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The Birth of the Voice · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he
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  Speaker 1: has visited and redeemed his people. Luke 1.68 Dear Heavenly Father,
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  Speaker 1: As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the
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  Speaker 1: birth of your Son, we are filled with awe and gratitude.
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  Speaker 1: We praise you for your divine intervention and love so
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  Speaker 1: profound that you sent us a Saviour, the greatest gift
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  Speaker 1: humanity has ever received. Let the miracle of Christmas, the
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  Speaker 1: birth of Jesus, the fulfillment of your promise, resonate deeply
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  Speaker 1: within us. Help us remember and appreciate Christmas' true meaning
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  Speaker 1: amidst the festive cheer, the lights, and the carols. We
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  Speaker 1: praise you for your faithfulness, love that never fails, and
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  Speaker 1: the promise of redemption. that was beautifully fulfilled on that
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  Speaker 1: first Christmas night. Help us to live each day in
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  Speaker 1: the light of this truth. In Jesus' name we pray.
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  Speaker 2: Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Will God always allow wickedness to prevail?
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  Speaker 3: The captive people of Israel wondered... Where is the God
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  Speaker 3: of justice? They cried. In despair and hurt, God's people
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  Speaker 3: wondered if deliverance would ever come. The pain of sin
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  Speaker 3: and oppression bit at their hearts. They needed deliverance. From
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  Speaker 3: the hopeless ashes of Israel, the God of all creation
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  Speaker 3: made a promise. Through the prophet Malachi, he spoke a
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  Speaker 3: song of hope. Behold, I will send my messenger to you,
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  Speaker 3: he declared. He will prepare the way before me. He
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  Speaker 3: will prepare the way of the Lord. He is coming.
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  Speaker 3: The people's hearts ached for the promised deliverer, but before
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  Speaker 3: he would come, a voice would cry out to hearken
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  Speaker 3: his arrival. The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
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  Speaker 3: prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the
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  Speaker 3: desert a highway for our God. Before the Savior's arrival,
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  Speaker 3: a voice would cry out. He would have the spirit
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  Speaker 3: of the Lord like the prophet Elijah. He would be
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  Speaker 3: the forerunner, the one to prepare the way.
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  Speaker 2: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible
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  Speaker 2: in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress.
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: And my prayer is that it will help you conquer
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: from Stress today by visiting jackgraham.org slash stress. That's jackram.org
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  Speaker 2: slash stress. Today, we're continuing the story of Mary. Elizabeth
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  Speaker 2: is in the throes of labor, and Mary is about
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  Speaker 2: to glimpse her own future. The baby born from Elizabeth
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  Speaker 2: and Zechariah is no ordinary child. He's the forerunner for
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  Speaker 2: the Messiah, the voice that Malachi and Isaiah prophesied. The
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  Speaker 2: birth of John the Baptist harkens to the beginning of
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  Speaker 2: God's redemptive gospel. Just as the ministry of John paved
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  Speaker 2: the way for the ministry of Jesus, the birth of
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  Speaker 2: John paved the way for the birth of Jesus. Without
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  Speaker 2: these events, Mary would not have been ready for the
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  Speaker 2: struggles ahead. Her time with Elizabeth and Zechariah gave her
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  Speaker 2: the strength and courage to face her future with fearlessness.
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  Speaker 2: This story is inspired by the Gospel of Luke. These
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  Speaker 2: events with Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah represent a fulcrum between
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  Speaker 2: the Old and the New Testaments. The covenant of law,
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  Speaker 2: the prophets, and the priests is about to transition into
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  Speaker 2: the new covenant of grace, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
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  Speaker 2: Elizabeth is an older woman about to give birth to
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  Speaker 2: Israel's last prophet. Beside her is Mary, the young virgin
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  Speaker 2: carrying the promised Messiah. This moment represents the passing of
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  Speaker 2: the torch. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17 tells us that
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  Speaker 2: the old has passed and the new has come. This
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  Speaker 2: moment encapsulates that idea. Elizabeth and Zechariah won't be mentioned again.
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  Speaker 2: Their stories serve as a transition from the old to
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  Speaker 2: the new. As she beholds all these events, Mary will
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  Speaker 2: find the strength to carry out her role in God's
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  Speaker 2: magnificent plan. So let's immerse ourselves now in the story
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  Speaker 2: And afterward, we'll unpack Christmas truths to encourage our souls.
