1
00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,560
Speaker 1: If any one desires to come after me, let him

2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,200
Speaker 1: deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:14,520
Speaker 1: Matthew sixteen twenty four. Dear Heavenly Father, as we celebrate

4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,520
Speaker 1: the birth of Jesus, remind us of the profound journey

5
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:23,960
Speaker 1: he embarked upon for our sake, a journey that called

6
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:31,560
Speaker 1: for sacrifice, selflessness, and enduring love. This Christmas, as we

7
00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:36,360
Speaker 1: exchange gifts and share and festivities, may we also remember

8
00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,080
Speaker 1: the greatest gift of all, Christ, who came not just

9
00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,160
Speaker 1: to be born in a manger, but to lay down

10
00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:50,000
Speaker 1: his life for us. Empower us with the same mind

11
00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:54,480
Speaker 1: and will of Christ, who set aside his comforts to

12
00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:59,720
Speaker 1: carry his cross. Show us every day how to follow

13
00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:04,960
Speaker 1: in the footsteps of Jesus, serving and loving those around us.

14
00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,360
Speaker 1: Thank you for the priceless gift of your son and

15
00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:14,560
Speaker 1: the invitation to follow him. Fill our hearts with gratitude, love,

16
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:20,880
Speaker 1: and true joy this Christmas. In the precious name of Jesus,

17
00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,000
Speaker 1: we pray Amen.

18
00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,320
Speaker 2: The winds of change swept across Israel with increasing fervor.

19
00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,000
Speaker 2: It was as if the very breath of God stirred

20
00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,040
Speaker 2: the dust between the Roman ruled province whispering of a

21
00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,840
Speaker 2: tumult yet to unfold. Rebellion and discord, long smoldering in

22
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,240
Speaker 2: the hearts of the oppressed Hebrews, started to spark. A

23
00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,440
Speaker 2: group of rebels known as the Daggermen, grew by the day.

24
00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,080
Speaker 2: Some knew them by a different name, the Zealots. There

25
00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,680
Speaker 2: were men of tact, skill and secrecy. Fueled by Roman

26
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,400
Speaker 2: hatred and a desire to usher in Israeli independence, they

27
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,919
Speaker 2: assassinated some of Caesar's highest ranking officials. They were growing

28
00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,880
Speaker 2: in number and needed to be stopped. Caesar Augustus, ruling

29
00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,760
Speaker 2: from the heart of the Roman Empire, was not ignorant

30
00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,600
Speaker 2: of these Daggermen. His eyes, though distant, were sharp, and

31
00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,800
Speaker 2: his paranoia simmered alongside the rebellion. He had not risen

32
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,880
Speaker 2: to power by being ignorant. In a move uncharacteristic of

33
00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,760
Speaker 2: Roman custom, he issued a decree, one that both revealed

34
00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,520
Speaker 2: his desperation for control and reflected his fear of the

35
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,480
Speaker 2: burgeoning unrest. Each individual under Roman rule, from the richest

36
00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,000
Speaker 2: aristocrat to the poorish shepherd, was to be counted in

37
00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,160
Speaker 2: a census. But it was not to be an ordinary census. No,

38
00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:47,960
Speaker 2: this one bore the insidious mark of Caesar's paranoia. The

39
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,240
Speaker 2: people were required to return to their ancestral homes the

40
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,320
Speaker 2: towns of their forefathers, to be registered and accounted for.

41
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,960
Speaker 2: To execute this decree, Caesar dispatched Courinius, the stirred and

42
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:05,040
Speaker 2: unwavering governor of Syria. We cannot stop these salods unless

43
00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:11,480
Speaker 2: we disorganize them, Caesar told Corinius. Therefore, we will force

44
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,160
Speaker 2: every man to travel uproot them and their families. This

45
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:22,160
Speaker 2: will make them vulnerable. Corineus agreed and immediately began preparations

46
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,480
Speaker 2: to force the census upon the people of Israel.

