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He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather glory in my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12.9 Dear Heavenly Father, When we feel weak, inadequate, or overwhelmed,
We're reminded that it is precisely in these moments that your strength, power, and grace shine brightest. We ask for the humility to accept our weaknesses and the faith to see them not as failures, but as opportunities for your power to be displayed. Help us, Lord, to rely not on our own strength, but on the abundant grace you freely give us in our struggles and trials.
Let us feel your presence, power, resting upon us, giving us the courage and resilience to endure. Through our weaknesses, may we be a testament to your infinite strength and love. We pray in the name of Jesus, our source of power and grace. Amen. Thank you for pausing to pray today. Prepare to be swept back into the Christmas story
The Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider Nazareth was far from a vibrant, bustling town. Its character was more defined by its ordinary, even dull, nature. Far removed from the trade routes, absent any shoreline and devoid of the rich cultural tapestry found in other cities, Nazareth was perhaps most notable for its unremarkableness. A town with no glorious past, heroic tales or exciting happenings.
Yet the dusty and forgotten town far from the holy city of Jerusalem was about to be visited by God himself. The God who had been silent and hidden in the margins of history for 400 years was about to descend upon humanity. In this forsaken city, Nazareth, God's hero would be revealed. Hello everyone and welcome to the Stories of the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus.
The Christmas season is upon us. This is the perfect time to explore the beautiful and epic journey of the Nativity. Christ's birth is a tale of drama, danger, loyalty, and divine intervention. It is my joy to guide you today as we are introduced to Mary, called in Hebrew Miriam, a young woman from the small city of Nazareth. Miriam's story is out of humility, strength, and devotion.
Mary was a mere vessel in the grand plan of salvation, but she stands as an example for all believers today. Her humble submission to God's will and her strength in the face of adversity reminds us of the remarkable ways God uses ordinary people for His extraordinary purposes.
We are about to immerse ourselves in a cinematic retelling of Matthew and Luke's account of Mary. As we listen and reflect on her life, may we be inspired to approach our walk with God with the same humility and strength, trusting in His plan regardless of our challenges and uncertainty. The life of Miriam teaches us that when we submit to God's will, He provides us the strength we need to fulfill His purpose.
This is only the beginning of Mary's harrowing story. Let's listen now and then unpack more of the deeper themes of her life afterward.
Sunrise broke over the dusty hills surrounding Nazareth. The mild morning rays gently broke the chill of dawn. Its light methodically sifted through the window in Mary's room. She slowly awoke, her lungs filled with the dry and crisp air. She carefully wrapped herself up with deliberate caution not to stir her siblings. She stepped into the awakening day. The cool, dry breeze gently caressed her cheeks.
Animals responded to the rooster's call, and life began to hum as families awoke from their rest. Grasping a pail, Mary started her daily trek towards the town's lone well. Nazareth was far from a vibrant, bustling town. Its character was more defined by its ordinary, even dull nature. Far removed from the trade routes, absent any shoreline, and devoid of the rich cultural tapestry found in other cities, Nazareth was perhaps most notable for its unremarkableness.
A town with no glorious past, no heroic tales, and no exciting happenings. Yet for Mary, a flicker of anticipation made Nazareth seem less monotonous. She was engaged to be married to one of the local stonemasons, Joseph. He was hardly the most handsome man in Nazareth, nor the most skilled craftsman, but he was kind.
His gentle and quiet strength made him a kindred spirit to Mary. To her, being betrothed to Joseph was exciting, a break in Nazareth's otherwise dull life.
Mary drew water from the well with the other young women in the town. They playfully questioned Mary about her marriage and dreamed about their own futures as wives, mothers, friends and elders in the community. It was a simple and joyful life Mary led. She wouldn't trade it for anything. Mary lugged her filled pail back home. Her siblings had left for their chores and her parents had started their day's work in the marketplace. She climbed the incline leading to her home, her arms aching under the weight of the water.
She pushed the door open with her foot, entered, and turned around only to find a divine creature resting on her room's lattice. "Greetings, oh favored one," the angel announced, making Mary startle and lose grip on her pail. Water splashed across the room, and Mary stumbled backwards onto the hard floor. Trying to escape the surprised visitor, she attempted to rush out, but the angel appeared before her, his face wearing a reassuring smile. "Please do not be afraid.
His words left Mary puzzled, yet her fear was slightly alleviated. She slowly retreated and sat on her bed's edge. The angel spread his arms wide. What does that mean? Mary asked, her hands absently fidgeting in her lap.
The angel's smile grew wider as he spoke. His words were an intermingling of news and worship unto the Lord. Mary, you have found favor with God, Gabriel explained. You are to bear a burden and blessing unlike any other in the world. His voice was melodic. You, Mary, will conceive a son.
The child in your womb would be God's chosen one, the mighty son of the Most High who will bear the weight of mankind. The Lord will establish his kingdom through him. He will inherit David's throne and his kingdom will be eternal, his glory everlasting. The impact of Gabriel's words left Mary perplexed. She shook her head in disbelief. How can this be?
