Caesar’s decree for a nationwide census couldn’t come at a worse time for Mary and Joseph. But perhaps this journey to Bethlehem is exactly what God planned all along.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 16:24, from the King James Version.
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<v Speaker 1>If any one desires to come after me, let him
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<v Speaker 1>deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
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<v Speaker 1>Matthew sixteen twenty four. Dear Heavenly Father, as we celebrate
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<v Speaker 1>the birth of Jesus, remind us of the profound journey
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<v Speaker 1>he embarked upon for our sake, a journey that called
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<v Speaker 1>for sacrifice, selflessness, and enduring love. This Christmas, as we
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<v Speaker 1>exchange gifts and share and festivities, may we also remember
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<v Speaker 1>the greatest gift of all, Christ, who came not just
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<v Speaker 1>to be born in a manger, but to lay down
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<v Speaker 1>his life for us. Empower us with the same mind
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<v Speaker 1>and will of Christ, who set aside his comforts to
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<v Speaker 1>carry his cross. Show us every day how to follow
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<v Speaker 1>in the footsteps of Jesus, serving and loving those around us.
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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for the priceless gift of your son and
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<v Speaker 1>the invitation to follow him. Fill our hearts with gratitude,
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<v Speaker 1>love and true joy this Christmas. In the precious name
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<v Speaker 1>of Jesus, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with
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<v Speaker 1>me today. Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories
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<v Speaker 1>of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
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<v Speaker 2>The winds of Change swept across Israel with increasing fervor.
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<v Speaker 2>It was as if the very breath of God stirred
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<v Speaker 2>the dust between the Roman ruled province, whispering of a
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<v Speaker 2>tumult yet to unfold. Rebellion and discord, long smoldering in
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<v Speaker 2>the hearts of the oppressed Hebrews started to spark. A
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<v Speaker 2>group of rebels known as the Daggermen, grew by the day.
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<v Speaker 2>Some knew them by a different name, the Zealots. They
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<v Speaker 2>were men of tact, skill and secrecy. Fueled by Roman
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<v Speaker 2>hatred and a desire to usher in Israeli independence, they
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<v Speaker 2>assassinated some of Caesar's highest ranking officials. They were growing
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<v Speaker 2>in number and needed to be stopped. Caesar Augustus, ruling
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<v Speaker 2>from the heart of the Roman Empire, was not ignorant
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<v Speaker 2>of these Daggermen. His eyes, though distant, were sharp, and
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<v Speaker 2>his paranoia simmered alongside the rebellion. He had not risen
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<v Speaker 2>to power by being ignorant. In a move uncharacteristic of
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<v Speaker 2>Roman custom, he issued a decree, one that both revealed
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<v Speaker 2>his desperation for control and reflected his fear of the
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<v Speaker 2>burgeoning unrest. Each individual under Roman rule, from the richest
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<v Speaker 2>aristocrat to the poorish Shepherd was to be counted in
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<v Speaker 2>a census, but it was not to be an ordinary census. No,
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<v Speaker 2>this one bore the insidious mark of Caesar's paranoia. The
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<v Speaker 2>people were required to return to their ancestral homes, the
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<v Speaker 2>towns of their forefathers, to be registered and accounted for.
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<v Speaker 2>To execute this decree, Caesar dispatched Courineus, the stirred and
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<v Speaker 2>unwavering governor of Syria. We cannot stop these salates unless
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<v Speaker 2>we disorganize them, Caesar told Corineus. Therefore, we will force
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<v Speaker 2>every man to travel uproot them and their families. This
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<v Speaker 2>will make them vulnerable. Corineus agreed and immediately began preparations
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<v Speaker 2>to force the census upon the people of Israel.