47
00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,000
Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the

48
00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,920
Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. This episode begins Mary and

49
00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,080
Speaker 3: Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, the herowing journey that will test

50
00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:44,640
Speaker 3: their faith and stamina. It was prophesied that the Messiah

51
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,600
Speaker 3: would be born in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David. For

52
00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,839
Speaker 3: Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, God had to use

53
00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:57,280
Speaker 3: the geopolitical struggles of the time. The political landscape of

54
00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,320
Speaker 3: Israel during this time was wrought with civil unrest, corruption,

55
00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:06,000
Speaker 3: and conspiracy. The harsh hand of Caesar on the people

56
00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,760
Speaker 3: of Israel caused many radical Jewish factions to rise. One

57
00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,200
Speaker 3: of the more infamous groups was the Daggermen, also known

58
00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:19,000
Speaker 3: as the Zealous Simon, one of Jesus's twelve disciples, was

59
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,719
Speaker 3: one of those men. This story speculates that they might

60
00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,560
Speaker 3: be the reason for the census. Although it is speculation,

61
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:33,120
Speaker 3: historical clues suggest it's a possibility. Historians have wrestled with

62
00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,719
Speaker 3: the historical accuracy of Luke's account of the census, so

63
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,520
Speaker 3: scholars are forced to speculate reasons why the censues occurred.

64
00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,520
Speaker 3: Our story today is speculation for the sake of storytelling,

65
00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,880
Speaker 3: but it isn't outside the realm of possibility. Rome's relationship

66
00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:56,440
Speaker 3: with the Jewish nation was complex and dysfunctional. They saw

67
00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,160
Speaker 3: Rome as another oppressive ruler like Babylon. As a result,

68
00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,520
Speaker 3: the Jews were riled up with a renewed prophetic passion

69
00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,560
Speaker 3: for the Messiah to come and deliver them. This was

70
00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,640
Speaker 3: the stage that was set for the coming of Jesus.

71
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,560
Speaker 3: Even amid all the madness of culture, God was on

72
00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,800
Speaker 3: the move. We believe in a God who contame chaos

73
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:25,360
Speaker 3: and bring beauty from ashes. As the Nativity story intensifies,

74
00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:30,480
Speaker 3: look for God's hidden hand of providence Genesis, chapter fifty,

75
00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:34,400
Speaker 3: verse twenty reminds us that what men intend for evil,

76
00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:39,080
Speaker 3: God can use for good. This census strained the Jewish people,

77
00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,800
Speaker 3: but God would use it to bring about their redemption.

78
00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,600
Speaker 3: Let's hop back into the story now. Joseph is about

79
00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,320
Speaker 3: to receive the news that he must uproot Mary in

80
00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,680
Speaker 3: her pregnancy's late stages. What will he do? How will

81
00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,120
Speaker 3: he respond when the pressure mounts? Let's find out now,

82
00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,279
Speaker 3: and this dramatic telling of Luke chachapter two, verses one

83
00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,560
Speaker 3: through five afterward will unpack the story to find Christmas themes.

84
00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,479
Speaker 2: Corneus was not a beloved man. He cared very little

85
00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,280
Speaker 2: about being loved or admired. He wanted their fear. If

86
00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,279
Speaker 2: he could not gain their fear, their respect would be

87
00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,760
Speaker 2: a consolation. Coarineus journeyed to every major city in Israel

88
00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,000
Speaker 2: with a battalion of soldiers. They flooded town squares, marketplaces,

89
00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:28,920
Speaker 2: and city gates with Caesar's demands.

90
00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:34,440
Speaker 4: He by order of Caesar Augustus, all men in their

91
00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,320
Speaker 4: families are to be registered for a sensus in the

92
00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,640
Speaker 4: city of their family lineage. Failure to register will result

93
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:46,560
Speaker 4: in punishment this is the will of Rome. His voice,

94
00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,839
Speaker 4: steely and unemotional, echoed through the streets and alleys, leaving

95
00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,240
Speaker 4: a chill in the hearts.

