1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But the Angel said unto him, fear not, Zacharias, 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife, Elizabeth, shall 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: John Luke one thirteen. Lord, when I am praying for 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: things to come forth in my life, I will not 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: look at my circumstances to determine whether or not it 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: will come into fruition. I will not laugh in disbelief 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: like Zachariah. He will not have to silence my lips 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: because of unbelief. Instead, I will take the posture of 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: Mary when the Angel of the Lord appeared to her 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: and proclaimed that she would give birth to Jesus the Messiah, 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: and accept your word as truth with no questions asked. 13 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: Thank you in advance for setting people in my life, 14 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: like John the Baptist, who will help pave the way 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: for your calling in life. As you deposit the seed 16 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: of purpose in me, like Mary and Elizabeth, surround me 17 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 1: with others whose purposes will leap within them as we 18 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: join in fellowship and build each other up. I stand 19 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: in anticipation because I know that whatever dream your birthing 20 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: inside me will echo in the halls of eternity in Jesus' name. Amen, 21 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time 22 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to 23 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot com. 24 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: Many choices in life can be scary, but your healthcare 25 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 2: shouldn't be one of them. Did you know that traditional 26 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: insurance isn't your only option to take care of your 27 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: medical costs? Christian health Care Ministries is created for you. 28 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 2: Believers who expect more from their healthcare. Embrace a faith 29 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: based alternative that puts you in control, plus experience flexibility 30 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 2: to pick your provider of choice with programs as low 31 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 2: as ninety two dollars per month. En role today at 32 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: Cchministries dot org slash prey. 33 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 3: The birth of John the Baptist. Four hundred years had 34 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 3: passed since the Lord last spoke to his people through prophets. 35 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 3: For four hundred years, they filled the synagogues and temples 36 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 3: with teachings and sacrifices, longing for the presence of God 37 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: to be felt once more. Rome had taken over and 38 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 3: the people longed for a savior. In this story, we 39 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 3: will see a news story set in motion, a story 40 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 3: of a hero unlike any other we have seen before, 41 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 3: and it all starts with a baby inspired by the Gospel. 42 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 4: In our last episode, we heard how Nehemiah returned to 43 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 4: Judah and undertook the rebuilding of the walls, ushering in 44 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 4: a new era of peace and safety. And yet that 45 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 4: too was to be short lived. Sin still held in 46 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 4: people's hearts with an unrelenting grip. The Messiah, the Promised One, 47 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 4: was ultimately the only solution to sin and evil in 48 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 4: the world, to our brokenness and rebellion. So now let's 49 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 4: turn the page from the Old Testament to the New 50 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 4: Testament and will fast forward four hundred years into the future. 51 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 4: Israel had turned from God, but in a different way. 52 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 4: It was a period of religion, but also self righteousness 53 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 4: and legalism. The Pharisees and priests and other religious leaders 54 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 4: held sway over the people, oppressing them with rules and 55 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 4: ritual Though there remained a form of religion, people's hearts 56 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 4: were very far from God. It is into this context, 57 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 4: into this culture and world, that God would come down 58 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 4: as the Messiah, the Savior, the promised deliverer of his people. 59 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 4: So let's begin with a New Testament now, and today's reading. 60 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: Hundreds of years after the exiles returned to Israel, the 61 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 3: Jews had rebuilt their culture. The age of education, religion, 62 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 3: and government had emerged, but not without cost. The Roman 63 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 3: Empire had conquered almost all the known world, and Caesar's 64 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 3: grip on the nation of Israel was hard and cruel. 