1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,870 Speaker 1: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, 2 00:00:05,530 --> 00:00:09,770 Speaker 1: the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and shall 3 00:00:09,789 --> 00:00:19,870 Speaker 1: call his name Emmanuel. Isaiah 7.14 Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, God 4 00:00:20,130 --> 00:00:24,650 Speaker 1: with us. We thank you for coming down in human likeness, 5 00:00:25,650 --> 00:00:30,330 Speaker 1: for fulfilling prophecies, and for providing us with a relationship 6 00:00:30,430 --> 00:00:36,330 Speaker 1: that transcends our understanding. Help us to grasp the depth 7 00:00:36,409 --> 00:00:41,540 Speaker 1: of your love and the significance of your birth. May 8 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: our lives reflect the humility and purity you demonstrated as 9 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:53,390 Speaker 1: a child. And may we embrace the new beginning you offer. 10 00:00:54,970 --> 00:00:55,190 Speaker 2: Amen. 11 00:00:58,090 --> 00:01:01,370 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now 12 00:01:01,490 --> 00:01:05,750 Speaker 1: for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider. 13 00:01:14,670 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 2: Stars blanketed the night sky like white paint scattered across 14 00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:24,380 Speaker 2: a dark canvas. Ruling among the candescent lights was a 15 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: new star fixed above Bethlehem, It shone brighter than the others, 16 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,380 Speaker 2: its radiance mimicking that of the moon. The silvery gleams 17 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,170 Speaker 2: trickled downward like a stream from a mountain. Under the 18 00:01:38,230 --> 00:01:41,630 Speaker 2: lights was the stable carved in the hill behind the inn. 19 00:01:43,130 --> 00:01:46,310 Speaker 2: Joseph made a space for Mary to give birth. Time 20 00:01:46,390 --> 00:01:50,150 Speaker 2: was of the essence. He frantically swept and laid out 21 00:01:50,190 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: some blankets the innkeeper had given him. He turned to 22 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,980 Speaker 2: his wife, whose back was against the stone walls. Joseph 23 00:01:58,020 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 2: sighed and shook his head. I'm sorry, Mary. 24 00:02:02,260 --> 00:02:03,100 Speaker 1: This will have to do. 25 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,550 Speaker 2: Mary held her lower back and belly and inched her 26 00:02:06,610 --> 00:02:10,370 Speaker 2: way towards him. I'm ready, she sighed. She winced in 27 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:14,609 Speaker 2: pain and had Joseph help her onto the blankets. Everything 28 00:02:14,690 --> 00:02:18,490 Speaker 2: smelled like hay and soot, and the breeze wafting in 29 00:02:18,530 --> 00:02:22,310 Speaker 2: from the outside carried with it the scent of sheep dung. 30 00:02:22,990 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 2: Mary couldn't help but chuckle. She leaned back and wondered 31 00:02:26,419 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 2: why the Lord was working in this way. She had 32 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: so many questions, but the sudden contractions drowned out her thoughts. Oh, 33 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: he's coming, Joseph. 34 00:02:37,669 --> 00:02:38,190 Speaker 3: He's coming. 35 00:02:38,530 --> 00:02:43,030 Speaker 2: Mary clenched her fists and with quiet determination began to push. 36 00:02:45,490 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 3: Hello, everyone, and welcome to another Christmas episode of the 37 00:02:48,620 --> 00:02:53,820 Speaker 3: Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from Pray.com. And it's my absolute 38 00:02:53,880 --> 00:03:00,060 Speaker 3: joy to guide you through this episode. Christmas isn't just 39 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,230 Speaker 3: about the birth of a child in Bethlehem. It's the 40 00:03:03,430 --> 00:03:07,130 Speaker 3: awe-inspiring story of God coming down on the likeness of man, 41 00:03:07,770 --> 00:03:11,730 Speaker 3: a theme heralded in the title Emmanuel, which means God 42 00:03:11,790 --> 00:03:16,299 Speaker 3: with us. Do you ever pause to consider what thrills God? 43 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:20,790 Speaker 3: Looking at the entirety of Scripture reveals that God finds 44 00:03:20,889 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 3: joy in being among His people. He was in the 45 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,300 Speaker 3: garden with Adam and Eve. He followed Abraham's family. He 46 00:03:29,340 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: