Latest / Bible in a Year with Jack Graham / A Dream of Courage

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A Dream of Courage · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Of the increase of his government and of peace, there
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  Speaker 1: shall be no end, on David's throne and on his kingdom,
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  Speaker 1: to establish it and to uphold it with justice and
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  Speaker 1: with righteousness from that time on even forever. The zeal
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  Speaker 1: of Yahweh of armies will perform this. Isaiah 9.7 Dear Lord,
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  Speaker 1: this season we rejoice in the birth of Christ. whose
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  Speaker 1: arrival was foretold by the prophets, and whose reign will
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  Speaker 1: never end. We stand in awe of your divine plan,
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  Speaker 1: so beautifully unfolded in that humble manger. Your redemption plan
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  Speaker 1: brings hope, peace, justice, and eternal life to all who believe.
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  Speaker 1: As we decorate our homes with lights, sing carols, and
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  Speaker 1: share gifts, let us also share the message of Christ's
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  Speaker 1: eternal kingdom, a kingdom built on love, mercy, and righteousness.
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  Speaker 1: Help us to be ambassadors of this kingdom here on earth,
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  Speaker 1: extending your peace and joy to all around us. In
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  Speaker 1: the name of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate and whose
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  Speaker 1: return we await, we pray. Amen.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph's heart was a storm of emotion. His dreams shattered,
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  Speaker 2: trust broken, and love betrayed. The news of Mary's pregnancy
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  Speaker 2: had been a blow unlike any other. Anger, confusion, and
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  Speaker 2: a profound sense of loss gnawed at his soul. He
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  Speaker 2: lay down on a grassy hill, where he and Mary
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  Speaker 2: had once shared dreams and made promises to one another.
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  Speaker 2: Lying on the soft earth, he looked up at the stars.
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  Speaker 2: Those distant beacons of hope and guidance seemed dull, Dimmed
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  Speaker 2: by his grief and anger, his mind replayed their meeting
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  Speaker 2: earlier in the day. He could still see the look
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  Speaker 2: of regret in Mary's eyes. Or was it sorrow? Her
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  Speaker 2: father's stern and unyielding voice echoed in his ears, granting
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  Speaker 2: him the right to stone her. The very thought sent
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  Speaker 2: a shudder through him. How had they come to this?
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  Speaker 2: Tears welled in his eyes and he clenched his fist,
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  Speaker 2: wrestling with helplessness and anger. And yet, through it all,
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  Speaker 2: he couldn't ignore the look in Mary's eyes. She didn't
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  Speaker 2: carry herself like someone who had done something wrong. Was
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  Speaker 2: there somehow more to this story that he just couldn't grasp?
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  Speaker 2: A fatigue slowly overcame his restless mind. He drifted into
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  Speaker 2: a fitful sleep. His last thoughts were a prayer for clarity,
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  Speaker 2: guidance and mercy.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. Today's story is inspired by
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  Speaker 3: Matthew chapter 1, verse 19, when Joseph discovers that Mary
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  Speaker 3: is pregnant. Joseph is a central figure in the Christmas
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  Speaker 3: story and is often overshadowed by the more prominent characters. Yet,
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  Speaker 3: I believe Joseph is an unheralded hero of great character.
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  Speaker 3: In this story, we find Joseph at a poignant crossroads.
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  Speaker 3: grappling with feelings of betrayal while standing on the precipice
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  Speaker 3: of a divine intervention that would change the course of
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  Speaker 3: the world. The birth of Jesus was filled with key
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  Speaker 3: moments when everything could have been thwarted. One of those
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  Speaker 3: moments will happen in this story, when Joseph has the
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  Speaker 3: right to stone Mary for adultery. Joseph will find himself
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  Speaker 3: in a position that many of us find ourselves in.
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  Speaker 3: We all have moments where we can lash out in
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  Speaker 3: anger and show judgment or choose the path of mercy. Often,
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  Speaker 3: the way of compassion is the more challenging trail to tread.
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  Speaker 3: Joseph could end all his hurt and problems by showing
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  Speaker 3: Mary judgment. But the measure of a man's character is
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  Speaker 3: often revealed not in how he uses his power. Jesus said,
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  Speaker 3: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
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  Speaker 3: meekness does not mean weakness. It means power under control.
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  Speaker 3: Will Joseph lash out and use his authority to end Mary?
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  Speaker 3: Or will he show meekness and mercy, ushering in the
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  Speaker 3: greatest story ever told? Let's find out now in this
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  Speaker 3: cinematic retelling of Matthew chapter 1, verse 19. Afterwards, we'll
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  Speaker 3: unpack the deep and hidden themes.
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  Speaker 2: In the depths of slumber, Joseph was caught up in
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  Speaker 2: a vivid and terrifying dream. He found himself standing at
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  Speaker 2: the base of a dark and foreboding hill. Jagged rocks
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  Speaker 2: laced the trail ascending the mountain. Lightning flashed above it,
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  Speaker 2: revealing a brief and terrifying image of a tree. No,
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  Speaker 2: not a tree. Something else. Something more terrifying. Joseph couldn't
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  Speaker 2: quite make it out, so he moved closer. In the darkness,
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  Speaker 2: Joseph could see a silhouetted figure hanging from the tree.
