February 10, 2025 • 12 mins
n this compelling episode of The Heartbeat of Faith podcast, hosted by Dr. Andrew Farley, we delve into the profound and miraculous event of "The Birth of Jesus." The episode begins by setting the scene – the same being who created the cosmos humbly entered the world, swaddled in blankets and placed in a feeding trough. God's vulnerability and willingness to join the human struggle are explored, offering a unique perspective on this momentous occasion. Join us as we travel back in time and stand in awe of the baby born in a humble location under the stars, surrounded by animals.
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This episode explores the profound concept of Jesus as the place where heaven meets earth, drawing parallels to the Garden of Eden. The miraculous nature of God's glory contained within a child's frame is considered, and the podcast reflects on moments in the Bible where Jesus' divinity shone through. Ultimately, the episode encourages us to wonder at the miracle of Christmas and appreciate that Jesus, in His humility, can empathize with our human experiences. A Bible passage from Hebrews underscores the idea that Jesus understands our struggles.
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For more encouragement in God's grace visit AndrewFarley.org.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray for we don't have a high priest
who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but one who has been in all points tempted like
we are, yet without sin. Hebrews chapter four, verse fifteen.
My God and Father, thank you for sending us a
(00:21):
high priest who understands our weaknesses and temptations. I am
comforted knowing I have someone who can relate to and
guide me through my struggles. When I stumble and fall.
Remind me that Jesus was tempted in the same ways
and yet did not sin. Teach me what it means
that I am now dead to sin and alive to you.
(00:44):
Thank you that I am guided by your Holy Spirit,
and that he is faithful to remind me of the truth,
bearing witness to my new heart, my new nature, and
my new identity as your child in Jesus name. Amen,
thank you for praying with me today. Now discover the
(01:06):
profound intricacies of the heartbeat of faith. With doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
The same being that spoke the cosmos into existence was
swaddled in blankets and placed in a feeding trough on
that evening under the stars and surrounded by animal filth.
God made himself vulnerable and confined himself to the struggle
(01:38):
of his own creation. The same being that spoke the
Cosmos into existence was swaddled in blankets and placed in
a feeding trough on that evening, under the stars, and
surrounded by animal filth. God made himself vulnerable and confined
(01:59):
himself to the struggle of his own creation. Hello, and
welcome to another episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
I'm doctor Andrew Farley, and today we continue down the
road to Christmas, seeking to understand the depth of this
momentous day. The day that Jesus was born, we sat
(02:23):
beside Mary when Gabriel delivered the news. We traveled from
Nazareth to Bethlehem and witnessed the struggle. Now we stand
in the corner, in awe of the baby lying in
a manger. Some scholars believe it was less a barn
and more of a cave carved into the side of
(02:45):
a hill. Others think it may have been underneath the Inn.
Whatever it was, we know it was a humble location,
surrounded by animals in a dimly lit room, with goats
and sheep huddled closely by the son of God was born.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Although there was no room for them, they had a
stable where the animals slept, so Joseph and Mary settled there.
As the sun was setting over the western horizon, Mary's
screams echoed throughout the cave like stable. The pain was unbearable,
and the animals were stirring as they watched her labor.
Joseph was beside Mary the whole time, unwavering in his
(03:29):
devotion to her. Just as the sun finished its descent,
the sound of a baby's cries filled the stable.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
In the distance, angels visited shepherds and proclaimed the birth
of God's child. A cacophony of angelic praise echoed across
the valley, only heard by lowly shepherds.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
In the distance, a group of shepherds gazed at the
stars as the sheep settled for the night. The valley
was silent, and the tall grass swayed to the light breeze. Suddenly,
as if the sky was cut open by a long blade,
an angel appeared in light. The radiance of the Lord's
glory surrounded them, and they were terrified. Do not be frightened,
(04:15):
the angel reassured, I have come with good news. In
the town of Bethlehem lies a baby. He is swaddled
securely in a manger at the inn stables. This child
is the Messiah, the Lord, the savior of the world
and redemption of mankind. The shepherds were speechless. They listened
(04:36):
closely to the angel's words. Then the light radiated even brighter,
and the angel was surrounded by a choir of more angels,
singing glory to God in the highest, peace on earth
and goodwill towards mankind. And like a vapor in the wind,
they vanished.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
The Bible is filled with brilliant imagery. The heavenly hosts
communing with earthly herders is an image of Jesus himself,
the glorious God of Heaven came down to humble Earth.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate Heaven intermingling with
(05:15):
the world. His divinity is compatible with our humanity. When's
the last time Heaven and Earth overlapped like this? Well,
only in the fact that Christ lives in you today.