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  Speaker 3: Under the mantle of the evening stars, Mary pushed open
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  Speaker 3: the door to Elizabeth and Zachariah's home. The house was
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  Speaker 3: a symphony of chaos and urgency, and at the center
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  Speaker 3: was Elizabeth, crumpled in the throes of labor.
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  Speaker 4: Mary!
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  Speaker 3: Elizabeth cried with a nervous smile.
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  Speaker 1: It's time for this old woman to see what she's
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  Speaker 1: made of. Come by my side.
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  Speaker 3: Mary rushed to her side. her hands shaking as she
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  Speaker 3: held onto Elizabeth's clammy fingers. The older woman's face was flushed,
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  Speaker 3: her eyes brimming with a wild mixture of fear, anticipation
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  Speaker 3: and joy. Zachariah, rendered mute by the angel, paced outside
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  Speaker 3: with worry etched across his weathered face. Mary glanced around
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  Speaker 3: the room, her heart echoing the tumultuous atmosphere. The walls
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  Speaker 3: seemed to pulsate with a life of their own, echoing
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  Speaker 3: the rhythmic cries of the labouring woman. The room smelled
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  Speaker 3: of sweat and fear. Yet beneath it, there was a
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  Speaker 3: faint but persistent aroma of hope.
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  Speaker 1: You're doing wonderfully, Elizabeth.
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  Speaker 3: Mary soothed, brushing the hair off Elizabeth's forehead.
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  Speaker 1: He's nearly here.
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  Speaker 3: Elizabeth let out a primal cry. Her body seized with
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  Speaker 3: another contraction. There was a raw vulnerability in her eyes.
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  Speaker 4: It hurts.
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  Speaker 3: Elizabeth gasped, squeezing Mary's hand.
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  Speaker 4: I know.
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  Speaker 3: Mary murmured, her heart aching with sympathy. She saw a
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  Speaker 3: glimpse into her own future.
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  Speaker 1: But it'll be worth it.
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  Speaker 3: Just a little longer. Finally, the sun began its rise
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  Speaker 3: over the hills, painting the sky with hues of orange
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  Speaker 3: and pink. Elizabeth gave one last mighty push, and the
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  Speaker 3: room was filled with a cry of a newborn. Mary
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  Speaker 3: felt a jolt of joy surge as she saw him.
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  Speaker 3: As soon as Zachariah heard his son's screams, he burst
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  Speaker 3: through the door to cradle his son in his arms.
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  Speaker 3: A mixture of awe and disbelief on his face as
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  Speaker 3: he beheld the miracle child. A sense of divine realization
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  Speaker 3: seeped into the room. There was a sweet stillness and
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  Speaker 3: purity to the moment. Mary looked at the newborn babe
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  Speaker 3: and remembered he was no ordinary child. Mary approached and
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  Speaker 3: reached out a finger to the child. He wrapped his
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  Speaker 3: tiny hand around her finger. Mary's heart fluttered with hope
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  Speaker 3: this child was going to be the forerunner for hers.
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  Speaker 3: a voice crying out from the wilderness to prepare the
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  Speaker 3: way of the Lord. Zachariah held the boy up high,
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  Speaker 3: still unable to speak, and mouthed a prayer to the Lord.
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  Speaker 3: He kissed the son's forehead and gave him to Elizabeth.
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  Speaker 3: She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand
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  Speaker 3: and sang a lullaby. Mary's heart melted with affection. She
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  Speaker 3: watched Zachariah wrap his arms around Elizabeth and couldn't help
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  Speaker 3: but think about Joseph. She had often dreamed about them
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  Speaker 3: having children of their own. She imagined him wrapping her
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  Speaker 3: in his arms as they beheld their child. Would that
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  Speaker 3: even be possible now? She wondered. Will Joseph even accept me?
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  Speaker 3: Mary's heart ached out of longing for a normal life.
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  Speaker 3: But God had other plans. She prayed silently to the
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  Speaker 3: Lord again and rededicated herself to his plans. Eight days passed,
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  Speaker 3: and the newborn was to be circumcised and given a
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  Speaker 3: name according to tradition. Everyone gathered around for the occasion.