65 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 3: The Jewish people remained faithful to the practices of the Temple, 66 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 3: and the priests and Pharisees grew more rigid in their 67 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 3: religious dogma. The nation was pining for a Messiah. Religious 68 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 3: oppression from within and military oppression from without left God's 69 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 3: people longing for a savior. This is where the story 70 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 3: of God's rescue mission continues. This is where the true 71 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 3: hero emerges. In the time of King Herod, there was 72 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 3: a Jewish priest by the name of Zechariah. He and 73 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 3: his wife Elizabeth were loved among the people. Their righteousness 74 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 3: and love for God was well known. However, they lacked children, 75 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 3: for Elizabeth was barren. As their years increased, so did 76 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 3: their love for God in one another, although the pain 77 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 3: of being childless never left. One day, Zechariah was serving 78 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 3: God in the Temple. It was his turn to enter 79 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 3: into the sanctuary of God. To burn incense. While he 80 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 3: stepped into the Holy of Holies, a bright light emerged 81 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 3: from the smoke. Zechariah fell in fear as he stared 82 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 3: at the angel stepping out before him. His knees trembled 83 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 3: as he gazed upon the magnificent creature. Do not be afraid, Zechariah, 84 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 3: the angel said, God has heard your cries for a child. 85 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: Elizabeth will give you a son, and he will be 86 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 3: the messenger proclaiming the new age of the Lord. He 87 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 3: will be filled with God's spirit and a mighty voice 88 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 3: for liberation. Zechariah stumbled to his feet and opened his hands. 89 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 3: How could this be, he asked, I am an old man, 90 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 3: and my wife is well along in years. This is impossible. 91 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 3: As Zechariah was speaking, a rush of light shot forth 92 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 3: towards Zechariah. He fell to the floor, covering his ears 93 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 3: and eyes. I am Gabriel, the angel shouted. It is 94 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 3: I who stand in the very presence of the Lord. 95 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 3: He has sent me to give you good news. But 96 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,799 Speaker 3: you stand here as if God is unable to fulfill 97 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:29,239 Speaker 3: his promises. Zechariah cowered in fear at the angel's voice. 98 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 3: Never had he heard something so gentle yet so terrifying. 99 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 3: It was almost too much to bear. Since you have 100 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 3: not believed my words, you will be unable to speak 101 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: until the birth of your son. This will teach you 102 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 3: to truly meditate on just how blessed the Lord has 103 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 3: made you. And at that instant, Gabriel vanished. Zechariah emerged 104 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: silent and was unable to communicate what had just happened 105 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 3: to him. Yet God's will was revealed shortly after, as 106 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 3: Elizabeth became pregnant with a son. Six months had passed 107 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 3: and the cousin of Elizabeth was gathering water at the 108 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 3: well and Nazareth. Mary was a young woman filled with 109 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 3: hope for the future. She was engaged to a man 110 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 3: named Joseph, a local carpenter, descendant of David and a 111 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 3: well respected man of God. Mary drew the water from 112 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 3: the well, humming a sweet tune in the morning sun. 113 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 3: She carried the water back to the goats, wiped her hands, 114 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 3: and entered into her home. As she entered her home, 115 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: she saw the angel Gabriel sitting near her window. Mary 116 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 3: gasped and fell back towards the wall. Gabriel smiled, Greetings, oh, 117 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 3: favored woman of God, he said warmly, Mary was speechless. 118 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 3: The angel's presence disturbed her, and she darted her eyes 119 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 3: towards the door to run. Do not be afraid, Gabriel exclaimed, 120 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 3: you have found favor with God. Mary's heart was beating fast. 121 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: She was only a girl and could not imagine what 122 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: use God would have of her. Gabriel bent down closely 123 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 3: to her. You will conceive a son. His name will 124 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 3: be Jesus. He will be the promised son of David, 125 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 3: the Messiah, the son of the Living God, the King, 126 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 3: to bring peace upon all the nations. Mary's eyes began 127 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 3: to water as the angel spoke. His kingdom will reign 128 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 3: forever at his name. Every knee shall bow, and every 129 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 3: broken heart made whole. Mary wiped her eyes and looked 130 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 3: up at the angel. How could this be? I am 131 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 3: a virgin, and I am not yet married to Joseph. 132 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 3: Gabriel gave a warm grin to the girl. The same 133 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: holy spirit that hovered over the waters of the earth 134 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 3: will come upon you. The power of the most High 135 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 3: God will be with you. The baby will be born 136 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 3: holy and will be the son of God himself. Gabriel 137 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 3: stood to his feet and began to exit. He turned 138 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 3: to Mary and said, much has been set in motion, 139 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 3: O favorite one, Even your cousin Elizabeth has become pregnant 140 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 3: in her old age. You may go and see her 141 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 3: for yourself. The word of God will never fail. And 142 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 3: with those words, the angel disappeared. Mary's heart felt as 143 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 3: though it was about to beat right out of her chest. 