1
00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,360
Speaker 1: Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can't

2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:11,400
Speaker 1: inherit God's kingdom, neither does the perishable inherit imperishable one Corinthians,

3
00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:17,680
Speaker 1: fifteen fifty. Dear Lord, your kingdom is eternal, everlasting, and imperishable.

4
00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,720
Speaker 1: We recognize that we are unable to obtain heaven on

5
00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,120
Speaker 1: our own. It is only through faith in You, Lord Jesus,

6
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,000
Speaker 1: that we can access eternal life. In light of these things,

7
00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,600
Speaker 1: we pray that you would set our mind on your kingdom.

8
00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:40,080
Speaker 1: Since we have inherited eternal life in you, may we

9
00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:45,320
Speaker 1: set our minds solely on eternal things. May the Kingdom,

10
00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:50,479
Speaker 1: glory and righteous word be ever present in our thoughts.

11
00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,720
Speaker 1: May your throne rest on the forefront of our minds,

12
00:00:55,360 --> 00:01:00,440
Speaker 1: guiding us in all we do. When we stumble dwell

13
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,319
Speaker 1: on the cornal things of this world, would you redirect

14
00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:09,160
Speaker 1: our thoughts and illuminate our paths. We trust you to

15
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:15,440
Speaker 1: do all these things and more in Jesus name. Amen.

16
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,560
Speaker 2: The shepherds stood and bowed their heads to Marry and Joseph.

17
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,600
Speaker 2: They exited the stable, stealing one final glance at the child.

18
00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,200
Speaker 2: Before they left, the sun began to rise over the hills,

19
00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:31,040
Speaker 2: painting the sky with hues of gold and pink. Their

20
00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,479
Speaker 2: hearts were filled with an overflowing well of joy. Their

21
00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,440
Speaker 2: contemplative walk slowly turned into a dance of praise and worship.

22
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,240
Speaker 2: Soon enough, the shepherds were shouting through the streets, their

23
00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,360
Speaker 2: voices raised in worship and faces glowing with a light

24
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,440
Speaker 2: that drew curious onlookers. Some shook their heads, thinking the

25
00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,840
Speaker 2: shepherds were crazy, drunk, or both. But the shepherds, undeterred

26
00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,360
Speaker 2: by scorn, proclaimed that the Messiah had been born and

27
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,800
Speaker 2: they had been privileged to see him. Word begun to

28
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,000
Speaker 2: spread like ripples in a pond, the whispers growing in

29
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:09,360
Speaker 2: strength and conviction. The shepherd's testimony, although unlikely, rekindled hope

30
00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,120
Speaker 2: and a few who heard it. If the Messiah had

31
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,320
Speaker 2: truly been born, then hope for Israel was alive. The

32
00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,520
Speaker 2: testimony reached the ears of some of the servants of Herod,

33
00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:24,200
Speaker 2: the land's ruler. Their faces paled, their hearts pounding with

34
00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,960
Speaker 2: fear and hope. They did not tell Herod, choosing instead

35
00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,480
Speaker 2: to hold silent, their minds filled with dreams of redemption

36
00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,000
Speaker 2: from the oppression of Rome. Once weighed down by sorrow

37
00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,639
Speaker 2: and suffering, the land seemed to awaken to a new possibility.

38
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,720
Speaker 2: The whispers grew into a chorus of voices, a community

39
00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,200
Speaker 2: united by faith and longing. In that humble stable, a

40
00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,720
Speaker 2: child had been born, a king who would change the world.

41
00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,200
Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham. With today's episode of the

42
00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:00,919
Speaker 3: Bible and a Year podcast. Today we meet a new character, Herod.

43
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,720
Speaker 3: King Herod maintained a continuous vigilance to ward off any

44
00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,200
Speaker 3: dangers to his throne, with his fears often extending to

45
00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,440
Speaker 3: those within his own family. He was responsible for the

46
00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,360
Speaker 3: deaths of numerous relatives, fearing their betrayal. Though Herod sought

47
00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,040
Speaker 3: to gain the favor of the Jewish population over whom

48
00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,800
Speaker 3: he ruled, he himself was not a Jew, but an Edomite.