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<v Speaker 3>Hello everyone, and welcome to another Christmas episode of the
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<v Speaker 3>Jesus Podcast. I'm Athan from pray dot Com. This episode
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<v Speaker 3>begins Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, a heroing journey
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<v Speaker 3>that will test their faith and stand. It was prophesied
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<v Speaker 3>that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, the birthplace
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<v Speaker 3>of David. For Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, God
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<v Speaker 3>had to use the geopolitical struggles of the time. The
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<v Speaker 3>political landscape of Israel during this time was wrought with
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<v Speaker 3>civil unrest, corruption, and conspiracy. The harsh hand of Caesar
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<v Speaker 3>on the people of Israel caused many radical Jewish factions
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<v Speaker 3>to rise. One of the more infamous groups was the Daggerman,
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<v Speaker 3>also known as the Zealots. Simon, one of Jesus's twelve disciples,
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<v Speaker 3>was one of those men. This story speculates that they
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<v Speaker 3>might be the reason for the census. Although it is speculation,
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<v Speaker 3>historical clues suggest it's a possibility. Historians have wrestled with
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<v Speaker 3>the historical accuracy of Luke's account of the census, so
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<v Speaker 3>scholars are forced to speculate reasons why the census occur
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<v Speaker 3>earn Our story today is speculation for the sake of storytelling,
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<v Speaker 3>but it isn't outside the realm of possibility. Rome's relationship
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<v Speaker 3>with the Jewish nation was complex and dysfunctional. They saw
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<v Speaker 3>Rome as another oppressive ruler like Babylon. As a result,
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<v Speaker 3>the Jews were riled up with a renewed prophetic passion
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<v Speaker 3>for the Messiah to come and deliver them. This was
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<v Speaker 3>the stage that was set for the coming of Jesus.
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<v Speaker 3>Even amid all the madness of culture God was on
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<v Speaker 3>the move. We believe in a God who contain chaos
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<v Speaker 3>and bring beauty from ashes. As the Nativity story intensifies,
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<v Speaker 3>look for God's hidden hand of providence. Genesis chapter fifty,
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<v Speaker 3>verse twenty reminds us that what men intend for evil,
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<v Speaker 3>God can use for good. This census strained the Jewish people,
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<v Speaker 3>but God would use it to bring about their redemption.
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<v Speaker 3>Let's harp back into the story now. Joseph is about
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<v Speaker 3>to receive the news that he must uproot Mary in
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<v Speaker 3>her pregnancy's late stages. What will he do? How will
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<v Speaker 3>he respond when the pressure mounts. Let's find out now
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<v Speaker 3>in this dramatic telling of Luke chapter two, verses one
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<v Speaker 3>through five. Afterward, will unpack the story to find Christmas themes.
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<v Speaker 2>Corineus was not a beloved man. He caried very little
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<v Speaker 2>about being loved or admired. He wanted their fear. If
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<v Speaker 2>he could not gain their fear, their respect would be
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<v Speaker 2>a consolation. Coarineus journeyed to every major city in Israel
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<v Speaker 2>with a battalion of soldiers. They flooded town squares, marketplaces,
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<v Speaker 2>and city gates with Caesar's demands.
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<v Speaker 4>He by order of Caesar, Augustus all men in their
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<v Speaker 4>families are to be registered for a census in the
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<v Speaker 4>city of their family lineage. Failure to writch will result
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<v Speaker 4>in punishment. This is the will of Rome.
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<v Speaker 2>His voice, steely and unemotional, echoed through the streets and alleys,
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<v Speaker 2>leaving a chill in the hearts of those who heard it.
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<v Speaker 2>His soldiers nailed the decree onto the doorpost of every home.
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<v Speaker 2>Corneus's voice shouted through the city streets of Nazareth, where
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<v Speaker 2>Joseph was buying supplies for his workshop. The proclamation threw
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<v Speaker 2>him into a storm of uncertainty and worry. The house
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<v Speaker 2>of David Joseph lineage was traced back to Bethlehem. Joseph
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<v Speaker 2>approached one of the Roman soldiers.
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<v Speaker 5>Sir, my wife is nearly nine months pregnant. She can't
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<v Speaker 5>make the journey to Bethlehem in her condition.
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<v Speaker 2>She'll the soldier shouted, shoving Joseph to the ground. It's
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<v Speaker 2>commanders from Caesar himself. If you fail to obey, you
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<v Speaker 2>will face the rod of Corneus. Joseph looked up at
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<v Speaker 2>the soldier and then at Corneus on his dark horse.
