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The Decree · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny
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  Speaker 1: himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew
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  Speaker 1: 16.24 Dear Heavenly Father, As we celebrate the birth of Jesus,
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  Speaker 1: remind us of the profound journey He embarked upon for
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  Speaker 1: our sake. A journey that called for sacrifice, selflessness, and
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  Speaker 1: enduring love. This Christmas, as we exchange gifts and share
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  Speaker 1: in festivities, may we also remember the greatest gift of all, Christ,
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  Speaker 1: who came not just to be born in a manger,
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  Speaker 1: but to lay down his life for us. Empower us
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  Speaker 1: with the same mind and will of Christ, who set
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  Speaker 1: aside his comforts to carry his cross. Show us every
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  Speaker 1: day how to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, serving
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  Speaker 1: and loving those around us. Thank you for the priceless
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  Speaker 1: gift of your Son and the invitation to follow him.
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  Speaker 1: Fill our hearts with gratitude, love, and true joy this Christmas.
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  Speaker 1: In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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  Speaker 2: The winds of change swept across Israel with increasing fervor.
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  Speaker 2: It was as if the very breath of God stirred
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  Speaker 2: the dust between the Roman-ruled province, whispering of a tumult
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  Speaker 2: yet to unfold. Rebellion and discord, long smouldering in the
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  Speaker 2: hearts of the oppressed Hebrews, started to spark. A group
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  Speaker 2: of rebels known as the Dagger Men grew by the day.
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  Speaker 2: Some knew them by a different name, the Zealots. They
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  Speaker 2: were men of tact, skill, and secrecy. Fueled by Roman
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  Speaker 2: hatred and a desire to usher in Israeli independence, they
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  Speaker 2: assassinated some of Caesar's highest-ranking officials. They were growing in
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  Speaker 2: number and needed to be stopped. Caesar Augustus, ruling from
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  Speaker 2: the heart of the Roman Empire, was not ignorant of
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  Speaker 2: these dagger men. His eyes, though distant, were sharp, and
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  Speaker 2: his paranoia simmered alongside the rebellion. He had not risen
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  Speaker 2: to power by being ignorant. In a move uncharacteristic of
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  Speaker 2: Roman custom, he issued a decree, one that both revealed
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  Speaker 2: his desperation for control and reflected his fear of the
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  Speaker 2: burgeoning unrest. Each individual under Roman rule, from the richest
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  Speaker 2: aristocrat to the poorest shepherd, was to be counted in
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  Speaker 2: a census. But it was not to be an ordinary census. No,
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  Speaker 2: this one bore the insidious mark of Caesar's paranoia. The
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  Speaker 2: people were required to return to their ancestral homes, the
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  Speaker 2: towns of their forefathers, to be registered and accounted for.
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  Speaker 2: To execute this decree, Caesar dispatched Quirinius, the stirred and
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  Speaker 2: unwavering governor of Syria.
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  Speaker 3: We cannot stop these zealots unless we disorganize them, Caesar
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  Speaker 3: told Quirinius. Therefore, we will force every man to travel,
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  Speaker 3: uproot them and their families.
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  Speaker 4: This will make them vulnerable.
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  Speaker 2: Quirinius agreed and immediately began preparations to force the census
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  Speaker 2: upon the people of Israel.
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  Speaker 5: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
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  Speaker 5: Bible in a Year podcast. This episode begins Mary and
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  Speaker 5: Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. the harrowing journey that will test
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  Speaker 5: their faith and stamina. It was prophesied that the Messiah
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  Speaker 5: would be born in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David. For
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  Speaker 5: Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, Dodd had to use
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  Speaker 5: the geopolitical struggles of the time. The political landscape of
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  Speaker 5: Israel during this time was wrought with civil unrest, corruption,
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  Speaker 5: and conspiracy. The harsh hand of Caesar on the people
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  Speaker 5: of Israel caused many radical Jewish factions to rise. One
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  Speaker 5: of the more infamous groups was the Dagger Men, also
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  Speaker 5: known as the Zealots. Simon, one of Jesus' twelve disciples,
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  Speaker 5: was one of those men. This story speculates that they
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  Speaker 5: might be the reason for the census. Although it is speculation,
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  Speaker 5: historical clues suggest it's a possibility. Historians have wrestled with
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  Speaker 5: the historical accuracy of Luke's account of the census. so
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  Speaker 5: scholars are forced to speculate reasons why the census occurred.