49
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,440
Speaker 3: Rome acknowledged him as a subservient king in charge of Judea.

50
00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,720
Speaker 3: Despite their intense dislike for him, The Jews also respected Herod,

51
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,640
Speaker 3: primarily due to his architectural achievements, including the significant enhancements

52
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,320
Speaker 3: he made to the Second Temple. Herod's reign was marked

53
00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:51,520
Speaker 3: by brutal and aggressive actions. Immediately upon ascending to the throne,

54
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:56,160
Speaker 3: he eradicated the Sanhedrin, He executed three hundred court officials.

55
00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,400
Speaker 3: He also killed his wife Mary Anne and her mother Xandra.

56
00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,560
Speaker 3: He killed his eldest son Antipater, and two other sons,

57
00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:09,720
Speaker 3: Alexander and Aristobulus. His rule was a chilling era of

58
00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,080
Speaker 3: violence and fear, reflecting the dark aspects of his own character.

59
00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,360
Speaker 3: The magi are about to enter Herod's palace. If you've

60
00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,920
Speaker 3: read the Gospel of Matthew, you'll know that the news

61
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,080
Speaker 3: of Jesus' birth will cause Herod to commit unimaginable cruelties.

62
00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,120
Speaker 3: Let's dive into the story. Afterward, we'll unpack the themes

63
00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,920
Speaker 3: of what it truly means to be a king and

64
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,080
Speaker 3: how Herod is contrasted with the true king of the Jews, Jesus.

65
00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,640
Speaker 2: The caravan moved through the desert like a river, cutting

66
00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,520
Speaker 2: through canyons. Casper, Melchior, and Boushazzar were at the head

67
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,599
Speaker 2: of the caravan. Guided by the star, they moved from

68
00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,760
Speaker 2: endless sand dunes to rugged mountains and dense forests. The

69
00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,040
Speaker 2: path was arduous, and the journey taxed even the the

70
00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,000
Speaker 2: most robust of their company. As they journeyed west, they

71
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,000
Speaker 2: began to witness the heavy hand of the Roman Empire.

72
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,440
Speaker 2: One steaming with vibrant and simple life. Remote villages lay

73
00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,839
Speaker 2: in ruin, their inhabitants either subjugated or fleeing from Roman wrath.

74
00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,920
Speaker 2: Caesar had no need for poor villages that couldn't contribute

75
00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,120
Speaker 2: to the empire. As the magi walked through the broken

76
00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,080
Speaker 2: down villages, they realized just how heavy the iron grip

77
00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,760
Speaker 2: of Rome was. Caspar was a man of riches and nobility.

78
00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,080
Speaker 2: Some even referred to him as Solomon reborn. But as

79
00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,680
Speaker 2: he looked upon a begging family on the side of

80
00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,480
Speaker 2: the road, his heart broke. Stop, Caspa said with a

81
00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,640
Speaker 2: raspy voice. His camel knelt down and he dismounted. He

82
00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,800
Speaker 2: approached the family with a quivering lip. He will not

83
00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,240
Speaker 2: replace what you have lost. By all it bless us you.

84
00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,880
Speaker 2: He handed them a leather bag of expensive spices to sell,

85
00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,120
Speaker 2: and a cloth wrapped around a long, large piece of silver.

86
00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,240
Speaker 2: The father received it and hailed it for a while

87
00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,680
Speaker 2: in his hand. Hope, he said, with a jaded and

88
00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,479
Speaker 2: weathered tone. Hope is a distant memory. Behind Caspar's long

89
00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,240
Speaker 2: white beard, there was a compassionate smile. He walked back

90
00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:20,120
Speaker 2: to his camel and mounted it before proceeding. He glanced

91
00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:24,039
Speaker 2: back at him and said, perhaps hope is closer than

92
00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,960
Speaker 2: you think. With those words, the caravan continued through the

93
00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:32,839
Speaker 2: winding Judaean countryside. Nature was alive with new life. The

94
00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,960
Speaker 2: wind carried the scent of freshly budding wildflowers, and fawns

95
00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,000
Speaker 2: pranced through the grassy valleys. As they neared Judea, the

96
00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,039
Speaker 2: anticipation grew. They felt a pole, a magnetic force that

97
00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,600
Speaker 2: guided there every step. The star had led them to Judea,

98
00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,960
Speaker 2: but the exact location of the Messiah was still unknown

99
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,359
Speaker 2: to them. Tell me, Melchior, Caspar said, where would a

100
00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,720
Speaker 2: Judaean king be born? Melchia pointed to a sea glimmering

101
00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,800
Speaker 2: in the distance. Jerusalem, He said, the city of David

102
00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,480
Speaker 2: and home to the temple. No doubt the city will

103
00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,400
Speaker 2: be alive with celebration. The caravan entered the city with pomp.