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<v Speaker 2>Joseph clenched his fist and looked away. He knew better
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<v Speaker 2>than to pick a fight, especially when Mary was depending
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<v Speaker 2>on him. The soldier spat at Joseph's feet and walked away.
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<v Speaker 2>Joseph picked up his tools and went back home. He
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<v Speaker 2>walked the dusty path to their humble home, wondering how
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<v Speaker 2>he would afford the journey to Bethlehem. He entered through
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<v Speaker 2>the door slowly. Mary was inside, weaving together blankets for
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<v Speaker 2>Jesus and humming lullabies. Her gentle and quiet grace enraptured Joseph.
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<v Speaker 2>His heart ached that he had to uproot her from
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<v Speaker 2>the comfort of their home. Mary, he said gently. He
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<v Speaker 2>knelt down beside her and held her hand.
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<v Speaker 5>A decree has come from Charinius. We have to depart
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<v Speaker 5>from here to Bethlehem for a senses. I don't know
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<v Speaker 5>why this has come now, but I swear I will
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<v Speaker 5>protect you and the child. We will find a way
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<v Speaker 5>to get there safely.
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<v Speaker 2>Mary's eyes were fogged with fear and anxiety. How Joseph,
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<v Speaker 2>at best, it's a two week journey, and all the
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<v Speaker 2>carts for merchants will be used up was rightfully concerned.
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<v Speaker 2>The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was not a straightforward journey.
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<v Speaker 2>There were vast valleys and hills to pass. Additionally, the
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<v Speaker 2>frenzy of the census would be in banded, stalking lone travelers.
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<v Speaker 2>Joseph felt helpless. They didn't have enough money to pay
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<v Speaker 2>for a wagon to taxi them, nor did they have
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<v Speaker 2>a donkey for Mary to ride on. Such things were
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<v Speaker 2>out of reach for a humble craftsman like Joseph. He
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<v Speaker 2>didn't know how to proceed. Mary held Joseph's face and
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<v Speaker 2>pressed her forehead against his. They closed their eyes and
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<v Speaker 2>shared a somber moment of love and prayer. Joseph stood
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<v Speaker 2>up and wiped a tear from his eye. I'll be back.
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<v Speaker 2>I have to do something. Joseph grabbed his tools and left.
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<v Speaker 2>He rounded the alley beside his home down to the market.
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<v Speaker 2>There was no way Mary could endure the road to
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<v Speaker 2>Bethlehem in her condition. If Joseph was going to keep
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<v Speaker 2>her safe, he needed to provide her with a donkey
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<v Speaker 2>to ride on. The marketplace was chaotic with people desperately
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<v Speaker 2>haggling for supplies. Many people had journeys to plan for.
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<v Speaker 2>Joseph knocked on the door of the blacksmith, who was
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<v Speaker 2>a large and surly man uninterested in people and more
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<v Speaker 2>interested in things. Lord Joseph, my boy, he said, with
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<v Speaker 2>a raspy voice.
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<v Speaker 4>If you are here to ask for another discount on materials,
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<v Speaker 4>I'm afraid you're out of luck.
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<v Speaker 2>Joseph placed his large leather bag of tools on the table.
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<v Speaker 2>I am here to serw you my tools. The blacksmith's
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<v Speaker 2>eyes widen. A craftsman like Joseph was only as valuable
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<v Speaker 2>as the tools he used. What is the meaning of this,
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<v Speaker 2>he asked. Joseph ignored the question, holding back any cues
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<v Speaker 2>that he was greatly distressed at the thought of selling
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<v Speaker 2>his livelihood. How much will you give me? The blacksmith
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<v Speaker 2>examined the tools, laying each out on the table next
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<v Speaker 2>to each other. He crossed his arms and stroked his beard. Hmm,
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<v Speaker 2>I could use many. We have these and sol the rest.
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<v Speaker 4>I will give you two hundred denari for it all
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<v Speaker 4>four hundred if you'll do some work for me after
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<v Speaker 4>the census.
