Nativity: Christmas

Welcome to the Christmas series! Underneath the starlit sky, surrounded by hay and animal filth, the Savior of the World and Hope of Heaven is born. The climax of creation and crescendo of the cosmos takes place in the most humble of contexts. 

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As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel.

They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold,
the Virgin will conceive and bear a son, and shall
call his name Emmanuel Isaiah seven fourteen. Lord Jesus, Emmanuel
God with us. We thank you for coming down in

(00:23):
human likeness, for fulfilling prophecies, and for providing us with
a relationship that transcends our understanding. Help us to grasp
the depth of your love and the significance of your birth.
May our lives reflect the humility and purity you demonstrate

(00:46):
it as a child. Then may we embrace the new
beginning you offer. Amen. Thank you for praying with me
to day. Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories
of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
Stars blanketed the night sky like white paint scattered across
a dark canvas. Ruling among the candescent lights was a
new star fixed above Bethlehem. It shone brighter than the others,
its radiance mimicking that of the moon. The silvery gleams
trickled downward like a stream from a mountain. Under the

(01:38):
lights was the stable carved in the hill. Behind the inn,
Joseph made a space for Mary to give birth. Time
was of the essence. He frantically swept and laid out
some blankets the innkeeper had given him. He turned to
his wife, whose back was against the stone walls. Joseph
sighed and shook his head. I'm sorry, Mary, this will

(02:02):
have to do. Mary held her lower back and belly
and inched her way towards him. I'm ready, she sighed.
She winced in pain and had Joseph help her on
to the blankets. Everything smelled like hay and soot, and
the breeze wafting in from the outside carried with it
the scent of sheep done. Mary couldn't help but chuckle.

(02:25):
She leaned back and wondered why the Lord was working
in this way. She had so many questions, but the
sudden contractions drowned out her thoughts.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Oh, he's coming, Joseph, He's coming.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Mary clenched her fists and with quiet determination, began to push.

Speaker 4 (02:45):
Hello and Merry Christmas, wherever you are and however you
may be celebrating. I pray the Lord's peace and blessing
be upon you. I'm Rabbi Schneider from discovering the Jewish Jesus,
and it is my absolute joy to guide you through
this episode of stories of the Messiah. Christmas isn't just
about the birth of a child in Bethlehem. It is

(03:06):
the awe inspiring story of God coming down in the
lightness of Man, a theme heralded in the title a Manuel,
which means God with us. Do you ever pause to
consider what thrills God? Looking at the entirety of scripture
reveals that God finds joy in being among his people.

(03:27):
He was in the garden with Adam and Eve. He
followed Abraham's family. He dwelt with the Hebrews and the Tabernacles.
Then he dwelt in the temple among the people of Israel.
The incarnation of Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God's
joyous pursuit of humanity. Let this episode remind everyone that
God wants to be with you. He wants to transform

(03:49):
your life, fill you with this spirit, and guide you
daily toward His kingdom. This episode will give us an
intimate glimpse into the birth of Christ. Mary and Joseph
holed the new born King and experience awe, confusion, wonder,
and excitement. The birth of Christ invice us all to
these feelings. It is truly a baffling thing that the

(04:11):
God of all creation would humble himself in the likeness
of a helpless baby. Without further ado, Let's listen to
the cinematic retelling of the birth of Christ. Afterward will
reflect on the joys of Christmas.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
The stable was dark, only slightly lit by the oil
lamp hanging over Mary and Joseph. Mary's quiet and determined
breaths echoed through the stable. Beads of sweat like pearls
descended down her brow. Is this a blessing or a curse?

Speaker 1 (04:43):
She murmured to herself.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
However, she knew it was a blessing. She knew what
awaited her on the other side of her anguish God
had foretold this day, and she was determined to step
into the promised hope. At her side was Joseph, reassuring
and steady. Hour after hour, Mary strained. Finally, her shrieks

(05:06):
of distress were replaced with the tender whimpers of her mood.
In the sun, Joseph wrapped him in his arms and
wiped him with woven wool. He stared into the child's eyes.
There was nothing different about him. There were no lights
radiating from his eyes or humming of heavenly hosts behind him.
He was a baby, crying and taking in the newness

(05:28):
of life. But as Joseph cradled him in his arms,
he knew without a doubt his child was exceptional, chosen, blessed.
All the turmoil, danger and chaos he had to endure
was worth it for the sake of this treasure he
held in his hands. We already know his name, he

(05:50):
said to Mary. Mary reached for her son and cradled
him in her arms. She stroked his face.