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  Speaker 5: Our story today is speculation for the sake of storytelling,
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  Speaker 5: but it isn't outside the realm of possibility. Rome's relationship
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  Speaker 5: with the Jewish nation was complex and dysfunctional. They saw
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  Speaker 5: Rome as another oppressive ruler like Babylon. As a result,
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  Speaker 5: The Jews were riled up with a renewed prophetic passion
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  Speaker 5: for the Messiah to come and deliver them. This was
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  Speaker 5: the stage that was set for the coming of Jesus.
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  Speaker 5: Even amid all the madness of culture, God was on
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  Speaker 5: the move. We believe in a God who can tame
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  Speaker 5: chaos and bring beauty from ashes. As the Nativity story intensifies,
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  Speaker 5: look for God's hidden hand of providence. Genesis chapter 50
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  Speaker 5: verse 20 reminds us that what men intend for evil,
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  Speaker 5: God can use for good. This census strained the Jewish people,
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  Speaker 5: but God would use it to bring about their redemption.
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  Speaker 5: Let's hop back into the story now. Joseph is about
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  Speaker 5: to receive the news that he must uproot Mary in
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  Speaker 5: her pregnancy's late stages. What will he do? How will
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  Speaker 5: he respond when the pressure mounts? Let's find out now
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  Speaker 5: in this dramatic telling of Luke chapter 2, verses 1
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  Speaker 5: through 5. Afterward, we'll unpack the story to find Christmas themes.
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  Speaker 2: Quirinius was not a beloved man. He cared very little
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  Speaker 2: about being loved or admired. He wanted their fear. If
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  Speaker 2: he could not gain their fear, their respect would be
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  Speaker 2: a consolation. Quirinius journeyed to every major city in Israel
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  Speaker 2: with a battalion of soldiers and They flooded town squares, marketplaces,
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  Speaker 2: and city gates with Caesar's demands. Hear ye!
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  Speaker 4: By order of Caesar Augustus, all men in their families
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  Speaker 4: are to be registered for a census in the city
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  Speaker 4: of their family lineage. Failure to register will result in punishment.
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  Speaker 4: This is the will of Rome.
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  Speaker 2: His voice, steely and unemotional, echoed through the streets and alleys,
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  Speaker 2: leaving a chill in the hearts of those who heard it.
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  Speaker 2: His soldiers nailed the decree onto the doorpost of every home. Quirinius'
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  Speaker 2: voice shouted through the city streets of Nazareth, where Joseph
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  Speaker 2: was buying supplies for his workshop. The proclamation threw him
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  Speaker 2: into a storm of uncertainty and worry. The house of David,
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  Speaker 2: Joseph's lineage, was traced back to Bethlehem. Joseph approached one
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  Speaker 2: of the Roman soldiers.
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  Speaker 6: Sir, my wife is nearly nine months pregnant. She can't
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  Speaker 6: make the journey to Bethlehem in her condition.
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  Speaker 2: She'll... The soldier shouted, shoving Joseph to the ground. His
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  Speaker 2: command is from Caesar himself. If you fail to obey,
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  Speaker 2: you will face the rod of Quirinius. Joseph looked up
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  Speaker 2: at the soldier and then at Quirinius on his dark horse.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph clenched his fist and looked away. He knew better
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  Speaker 2: than to pick a fight, especially when Mary was depending
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  Speaker 2: on him. The soldier spat at Joseph's feet and walked away.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph picked up his tools and went back home. He
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  Speaker 2: walked the dusty path to their humble home, wondering how
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  Speaker 2: he would afford the journey to Bethlehem. He entered through
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  Speaker 2: the door slowly. Mary was inside, weaving together blankets for
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  Speaker 2: Jesus and humming lullabies. Her gentle and quiet grace enraptured Joseph.