Otherwise you'd have to return to the Garden of Eden,
when Heaven and Earth were intertwined like two lovers in
(05:39):
perfect harmony. Jesus is the Garden of Eden. Restored to
us through his spirit. Jesus himself is where heaven and
earth meet.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
His son is the radiance of his glory, the very
image of his substance, and upholding all things by the
word of his power, who, when he had by himself
purified us of our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews one three.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
The most profound miracle is that God could contain his
glory in our humanity at all, and think about it,
he still does today, Christ, In you your only hope
of glory. It's wild to think about the creator of
the sun and stars being confined to a child's frame.
(06:36):
The same being that spoke the cosmos into existence was
swaddled in blankets and placed in a feeding trough on
that evening, under the stars and surrounded by animal filth.
God made himself vulnerable and confined himself to the struggle
(06:57):
of his own creation. Consider the story of the Transfiguration,
when Jesus revealed his glory to Peter, James and John.
In that story we catch a glimpse of who Jesus is.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
It was early the next morning, and the sun had
not yet peered over the horizon. Darkness still shrouded the
cool morning, and Jesus gently woke Peter, James, and John,
not waking the other disciples, Jesus led them up a
hill it overlooked the first moments of sunrise. As Peter, James,
and John stood over the valley below, a bright light
(07:35):
emerged from Jesus. The brightness was piercing, and his face
shone like the rising sun itself. It was as if
his humanity was unzipped and the essence of his deity
shone through the cracks. It was too amazing and too
terrifying for the three men to describe.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Now we fast forward to Revelation, when the hero of Heaven,
Jesus himself rides atop a white horse with a robe
dipped in his blood. The fierce and mighty king of
Kings showcases his glory and victory over evil.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Then I saw Heaven split open my gates and behold
a white horse descended from the skies. The one riding
the horse was called Faithful and True. He was the
warrior of justice, the finisher. His eyes were like flames
of fire, and he was wearing a robe dipped in blood.
His name was called the word of God. He rode
(08:37):
towards the beast with intent to kill. From his mouth
was a sword. It extended to strike down all the
evil nations below. He rode with the fury of God almighty.
Like the wind, he galloped, and I could see riding
carved into his thigh saying King of kings and Lord
of Lords.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
When we consider the glory of Jesus and the majesty
of God, it gives us more wonder at Christmas. How
could an almighty deity be so humble as to become
a child. It reminds us that Jesus is not too
lofty or separated from us to empathize with our suffering,
(09:18):
temptation and physical limitations. He knew what it was like
to be hungry, sick, tired, even emotionally drained. Jesus lived
among us so we could have an assurance that God
knows our plight. Remember, his divinity is perfectly compatible with
(09:41):
our humanity. We're one with him. Christ lives in you,
and he wants to live through you every single day.
And Jesus, his life in you, rises above it all
as he invites us into victory over sin and death,
(10:02):
For we don't.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Have a high priest who can't be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in
all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let's
therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of Grace,
that we may receive mercy and may find grace for
help in time of need Hebrews four fifteen through sixteen.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I want to invite you into an attitude of awe
and wonder at the miracle of Christmas. Put yourself in
the shoes of the shepherds who beheld Heaven meeting earth.
You and I witness that same miracle every single day.
As Jesus is alive living in us. His spirit has
(10:52):
given us new life. We're one spirit with him. We're
as close as we can possibly get. Jesus himself has
cleaned house and moved in.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
There. In the coolness of the night, they saw him.
The baby was sleeping soundly in a manger, surrounded by
straw and torn cloth. He was the most marvelous thing
they had ever seen. He did not glow or speak,
he did not cry in a strange tomb or radiate flames.
But the child was absolutely special. The shepherds knew, without
(11:29):
a shadow of a doubt, that they were in the
presence of the King of Israel, the Promised One, the
Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. The shepherds fell on
their faces in worship. Tears streamed down their rough faces.