96
00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,159
Speaker 2: Of those who heard it. His soldiers nailed the decree

97
00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,360
Speaker 2: onto the doorpost of every home. Corneus's voice shouted through

98
00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,080
Speaker 2: the city of Nazareth, where Joseph was buying supplies for

99
00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,159
Speaker 2: his workshop. The proclamation threw him into a storm of

100
00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,200
Speaker 2: uncertainty and worry. The house of David, Joseph's lineage was

101
00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,600
Speaker 2: traced back to Bethlehem. Joseph approached one of the Roman soldiers.

102
00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,559
Speaker 5: Sir, my wife is nearly nine months pregnant. She can't

103
00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,000
Speaker 5: make the journey to Bethlehem in her condition.

104
00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,600
Speaker 2: She'll the soldier shouted, shoving Joseph to the ground. It's

105
00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,160
Speaker 2: commanded from Caesar himself. If you fail to obey, you

106
00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,480
Speaker 2: will face the rod of Karineus. Joseph looked up at

107
00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,360
Speaker 2: the soldier and then at Karineus on his dark horse.

108
00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,600
Speaker 2: Joseph clenched his fist and looked away. He knew better

109
00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,560
Speaker 2: than to pick a fight, especially when Mary was depending

110
00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,119
Speaker 2: on him. The soldier spat at Joseph's feet and walked away.

111
00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,200
Speaker 2: Joseph picked up his tools and went back home. He

112
00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,680
Speaker 2: walked the dusty path to their humble home, wondering how

113
00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,440
Speaker 2: he would afford the journey to Bethlehem. He entered through

114
00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,200
Speaker 2: the door slowly. Mary was inside, weaving together blankets for

115
00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:06,120
Speaker 2: Jesus and humming lullabies. Her gentle and quiet grace enraptured Joseph.

116
00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,720
Speaker 2: His heart ached that he had to uproot her from

117
00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,040
Speaker 2: the comfort of their home.

118
00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:12,320
Speaker 5: Mary, he said gently.

119
00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,200
Speaker 2: He knelt down beside her and held her hand.

120
00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,880
Speaker 5: A decree has come from Karinius. We have to depart

121
00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,600
Speaker 5: from here to Bethlehem for a census. I don't know

122
00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,600
Speaker 5: why this has come now, but I swear I will

123
00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,600
Speaker 5: protect you and the child. We will find a way

124
00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:29,560
Speaker 5: to get there safely.

125
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,520
Speaker 2: Mary's eyes were fogged with fear and anxiety.

126
00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,440
Speaker 1: How Joseph, at best, it's a two week journey, and

127
00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,600
Speaker 1: all the carts for merchants will be used up.

128
00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,160
Speaker 2: Mary was rightfully concerned. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem

129
00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,720
Speaker 2: was not a straightforward journey. There were vast valleys and

130
00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,440
Speaker 2: hills to pass. Additionally, the frenzy of the census would

131
00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:57,160
Speaker 2: be in banded, stalking lone travelers. Joseph felt helpless. They

132
00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,240
Speaker 2: didn't have enough money to pay for a wagon to

133
00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,640
Speaker 2: taxi them, nor did they have a donkey for Mary

134
00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,720
Speaker 2: to ride on. Such things were out of reach for

135
00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,920
Speaker 2: a humble craftsman like Joseph. He didn't know how to proceed.

136
00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,040
Speaker 2: Mary held Joseph's face and pressed her forehead against his.

137
00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,160
Speaker 2: They closed their eyes and shared a somber moment of

138
00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,960
Speaker 2: love and prayer. Joseph stood up and wiped a tear

139
00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:20,760
Speaker 2: from his eye.

140
00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,000
Speaker 5: I'll be back. I have to do something.

