Skip to content The Birth of the Voice Oct 10 · 17 min ...more
The Birth of the Voice
October 10, 2026 · 17 min
Mary continues to help Elizabeth and Zachariah. There, she witnesses the birth of God’s last living prophet - John. Today's Bible verse is Luke 1:68, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series The Jesus Podcast October 10, 2026 · 17 min · The Jesus Podcast
Mary continues to help Elizabeth and Zachariah. There, she witnesses the birth of God’s last living prophet - John. Today's Bible verse is Luke 1:68, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. ...more Show the full description Show less Mary continues to help Elizabeth and Zachariah. There, she witnesses the birth of God’s last living prophet - John. Today's Bible verse is Luke 1:68, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series The Jesus Podcast
0:00 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. Luke 1 68. Dear Heavenly Father,0:12 as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Your Son, we are filled with awe and gratitude. We praise You for Your divine0:23 intervention and love so profound that You sent us a savior, the greatest gift humanity has ever received. Let the miracle of Christmas,0:35 the birth of Jesus, the fulfillment of Your promise, resonate deeply within us. Help us remember and appreciate Christmas's true meaning amidst0:47 the festive cheer, the lights, and the carols. We praise You for Your faithfulness, love that never fails, and the promise of redemption that was0:59 beautifully fulfilled on that 1st Christmas night. Help us to live each day in the light of this truth. In Jesus' name, we pray.1:10 Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider. Prepare to be immersed in the wonder of1:22 the nativity.1:31 Will God always allow wickedness to prevail? The captive people of Israel wondered. Where is the God of justice? They cried. In despair and hurt,1:43 God's people wondered if deliverance would ever come. The pain of sin and oppression bit at their hearts. They needed deliverance. From the hopeless ashes of Israel, the God of all creation made a1:55 promise. Through the prophet Malachi, He spoke a song of hope. Behold,2:01
2:01 will send my messenger to you. He declared. He will prepare the way before me. He will prepare the way of the Lord.
2:12 He is coming. The people's hearts ached for the promised deliverer. But before he would come, a voice would cry out to hark in his arrival. The voice of 1 crying
2:24 in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Before the savior's arrival, a voice
2:36 would cry out. He would have the spirit of the Lord like the prophet Elijah. He would be the forerunner, the 1 to prepare the way.
2:47 Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Pray dot com's Stories of the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus. Today we are continuing the story of Mary.
2:59 Elizabeth is in the throes of labor and Mary is about to glimpse her own future. The baby born from Elizabeth and Zachariah is no ordinary child. He's the forerunner for the
3:11 Messiah. The voice that Malachi and Isaiah prophesied about. The birth of John the Baptist harkens to the beginning of God's redemptive gospel. Just as the ministry of
3:22 John paved the way for the ministry of Jesus, the birth of John paved the way for the birth of Jesus. Without these events, Mary would not have
3:34 been ready for the struggles ahead. Her time with Elizabeth and Zachariah gave her the strength and courage to face her future with fearlessness. This
3:46 story is inspired by the Gospel of Luke. These events with Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah represent a fulcrum between the Old and New Testaments. The covenant
3:57 of law, prophets, and priests are about to transition into the new covenant of grace, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth is an older woman
4:09 about to give birth to Israel's last prophet. Beside her is Mary, the young virgin carrying the promised Messiah. This moment represents the passing of the torch.
4:22 2nd Corinthians 5 17 tells us that the old has passed and the new has come. This moment encapsulates that idea. Elizabeth and Zachariah
4:34 won't be mentioned again. Their story served as a transition from the old to the new. As she beholds these events, Mary will find the strength to carry out a role in
4:45 God's magnificent plan. So let's immerse ourselves now in the story and afterward we'll unpack Christmas truths to encourage our souls.