dwelled with the Hebrews in the tabernacle. Then He dwelled 47 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,030 Speaker 3: in the temple among the people of Israel. The incarnation 48 00:03:37,110 --> 00:03:41,030 Speaker 3: of Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God's joyous pursuit 49 00:03:41,070 --> 00:03:46,070 Speaker 3: of humanity. Let this episode remind everyone that God wants 50 00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:49,970 Speaker 3: to be with you He wants to transform your life, 51 00:03:50,270 --> 00:03:52,910 Speaker 3: to fill you with His Spirit, and to guide you 52 00:03:52,990 --> 00:03:59,460 Speaker 3: daily toward His kingdom. This episode will give us an 53 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,580 Speaker 3: intimate glimpse into the birth of Christ. Mary and Joseph 54 00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:09,830 Speaker 3: behold the newborn King and experience awe, confusion, wonder, and excitement. 55 00:04:10,910 --> 00:04:13,930 Speaker 3: The birth of Christ invites us into all these feelings— 56 00:04:15,170 --> 00:04:17,950 Speaker 3: It's a truly baffling thing that the God of all 57 00:04:17,990 --> 00:04:21,770 Speaker 3: creation would humble himself in the likeness of a helpless baby. 58 00:04:23,860 --> 00:04:27,580 Speaker 3: Without further ado, let's listen to this cinematic retelling of 59 00:04:27,620 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 3: the birth of Christ. 60 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,250 Speaker 2: The stable was dark, only slightly lit by the oil 61 00:04:34,290 --> 00:04:39,110 Speaker 2: lamp hanging over Mary and Joseph. Mary's quiet and determined 62 00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:43,250 Speaker 2: breaths echoed through the stable. Beads of sweat like pearls 63 00:04:43,310 --> 00:04:44,810 Speaker 2: descended down her brow. 64 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 4: Is this a blessing or a curse? 65 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:48,740 Speaker 1: She murmured to herself. 66 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,870 Speaker 2: However, she knew it was a blessing. She knew what 67 00:04:52,930 --> 00:04:56,110 Speaker 2: awaited her on the other side of her anguish. God 68 00:04:56,230 --> 00:04:59,670 Speaker 2: had foretold this day, and she was determined to step 69 00:04:59,730 --> 00:05:03,950 Speaker 2: into the promised hope. At her side was Joseph, reassuring 70 00:05:04,010 --> 00:05:10,090 Speaker 2: and steady. Hour after hour, Mary strained. Finally, her shrieks 71 00:05:10,130 --> 00:05:13,589 Speaker 2: of distress were replaced with the tender whimpers of her 72 00:05:13,650 --> 00:05:17,299 Speaker 2: newborn son. Joseph wrapped him in his arms and wiped 73 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: him with woven wool. He stared into the child's eyes. 74 00:05:21,339 --> 00:05:24,380 Speaker 2: There was nothing different about him. There were no lights 75 00:05:24,460 --> 00:05:28,020 Speaker 2: radiating from his eyes or humming of heavenly hosts behind him. 76 00:05:29,020 --> 00:05:32,890 Speaker 2: He was a baby, crying and taking in the newness 77 00:05:32,930 --> 00:05:36,950 Speaker 2: of life. But as Joseph cradled him in his arms... 78 00:05:37,380 --> 00:05:42,789 Speaker 2: He knew without a doubt this child was exceptional, chosen, blessed. 79 00:05:43,790 --> 00:05:47,390 Speaker 2: All the turmoil, danger, and chaos he had to endure 80 00:05:47,790 --> 00:05:50,730 Speaker 2: was worth it for the sake of this treasure he 81 00:05:50,830 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 2: held in his hands. We already know his name, he 82 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,700 Speaker 2: said to Mary. Mary reached for her son and cradled 83 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,339 Speaker 2: him in her arms. She stroked his face. 84 00:06:02,020 --> 00:06:06,260 Speaker 4: His name will be Jesus, she whispered. The Lord save. 85 00:06:07,140 --> 00:06:11,660 Speaker 2: Mary pressed Jesus against her chest and cried joyfully. He 86 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:15,740 Speaker 2: was the fulfillment of God's promise to humanity, the good 87 00:06:15,850 --> 00:06:19,810 Speaker 2: shepherd of Israel, the savior of the world. But at 88 00:06:19,890 --> 00:06:24,510 Speaker 2: that moment, under the chilly night sky, he was Mary's baby. 89 00:06:25,070 --> 00:06:28,409 Speaker 2: A heart fluttered at the sound of his whimpers. Jesus, 90 00:06:28,830 --> 00:06:32,810 Speaker 2: she whispered again. Welcome. Joseph crouched beside Mary and the 91 00:06:32,890 --> 00:06:36,380 Speaker 2: two stared at the child with doting eyes. It was 92 00:06:36,420 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 2: a baffling thing to behold. God himself, the maker of 93 00:06:40,540 --> 00:06:43,700 Speaker 2: the stars, the masters of the sea, was with them, 94 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,780 Speaker 2: among them. The prophecy told by Isaiah rang in their 95 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,930 Speaker 2: minds like wedding bells. Therefore the Lord himself shall give 96 00:06:51,970 --> 00:06:56,250 Speaker 2: you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear 97 00:06:56,290 --> 00:07:00,650 Speaker 2: a son and shall call his name Emmanuel, which means 98 00:07:01,210 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: God with us. God was with them in the flesh. 