Chapters
Shownotes Transcript
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. Luke 1.68 Dear Heavenly Father, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of your Son, we are filled with awe and gratitude. We praise you for your divine intervention and love so profound that you sent us a Savior, the greatest gift humanity has ever received.
Let the miracle of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, the fulfillment of your promise, resonate deeply within us. Help us remember and appreciate Christmas' true meaning amidst the festive cheer, the lights, and the carols. We praise you for your faithfulness, love that never fails, and the promise of redemption that was beautifully fulfilled on that first Christmas night. Help us to live each day in the light of this truth.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider. Prepare to be immersed in the wonder of the nativity. Will God always allow wickedness to prevail?
The captive people of Israel wondered, They cried. In despair and hurt, God's people wondered if deliverance would ever come. The pain of sin and oppression bit at their hearts. They needed deliverance. From the hopeless ashes of Israel, the God of all creation made a promise. Through the prophet Malachi, he said,
He spoke a song of hope. "Behold, I will send my messenger to you," he declared. "He will prepare the way before me. He will prepare the way of the Lord. He is coming!" The people's hearts ached for the promised deliverer.
But before he would come, a voice would cry out to hearken his arrival. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Before the Savior's arrival, a voice would cry out. He would have the spirit of the Lord like the prophet Elijah. He would be the forerunner, the one to prepare the way.
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Pray.com's Stories of the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus. Today we are continuing the story of Mary. Elizabeth is in the throes of labor and Mary is about to glimpse her own future. The baby born from Elizabeth and Zechariah is no ordinary child. He's the forerunner for the Messiah, the voice that Malachi and Isaiah prophesied about.
The birth of John the Baptist hearkens to the beginning of God's redemptive gospel. Just as the ministry of John paved the way for the ministry of Jesus, the birth of John paved the way for the birth of Jesus. Without these events, Mary would not have been ready for the struggles ahead. Her time with Elizabeth and Zachariah gave her the strength and courage to face her future with fearlessness.
This story is inspired by the Gospel of Luke. These events with Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah represent a fulcrum between the Old and New Testaments. The covenant of law, prophets, and priests are about to transition into the new covenant of grace, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth is an older woman about to give birth to Israel's last prophet. Beside her is Mary, the young virgin carrying the promised Messiah.
This moment represents the passing of the torch. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that the old is past and the new has come. This moment encapsulates that idea. Elizabeth and Zachariah won't be mentioned again. Their story serves as a transition from the old to the new. As she beholds these events, Mary will find the strength to carry out her role in God's magnificent plan.
So let's immerse ourselves now in the story and afterward we'll unpack Christmas truths to encourage our souls. Under the mantle of the evening stars, Mary pushed open the door to Elizabeth and Zachariah's home. The house was a symphony of chaos and urgency and at the center was Elizabeth, crumpled in the throes of labor. Mary, Elizabeth cried with a nervous smile. It's
It's time for this old woman to see what she's made of. Come by my side. Mary rushed to her side, her hands shaking as she held onto Elizabeth's clammy fingers. The older woman's face was flushed, her eyes brimming with a wild mixture of fear, anticipation and joy. Zachariah, rendered mute by the angel, paced outside with worry etched across his weathered face.
Mary glanced around the room, her heart echoing the tumultuous atmosphere. The walls seemed to pulsate with a life of their own, echoing the rhythmic cries of the laboring woman. The room smelled of sweat and fear, yet beneath it there was a faint but persistent aroma of hope.
You're doing wonderfully, Elizabeth. Mary soothed, brushing the hair off Elizabeth's forehead. He's nearly here. Elizabeth let out a primal cry. Her body seized with another contraction. There was a raw vulnerability in her eyes. It hurts. Elizabeth gasped, squeezing Mary's hand. I know. Mary murmured, her heart aching with sympathy. She saw a glimpse into her own future. But it'll be worth it. Just a little longer.
Finally, the sun began its rise over the hills, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Elizabeth gave one last mighty push, and the room was filled with a cry of a newborn. Mary felt a jolt of joy surge as she saw him. As soon as Zachariah heard his son's screams, he burst through the door to cradle his son in his arms, a mixture of awe and disbelief on his face as he beheld the miracle child.
A sense of divine realization seeped into the room. There was a sweet stillness and purity to the moment. Mary looked at the newborn babe and remembered he was no ordinary child. Mary approached and reached out her finger to the child. He wrapped his tiny hand around her finger.
Mary's heart fluttered with hope. This child was going to be the forerunner for hers, a voice crying out from the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. Zachariah held the boy up high, still unable to speak, and mouthed a prayer to the Lord. He kissed the son's forehead and gave him to Elizabeth. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand and sang a lullaby. Mary's heart melted with affection.
She watched Zachariah wrap his arms around Elizabeth and couldn't help but think about Joseph. She had often dreamed about them having children of their own. She imagined him wrapping her in his arms as they beheld their child. "Would that even be possible now?" she wondered. "Will Joseph even accept me?" Mary's heart ached out of longing for a normal life, but God had other plans. She prayed silently to the Lord again and rededicated herself to his plans.
Eight days passed and the newborn was to be circumcised and given a name according to tradition.