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  Speaker 2: He marched up the hill, working against the wind and rain.
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  Speaker 2: He stumbled and fell onto his hands and knees. Joseph
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  Speaker 2: looked at his hands in terror. The ground beneath him
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  Speaker 2: was soaked with a mixture of water and blood. He
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  Speaker 2: screamed and looked up again at the top of the hill.
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  Speaker 2: The river of water and blood was running downward from
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  Speaker 2: the tree above.
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  Speaker 1: What is up there?
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  Speaker 2: He thought. The lightning flashed again with piercing light, and
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  Speaker 2: Joseph immediately found himself elsewhere. He was at the base
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  Speaker 2: of a cave carved into the side of a mountain.
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  Speaker 2: All was quiet, and the only light source was from
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  Speaker 2: within the cave. Joseph followed the faint glimmer, keeping his
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  Speaker 2: balance on the cave's jagged walls. As he inched closer,
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  Speaker 2: the air became warmer, like a room filled with the
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  Speaker 2: comfort of a fireplace. The entire cave became filled with
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  Speaker 2: the scent of frankincense and myrrh. As Joseph navigated the cave,
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  Speaker 2: he could hear the sound of a child's cry. Then,
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  Speaker 2: a hushing lullaby. The voice singing was gentle and soft,
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  Speaker 2: like the evening spring breeze.
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  Speaker 1: Joseph knew that voice. Mary, is that you?
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  Speaker 2: He gasped. Joseph picked up his pace and rounded the
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  Speaker 2: corner towards the light. But before he could see anything,
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  Speaker 2: the cave flooded with water, and Joseph found himself swimming
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  Speaker 2: for his life amidst a violent storm in the middle
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  Speaker 2: of the sea. Waves and breakers crashed over him. He
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  Speaker 2: swam but made no progress. The waves thrashed, and the
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  Speaker 2: riptide dragged him down underneath them. Joseph sank in a
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  Speaker 2: freefall into the black abyss until a current pushed him
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  Speaker 2: onto the shore. The storm subsided, and Joseph looked out
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  Speaker 2: at a golden sunset hovering over the glassy sea. Suddenly,
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  Speaker 2: a luminous figure appeared before him, an angel standing upon
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  Speaker 2: the glassy water. His eyes were filled with wisdom and compassion.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph was struck by awe and reverence. Fear not, Joseph,
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  Speaker 2: son of David. For what is conceived in Mary is
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  Speaker 2: of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and
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  Speaker 2: you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save
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  Speaker 2: his people from their sins. The words wrapped around Joseph
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  Speaker 2: like a warm embrace, filling him with an understanding that
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  Speaker 2: transcended earthly wisdom. Joseph wanted to ask questions, but he
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  Speaker 2: couldn't speak. Instead, his gaze was turned to the sea.
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  Speaker 2: The sunset's colors painted the glassy water with images of prophecy.
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  Speaker 2: promise and divine love. He saw his forefather, David, and
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  Speaker 2: the mighty temple. He saw a humble child, a mighty king,
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  Speaker 2: a savior, and a servant. He saw Mary, her face
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  Speaker 2: radiant with grace, her role in the divine plan, both
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  Speaker 2: beautiful and burdensome. Joseph was left with a profound sense
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  Speaker 2: of peace, a clarity that resonated through every fiber of
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  Speaker 2: his being.
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  Speaker 1: He knew what he must do.
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  Speaker 2: The sea receded into the sunset, as if gravity's force
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  Speaker 2: was pulling it backwards. A great wall of water loomed
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  Speaker 2: over him. Then, with a mighty crash, the ocean fell
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  Speaker 2: onto Joseph. He awoke with panic, confusion, and awe. The
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  Speaker 2: night was quiet, and the light of the stars was
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  Speaker 2: replaced with the rising sun's first light. Joseph stood to
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  Speaker 2: his feet and wiped the sweat from his brow. The
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  Speaker 2: morning sun radiated over the hills, splashing the valley below
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  Speaker 2: with vibrant color. Joseph's once anxious heart was filled with excitement.
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  Speaker 2: He still didn't entirely know what was happening, but he
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  Speaker 2: knew God was on the move. Joseph's path was more
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  Speaker 2: evident now. He would take Mary as his wife, trust
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  Speaker 2: in the Lord's plan, and embrace this miraculous journey before them.
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  Speaker 2: For the child they would raise was not just a
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  Speaker 2: fulfillment of prophecy, but a beacon of hope and redemption
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  Speaker 2: for all mankind. The doubts and fears of yesterday were gone,
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  Speaker 2: replaced by faith, love, and a determination to serve the
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  Speaker 2: will of the Most High. It wasn't the life Joseph
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  Speaker 2: imagined for himself.
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  Speaker 1: It was better.
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  Speaker 2: Although struggle awaited him, it was the path to purpose.
