1 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,959 Speaker 1: Merry Christmas and welcome to the Tutor Dixon Podcasts. This 2 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: Time with family giving gifts, the decorations throughout town, but 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: most of all, the birth of our Savior, and with 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: all stories in the Bible, Jesus' birth hits differently at 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 1: different times throughout life. When I was a child, I 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: saw Mary as this amazing, strong mother figure and she 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,959 Speaker 1: was old and wise. Was that because she was old 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: and wise? No Biblical scholars would say they believe that 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: she was likely around fifteen to sixteen years old. It 11 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: was just because my child mind felt like Mary really 12 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: got it, because adults must really get it. But then 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: as I got older, I realized most adults are just 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: faking it till we make it, especially when it comes 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: to parenting. And now as an adult, I read the 16 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: Christmas story I am in awe of Mary's obedience Luke 17 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: one twenty six through thirty eight. In the sixth month 18 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, 19 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be 20 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David 21 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,119 Speaker 1: the virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her 22 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: and said, greetings, you, who are highly favored. The Lord 23 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at his words 24 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But 25 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: the angel said to her, do not be afraid. Mary, 26 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: you have found favor with God. You will conceive and 27 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: give birth to a son, and you are to call 28 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: him Jesus. He will be great and will be called 29 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will 30 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: give him the throne of his father David, and he 31 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. His kingdom will never end. 32 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I 33 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: am a virgin. The angel answered, the Holy Spirit will 34 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: come on you, and the power of the Most High 35 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born 36 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, 37 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: is going to have a child in her old age, 38 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: and she who was said to be unable to conceive 39 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: as in her sixth month, For no word from God 40 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: will ever fail. The angel in the story knows she's scared, 41 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: and we know that because the text tells us Mary 42 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind 43 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: of greeting this might be when an angel comes to 44 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: a peasant girl. What happens? I mean, my adult self says, 45 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: what did she think? Did she think she was in trouble? 46 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: Did she think she was going to die? Remember, there's 47 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: no savior at this point, so I imagine her fear is 48 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: a little amplified from what ours would be knowing that 49 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: we have a savior. But she was essentially told, you 50 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: will give birth to the Savior. I imagine she had 51 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: some idea of the prophecy, but did she understand in 52 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: this moment what that meant? And yet her response, as 53 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: a teenager is I am the Lord's servant. May your 54 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: word to me be fulfilled? That was her response. She's 55 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 1: ready to do this, and this isn't an easy life 56 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: because you know, kings kill people who want to overthrow them. 57 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: And does she know what it means for him to 58 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: be lord? What it means for him to be king? 59 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: Right now? In this time of life, work is hard. 60 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: Women don't give birth out of wedlock. What would Joseph say? 61 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: All of these things had to have been in her mind, 62 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: But God clears the path. Joseph gets a special message too, 63 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: and we read about that in Matthew one eighteen through 64 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: twenty five. It says this is how the birth of 65 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: g Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother, Mary was 66 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, 67 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 68 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law and 69 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, 70 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,679 Speaker 1: he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after 71 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,799 Speaker 1: he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared 72 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, 73 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, 74 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 75 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: She will give birth to a son, and you are 76 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: to give him the name Jesus, because he will save 77 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: his people from their sins. All this took place to 78 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet, the 79 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and 80 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. 81 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: When Joseph woke up, he did what the Angel of 82 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as 83 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: his wife, but he did not consummate their marriage until 84 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: she gave birth to a son, and he gave him 85 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: the name Jesus. So we know Mary carried the Lord 86 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: in her womb, but we are clearly told Joseph gave 87 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: the baby the name Jesus. God chose regular people to 88 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: bring his son into the world, Mary as his mother, 89 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: Joseph as his adopted or earthly father. But regular people. 