144 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 3: She whispered a prayer to the Lord. I am your servant. 145 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: Then she sang to him and went to go visit 146 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 3: her cousin Elizabeth. Mary traveled across the hills into the 147 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 3: town of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Elizabeth was tending to the 148 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 3: garden when she saw Mary arrive on a small carriage. 149 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: The two met one another, when all of a sudden, 150 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 3: Elizabeth felt a jolt in her womb, then another, then another. 151 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 3: Elizabeth laughed and tears of joy streamed down her face. Mary, 152 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 3: She said, you are with child. Mary stepped back, amazed 153 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 3: that Elizabeth knew so early. How did you know, she asked, 154 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 3: my child, it is an honor that the mother of 155 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 3: the Lord himself should visit me. When you came close, 156 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,439 Speaker 3: the baby and my womb leap for joy. He is 157 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 3: kicking now, filled with the delight of God's spirit. The 158 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 3: two women praised God together. Although Mary was still nervous 159 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 3: about what Joseph and her family would think of her pregnancy. 160 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 3: Would they believe her, would they judge her? Would Joseph 161 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 3: still love her? All these questions filled her mind, but 162 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 3: the Lord was steadfast towards Mary. He gave her a 163 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 3: quiet resolve. Three months had passed and the night had 164 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 3: covered the small village outside Nazareth. Painful cries could be 165 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 3: heard from the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Mary watched 166 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 3: as her brave cousin endured the pain of childbirth at 167 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: an old age. She wailed throughout the night. Persevering through 168 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 3: the agony, Mary could not help but think of her 169 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 3: own inevitable pain. The screaming ceased and was replaced with 170 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 3: the quiet cries of the new born infant. Elizabeth held 171 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 3: her baby boy in her arms. Tears streamed down her 172 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 3: face as she looked upon her miracle child. We should 173 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 3: name him Zechariah, after father, she whispered. Then, after nine 174 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 3: months of silence, a deep voice could be heard from 175 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 3: the corner of the room. No, Zechariah said. Elizabeth gasped, 176 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 3: as did Mary and the others with them. Zechariah smiled 177 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 3: and held up his boy. His name will be John, 178 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 3: he said, Zechariah laughed and cried, you, my little son, 179 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 3: will be a prophet of the most High. You will 180 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 3: prepare the way of the Lord. You will point people 181 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 3: towards their salvation. You will show them the way. The 182 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 3: morning light of Heaven is breaking on us this day. 183 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 3: So John grew strong and grew in the favor of 184 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 3: God and attention of man, and Mary returned home to 185 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 3: face her family. 186 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 4: In today's scripture, Israel is being ruled by two different forces. First, 187 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 4: and foremost, they were under the rule of the Roman Empire, 188 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:00,079 Speaker 4: the new world's superpower. Though Israel has some degree of 189 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 4: self governance in their own land, they are not fully free, 190 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 4: and they are oppressed by foreign rulers. But there is 191 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 4: another force that is crushing the people in a different way. 192 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 4: The rituals and temple practices were still being observed, but 193 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 4: the religious leaders, the leaders of the religious order, were 194 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 4: oppressing the people with countless rules and legalistic teaching. Though 195 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 4: it appeared to be zeal for God, it was an 196 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 4: attempt to earn righteousness by behavior, and it was of 197 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 4: course feudal. The people needed a perfect sacrifice someone to 198 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 4: rescue from sin, to bring them back to the Lord. 199 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 4: They needed God himself, as they always had, and what 200 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 4: we begin seeing now is God's setting in motion his 201 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 4: plan of redemption in Jesus Christ. But before the Messiah 202 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 4: would come, one who announced his arrival would also come, 203 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 4: a man who had been foretold by the prophets Isaiah 204 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 4: and