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  Speaker 2: His heart ached that he had to uproot her from
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  Speaker 2: the comfort of their home. Mary, he said gently. He
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  Speaker 2: knelt down beside her and held her hand.
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  Speaker 6: The decree has come from Quirinius. We have to depart
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  Speaker 6: from here to Bethlehem for a census. I don't know
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  Speaker 6: why this has come now, but I swear I will
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  Speaker 6: protect you and the child. We will find a way
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  Speaker 6: to get there safely.
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  Speaker 2: Mary's eyes were fogged with fear and anxiety. How, Joseph?
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  Speaker 1: At best, it's a two-week journey, and all the carts
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  Speaker 1: for merchants will be used up.
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  Speaker 2: Mary was rightfully concerned. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem
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  Speaker 2: was not a straightforward journey. There were vast valleys and
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  Speaker 2: hills to pass. Additionally, the frenzy of the census would
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  Speaker 2: mean bandits stalking lone travellers. Joseph felt helpless. They didn't
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  Speaker 2: have enough money to pay for a wagon to taxi them,
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  Speaker 2: nor did they have a donkey for Mary to ride on.
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  Speaker 2: Such things were out of reach for a humble craftsman
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  Speaker 2: like Joseph. He didn't know how to proceed. Mary held
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  Speaker 2: Joseph's face, and pressed her forehead against his. They closed
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  Speaker 2: their eyes and shared a somber moment of love and prayer.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph stood up and wiped a tear from his eye.
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  Speaker 2: I'll be back. I have to do something. Joseph grabbed
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  Speaker 2: his tools and left. He rounded the alley beside his
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  Speaker 2: home down to the market. There was no way Mary
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  Speaker 2: could endure the road to Bethlehem in her condition. If
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  Speaker 2: Joseph was going to keep her safe, he needed to
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  Speaker 2: provide her with a donkey to ride on. The marketplace
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  Speaker 2: was chaotic. with people desperately haggling for supplies. Many people
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  Speaker 2: had journeys to plan for. Joseph knocked on the door
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  Speaker 2: of the blacksmith. He was a large and surly man,
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  Speaker 2: uninterested in people and more interested in things. Hello, Joseph,
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  Speaker 2: my boy, he said with a raspy voice.
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  Speaker 4: If you are here to ask for another discount on materials,
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  Speaker 4: I'm afraid you're out of luck.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph placed his large leather bag of tools on the table.
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  Speaker 2: I am here to sell you my tools. The blacksmith's
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  Speaker 2: eyes widened. A craftsman like Joseph was only as valuable
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  Speaker 2: as the.
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  Speaker 1: Tools he used.
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  Speaker 4: What is the meaning of this?
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  Speaker 2: He asked. Joseph ignored the question, holding back any cues
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  Speaker 2: that he was greatly distressed at the thought of selling
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  Speaker 2: his livelihood.
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  Speaker 6: How much will you give me?
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  Speaker 2: The blacksmith examined the tools, laying each out on the
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  Speaker 2: table next to each other. He crossed his arms and
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  Speaker 2: stroked his beard. I could use many of these and
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  Speaker 2: sell the rest. I will give you two hundred denarii
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  Speaker 2: for it all.
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  Speaker 4: Four hundred if you do some work for me after
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  Speaker 4: the census.
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  Speaker 2: You have a deal, Joseph said. The tools shook on it,
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  Speaker 2: and Joseph was given the money he and Mary would
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  Speaker 2: need for the journey. He took the denarii and headed
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  Speaker 2: straight for the city stables. There he brought a donkey, saddle,
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  Speaker 2: and packs filled with enough food for a two-week journey.
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  Speaker 2: He also purchased a dagger to strap to his side.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph sacrificed his livelihood to keep his wife safe. Much
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  Speaker 2: would be required of him for the journey ahead, but
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  Speaker 2: he knew that God would protect them.
