We pick up where we left off last week with the second half of Stephanie’s deep-dive into the Christmas story from the perspective of Mary. We were joking that Joseph, through Matthew, gave us a very concise version of Jesus’ birth, while Mary, like most moms, has a lot more details to share! And indeed – it took one episode to cover Josepha’s account, and two episodes to cover Mary’s memories of the birth of her first born Son, Jesus our Messiah.

Don't forget! Go to gospelspice.com/Christmas for a LOT of FREE and beautiful inspirations to make this Christmas your most Christ-centered and Gospel-spiced one! And also, brand new line of Christmas merch at gospelspice.com/merch - don't miss out!

One fascinating aspect we discuss is the meaning behind the name Jesus, which was commonly used at the time and carried deep significance. Stephanie also explores the mystery surrounding the exact date of Jesus' birth, leading to a discussion about the potential timing of his conception during the Passover season.

The Tower of Eder, mentioned in Matthew's account of the murder of innocent babies in Bethlehem, becomes a thought-provoking symbol. This tower, associated with the raising of sacred sheep destined for sacrifice, offers a glimpse into the symbolism of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

Stephanie invites you to experience the ceremonies of circumcision and the redemption presentation at the temple, shedding light on the profound significance of these ancient rituals and their connection to Passover.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Christmas story and discover your own calling this holiday season. As always, we are grateful for your continued support and appreciate your engagement with our podcast. Stay tuned for more inspiring content, captivating discussions, and fascinating insights as we navigate the depths of Scripture together.

Wishing you a blessed and joy-filled Christmas season!

MORE DETAILS

The nature of God is revealed in humility and sacrifice. Jesus, who did not consider equality with God something to be used for his own advantage, made himself nothing, taking on the nature of a servant and being made in human likeness. Because of Jesus' humility and sacrifice, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name above every name. Every knee should bow and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Do you see the connection? Christmas, the incarnation of God on earth, is intricately linked to the cross and resurrection, leading us to the eternal reign of Christ. It's a powerful reminder of the ultimate gift we receive during this season.

Let's dive deeper into Luke's account of Mary's encounter with an angel. She is called "highly favored," a phrase only used twice in Scripture. This echoes Ephesians 1:6, where it's mentioned that God chose us before the foundation of the world, according to his favor and will. The Greek word used to describe Mary's favor is the same word used to describe God's favor towards believers in Ephesians. It means that it gave God great pleasure. Can you believe you are being highly favored like Mary? You are!

The tower near Bethlehem, where Jesus is born, is known as “tower of the flock,” or “tower of Eder.” It holds significant biblical connections: it is the place where sacred sheep were raised, destined for sacrifice. Jesus was born in the same place the lambs were readied to be killed on behalf of the people! And the famous Christmas shepherds were watching over THAT flock at night.

Now, let's talk about the circumcision and presentation of Jesus at the temple. Both events were customary for Jewish families. They symbolize redemption and the giving of the child back to God. This mirrors the Passover, where the lamb was sacrificed to redeem the firstborn.
The redemption ceremony also foreshadows Jesus' ultimate purpose: to buy humanity back for God. Just as Mary and Joseph bought Jesus back for the people, he will later buy humanity back for God through his sacrifice. This fulfillment of the Christmas story was predicted in Genesis 3:15, where God promises hostility between the serpent and the woman's seed. The incarnation and the cross are all part of God's ultimate plan for our salvation.

We can't forget the unexpected encounter that occurred at the temple during Jesus' presentation. It connects to an awe-inspiring passage in Isaiah 6:1-4, where Isaiah sees the glory of the Lord. The greatness of Jesus, God himself, is beautifully portrayed in this depiction.
We encounter the wise Simeon, who blesses Mary and foretells that Jesus will cause the rise and fall of many in Israel. He also mentions that a sword will pierce Mary's soul. Such powerful words that foreshadow the incredible journey ahead.
As we celebrate this Christmas, let's not forget the true meaning behind it all. Mary's encounter with an angel and God's plan for her serves as a powerful reminder for all of us to discover our Christmas calling.
Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey through the untold story of Christmas. May this episode inspire you and deepen your understanding of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Remember, every Christmas holds a beautiful story, waiting to be told.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

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First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

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And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

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Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

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Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We offer high-quality, full color, gorgeous PDF downloadable workbooks to come alongside each episode of this original series of Gospel Spice, Jesus Rabbi and Lord. These workbooks allow you to build your library of in-depth Biblical studies and content to maximize your time in Scripture and amplify your intimacy with God. For each episode, we offer:

- an episode summary

- a listening guide

- key takeaways from the episode

- key quotes

- Bible verses to enhance your experience

- up to 10 questions per episode to take charge of your quiet time

- topics for further research, based on the episode content.

There are 3 workbooks, each containing over 10 episodes to cover the entire series. You can buy them separately, or as a bundle for an amazing price!

Go now to https://www.gospelspice.com/jesus for the details and to purchase your Jesus Rabbi and Lord workbooks!

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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