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  Speaker 3: The birth of this child had become famous. They marveled
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  Speaker 3: at the baby, wondering what the Lord had in store
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  Speaker 3: for him. He should be named Zechariah, after his father,
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  Speaker 3: they all suggested. But the Lord had other plans. Zechariah
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  Speaker 3: held his child tightly. With a gentle yet resonating voice,
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  Speaker 3: Zechariah was finally able to speak. His name is John.
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  Speaker 3: His voice rang out clear and certain, slicing through the
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  Speaker 3: collective surprise. The air seemed thickened with awe. Zachariah walked
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  Speaker 3: with his child and held him up to the Lord.
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  Speaker 3: Small tears slowly streaked down his cracked cheeks. Beaming with
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  Speaker 3: fatherly pride and gratitude, Zachariah spoke a prophecy, saying... Praise
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  Speaker 3: be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for his
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  Speaker 3: eyes have not turned blind, nor his heart deaf to
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  Speaker 3: the plight of his people. He has visited us, not
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  Speaker 3: as a ghost in the night, but as a redeemer
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  Speaker 3: cloaked in daylight. Zechariah began, his voice echoing through the people.
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  Speaker 4: From the lineage of his servant David, he has kindled
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  Speaker 4: a beacon, a horn of salvation, as his prophets, those
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  Speaker 4: holy heralds of old, once foretold.
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  Speaker 3: His gaze moved across the faces gathered, their eyes reflecting
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  Speaker 3: the radiant hope kindled by his words. Salvation is upon us,
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  Speaker 3: not just from our visible adversaries, but also from the
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  Speaker 3: unseen enemies of hatred and malice that creep within the
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  Speaker 3: hearts of men. His mercy unfurls like the petals of
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  Speaker 3: a sacred bloom, echoing the promise given to our forefathers,
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  Speaker 3: reverberating the holy covenant he etched in the sands of time.
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  Speaker 3: Zechariah's voice took on a reflective timber. The oath he
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  Speaker 3: made to our forefathers. father Abraham has not been forgotten.
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  Speaker 3: for his promises are not of the fleeting kind. He
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  Speaker 3: has pledged to deliver us from the grasp of our foes,
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  Speaker 3: to unshackle us from the chains of fear. In this
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  Speaker 3: newfound freedom, we are able to serve him, our lives
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  Speaker 3: as a testament of his grace, steeped in righteousness and sanctity.
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  Speaker 3: A tender smile graced his lips as he gazed into
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  Speaker 3: the eyes of his son. And you, my son, will
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  Speaker 3: be hailed as a prophet of the Most High. Your
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  Speaker 3: path is laid before the face of the Lord, a
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  Speaker 3: trailblazer in the divine narrative. Your voice will resonate with
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  Speaker 3: the knowledge of salvation, a melody of redemption for his people,
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  Speaker 3: a song of sins forgiven. His voice, filled with fatherly pride, continued,
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  Speaker 3: In the tender mercy of our God, a new day dawns.
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  Speaker 3: The morning light from the heavens above will touch us
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  Speaker 3: and a divine hand to heal and guide us. It
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  Speaker 3: will shine upon those who dwell in the shadows, upon
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  Speaker 3: those ensnared by the fear of death, a beacon to
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  Speaker 3: guide our steps into the path of peace. As Zachariah's
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  Speaker 3: voice tapered off, a reverent silence filled the air. Their
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  Speaker 3: hearts brimming with hope, they gazed at the baby in
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  Speaker 3: Elizabeth's arms, the prophet of the Most High, the voice
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  Speaker 3: that would echo in the wilderness, preparing for the way
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  Speaker 3: of the Lord. They felt the stirrings of a new dawn,
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  Speaker 3: a divine narrative unfolding, the whisper of prophecy dancing in
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  Speaker 3: the wind. And they knew the long night was ending.
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  Speaker 3: The day of redemption was at hand. As days turned
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  Speaker 3: into weeks, Mary watched John grow, his every milestone a
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  Speaker 3: quiet prelude to her own impending motherhood. Yet amidst the joy,
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  Speaker 3: her heart fluttered with a fresh wave of uncertainty. How
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  Speaker 3: was she going to tell Joseph? The law regarding adultery
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  Speaker 3: was clear about such matters, and the consequences were harsh.