90 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: Would we have forgotten had a queen given birth to 91 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: the Lord and he grew up in a palace protected 92 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: with the story have been as powerful? Would we have 93 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: understood that the Lord has plans for all of us, 94 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: no matter whether we are kings and queens or we 95 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 1: are peasants, if we had chosen the path. Would we 96 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: think that people would need to see a man in 97 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: power to believe he is Lord? But how much more 98 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: powerful is it to know that the baby Jesus was 99 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: protected and loved by a young man and his wife 100 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: from the poor part of town. But the baby would 101 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,679 Speaker 1: have an even more humble beginning than that. The story 102 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: in Luke Ti one through seven reads. In those days, 103 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the world 104 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: should be registered This was the first registration when Quirinius 105 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: was governor of Syria, and all went to be registered 106 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: to each his own town. And Joseph went up from 107 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea to the 108 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was 109 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: of the house and lineage of David, to be registered 110 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while 111 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: they were there at the time came for her to 112 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, 113 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: when wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in 114 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: a major because there was no place for them at 115 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: the inn. Wow. You think about this and you think 116 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: we're either Mary or Joe. Joseph ever, wondering why the 117 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: man who was to sit on David's throne would endure 118 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: such a meager entrance to the world. Did they ever 119 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: feel like they couldn't provide what God expected? How often 120 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: do we feel like that? How often do we feel 121 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: like we're not doing things right? And it's not like 122 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: we're alone. Think about Sarah who told Abraham to have 123 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: a child with Hagar because she thought she needs to 124 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: help God fulfill his promise. Sometimes we feel like that. 125 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: But that's the beauty of the story of Jesus' birth, 126 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: is that the path was so challenging a virgin convincing 127 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: Joseph getting to Bethlehem. It would all seem overwhelming. But God, 128 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: God had a plan, and his plan is good, and 129 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: Mary and Joseph knew that, and they never questioned it. 130 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: And we are to know that too. I mean, were 131 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,239 Speaker 1: they prepared for what would happen on the night of Jesus' birth. 132 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: Whether they were or not, they knew God would know 133 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: what would happen. They were in a barn alone. Joseph 134 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: had no experience helping a woman in childbirth, and was 135 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: there to witness the birth of his son and his 136 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: own savior. It is truly a magical story. And how 137 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: else would the shepherds find them if it weren't. This 138 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: is what Luke two eight through twenty one tells us 139 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: about the miracle of the shepherds who became messengers. It 140 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: goes and in that same region there were shepherds out 141 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: in the field keeping watch over their flock by night, 142 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and 143 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they 144 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: were filled with fear, and the Angel said to them, 145 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of 146 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: great joy that will be for all people. For unto 147 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: you is born this day in the City of David, 148 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: as Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will 149 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: be a sign for you. You will find a baby 150 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: wrapped in swaddling claws and lying in a manger. And 151 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: suddenly there was an angel therewith the angel was a 152 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying glory to 153 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: God in the highest and on earth, peace among those 154 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: with whom He is pleased. When the angels went away 155 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: from them into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, 156 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing 157 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 158 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph 159 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,719 Speaker 1: and the baby lying in a manger. And when they 160 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: saw it, they made known the saying that had been 161 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: told to them concerning this child. And all who heard 162 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary 163 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 164 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: And the shepherd's returned glorifying and praising God for all 165 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: they had heard and seeing as it had been told 166 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: to them. And at the end of eight days, when 167 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 1: he was circum circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name 168 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: given by the Angel before he was conceived in the womb. 169 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: How beautiful, How beautiful to think that the shepherds were told, 170 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: you'll find this baby a place you'd never find a baby. 171 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: They were told in the field that this miracle had happened, 172 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: and they were drawn to him. How beautiful to think 173 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: that shepherds being the ones to share the news of 174 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: the greatest shepherd of all the symbolism. God used to say, 175 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: those who guide the sheep will tell you of the 176 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: one who will guide and save you, the great Shepherd. 177 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: Even in this passage we see the verse. And when 178 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: they saw it, they made known the saying that had 179 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,719 Speaker 1: been told to them concerning this child. And all who 180 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. They wondered, 181 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: that's an uncertainty. Probably a lot of people who heard 182 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: this and said, those crazy shepherds, what do they know? 183 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: But Mary understands, and she is ready in her young 184 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: years to serve the Lord and watch us. His word 185 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: is fulfilled, not knowing what journey she was about to 186 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: go on. But we know she was ready because the 187 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: Bible tells us this. The Bible says that as Mary listened, 188 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 189 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: God had a great plan for Mary. But the story 190 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: of Christmas is a reminder that we have a great 191 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: savior who is fully man and fully God, and therefore 192 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: he understands you completely. There is no barrier between you 193 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: and Jesus, and he is a plan for you, and 194 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: that plan is a good plan. Now you just have 195 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: to follow God's plan. I hope you have a very 196 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: merry Christmas this year, and I am so grateful to 197 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: you for listening. Have a blessed day.