Everyone gathered around for the occasion. The birth of this child had become famous. They marveled at the baby, wondering what the Lord had in store for him. "He should be named Zechariah, after his father," they all suggested. But the Lord had other plans. Zechariah held his child tightly. With a gentle, yet resonating voice, Zechariah was finally able to speak. "His name is John."
His voice rang out clear and certain, slicing through the collective surprise. The air seemed thickened with awe. Zechariah walked with his child and held him up to the Lord. Small tears slowly streaked down his cracked cheeks. Beaming with fatherly pride and gratitude, Zechariah spoke a prophecy, saying...
Zechariah began, his voice echoing through the people.
From the lineage of his servant David, he has kindled a beacon, a horn of salvation, as his prophets, those holy heralds of old, once foretold.
His gaze moved across the faces gathered, their eyes reflecting the radiant hope kindled by his words. "Salvation is upon us, not just from our visible adversaries, but also from the unseen enemies of hatred and malice that creep within the hearts of men." His mercy unfurls like the petals of a sacred bloom,
Echoing the promise given to our forefathers, reverberating the holy covenant he etched in the sands of time, Zechariah's voice took on a reflective timber. The oath he made to our father Abraham has not been forgotten.
for his promises are not of the fleeting kind. He has pledged to deliver us from the grasp of our foes, to unshackle us from the chains of fear. In this newfound freedom, we are able to serve him, our lives as a testament of his grace, steeped in righteousness and sanctity. A tender smile graced his lips as he gazed into the eyes of his son.
His voice, filled with fatherly pride, continued,
In the tender mercy of our God, a new day dawns.
The morning light from the heavens above will touch us and a divine hand to heal and guide us. It will shine upon those who dwell in the shadows, upon those ensnared by the fear of death, a beacon to guide our steps into the path of peace." As Zachariah's voice tapered off, a reverent silence filled the air.
Their hearts brimming with hope, they gazed at the baby in Elizabeth's arms, the prophet of the Most High, the voice that would echo in the wilderness, preparing for the way of the Lord. They felt the stirrings of a new dawn, a divine narrative unfolding, the whisper of prophecy dancing in the wind. And they knew the long night was ending. The day of redemption was at hand.
As days turned into weeks, Mary watched John grow, his every milestone a quiet prelude to her own impending motherhood. Yet amidst the joy, her heart fluttered with a fresh wave of uncertainty.
How was she going to tell Joseph? The law regarding adultery was clear about such matters and the consequences were harsh. How was she going to convince him that she was not unfaithful? How would she convince her own father? On the last night, Mary gazed up at the twinkling tapestry of stars, her heart heavy with silent prayers and unspoken fears. Tomorrow she would return to Nazareth. Tomorrow she would tell Joseph.
Tomorrow, her life would change forever. But tonight, she was just Mary, cradling the promise of salvation in her womb. As she closed her eyes, the whispers of the night seemed to draw her into a dance of destiny, promising a tale of faith, love, and divine miracles. Yet, with the promise came a shadow of uncertainty, a mystery that would shape the destiny of humankind.
Luke's account of the birth and naming of John the Baptist, intertwined with the Christmas narrative, is a tale of prophetic fulfillment and new life brimming with potential.
Upon the birth and naming of a son, Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and offers a prophetic song now known as the Benedictus. His prophecy reaffirms God's promises to Israel and specifically it prophesizes the role his son John will play in the divine plan, stating, "...and you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High."
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways. This prophecy underscores the role of John the Baptist paving the way for the Messiah, the essence of the Christmas story. If you visit our ministry, DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com, you will discover a wealth of resources connecting the depth of the Old Testament with the beauty of the New Testament.
This story provides one of those moments when comparing Elijah to John the Baptist. The similarities between John and the prophet Elijah are striking and significant. Both were prophetic voices in their generations calling people back to God. Both led lives marked by simplicity and separation from societal norms.
John, like Elijah, was a fearless preacher confronting the wrongs of his time. Jesus affirmed this parallel when he said in Matthew 11, for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you're willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was to come. That's really powerful. Yeshua called John Elijah who was to come.
As we reflect on the Christmas story, the figure of John akin to Elijah is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness in sending messengers to prepare his people for his coming. The birth of John the Baptist is a story of new life and potential. Zechariah and Elizabeth, considered two old tabbed children, were blessed with a son vital to God's salvific plan. John's life
filled with great potential, reminds us that it's never too late for new beginnings with God. The Christmas season embodies this message of new life and potential. With the birth of Jesus, new life was given to all who believe in him. This season invites us to see our lives, no matter our past or present circumstances, as brimming with divine potential.
As we reflect on this story, let's be reminded of God's prophetic promises fulfilled in the Christmas story and the beautiful themes of new life and potential that are relevant for you and I right now. May these reflections inspire us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and to embrace the potential God has placed within each of us, not just during the Christmas season,
but all throughout our entire lives. We're beginning to end. In our next episode, we finally meet Joseph, Yosef in Hebrew, Mary or Miriam's betrothed. Will he accept Mary's explanation or take advantage of his right to stone her? We'll find out next time on Stories of the Messiah. To dwell deeper into the story of Jesus, you're welcome to visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com.
I'd also like to recommend my new book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed, Seeing Messiah in the Pages of the Hebrew Bible. It's available for purchase on my website. Now, if this podcast has blessed you, be sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. And remember to download Pray.com to hear even more great stories and make prayer a priority in your life.