141
00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,360
Speaker 2: Joseph grabbed his tools and left. He rounded the alley

142
00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,080
Speaker 2: beside his home down to the market. There was no

143
00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,800
Speaker 2: way Mary could endure the road to Bethlehem in her condition.

144
00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,839
Speaker 2: If Joseph was going to keep her safe, he needed

145
00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,360
Speaker 2: to provide her with a donkey to ride on. The

146
00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,239
Speaker 2: market place was chaotic with people desperately haggling for supplies.

147
00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,280
Speaker 2: Many people had journeys to plan for. Joseph knocked on

148
00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,720
Speaker 2: the door of the blacksmith, who was a large and

149
00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,880
Speaker 2: surly man, uninterested in people and more interested in things.

150
00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,559
Speaker 4: Lord Joseph, my boy.

151
00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,199
Speaker 2: He said, with a raspy voice.

152
00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,520
Speaker 4: You are here to ask for another discount on materials.

153
00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,760
Speaker 4: I'm afraid you're out of luck.

154
00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,440
Speaker 2: Joseph placed his large leather bag of tools on the table.

155
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,239
Speaker 2: I am here to sew you my tools. The blacksmith's

156
00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,760
Speaker 2: eyes widen. A craftsman like Joseph was only as valuable

157
00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,520
Speaker 2: as the tools he used. What is the meaning of this,

158
00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,040
Speaker 2: he asked. Joseph ignored the question, holding back any cues

159
00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,440
Speaker 2: that he was greatly distressed at the thought of selling

160
00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:28,240
Speaker 2: his livelihood.

161
00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:29,960
Speaker 5: How much will you give me?

162
00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,400
Speaker 2: The blacksmith examined the tools, laying each out on the

163
00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,920
Speaker 2: table next to each other. He crossed his arms and

164
00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:36,840
Speaker 2: stroked his beard.

165
00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:42,840
Speaker 4: Hmmm, I could use many of these and sell the rest.

166
00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,000
Speaker 4: I will give you two hundred denary for it all

167
00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,280
Speaker 4: four hundred if you do some work for me after

168
00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:51,079
Speaker 4: the census.

169
00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:56,040
Speaker 2: You have a deal, Joseph said. The two shook on it,

170
00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,440
Speaker 2: and Joseph was given the money he and Mary would

171
00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,040
Speaker 2: need for the journey. He took the arra and headed

172
00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,120
Speaker 2: straight for the city stables. There he brought a donkey

173
00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,280
Speaker 2: saddle and packs filled with enough.

174
00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:07,400
Speaker 1: Food for a two week journey.

175
00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,559
Speaker 2: He also purchased a dagger to strap to his side.

176
00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,680
Speaker 2: Joseph sacrificed his livelihood to keep his wife safe. Much

177
00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,040
Speaker 2: would be required of him for the journey ahead, but

178
00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,240
Speaker 2: he knew that God would protect them.

179
00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,240
Speaker 3: Imagine setting forth on an eighty to ninety mile journey

180
00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,760
Speaker 3: on rugged terrain with Mary in the advanced stages of

181
00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,800
Speaker 3: her pregnancy. The trek from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem

182
00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:36,160
Speaker 3: in Judea was neither short nor easy. It would have

183
00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,760
Speaker 3: demanded resilience, stamina, and a deep commitment. The concerns of

184
00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,160
Speaker 3: an expectant mother, the potential dangers of the journey, and

185
00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,600
Speaker 3: the uncertainties awaiting them in Bethlehem would have weighed heavily

186
00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:53,040
Speaker 3: on their minds. Joseph's role as Mary's protector, guide and

187
00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:57,720
Speaker 3: support cannot be understated. The sacrifice he made to ensure

188
00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,520
Speaker 3: Mary's safety was monumental, but he did so with the

189
00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,720
Speaker 3: knowledge that there was more to be gained in his

190
00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,040
Speaker 3: sacrifice than lost. That's an encouragement for all of us.