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  Speaker 3: How was she going to convince him that she was
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  Speaker 3: not unfaithful? How would she convince her own father? On
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  Speaker 3: the last night, Mary gazed up at the twinkling tapestry
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  Speaker 3: of stars, her heart heavy with silent prayers and unspoken fears.
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  Speaker 3: Tomorrow she would return to Nazareth. Tomorrow she would tell Joseph.
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  Speaker 3: Tomorrow her life would change forever. But tonight she was
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  Speaker 3: just Mary, cradling the promise of salvation in her womb.
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  Speaker 3: As she closed her eyes... The whispers of the night
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  Speaker 3: seemed to draw her into a dance of destiny, promising
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  Speaker 3: a tale of faith, love, and divine miracles. Yet, with
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  Speaker 3: the promise came a shadow of uncertainty, a mystery that
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  Speaker 3: would shape the destiny of humankind.
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  Speaker 2: This account of the birth and naming of John the Baptist,
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  Speaker 2: intertwined with the Christmas narrative, is a tale of prophetic
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  Speaker 2: fulfillment and new life, brimming with potential. Upon the birth
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  Speaker 2: and naming of his son, Zechariah is filled with the
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  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit and offers a prophetic song, now known as
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  Speaker 2: the Benedictus. His prophecy reaffirms God's promises to Israel, and specifically,
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  Speaker 2: it prophesies the role his son John will play in
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  Speaker 2: this divine plan, stating, And you, child, will be called
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  Speaker 2: the prophet of the Most High, for you will go
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  Speaker 2: before the Lord to prepare his ways. This prophecy underscores
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  Speaker 2: the role of John the Baptist. paving the way for
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  Speaker 2: the Messiah, the essence of the Christmas story. This story
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  Speaker 2: provides one of those moments when comparing Elijah to John
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  Speaker 2: the Baptist. The similarities between John and the prophet Elijah
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  Speaker 2: are striking and significant. Both were prophetic voices in their generations,
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  Speaker 2: calling people back to God. Both led lives marked by
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  Speaker 2: simplicity and separation from societal norms. John, like Elijah, was
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  Speaker 2: a fearless preacher, confronting the wrongs of his time. Jesus
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  Speaker 2: affirmed this parallel when he said in Matthew chapter 11,
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  Speaker 2: For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
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  Speaker 2: And if you are willing to accept it, he is
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  Speaker 2: the Elijah who was to come. As we reflect on
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  Speaker 2: the Christmas story, the figure of John, akin to Elijah,
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  Speaker 2: is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness in sending messengers
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  Speaker 2: to prepare his people for his coming. The birth of
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  Speaker 2: John the Baptist is a story of new life and potential.
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  Speaker 2: Zechariah and Elizabeth, considered too old to have children, were
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  Speaker 2: blessed with a son vital to God's salvific plan. John's life,
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  Speaker 2: filled with great potential, reminds us that it's never too
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  Speaker 2: late for new beginnings with God. The Christmas season embodies
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  Speaker 2: this message of new life and potential. With the birth
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  Speaker 2: of Jesus, new life was given to all who believed
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  Speaker 2: in him. This season invites us to see our lives,
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  Speaker 2: that no matter our past or present circumstances, as brimming
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  Speaker 2: with divine potential. As we reflect on this story, let's
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  Speaker 2: be reminded of God's prophetic promises fulfilled in the Christmas
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  Speaker 2: story and the beautiful themes of new life and potential.
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  Speaker 2: May these reflections inspire us to prepare our hearts for
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  Speaker 2: the coming of Christ and to embrace the potential God
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  Speaker 2: has placed within each of us, not just during the
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  Speaker 2: Christmas season, but all through our lives. Thank you for
• 15:44
  Speaker 2: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. Before we go,
• 15:48
  Speaker 2: I want to let you know about a unique e-book
• 15:50
  Speaker 2: that's yours to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: Free from Stress, and my prayer is that it will
• 15:58
  Speaker 2: help you conquer the daily tasks and pressures and burdens
• 16:02
  Speaker 2: that bring stress into your life. Download your free copy
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: of Breaking Free from Stress today by visiting jackgram.org slash stress.
• 16:12
  Speaker 2: That's jackgram.org slash stress.