99 00:07:06,410 --> 00:07:09,850 Speaker 2: voice whimpering and eyes adjusting to the dim lights of 100 00:07:09,890 --> 00:07:13,350 Speaker 2: the oil lamp. A small gust of wind blew through 101 00:07:13,390 --> 00:07:16,970 Speaker 2: the cave and he shivered. The maker of the wind 102 00:07:17,290 --> 00:07:21,130 Speaker 2: shivered as it blew. Mary could barely wrap her mind 103 00:07:21,190 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: around it and perhaps never truly would until it was 104 00:07:24,540 --> 00:07:28,300 Speaker 2: time to behold his power over sin and death. Joseph 105 00:07:28,340 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 2: took Jesus from Mary and swallowed him tightly in the 106 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,460 Speaker 2: tattered remains of the blankets Mary used to save his life. 107 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,550 Speaker 2: He placed him in the manger where the donkey fed, 108 00:07:37,990 --> 00:07:42,090 Speaker 2: the same donkey that carried Mary from Nazareth. Joseph, perhaps 109 00:07:42,150 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 2: from exhaustion, felt his mind wander. He looked at the 110 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 2: craftsmanship of the manger and couldn't help but critique it. 111 00:07:49,210 --> 00:07:52,420 Speaker 2: That's when he realized, perhaps for the first time, that 112 00:07:52,460 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: he would raise this child to be a craftsman like him. 113 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,540 Speaker 2: He was going to raise the Son of God to 114 00:07:57,580 --> 00:07:58,980 Speaker 2: be a carpenter? 115 00:07:59,460 --> 00:08:00,820 Speaker 1: What are you doing, Lord? 116 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,530 Speaker 2: Joseph wondered. He stepped back and watched the boy gently 117 00:08:04,590 --> 00:08:08,050 Speaker 2: fall asleep to the low humming of Mary's voice. The 118 00:08:08,130 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 2: cave filled with the warmth of her melody. There, in 119 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,540 Speaker 2: a stable tucked in a mountain, Mary sang the same 120 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: song of redemption she had in the beginning. A song 121 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: of salvation, redemption and hope. Undying and unrelenting hope. 122 00:08:26,940 --> 00:08:33,550 Speaker 4: He has shown his strength with his mighty arm. Scattered 123 00:08:33,570 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 4: the proud and humbled the hard He has shown his 124 00:08:39,410 --> 00:08:48,420 Speaker 4: strength with his mighty arm Scattered the proud, humbled the 125 00:08:48,460 --> 00:08:56,730 Speaker 4: hard He toppled the mighty from their thrones And lifted 126 00:08:56,770 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 4: the humble and set them apart Now all generations will 127 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:09,329 Speaker 4: call me blessed. For the mighty one has done great 128 00:09:09,410 --> 00:09:17,350 Speaker 4: things for me. Holy, holy, holy is his name. His 129 00:09:17,390 --> 00:09:21,130 Speaker 4: mercy is for those who believe. 130 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:32,020 Speaker 3: On that first Christmas, The Messiah was born under a 131 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:38,020 Speaker 3: canopy of stars and surrounded by livestock. Jesus' birth fulfilled 132 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 3: God's promise to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 133 00:09:41,890 --> 00:09:44,890 Speaker 3: He promised there that one day a son of Eve 134 00:09:44,910 --> 00:09:48,530 Speaker 3: would be born to crush the work of evil. That 135 00:09:48,610 --> 00:09:52,309 Speaker 3: promised son arrived, not on a chariot or in a palace, 136 00:09:52,790 --> 00:09:56,829 Speaker 3: but in a stable. His humble arrival tells us that 137 00:09:57,170 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 3: God doesn't care for pomp and circumstances. humility and passion. 