs of childbirth.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
The sun peaked its head above the valley, and Mary
awoke gracefully to the sound of chirping birds. She watched
as Joseph was already packing the donkey for the journey.
She saddled up and rode as Joseph walked beside them.
After a full day's journey, the couple could see Bethlehem
in the distance. As they entered the city, Mary began
(05:29):
to feel the pains of labor. Joseph rushed door to door,
trying to find a place for the two of them
to stay, but the censes had brought far too many people.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Let's pause and speculate for a moment. Mary and Joseph
were descended from David, making Bethlehem the place their whole
family needed to report for the census. It's very likely
that parents, siblings, cousins, and distant relatives were also staying
in Bethlehem. It's even more likely that they had distant
(06:04):
relatives or friends of the family lodging right there. But
their visit to Bethlehem was not a homecoming. Everywhere they
turned they were rejected. When Mary and Joseph needed help
the most, they were turned away. There was no room
for them or the precious child about to be born.
(06:27):
This event gives us a glimpse into the social rejection
that Mary and Joseph endured due to this pregnancy. Years later,
Jesus would go on to say, the.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests,
but the son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.
Matthew eight twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the chaos of
this event. It was not a silent night. Imagine Joseph
of carrying Mary in his arms, begging for people to
let them in, but every door was closed. Friends and
family rejected them, and Mary's cries of pain, harmonized with
(07:14):
Joseph's please for help, fell on deaf ears. For those
who know the entire story of Jesus, the chaos of
this event takes us forward in time to a raging storm,
where waves billowed against the side of Jesus's boats.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
The winds tore against the sails. There was a sharp
whistle coming from the north and south of the sea.
The two winds collided against one another in the middle
of the waters. It was as if the Disciples were
caught in the middle of a cosmic war. The waves thrashed,
and the rain began to drum against the boat. James
and Andrew leaned both their bodies against the rudder to
(07:57):
keep it in place, as Peter and John to in
the sails. The others desperately emptied the boat of water,
but to no avail. The ship would sink in minutes
if the wind and rain did not cease. Jesus was
still sleeping soundly at the bottom of the boat. Simon
looked down at Jesus, astonished that someone so powerful could
sleep through such a nightmare. Master he yelled, the boat
(08:22):
was jolted by a wave, and Simon was sent tumbling
into the side of the boat. He crawled to the
small space where Jesus was sleeping and shook him awake. Master,
do you not care that we are perishing?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mary and Joseph may have been asking the same thing.
Doesn't anybody care? Doesn't God care? One small act of
kindness is all Mary and Joseph needed. Finally, after searching
the whole city for a place to stay, they were
given refuge among sheep and goats.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
They finally knocked on the door of an inn. Although
there was no room for them, they had a stable
where the animals slept, so Joseph and Mary settled there.
As the sun was setting over the western horizon. Mary's
screams echoed throughout the cave like stable. The pain was unbearable,
and the animals were stirring as they watched her labor.
Joseph was beside Mary the whole time, unwavering in his
(09:23):
devotion to her. Just as the sun finished its descent,
the sound of a baby's cries filled the stable.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Out of the chaos, God brought peace through Jesus. The
light of the world had come, and the storm subsided
as the two lovers beheld the newborn son of God.
Years later, Jesus would calm a different storm and restore peace.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Jesus looked, stood up, and walked towards the front of
the boat. The wind howled like a mighty tightened. The
disciples were tossed all around the boat from the waves,
but Jesus's feet were sturdy As he marched. The wind
whipped at his back and the rain fell down like gravel.
Jesus looked at the storm like an adversary. The waves
were relentless and smashed against the bough to rock Jesus overboard.
(10:17):
God's hero stood firm. He stretched out his hand and said, hush,
now be still. He spoke to the wind and waves
like disobedient children, like a lion. Finally tamed, the wind
and waves subsided and calmed. The sun peered in through
the dark clouds, and the sea became still as glass.
(10:38):
The scattered rays of light fell on Jesus's face. He
closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
The presence of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring
you an abundance of peace in every aspect of your life.
Through Jesus, you have total peace with God. He's reconciled
you to the Father through his sacrifice on the Cross.
Your sins are completely forgiven, and you stand in the
(11:09):
grace of God, not under the burden of the law.
In Christ, you have a new heart that aligns with
God's desires, bringing you peace and harmony with Him. As
God's beloved child, you can rest assured that His peace
is always with you. The Holy Spirit, who dwells within you,
(11:32):
produces the fruit of peace in your life. So this
Christmas season, may you embrace the peace that Jesus offers
and find comfort in his indwelling presence. Thank you for
listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
Follow the podcast so you can learn the Bible in
(11:55):
this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the pray dot Com app,
and for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrew Farley
dot org. That's Andrew Farley dot org.
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