4:58 Under the mantle of the evening stars, Mary pushed open the door to Elizabeth and Zechariah's home. The house was a symphony of chaos and urgency, and at the center was Elizabeth, crumpled in the throes of
5:09 labor. Mary, Elizabeth cried with a nervous smile. It's time for this old woman to see what she's made of. Come by my side. Mary rushed to her side, her hands shaking as she held onto Elizabeth's clammy
5:21 fingers. The older woman's face was flushed, her eyes brimming with a wild mixture of fear, anticipation, and joy. Zechariah, rendered mute by the angel, paced outside with worry etched across
5:33 his weathered face. Mary glanced around the room, her heart echoing the tumultuous atmosphere. The walls seemed to pulsate with a life of their own, echoing the rhythmic cries of the laboring woman. The
5:45 room smelled of sweat and fear, yet beneath it, there was a faint but persistent aroma of hope. You're doing wonderfully, Elizabeth. Mary soothed, brushing the hair off Elizabeth's forehead. He's nearly
5:57 here. Elizabeth let out a primal cry, her body seized with another contraction. There was a raw vulnerability in her eyes. It hurts. Elizabeth gasped, squeezing Mary's hand. I know.
6:09 Mary murmured, her heart aching with sympathy. She saw a glimpse into her own future. But it'll be worth it. Just a little longer. Finally, the sun began its rise over the
6:20 hills, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Elizabeth gave 1 last mighty push and the room was filled with a cry of a newborn. Mary felt a jolt of joy surge as she saw
6:32 him. As soon as Zechariah heard his son's screams, he burst through the door to cradle his son in his arms, a mixture of awe and disbelief on his face as he beheld the miracle child. A sense of
6:44 divine realization seeped into the room. There was a sweet stillness and purity to the moment. Mary looked at the newborn babe and remembered he was no ordinary child. Mary approached
6:55 and reached out a finger to the child. He wrapped his tiny hand around her finger. Mary's heart fluttered with hope. This child was going to be the forerunner for hers, a voice crying out from the wilderness to
7:07 prepare the way of the Lord. Zechariah held the boy up high, still unable to speak, and mouthed the prayer to the Lord. He kissed the son's forehead and gave him to Elizabeth. She caressed his cheek with the back
7:19 of her hand and sang a lullaby. Mary's heart melted with affection. She watched Zachariah wrap his arms around Elizabeth and couldn't help but think about Joseph. She had often
7:31 dreamed about them having children of their own. She imagined him wrapping her in his arms as they beheld their child. Would that even be possible now? She wondered. Will Joseph even accept me? Mary's heart
7:43 ached out of longing for a normal life, but God had other plans. She prayed silently to the Lord again and rededicated herself to His plans. 8 days passed, and the newborn was to be
7:55 circumcised and given a name according to tradition. Everyone gathered around for the occasion. The birth of this child had become famous. They marveled at the baby, wondering what the Lord had in store for him. He
8:06 should be named Zechariah after his father, they all suggested, but the Lord had other plans. Zechariah held his child tightly. With a gentle yet resonating voice, Zechariah was
8:18 finally able to speak. His name is John. His voice rang out clear and certain, slicing through the collective surprise. The air seemed thickened with awe.
8:30 Zechariah walked with his child and held him up to the Lord. Small tears slowly streaked down his cracked cheeks. Beaming with fatherly pride and gratitude, Zechariah spoke a prophecy
8:42 saying, praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for his eyes have not turned blind, nor his heart deaf to the plight of his people.
8:54 He has visited us, not as a ghost in the night, but as a redeemer cloaked in daylight. Zechariah began, his voice echoing through the people. From the lineage of his
9:06 servant David, he has kindled a beacon, a horn of salvation as his prophets, those holy heralds of old once foretold. His gaze moved across
9:17 the faces gathered, their eyes reflecting the radiant hope kindled by his words. Salvation is upon us, not just from our visible adversaries, but also from the unseen enemies of
9:29 hatred and malice that creep within the hearts of men. His mercy unfurls like the petals of a sacred bloom, echoing the promise given to our
9:40 forefathers, reverberating the holy covenant he etched in the sands of time. Zechariah's voice took on a reflective timber. The oath he made to our father Abraham
9:52 has not been forgotten, for his promises are not of the fleeting kind. He has pledged to deliver us from the grasp of our foes, to unshackle us from the
10:04 chains of fear. In this newfound freedom, we are able to serve him, our lives as a testament of his grace steeped in
10:15 righteousness and sanctity. A tender smile graced his lips as he gazed into the eyes of his son. And you, my son, will be hailed as a prophet of
10:27 the most high. Your path is laid before the face of the Lord, a trailblazer in the divine narrative. Your voice will resonate with the knowledge of
10:39 salvation. A melody of redemption for his people, a song of sins forgiven. His voice, filled with fatherly pride, continued. In the tender mercy
10:51 of our God, a new day dawns. The morning light from the heavens above will touch us and a divine hand to heal and guide us. It will
11:03 shine upon those who dwell in the shadows, upon those ensnared by the fear of death, a beacon to guide our steps into the path of peace.