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  Speaker 2: Joseph ran down the hill back to Nazareth with love
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  Speaker 2: in his heart and courage.
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  Speaker 1: In his bones.
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  Speaker 3: This story offered us a dramatized version of Joseph's dream.
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  Speaker 3: Truth be told, we don't know the exact imagery of
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  Speaker 3: his dream, but we do know what God told him
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  Speaker 3: through his vision. The angel of the Lord came to
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  Speaker 3: Joseph and addressed him as Joseph, son of David. Does
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  Speaker 3: that title sound familiar to you? If you've read the
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  Speaker 3: Gospels before, you'll know that son of David is one
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  Speaker 3: of the many titles given to Jesus. The title son
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  Speaker 3: of David is one of those. Both Joseph and Mary
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  Speaker 3: were descendants from the lineage of King David. This holds
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  Speaker 3: significant weight, since the Messiah was prophesied to come from
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  Speaker 3: the line of David. 2 Samuel chapter 7 mentions the
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  Speaker 3: Messiah coming directly from David's line. However, the title Son
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  Speaker 3: of David embodies more than mere physical lineage. It acknowledges
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  Speaker 3: Jesus as a king greater than David. Isaiah chapter 9
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  Speaker 3: is one of the most famous Christmas prophecies we have.
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  Speaker 3: It reads like this. For a child is born to us,
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  Speaker 3: a son is given to us, and the government will
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  Speaker 3: be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
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  Speaker 3: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase
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  Speaker 3: of his government and of peace there shall be no end.
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  Speaker 3: On David's throne and on his kingdom to establish it,
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  Speaker 3: and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from
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  Speaker 3: that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of
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  Speaker 3: armies will perform this. When individuals addressed Jesus as the
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  Speaker 3: Son of David, their words were a testament to their
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  Speaker 3: faith in Him. The Pharisees, entrenched in pride and self-righteousness,
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  Speaker 3: remained blind to the truth that others so readily accepted,
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  Speaker 3: and they became adversarial towards Jesus. Jesus used the title
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  Speaker 3: Son of David to confound the Pharisees further, questioning how
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  Speaker 3: the Messiah, being David's son, could be addressed as My
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  Speaker 3: Lord by David himself. This puzzle exposed their lack of
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  Speaker 3: understanding regarding the Messiah's true nature. This event illuminates the
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  Speaker 3: deeper meaning of the title. The Messiah is more than
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  Speaker 3: David's physical son. He is greater than David. And as
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  Speaker 3: stated in Revelation chapter 22, verse 16, he's both the
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  Speaker 3: root and the offspring of David. Joseph was the right
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  Speaker 3: man to raise God's son, not just because he was
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  Speaker 3: from the line of David, but because he was a
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  Speaker 3: man of integrity, courage, and obedience. Joseph's immediate response to
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  Speaker 3: this dream was obedience. He was not merely accepting Mary.
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  Speaker 3: He was accepting God's call to be part of a
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  Speaker 3: divine mission. To take Mary as his wife amidst societal
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  Speaker 3: expectations and norms would require immense courage. Joseph's courage was
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  Speaker 3: founded on faith, trust in God's word, and his understanding
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  Speaker 3: of the enormity of God's plan. These qualities made his forefather, David,
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  Speaker 3: a beloved and influential king. Being the stepfather to Jesus,
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  Speaker 3: knowing the child was not his own, yet embracing him
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  Speaker 3: as his son, was an act of unmatched bravery. It
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  Speaker 3: required putting aside personal emotions, fears, and societal judgments. The
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  Speaker 3: story of Joseph's dream interweaves themes of divine intervention, obedience, faith, courage,
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  Speaker 3: and human cooperation with the divine will. It reminds us
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  Speaker 3: of God's sovereign plan and the individuals chosen to participate
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  Speaker 3: in it. As we celebrate Christmas, may we reflect on
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  Speaker 3: Joseph's role in the Christmas narrative, his courage, bravery, and integrity.
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  Speaker 3: May we be inspired to live with similar faith, to
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  Speaker 3: heed God's call in our lives, and to act with
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  Speaker 3: integrity and bravery, embodying the true spirit of Christmas. The
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  Speaker 3: story of Joseph's dream is a timeless reminder that God's
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  Speaker 3: plans are perfect, and he equips those he calls, even
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  Speaker 3: in the most unexpected circumstances. In our next episode, Joseph
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  Speaker 3: will approach Mary, and they'll fight against culture and slander together.
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  Speaker 3: Their union will strengthen them for the trials ahead and
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  Speaker 3: provide an on-ramp for Jesus to be born. Thanks for
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  Speaker 3: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor
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  Speaker 3: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Pray.com app and
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  Speaker 3: make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoyed
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  Speaker 3: this podcast, share it with someone you love. By sharing
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  Speaker 3: this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life.
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  Speaker 3: And if you want more resources on how to tap
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  Speaker 3: into God's power for successful Christian living, be sure to
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  Speaker 3: visit JackGraham.org. God bless you.