Speaker 3 (05:57):
His name will be Jesus, she whispered, the Lord Saints.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Mary pressed Jesus against her chest and cried joyfully. He
was the fulfillment of God's promise to humanity, the good
Shepherd of Israel, the savior of the world. But at
that moment, under the chilly night sky, he was Mary's baby.
The heart fluttered at the sound of his whimpers. Jesus,

(06:24):
she whispered again, welcome. Joseph crouched beside Mary, and the
two stared at the child with dirting eyes. It was
a baffling thing to behold. God himself, the maker of
the stars, the masters of the sea, was with them.
Among them the prophecy told by Isaiah, rang in their
minds like wedding bells. Therefore, the Lord himself shall give

(06:47):
you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear
a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, which means
God with us. God was with us them in the flesh,
voice whimpering, and eyes adjusting to the dim lights of
the oil lamp. A small gust of wind blew through

(07:09):
the cave, and he shivered. The maker of the wind
shivered as it blew. Mary could barely wrap her mind
around it, and perhaps never truly would until it was
time to behold his power over sin and death. Joseph
took Jesus from Mary and swadowed him tightly, and the
tattered remains of the blankets Marry used to save his life.

(07:30):
He placed him in the manger where the donkey fed,
the same donkey that carried Mary from Nazareth. Joseph, perhaps
from exhaustion, felt his mind wander. He looked at the
craftsmanship of the manger and couldn't help but critique it.
That's when he realized, perhaps for the first time, that
he would raise this child to be a craftsman like him.

(07:51):
He was going to raise the son of God to
be a carpenter. What are you doing, Lord Joseph, wondered.
He stepped back and watched the boy gently fall asleep.
To the low humming of Mary's voice, the cave filled
with the warmth of her melody. There in a stable,
tucked in a mountain, Mary sang the same song of

(08:12):
redemption she had in the beginning, a song of salvation, redemption,
and hope, undying and unrelenting hope.

Speaker 3 (08:22):
He has shown his strength with his mighty arm, scattered
the proud and humbled behind. He has shown his strength
with his mighty arm, scattered the proud, humbled behind. He

(08:47):
toppled the mighty from their thrones, lifted the humble, and
set them apart. Now generations were calm plesson.

Speaker 2 (09:02):
For the might.

Speaker 3 (09:03):
You want to tell great things from me, Holy, Holy,
Holy Name, mercies.

Speaker 4 (09:14):
Those on that first Christmas, Messiah was born under a
canopy of stars and surrounded by livestock. Jesus's birth fulfilled
God's promise to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

(09:35):
He promised that one day a son of Eve would
be born to crush the work of evil. That promised
son arrived not in a chariot or in a palace,
but in a stable. This humble arrival tells us that
God doesn't care for pomp and circumstance, but humility and passion.
The circumstances of Jesus' birth were foretold in numerous Old

(09:57):
Testament prophecies, signifying that God's redemptive plan was unfolding exactly
as he had intended. Isaiah seven fourteen said, therefore, the
Lord will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son, and call him a Manuel.
This prophecy, given centuries before Jius's birth, pointed to the

(10:19):
unique circumstances of his arrival and his divine nature. The
birth of Christ was not a random occurrence. It was
a carefully orchestrated Divine plan that fulfilled specific prophecies, providing
evidence of his messiahship. The title Emmanuel Carrie's profound significance.
It means again God with us. That title symbolizes the

(10:45):
ultimate relationship between God and humanity made possible through the incarnation.
God did not remain distant or detached from human suffering
and sin. He came down to live among us. In
Philippians two six and seven, we see that Jesus, being
in very nature God, did not consider equality with God

(11:06):
something to be used to his own advantage. Rather, he
made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. Jesus's arrival as a vulnerable
child demonstrates a profound humility and an invitation to approach
God with childlike faith. It also represents a new beginning

(11:29):
and the hope for redemption and renewal. The Nativity story
is not merely a historical account. It's a story filled
with mystery, drama, and profound theological truths. This story illustrates
God's profound love and willingness to enter our messy, broken world.
But why did Jesus have to come as a child?

(11:50):
Theologically this has profound implications. By coming as a child,
God made himself approachable and relatable. He began life on
earth in the most humble and vulnerable state, indicating his
willingness to identify with the human condition. Jesus's birth as
a child also symbolizes innocence and purity, quality is necessary

(12:13):
for the one who would take away the sins of
the world. Lastly, the birth of a child represents new
life and hope. In Yeshee, in Jesus, we see the
promise of a new creation, a fresh start for humanity.
Reconcile to God. May this Christmas season be a time
to reflect on the profound truth that God is with us.

(12:36):
He is not distant or aloof, but intimately involved in
our lives, offering hope, redemption, and a relationship that begins
now and lasts for eternity. Our story is not yet over.
God has orchestrated visitors to come and behold Jesus, and
behind the scenes, a plot will be made to find
and kill the new born Messiah. Continue this epic Christmas

(12:59):
tale with us for the rest of December and behold
God's sovereign power. If you are intrigued about prophecies concerning
the Messiah, you can visit my website Discovering the Jewishgis
dot com. We have a wealth of resources to teach
you about God's sovereign plan throughout scripture. If you have
enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave us a review.

(13:22):
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