11:15 As Zechariah's voice tapered off, a reverent silence filled the air. Their hearts brimming with hope, they gazed at the baby in Elizabeth's arms, the prophet of the most high, the voice that would echo
11:27 in the wilderness, preparing for the way of the lord. They felt the stirrings of a new dawn, a divine narrative unfolding, the whisper of prophecy dancing in the wind. And they knew the long
11:39 night was ending, the day of redemption was at hand. As days turned into weeks, Mary watched John grow, his every milestone a quiet prelude to her own impending
11:50 motherhood. Yet amidst the joy, her heart fluttered with a fresh wave of uncertainty. How was she going to tell Joseph? The law regarding adultery was clear about such matters, and the consequences were
12:02 harsh. How was she going to convince him that she was not unfaithful? How would she convince her own father? On the last night, Mary gazed up at the twinkling tapestry of stars, her heart heavy with
12:14 silent prayers and unspoken fears. Tomorrow, she would return to Nazareth. Tomorrow, she would tell Joseph. Tomorrow, her life would change forever. But tonight, she was
12:26 just Mary, cradling the promise of salvation in her womb. As she closed her eyes, the whispers of the night seemed to draw her into a dance of destiny, promising a tale of faith,
12:37 love, and divine miracles. Yet with the promise came a shadow of uncertainty, a mystery that would shape the destiny of humankind.
12:48 Luke's account of the birth and naming of John the Baptist, intertwined with the Christmas narrative is a tale of prophetic fulfillment and new life brimming with potential. Upon the
13:00 birth and naming of a son, Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and offers a prophetic song now known as the Benedictus. His prophecy reaffirms God's
13:12 promises to Israel. And specifically, it prophesizes the role his son John will play in the divine plan stating, and you child will be called
13:24 the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways. This prophecy underscores the role of John the Baptist paving the way for the
13:36 Messiah, the essence of the Christmas story. If you visit our ministry, discoveringthejewishjesus dot com, you will discover a wealth of resources connecting
13:48 the depth of the Old Testament with the beauty of the New Testament. This story provides 1 of those moments when comparing Elijah to John the Baptist. The similarities between
13:59 John and the prophet Elijah are striking and significant. Both were prophetic voices in their generations calling people back to God. Both
14:11 led lies marked by simplicity and separation from societal norms. John, like Elijah, was a fearless preacher confronting the wrongs of his time. Jesus affirmed
14:23 this parallel when He said in Matthew 11, for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, And if you're willing to accept it, he is Elijah
14:35 who was to come. That's really powerful. Yeshua called John Elijah who was to come. As we reflect on the Christmas
14:46 story, the figure of John akin to Elijah is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness in sending messengers to prepare His people for His coming. The
14:58 birth of John the Baptist is a story of new life and potential. Zechariah and Elizabeth, considered 2 old tab children, were blessed with a son vital to
15:10 God's salvific plan. John's life, filled with great potential, reminds us that it's never too late for new beginnings with God. The Christmas season
15:21 embodies this message of new life and potential. With the birth of Jesus, new life was given to all who believe in Him. This season invites us to see our lives, no matter our
15:33 past or present circumstances, as brimming with divine potential. As we reflect on this story, let's be reminded of God's
15:45 prophetic promises fulfilled in the Christmas story and the beautiful themes of new life and potential that are relevant for you and I right now. May these
15:57 reflections inspire us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and to embrace the potential God has placed within each of us, not just during the Christmas season, but all throughout
16:09 our entire lives from beginning to end. In our next episode, we finally meet Joseph, Yosef in Hebrew. Mary or Miriam's
16:20 betrothed. Will he accept Mary's explanation or take advantage of his right to stone her? We'll find out next time on Stories of the Messiah. To delve deeper into
16:32 the story of Jesus, you're welcome to visit discoveringthejewishjesus dot com. I'd also like to recommend my new book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed,
16:44 Seeing Messiah in the pages of the Hebrew Bible. It's available for purchase on my website. Now if this podcast has blessed you, be sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. And remember to
16:56 download pray dot com to hear even more great stories and make prayer a priority in your life.
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