104
00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,440
Speaker 2: They were hardly inconspicuous, with their camels adorned with purple

105
00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,119
Speaker 2: and chests of gold following them on carts. The rest

106
00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,200
Speaker 2: of their caravan waited outside the city gates to replenish

107
00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,880
Speaker 2: camels and restock on supplies, but the three wise men

108
00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,560
Speaker 2: pressed forward, seeking out the palace of Herod, the tetrarch

109
00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,520
Speaker 2: of Judea. His palace loomed over the bustling market place,

110
00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:39,239
Speaker 2: imposing and cold, symbolizing power in dominance. Herod was indeed

111
00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,040
Speaker 2: a master of deceit, cunning as a desert fox. His

112
00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:47,160
Speaker 2: mind was a labyrinth of political intrigue and deception, honed

113
00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,040
Speaker 2: sharp enough to cut through the Gaudian knot of political

114
00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,760
Speaker 2: power that entrapped many rulers. He had an insatiable thirst

115
00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,400
Speaker 2: for dominance, a desire that drove him to impose crippling

116
00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,640
Speaker 2: taxes upon the very people he ruled. Even Caesar Augustus,

117
00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,880
Speaker 2: the Master of Rome, quipped that it was safer to

118
00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,880
Speaker 2: be Herod's swined in his offspring, for Herod was notorious

119
00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,760
Speaker 2: for slaying any of his children that proved to threaten

120
00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:17,080
Speaker 2: his power. Word of the Magi's arrival, however, presented an

121
00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,520
Speaker 2: opportunity for Herod. To him, it was a chance to

122
00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,680
Speaker 2: acquire more favor from rich men. He ordered his servants

123
00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,720
Speaker 2: to prepare a feast worthy of emperors. He laid a

124
00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,720
Speaker 2: bounty of food at the table and surrounded them with music, wine,

125
00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:36,199
Speaker 2: and dancers. To the Magi, men of refinement and culture,

126
00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:41,960
Speaker 2: such a reception was not uncommon. However, something was disquieting

127
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,040
Speaker 2: about the feast. Balshazzar in particular, had his guard up.

128
00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,880
Speaker 2: Herod entered the great halls and stretched out his arm.

129
00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:56,040
Speaker 2: My lords, to what do I owe this pleasure? Herod asked,

130
00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,600
Speaker 2: his voice dripping with feigned graciousness. We seek the nupon

131
00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,240
Speaker 2: king of the Jews. They replied with a bow. The

132
00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,840
Speaker 2: Messiah Star has guided us here, and we intend to

133
00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:12,080
Speaker 2: honor him with our tributes and adoration. A shiver ran

134
00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:16,439
Speaker 2: down Herod's spine at their words. Rumors had reached his ears,

135
00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,920
Speaker 2: whispers of a child born to be king. But Herod

136
00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,400
Speaker 2: was king, and no infant would unravel what he had

137
00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,560
Speaker 2: spent decades making. Concealing his inner disgust, he took a

138
00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,880
Speaker 2: measured sip of wine. Ah, yes, he said, with a

139
00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,079
Speaker 2: false grin, I have heard rumors of such a child

140
00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,480
Speaker 2: being born. My servants think I do not hear their

141
00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,920
Speaker 2: whispers in the halls. But such news is worth celebrating,

142
00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,120
Speaker 2: is it not. Herod's servants stepped back in fear. The

143
00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,080
Speaker 2: proclamations of the shepherds had reached some of them, but

144
00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:54,960
Speaker 2: they had purposely hidden it from Herod. Balshazzar steadied, Herod, carefully,

145
00:09:55,480 --> 00:10:00,319
Speaker 2: do you know where he is? Although I have heard rumors,

146
00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,680
Speaker 2: no news has reached my throne. But if it is

147
00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,240
Speaker 2: the prophesied Messiah you are looking for, the priests and

148
00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:11,360
Speaker 2: scribes may be able to be of some aid Harod's summons.