I'm a virgin. I am young and have not known a man. Her eyes welled up, the enormity of the revelation overwhelming her. Gabriel, noticing her distress, descended to eye level. The angel wasn't human, but he wore an empathetic grin as he reassured Mary of her calling. Mary, all things are possible with God. The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The power of the highest God will overshadow you.
The child you carry will be the Son of God himself." Seeing her eyes widen in shock, he continued, "Your cousin Elizabeth, well past her childbearing ages, already six months pregnant. Now tell me, is there anything the Lord cannot do?" For a moment, Mary sat in silence. She could feel God's Spirit strengthening her. Her racing thoughts began to settle into a calm stream. Closing her eyes tightly, she laid a hand on her belly.
It was then she felt the favor of a God wash over her. Joy, indescribable and incomprehensible joy, filled her. She stood, wiping her tears and dusting off her dress, a smile gracing her face as she met Gabriel's gaze. After a deep breath, she proclaimed, "'I am God's servant. I will gladly receive his will according to what you've said.'"
With a nod, Gabriel vanished. Mary stepped outside. The sun was high overhead. She bathed in its warm rays and watched the village resume its regular rhythm. She heard birds chirping in harmony with the gentle breeze. Suddenly, the mundane day radiated with a divine glow. Her heart pounded with anticipation and fear of what lay ahead. Yet she knew Gabriel's words held true. What would Joseph think?
What will her family do? So many questions raced through her mind. Mary decided the best thing to do was visit her cousin Elizabeth to witness what God was doing. This was not the life Mary expected for herself. Let's put ourselves in her position for a moment. She is young, betrothed to be married, and has her whole life ahead of her. She was undoubtedly dreaming about her wedding day, having children with Joseph, and living a simple life in Nazareth.
But God had different plans for her. It can be hard when God interrupts our plans, can't it? There are key moments in our lives when we expect one thing to happen, but it turns out God has different plans. You've been there. Luke chapter 1 says that Mary graciously accepted God's plan for her. It couldn't have been easy. Think about all the hardship Mary would endure because of God's calling on her life. What would her parents think? Would Joseph leave her when he found out?
When God calls us to do something new, sometimes we can become consumed with the risks involved. Thoughts of persecution, discomfort, and rejection can dominate our headspace. Mary is a wonderful example of quietly and humbly accepting God's will for her life. She asked Gabriel how it would be possible since she was a virgin, indicating her innocence and purity.
But after the angel explained, she didn't hesitate or resist, but simply said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your will, Lord." Her willingness to step into the unknown and accept a mission that would lead to hardship and misunderstanding shows an unparalleled humility and commitment to the Lord. This humility was not the result of low self-esteem or lack of ambition.
Instead, it was rooted in an accurate understanding of who God is and who she was in relation to him. Mary recognized her role in God's plan, accepting it graciously, even with its potential for personal cost and societal shame. Mary's strength, often overlooked, is an essential part of her character.
It would have taken great fortitude to accept such a call knowing that it could result in her being ostracized or even worse stoned to death. According to the laws of the time stoning was on the table. In addition, the physical and emotional toll of bearing and raising a child under such circumstances was unimaginable. You know the saying, "God never gives you more than you can handle." You hear that saying thrown around a lot, but consider this.
The Bible shows us story after story of people who were given more than they can handle. Moses certainly couldn't have freed the people of Israel on his own. Daniel couldn't have survived the lion's den on his own. The Bible continues to show us that God does not give us more than we can handle on our own. But with His help, we are more than conquerors. We are sometimes faced with challenges too significant to endure on our own. But that is when the strength of God is shown.
Remember what God said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9? He encouraged Paul saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." This is why Paul said that he would rather boast in his weakness than in his strength, because it was in his weakness that God's strength was most evident and being wrought in his life. In future episodes, we'll be immersed in the heart-wrenching struggle of Mary and Joseph.
Together they will face near-death experiences and close calls. Our ministry, Discovering the Jewish Jesus, is all about showing people the magnificent strength of the Messiah. People often associate the God of the Old Testament with strength and the God of the New Testament with gentleness. But Christ's power is no different from the God who formed the cosmos and part of the seas. They're the same God. We can take comfort in knowing that.
With Him by our side, we can endure anything that comes our way. This Christmas season, let us remember the great calling Christ has given each of us. Like Mary, you and I have been given a great mission. May we shoulder that mission with grace, humility, and reliance on God. Mary's journey has just begun, and we're just getting started with the epic story of the Nativity.
Join us for the next episode of Stories of the Messiah as we follow Mary to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah. As she learns more about her calling, her womb begins to expand and she will no longer be able to hide what's happened. If you have enjoyed this podcast, share it with a friend. We want the story of Jesus to change lives. If you're interested in my ministry, you can visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com.
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