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<v Speaker 2>You have a deal, Joseph said. The two shook on it,
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<v Speaker 2>and Joseph was given the money he and Mary would
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<v Speaker 2>need for the journey. He took the denara and headed
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<v Speaker 2>straight for the city stables. There he brought a donkey
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<v Speaker 2>saddle and packs filled with enough food for a two
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<v Speaker 2>week journey. He also purchased a dagger to strap to
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<v Speaker 2>his side. Joseph sacrificed his livelihood to keep his wife safe.
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<v Speaker 2>Much would be required of him for the journey ahead,
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<v Speaker 2>but he knew that God would protect them.
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<v Speaker 3>Imagine setting forth on an eighty to ninety mile journey
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<v Speaker 3>on rugged terrain with Mary in the advanced stages of
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<v Speaker 3>her pregnancy. The trek from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem
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<v Speaker 3>and Judea was neither short nor easy. It would have
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<v Speaker 3>demanded resilience, stamina, and a deep commitment. The concerns of
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<v Speaker 3>an expectant mother, the potential dangers of the journey, and
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<v Speaker 3>the uncertainties awaiting them in Bethlehem would have weighed heavily
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<v Speaker 3>on their minds. Joseph's role as Mary's protector, guide and
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<v Speaker 3>support cannot be understated. The sacrifice he made to ensure
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<v Speaker 3>Mary's safety was monumental, but he did so with the
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<v Speaker 3>knowledge that there was more to be gained in his
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<v Speaker 3>sacrifice than lost. That's an encouragement for all of us.
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<v Speaker 3>What we give up in pursuit of Christ pales in
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<v Speaker 3>comparison to what we gain. In the next few episodes,
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<v Speaker 3>we'll get to see Joseph and Mary's unwavering commitment to God.
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<v Speaker 3>Their dedication to each other and to the Lord is
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<v Speaker 3>a testament to their faith and obedience to God's call.
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<v Speaker 3>The reason for their journey, a decree from Caesar Augustus
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<v Speaker 3>for a census, speaks to the geopolitical realities of the time.
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<v Speaker 3>On the surface, this seems like a mere administrative move
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<v Speaker 3>by a vast empire, but in the grand tapestry of
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<v Speaker 3>God's design, it was a pivotal move to ensure the
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<v Speaker 3>fulfillment of prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
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<v Speaker 3>Look at Micah chapter five, verse two. This use of
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<v Speaker 3>a geopolitical event is a poignant reminder that God's redemption
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<v Speaker 3>plan is not isolated from the realities of our world.
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<v Speaker 3>He uses emperors, decrees, and worldly events to achieve his purposes.
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<v Speaker 3>This gives us hope, reminding us that no matter how
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<v Speaker 3>challenging or chaotic our world might seem, God is always
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<v Speaker 3>at work bringing his plans to fruition. As we reflect
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<v Speaker 3>on Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, let's consider the
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<v Speaker 3>sacrifices we're all called to make. Jesus says in Matthew
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<v Speaker 3>chapter sixteen, if anyone desires to come after me, let
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<v Speaker 3>him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
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<v Speaker 3>The path for Mary and Joseph is only going to
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<v Speaker 3>get more difficult. But just because things are hard doesn't
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<v Speaker 3>mean they aren't good. The Cross of Jesus showed us
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<v Speaker 3>that some of the greatest triumphs emerge from the ashes
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<v Speaker 3>of our greatest trials. When you face difficulty, think less
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<v Speaker 3>about how to minimize your suffering and think more about
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<v Speaker 3>maximizing the meaning you can glean in the.
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<v Speaker 1>Midst of it.
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<v Speaker 3>This Christmas, let the story of Luke chapter two, verses
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<v Speaker 3>one through five inspire us to have faith in the journey,
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<v Speaker 3>however difficult. Let us be reminded that God often uses
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<v Speaker 3>the intricate complexities of our world to unfold his divine
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<v Speaker 3>narrative in the midst of our challenges. May we find
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<v Speaker 3>comfort in knowing that God is orchestrating a redemption story,
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<v Speaker 3>not just on a global scale, but in our personal
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<v Speaker 3>lives as well. Our next few episodes will highlight the
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<v Speaker 3>intense difficulty Mary and Joseph faced on the journey to Bethlehem.
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<v Speaker 3>But even robbers, romans, and raging waters can't thwart the
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<v Speaker 3>plans of God.
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