149
00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,760
Speaker 2: Some of the templed priests and scribes, They too were

150
00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:19,480
Speaker 2: disturbed to hear the news. Tell us priests, Herod said,

151
00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,840
Speaker 2: where is the prophesiede child to be found? The priests

152
00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:30,600
Speaker 2: spoke among themselves for a moment, then replied, Bethehem, my lord,

153
00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:37,120
Speaker 2: the birthplace of David. For the prophecies declare us, and you,

154
00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,679
Speaker 2: oh Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no

155
00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,600
Speaker 2: means least among the rulers of Judah. For from you

156
00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:52,000
Speaker 2: shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

157
00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,120
Speaker 2: Herod's smile was a serpent's grin as he raised his

158
00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:00,600
Speaker 2: glass to the wise men. Then perhaps the rumors hold true,

159
00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:05,480
Speaker 2: my lords, A new king may indeed grace our land

160
00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:10,760
Speaker 2: glory to God. But his eyes were stormy seas churning

161
00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,840
Speaker 2: with rage and fear. Should you find the child, do

162
00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,400
Speaker 2: return and tell me so that I too may pay

163
00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:23,439
Speaker 2: my respects. The magi thanked Herod and departed. Herod watched

164
00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,560
Speaker 2: them leave, his smile changing into a snarl as the

165
00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:32,000
Speaker 2: door closed behind them. Messiah or not, he hissed in

166
00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:37,200
Speaker 2: a venomous whisper, no one will dethrone me. His eyes

167
00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:41,240
Speaker 2: blazed with malevolence that recalled the cruelty of Pharaoh long ago.

168
00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,040
Speaker 2: With a cry of fury, he hurled his cup against

169
00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:49,559
Speaker 2: the wall and summoned his gods slay every boy under two,

170
00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:54,360
Speaker 2: show no mercy to those who defy me. He slumped

171
00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:58,280
Speaker 2: back into his throne, his thoughts a whirlwind of paranoia.

172
00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,040
Speaker 2: An infant shall not undo me, devowed the words a

173
00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,040
Speaker 2: dark oath. The palace seemed to shudder at his command,

174
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:12,160
Speaker 2: a foreboding silence descending as Herod's madness spiraled further into

175
00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,880
Speaker 2: the darkness, avoid of which there could be no return.

176
00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,560
Speaker 3: This story, inspired by Matthew Chapter two, is a tale

177
00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,960
Speaker 3: that paints a picture of the bleak circumstances into which

178
00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,120
Speaker 3: Jesus was born. The boot of Rome was heavy on Israel,

179
00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,280
Speaker 3: and those who weren't contributing to the empire were cast

180
00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,439
Speaker 3: aside and forgotten. The appearance of the wise men from

181
00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,880
Speaker 3: the East heralded a fresh sense of hope that transcended

182
00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,800
Speaker 3: the earthly suffering seen in the poverty stricken villages. The

183
00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,839
Speaker 3: sight of Caspar's compassion for the broken family by the

184
00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:52,400
Speaker 3: roadside provides a vivid example of this newfound hope, illustrating

185
00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,080
Speaker 3: how the birth of Jesus inspires us to reach out

186
00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:59,000
Speaker 3: to those in need. Indeed, Jesus is coming is a

187
00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:03,240
Speaker 3: sign that hope is closer than it seems. In our lives.