Why would the lords send them to be the first?
They were but lowly shepherds. The thought humbled them beyond words.
(11:51):
They left the stable and proclaimed what they had seen
in the city streets. Then they returned to their flocks,
praising God for all they had witnessed.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Thank you for listening to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review
and let us know how this series has impacted your life.
Remember to download the Prey dot com app, and for
more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrew Farley dot org.
(12:23):
That's Andrewfarley dot org.
Let us pray for we don't have a high priest
who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but one who has been in all points tempted like
we are, yet without sin. Hebrews chapter four, verse fifteen.
My God and Father, thank you for sending us a
(00:21):
high priest who understands our weaknesses and temptations. I am
comforted knowing I have someone who can relate to and
guide me through my struggles. When I stumble and fall.
Remind me that Jesus was tempted in the same ways
and yet did not sin. Teach me what it means
that I am now dead to sin and alive to you.
(00:44):
Thank you that I am guided by your Holy Spirit,
and that he is faithful to remind me of the truth,
bearing witness to my new heart, my new nature, and
my new identity as your child in Jesus name. Amen,
thank you for praying with me today. Now discover the
(01:06):
profound intricacies of the heartbeat of faith. With doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
The same being that spoke the cosmos into existence was
swaddled in blankets and placed in a feeding trough on
that evening under the stars and surrounded by animal filth.
God made himself vulnerable and confined himself to the struggle
(01:38):
of his own creation. The same being that spoke the
Cosmos into existence was swaddled in blankets and placed in
a feeding trough on that evening, under the stars, and
surrounded by animal filth. God made himself vulnerable and confined
(01:59):
himself to the struggle of his own creation. Hello, and
welcome to another episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
I'm doctor Andrew Farley, and today we continue down the
road to Christmas, seeking to understand the depth of this
momentous day. The day that Jesus was born, we sat
(02:23):
beside Mary when Gabriel delivered the news. We traveled from
Nazareth to Bethlehem and witnessed the struggle. Now we stand
in the corner, in awe of the baby lying in
a manger. Some scholars believe it was less a barn
and more of a cave carved into the side of
(02:45):
a hill. Others think it may have been underneath the Inn.
Whatever it was, we know it was a humble location,
surrounded by animals in a dimly lit room, with goats
and sheep huddled closely by the son of God was born.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Although there was no room for them, they had a
stable where the animals slept, so Joseph and Mary settled there.
As the sun was setting over the western horizon, Mary's
screams echoed throughout the cave like stable. The pain was unbearable,
and the animals were stirring as they watched her labor.
Joseph was beside Mary the whole time, unwavering in his
(03:29):
devotion to her. Just as the sun finished its descent,
the sound of a baby's cries filled the stable.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
In the distance, angels visited shepherds and proclaimed the birth
of God's child. A cacophony of angelic praise echoed across
the valley, only heard by lowly shepherds.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
In the distance, a group of shepherds gazed at the
stars as the sheep settled for the night. The valley
was silent, and the tall grass swayed to the light breeze. Suddenly,
as if the sky was cut open by a long blade,
an angel appeared in light. The radiance of the Lord's
glory surrounded them, and they were terrified. Do not be frightened,
(04:15):
the angel reassured, I have come with good news. In
the town of Bethlehem lies a baby. He is swaddled
securely in a manger at the inn stables. This child
is the Messiah, the Lord, the savior of the world
and redemption of mankind. The shepherds were speechless. They listened
(04:36):
closely to the angel's words. Then the light radiated even brighter,
and the angel was surrounded by a choir of more angels,
singing glory to God in the highest, peace on earth
and goodwill towards mankind. And like a vapor in the wind,
they vanished.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
The Bible is filled with brilliant imagery. The heavenly hosts
communing with earthly herders is an image of Jesus himself,
the glorious God of Heaven came down to humble Earth.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate Heaven intermingling with
(05:15):
the world. His divinity is compatible with our humanity. When's
the last time Heaven and Earth overlapped like this? Well,
only in the fact that Christ lives in you today.