138 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 3: The circumstances of Jesus' birth were foretold in numerous Old 139 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 3: Testament prophecies, signifying that God's redemptive plan was unfolding exactly 140 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:21,470 Speaker 3: as He had intended. Isaiah 7, verse 14 said, Therefore 141 00:10:21,530 --> 00:10:24,230 Speaker 3: the Lord will give you a sign. The virgin will 142 00:10:24,250 --> 00:10:28,050 Speaker 3: conceive and give birth to a son and call him Emmanuel. 143 00:10:29,550 --> 00:10:33,739 Speaker 3: This prophecy, given centuries before Jesus' birth, pointed to the 144 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:39,140 Speaker 3: unique circumstances of His arrival and His divine nature. The 145 00:10:39,179 --> 00:10:42,460 Speaker 3: birth of Christ was not a random occurrence. It was 146 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:48,340 Speaker 3: a carefully orchestrated divine plan that fulfilled specific prophecies, providing 147 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:55,500 Speaker 3: evidence of His Messiahship. The title Emmanuel carries profound significance. 148 00:10:56,179 --> 00:11:01,290 Speaker 3: It means God with us. That title symbolizes the intimate 149 00:11:01,350 --> 00:11:06,209 Speaker 3: relationship between God and humanity made possible through the Incarnation. 150 00:11:07,270 --> 00:11:10,930 Speaker 3: God did not remain distant or detached from human suffering 151 00:11:11,010 --> 00:11:16,619 Speaker 3: and sin. He came down to live among us. In 152 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:18,900 Speaker 3: Philippians 2, verses 6 and 7, we see that Jesus says, 153 00:11:21,140 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 3: Being in very nature God, did not consider equality with 154 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,589 Speaker 3: God something to be used to his own advantage. Rather, 155 00:11:28,610 --> 00:11:31,929 Speaker 3: he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of 156 00:11:31,990 --> 00:11:40,630 Speaker 3: a servant, being made in human likeness. Jesus' arrival as 157 00:11:40,670 --> 00:11:45,510 Speaker 3: a vulnerable child demonstrates a profound humility and an invitation 158 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:50,790 Speaker 3: to approach God with childlike faith. It also represents a 159 00:11:50,870 --> 00:11:55,570 Speaker 3: new beginning and the hope for redemption and renewal. The 160 00:11:55,610 --> 00:11:59,189 Speaker 3: Nativity story is not merely a historical account. It's a 161 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:05,300 Speaker 3: story filled with mystery, drama, and profound theological truths. This 162 00:12:05,420 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 3: story illustrates God's profound love and willingness to enter our messy, 163 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 3: broken world. But why did Jesus have to come as 164 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:22,610 Speaker 3: a child? Theologically, this has profound implications. By coming as 165 00:12:22,650 --> 00:12:28,050 Speaker 3: a child, God made Himself approachable and relatable. He began 166 00:12:28,130 --> 00:12:31,130 Speaker 3: life on earth in the most humble and vulnerable state, 167 00:12:31,730 --> 00:12:38,110 Speaker 3: indicating His willingness to identify with the human condition. Jesus' 168 00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:43,270 Speaker 3: birth as a child also symbolizes innocence and purity, qualities 169 00:12:43,350 --> 00:12:46,010 Speaker 3: necessary for the one who would take away the sins 170 00:12:46,050 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 3: of the world Lastly, the birth of a child represents 171 00:12:50,820 --> 00:12:55,449 Speaker 3: new life and hope. In Jesus, we see the promise 172 00:12:55,510 --> 00:12:59,510 Speaker 3: of a new creation, a fresh start for humanity, reconciled 173 00:12:59,550 --> 00:13:04,670 Speaker 3: to God. May this Christmas season be a time to 174 00:13:04,730 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 3: reflect on the profound truth that God is with us. 175 00:13:09,860 --> 00:13:13,980 Speaker 3: He's not distant or aloof, but intimately involved in our lives, 176 00:13:14,660 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 3: offering hope, redemption, and and a relationship that begins now 177 00:13:19,420 --> 00:13:24,059 Speaker 3: and lasts for eternity. Our story is not yet over. 178 00:13:25,300 --> 00:13:30,570 Speaker 3: God has orchestrated visitors to come and behold Jesus. And 179 00:13:30,610 --> 00:13:33,670 Speaker 3: behind the scenes, a plot will be made to find 180 00:13:33,890 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 3: and kill the newborn Messiah. Continue this epic Christmas tale 181 00:13:38,500 --> 00:13:41,580 Speaker 3: with us for the rest of December and behold God's 182 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:42,660 Speaker 3: sovereign power.