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  Speaker 5: Imagine setting forth on an 80 to 90 mile journey
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  Speaker 5: on rugged terrain with Mary in the advanced stages of
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  Speaker 5: her pregnancy. The trek from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem
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  Speaker 5: in Judea was neither short nor easy. It would have
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  Speaker 5: demanded resilience, stamina, and a deep commitment. the concerns of
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  Speaker 5: an expectant mother, the potential dangers of the journey, and
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  Speaker 5: the uncertainties awaiting them in Bethlehem would have weighed heavily
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  Speaker 5: on their minds. Joseph's role as Mary's protector, guide, and
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  Speaker 5: support cannot be understated. The sacrifice he made to ensure
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  Speaker 5: Mary's safety was monumental, but he did so with the
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  Speaker 5: knowledge that there was more to be gained in his
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  Speaker 5: sacrifice than lost. That's an encouragement for all of us.
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  Speaker 5: What we give up in pursuit of Christ pales in
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  Speaker 5: comparison to what we gain. In the next few episodes,
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  Speaker 5: we'll get to see Joseph and Mary's unwavering commitment to God.
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  Speaker 5: Their dedication to each other and to the Lord is
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  Speaker 5: a testament to their faith and obedience to God's call.
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  Speaker 5: The reason for their journey, a decree from Caesar Augustus
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  Speaker 5: for a census, speaks to the geopolitical realities of the time.
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  Speaker 5: On the surface, this seems like a mere administrative move
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  Speaker 5: by a vast empire. But in the grand tapestry of
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  Speaker 5: God's design, it was a pivotal move to ensure the
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  Speaker 5: fulfillment of prophecy, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
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  Speaker 5: Look at Micah 5, verse 2. This use of a
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  Speaker 5: geopolitical event is a poignant reminder that God's redemption plan
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  Speaker 5: is not isolated from the realities of our world. He
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  Speaker 5: uses emperors, decrees, and worldly events to achieve His purposes.
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  Speaker 5: This gives us hope, reminding us that no matter how
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  Speaker 5: challenging or chaotic our world might seem, God is always
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  Speaker 5: at work, bringing His plans to fruition. As we reflect
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  Speaker 5: on Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, let's consider the
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  Speaker 5: sacrifices we're all called to make. Jesus says in Matthew 16,
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  Speaker 5: If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny
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  Speaker 5: himself and take up his cross and follow me. The
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  Speaker 5: path for Mary and Joseph is only going to get
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  Speaker 5: more difficult. But just because things are hard doesn't mean
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  Speaker 5: they aren't good. The cross of Jesus showed us that
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  Speaker 5: some of the greatest triumphs emerge from the ashes of
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  Speaker 5: our greatest trials. When you face difficulty, think less about
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  Speaker 5: how to minimize your suffering and think more about maximizing
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  Speaker 5: the meaning you can glean in the midst of it.
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  Speaker 5: This Christmas, let the story of Luke 2, verses 1-5
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  Speaker 5: inspire us to have faith in the journey, however difficult.
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  Speaker 5: Let us be reminded that God often uses the intricate
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  Speaker 5: complexities of our world to unfold His divine narrative. In
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  Speaker 5: the midst of our challenges, may we find comfort in
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  Speaker 5: knowing that God is orchestrating a redemption story, not just
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  Speaker 5: on a global scale, but in our personal lives as well.
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  Speaker 5: Our next few episodes will highlight the intense difficulty Mary
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  Speaker 5: and Joseph faced on the journey to Bethlehem. But even robbers, Romans,
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  Speaker 5: and raging waters can't thwart the plans of God. Thanks
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  Speaker 5: for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm
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  Speaker 5: Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Pray.com app
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  Speaker 5: and make prayer a priority in your life. If you
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  Speaker 5: enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you love. By
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  Speaker 5: sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life.
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  Speaker 5: And if you want more resources on how to tap
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  Speaker 5: into God's power for successful Christian living, be sure to
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  Speaker 5: visit jackram.org. God bless you.