Otherwise you'd have to return to the Garden of Eden,
when Heaven and Earth were intertwined like two lovers in
(05:39):
perfect harmony. Jesus is the Garden of Eden. Restored to
us through his spirit. Jesus himself is where heaven and
earth meet.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
His son is the radiance of his glory, the very
image of his substance, and upholding all things by the
word of his power, who, when he had by himself
purified us of our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews one three.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
The most profound miracle is that God could contain his
glory in our humanity at all, and think about it,
he still does today, Christ, In you your only hope
of glory. It's wild to think about the creator of
the sun and stars being confined to a child's frame.
(06:36):
The same being that spoke the cosmos into existence was
swaddled in blankets and placed in a feeding trough on
that evening, under the stars and surrounded by animal filth.
God made himself vulnerable and confined himself to the struggle
(06:57):
of his own creation. Consider the story of the Transfiguration,
when Jesus revealed his glory to Peter, James and John.
In that story we catch a glimpse of who Jesus is.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
It was early the next morning, and the sun had
not yet peered over the horizon. Darkness still shrouded the
cool morning, and Jesus gently woke Peter, James, and John,
not waking the other disciples, Jesus led them up a
hill it overlooked the first moments of sunrise. As Peter, James,
and John stood over the valley below, a bright light
(07:35):
emerged from Jesus. The brightness was piercing, and his face
shone like the rising sun itself. It was as if
his humanity was unzipped and the essence of his deity
shone through the cracks. It was too amazing and too
terrifying for the three men to describe.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Now we fast forward to Revelation, when the hero of Heaven,
Jesus himself rides atop a white horse with a robe
dipped in his blood. The fierce and mighty king of
Kings showcases his glory and victory over evil.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Then I saw Heaven split open my gates and behold
a white horse descended from the skies. The one riding
the horse was called Faithful and True. He was the
warrior of justice, the finisher. His eyes were like flames
of fire, and he was wearing a robe dipped in blood.
His name was called the word of God. He rode
(08:37):
towards the beast with intent to kill. From his mouth
was a sword. It extended to strike down all the
evil nations below. He rode with the fury of God almighty.
Like the wind, he galloped, and I could see riding
carved into his thigh saying King of kings and Lord
of Lords.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
When we consider the glory of Jesus and the majesty
of God, it gives us more wonder at Christmas. How
could an almighty deity be so humble as to become
a child. It reminds us that Jesus is not too
lofty or separated from us to empathize with our suffering,
(09:18):
temptation and physical limitations. He knew what it was like
to be hungry, sick, tired, even emotionally drained. Jesus lived
among us so we could have an assurance that God
knows our plight. Remember, his divinity is perfectly compatible with
(09:41):
our humanity. We're one with him. Christ lives in you,
and he wants to live through you every single day.
And Jesus, his life in you, rises above it all
as he invites us into victory over sin and death,
(10:02):
For we don't.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Have a high priest who can't be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in
all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let's
therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of Grace,
that we may receive mercy and may find grace for
help in time of need Hebrews four fifteen through sixteen.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I want to invite you into an attitude of awe
and wonder at the miracle of Christmas. Put yourself in
the shoes of the shepherds who beheld Heaven meeting earth.
You and I witness that same miracle every single day.
As Jesus is alive living in us. His spirit has
(10:52):
given us new life. We're one spirit with him. We're
as close as we can possibly get. Jesus himself has
cleaned house and moved in.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
There. In the coolness of the night, they saw him.
The baby was sleeping soundly in a manger, surrounded by
straw and torn cloth. He was the most marvelous thing
they had ever seen. He did not glow or speak,
he did not cry in a strange tomb or radiate flames.
But the child was absolutely special. The shepherds knew, without
(11:29):
a shadow of a doubt, that they were in the
presence of the King of Israel, the Promised One, the
Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. The shepherds fell on
their faces in worship. Tears streamed down their rough faces.
Why would the lords send them to be the first?
They were but lowly shepherds. The thought humbled them beyond words.
(11:51):
They left the stable and proclaimed what they had seen
in the city streets. Then they returned to their flocks,
praising God for all they had witnessed.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Thank you for listening to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review
and let us know how this series has impacted your life.
Remember to download the Prey dot com app, and for
more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrew Farley dot org.
(12:23):
That's Andrewfarley dot org.
Host
Andrew Farley
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