191
00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,720
Speaker 3: What we give up in pursuit of Christ pales in

192
00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,040
Speaker 3: comparison to what we gain. In the next few episodes,

193
00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,760
Speaker 3: we'll get to see Joseph and Mary's unwavering commitment to

194
00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,600
Speaker 3: God Their dedication to each other and to the Lord

195
00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,200
Speaker 3: is a testament to their faith and obedience to God's call.

196
00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,160
Speaker 3: The reason for their journey, a decree from Caesar Augustus

197
00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,959
Speaker 3: for a census, speaks to the geopolitical realities of the time.

198
00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,120
Speaker 3: On the surface, this seems like a mere administrative move

199
00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,640
Speaker 3: by a vast empire, but in the grand tapestry of

200
00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,960
Speaker 3: God's design, it was a pivotal move to ensure the

201
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,160
Speaker 3: fulfillment of prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

202
00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:59,679
Speaker 3: Look at Micah chapter five, verse two. This use of

203
00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,000
Speaker 3: ad a political event is a poignant reminder that God's

204
00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,079
Speaker 3: redemption plan is not isolated from the realities of our world.

205
00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,520
Speaker 3: He uses emperors, decrees, and worldly events to achieve his purposes.

206
00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,040
Speaker 3: This gives us hope, reminding us that no matter how

207
00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,760
Speaker 3: challenging or chaotic our world might seem, God is always

208
00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:28,320
Speaker 3: at work bringing his plans to fruition. As we reflect

209
00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,760
Speaker 3: on Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, let's consider the

210
00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,679
Speaker 3: sacrifices we're all called to make. Jesus says in Matthew

211
00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,440
Speaker 3: chapter sixteen. If anyone desires to come after me, let

212
00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,000
Speaker 3: him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

213
00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,080
Speaker 3: The path for Mary and Joseph is only going to

214
00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:52,000
Speaker 3: get more difficult. But just because things are hard doesn't

215
00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:56,280
Speaker 3: mean they aren't good. The Cross of Jesus showed us

216
00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,480
Speaker 3: that some of the greatest triumphs emerge from the ashes

217
00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:04,280
Speaker 3: of our great trials. When you face difficulty, think less

218
00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,480
Speaker 3: about how to minimize your suffering and think more about

219
00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,280
Speaker 3: maximizing the meaning you can glean in the midst of it.

220
00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,120
Speaker 3: This Christmas, let the story of Luke chapter two, verses

221
00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,520
Speaker 3: one through five inspire us to have faith in the journey,

222
00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:24,160
Speaker 3: however difficult. Let us be reminded that God often uses

223
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,000
Speaker 3: the intricate complexities of our world to unfold his divine

224
00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,880
Speaker 3: narrative in the midst of our challenges. May we find

225
00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,880
Speaker 3: comfort in knowing that God is orchestrating a redemption story,

226
00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,120
Speaker 3: not just on a global scale, but in our personal

227
00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,880
Speaker 3: lives as well. Our next few episodes will highlight the

228
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,760
Speaker 3: intense difficulty Mary and Joseph faced on the journey to Bethlehem.

229
00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,360
Speaker 3: But even robbers, romans and raging waters can't forward the

230
00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,960
Speaker 3: plans of God. Thanks for listening to Today's Bible in

231
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,080
Speaker 3: a year podcast es Jagraham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray

232
00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,240
Speaker 3: dot com at and make prayer a priority in your life.

233
00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,600
Speaker 3: If you enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you love.

234
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,640
Speaker 3: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in

235
00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,080
Speaker 3: someone's life. And if you want more resources on how

236
00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:20,080
Speaker 3: to tap into God's power for successful Christian living, be

237
00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:25,760
Speaker 3: sure to visit jagraham dot org. God bless you,