188
00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:07,640
Speaker 3: We may face hopeless situations, yet the story of Jesus's

189
00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,960
Speaker 3: birth reminds us that even in the darkest circumstances, hope

190
00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:17,480
Speaker 3: is alive and can be found in him. The story

191
00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,920
Speaker 3: of the Magi paints a grim picture of the Roman

192
00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:25,280
Speaker 3: Empire's cruel dominion. Villages lay in ruin, and the impoverished

193
00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:30,040
Speaker 3: were subjected to the empire's iron grip. But in this devastation,

194
00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,760
Speaker 3: the Magi were led by a star to the place

195
00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,199
Speaker 3: where the true king was born. The Kingdom of God

196
00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,720
Speaker 3: is unlike any earthly kingdom. While Caesar's rule brought destruction

197
00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:47,520
Speaker 3: and subjugation, Jesus's kingdom brought restoration, peace and justice. The

198
00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,000
Speaker 3: birth of Christ inaugurated a new era where the marginalized

199
00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,560
Speaker 3: and oppressed could find refuge and dignity. The Kingdom of

200
00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,000
Speaker 3: God is not built on power and domination, but on

201
00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:05,800
Speaker 3: love and grace. Herod is a personification of the greed, corruption,

202
00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:10,160
Speaker 3: and evil Israel was oppressed by during that time. Under

203
00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:14,559
Speaker 3: that politician's smile was a man consumed with bitterness and jealousy.

204
00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,240
Speaker 3: Herod's response to the birth of Jesus reveals the depths

205
00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,920
Speaker 3: to which jealousy and fear can drive a person. Though

206
00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,080
Speaker 3: he initially feigned interest in worshiping the new born king,

207
00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,880
Speaker 3: his true intentions were soon laid bare. Driven by a

208
00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:35,760
Speaker 3: relentless desire to protect his own power, he issued a

209
00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:40,280
Speaker 3: horrifying command to slay every boy under too in Bethlehem.

210
00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:45,040
Speaker 3: This sobering account reminds us of the destructive nature of jealousy.

211
00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,480
Speaker 3: Like Herod, jealousy can blind us to reason and lead

212
00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,560
Speaker 3: us to unspeakable cruelty. It's a stark warning to guard

213
00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,920
Speaker 3: our hearts against envy and to seek contentment in what

214
00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:01,000
Speaker 3: God has given to us. This rule was marked by

215
00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:06,000
Speaker 3: betrayal and violence founded on fear and oppression, but the

216
00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,760
Speaker 3: birth of Jesus heralded a new kind of king who

217
00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:14,560
Speaker 3: rules with love, compassion, and righteousness. Unlike Herod, whose rule

218
00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:19,200
Speaker 3: was threatened by a mere infant, Jesus' kingship is unshakable.

219
00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,760
Speaker 3: In our present age, it's tempting to put our trust

220
00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:27,120
Speaker 3: in political leaders or ideologies, hoping they will bring about

221
00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,880
Speaker 3: the change we desire. But the story of Herod reminds

222
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,640
Speaker 3: us that earthly rulers are fallible and often driven by

223
00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,640
Speaker 3: self interest. Jesus, on the other hand, is a king

224
00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:43,080
Speaker 3: who reigns with perfect justice and love. In him alone

225
00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:48,800
Speaker 3: we find solid and eternal hope. Above all, this passage

226
00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:53,680
Speaker 3: underscores the incomparable kingship of Jesus in a world fraught

227
00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:58,600
Speaker 3: with uncertainty. He remains the unchanging and faithful star to follow.

228
00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,000
Speaker 3: May this Christmas season rekindle in us a fresh sense

229
00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,640
Speaker 3: of wonder at the birth of our Savior and renew

230
00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:11,200
Speaker 3: our commitment to live as citizens of His kingdom. Join

231
00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,640
Speaker 3: us for our next episode. The magi will finally behold

232
00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,880
Speaker 3: the king they've been waiting for. The gifts they give

233
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,320
Speaker 3: will provide us with deep theological insight into the nature

234
00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:25,240
Speaker 3: of Jesus. Thanks for listening to Today's Bible in a

235
00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:30,000
Speaker 3: Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download

236
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,880
Speaker 3: Theprey dot com app and make prayer a priority in

237
00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,000
Speaker 3: your life. If you enjoy this podcast, share it with

238
00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,160
Speaker 3: someone you love. By sharing this podcast, you can make

239
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,240
Speaker 3: a difference in someone's life. And if you want more

240
00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,640
Speaker 3: resources on how to tap into God's power for successful

241
00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:51,080
Speaker 3: Christian living, be sure to visit Jagraham dot org. God

242
00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:52,560
Speaker 3: bless you,