Malachi, a voice who would cry out the people 205 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 4: to prepare a way for the Lord. And so in 206 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 4: our reading we learn of a priest named Zachariah whose 207 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 4: wife was named Elizabeth. Like others before them, they had 208 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 4: waited for years and years for a child, but in 209 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 4: old age they were still childless. But they were righteous 210 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 4: and found grace favor in the eyes of the Lord. 211 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 4: So God sent an angel, Gabriel, to tell Zachariah and 212 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 4: Elizabeth that they would have a child, and this child 213 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 4: would proclaim a new era of freedom and faith. Zachariah 214 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 4: laughed at the news, not believing they could bear children 215 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 4: at their age, so he was made mute until the 216 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 4: child came, and just as promised, Elizabeth became pregnant. We 217 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 4: then heard how six months after Elizabeth conceived, her younger 218 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 4: cousin Mary was visited by the same angel. Mary was 219 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 4: engaged to be wed to a carpenter named Joseph. She 220 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 4: was a virgin, a righteous young woman, so the news 221 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 4: the Aieel brought her was both incredible, miraculous, and terrifying. 222 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 4: Gabriel was quick to tell her that he brought good 223 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 4: news from God, that she had found favor with the 224 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 4: Lord and had been chosen for this responsibility that would 225 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 4: change history forever. Though she had no union with a 226 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 4: man physically, Mary was going to conceive a child. His 227 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 4: name would be Jesus, the son of David, God's promised Messiah. 228 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 4: As you can only imagine, Mary could not comprehend how 229 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 4: this is possible. Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would 230 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 4: come upon her and that God would be with her. 231 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 4: God's Spirit, the one who had been there from the 232 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 4: very beginning, hovering over the waters at creation, the one 233 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 4: who had been with Israel in the pillar of fire 234 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 4: and smoke. He would be with Mary. She would conceive 235 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 4: a child. Gabriel then spoke of the miracle of the 236 00:14:55,320 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 4: virgin conception. In Luke one thirty seven, we read thing 237 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 4: is impossible with God. I love the way. The New 238 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 4: Living Translation puts it, for the word of God will 239 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 4: never fail. God keeps his promises. So Mary submitted herself 240 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 4: faithfully to the Lord and his will, saying that she 241 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,119 Speaker 4: was his servant. When Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, 242 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 4: the baby Elizabeth was caring leapt in her womb. Because 243 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 4: the baby knew alive in the womb of Elizabeth, knew 244 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 4: that he was in the presence of the Lord. Both 245 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 4: of these pregnancies were not just unlikely, they were miraculous. 246 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 4: But as the Angel said, with God, there is no impossible. 247 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 4: This is the glorious impossible. When Elizabeth finally gave birth, 248 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 4: everyone wanted to name the child after his father, but 249 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 4: Elizabeth protested and said it should be John. To everyone's confusion. 250 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 4: Zechariah was still speechless, but he knew that she was right, 251 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 4: so he called for ours something to write on and 252 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 4: scribble down. His name will be John, and immediately he 253 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 4: was able to speak and begin praising God. John grew 254 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 4: into a strong and righteous man with a powerful voice, 255 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 4: the very voice that God had promised to proclaim the 256 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 4: Kingdom of God and the announcement of his glorious Messiah. 257 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 4: Dear God of the impossible, we know that there is 258 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 4: no miracle that you cannot perform. And we thank you 259 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 4: for the miracle of Jesus, the miracle of the story 260 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 4: of Jesus. And we praise you that your word never fails, 261 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 4: that we can always trust you to fulfill what you 262 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 4: have promised. And we pray this in Jesus's name. Amen. 263 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 4: Thank you again for listening to today's Bible in a 264 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 4: Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham, pastor in Dallas, Texas. You 265 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 4: could download the pray dot com app and make Bible 266 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 4: study and prayer a priority in your life. If you 267 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 4: enjoyed this podcast, please share it with someone else, and 268 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 4: if you want more resources, I would love for you 269 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 4: to contact us at Jack Graham dot org. God bless 270 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 4: you and have a great day.