This week we are replaying "Best of" episodes from the past.

In this reprise of Highly Favored: Part 12, Mary and Joseph begin their journey to Bethlehem in obedience to Caesar Augustus's decree for a census. Despite the hardships of traveling such a long distance, especially with Mary nearing the end of her pregnancy, they resolve to trust in God's plan. Along the way, they find hope and strength in each other, even as rumors of a Messiah continue to circulate and Herod's spies seem to intensify their search for signs of a coming king.

Meanwhile, back in Nazareth, Anne and Joachim face the unsettling presence of Ephron, a stranger who questions them about Mary and hints at Herod's growing paranoia. Though Anne and Joachim deflect his inquiries, they grow increasingly wary of the dangers surrounding their daughter and the mysterious prophecies that have caught the attention of the powerful. Their unease deepens as they notice soldiers in the marketplace, confirming that Herod's men are actively searching for the child prophesied to deliver Israel.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph encounter a city overwhelmed with travelers, leaving no available rooms at the inns. After a desperate search, they find shelter in a humble stable, a stark yet peaceful contrast to the tension surrounding their journey. As the night deepens, Mary and Joseph reflect on their faith, finding solace in their love and the hope that God’s promise will soon be fulfilled. In the stillness of the stable, they prepare for the miraculous birth that will change the world forever.

This week we are replaying "Best of" episodes from the past.

In this reprise of In Highly Favored: Part 11, Mary departs from Elizabeth's home after spending three transformative months with her cousin, whose faith and encouragement have fortified Mary’s resolve to embrace her divine calling. As Elizabeth nears the end of her pregnancy, Mary’s heart is full of gratitude and awe for the ways God’s promises are unfolding in both of their lives. Returning to Nazareth, Mary carries with her the strength of Elizabeth’s words and the assurance that God’s hand is upon her.

Back in the hill country, Elizabeth’s labor begins as Zechariah, though still mute, supports her with unwavering devotion. The arrival of their son is marked by joy and awe, as the child’s birth fulfills Gabriel’s prophecy and signals a divine purpose yet to be revealed. Zechariah, regaining his voice after naming the child John, bursts into a song of praise, proclaiming the infant’s role as the prophet who will prepare the way for the Lord. News of the miraculous birth spreads quickly, and neighbors marvel at the destiny foretold for the boy who will later be known as John the Baptist.

Meanwhile, Herod’s court is stirred by rumors of extraordinary births in Judea and Galilee. Gadiel, one of Herod’s advisors, reports on the story of a virgin in Galilee said to be with child. Herod, already wary of messianic prophecies, sends soldiers to investigate, intent on quelling any threat to his rule. The tension builds as the forces of hope and oppression prepare to collide, setting the stage for the coming of the Savior and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

This week we are replaying "Best of" episodes from the past.

In this reprise of In Highly Favored: Part 10, Mary embarks on a journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea, seeking solace and confirmation of the divine message she received. Though the road is arduous and Joseph’s quiet support lingers in her heart, Mary finds strength in her faith, reflecting on the Scriptures and singing Psalms. Upon arriving, Elizabeth greets her with profound joy and declares that the child in her own womb leaped for joy at Mary’s presence, affirming that Mary carries the Lord Himself. This shared moment of wonder reassures Mary that she is not alone in carrying out God’s plan.

Elizabeth recounts the miraculous circumstances of her own pregnancy, sharing how her husband, Zechariah, was visited by the angel Gabriel and struck mute for doubting God’s promise. Despite his silence, Zechariah’s actions reflect his faith as he tenderly supports Elizabeth through her final months of pregnancy. Elizabeth marvels at God’s faithfulness, describing her child as one who will prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Mary, moved by Elizabeth’s words, finds renewed strength in their shared testimony of divine intervention.

As the two women bond over their miraculous pregnancies, their conversations are filled with praise and wonder at God’s unfolding plan. Mary begins to grasp the full weight of her calling, while Elizabeth encourages her to trust in the promises of the Almighty. The episode closes with Zechariah’s silent yet steadfast presence, hinting at the anticipation and hope that will soon break forth when God’s promises are fulfilled. Together, these faithful individuals hold fast to the assurance that the Savior is near.

This week we are replaying "Best of" episodes from the past.

In this reprise of Highly Favored: Part 9, Joseph wrestles with Mary’s unexpected and shocking revelation that she is carrying a child conceived by the Holy Spirit. Conflicted and overwhelmed, he grapples with the weight of the situation—his love and trust in Mary, the demands of the law, and the whispers of the community. Seeking clarity, Joseph consults the rabbis, who offer differing perspectives. While some advocate for a quiet separation to preserve his dignity, others acknowledge the possibility of divine intervention. Alone in his workshop, Joseph is consumed by doubt and fear, unsure of how to reconcile his faith with the impossible news.

That night, as Joseph finally succumbs to sleep, an angel appears to him in a radiant vision. The angel, identified as Gabriel, assures Joseph of Mary’s purity and the truth of her words. He explains that the child she carries is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and will save His people from their sins. Gabriel instructs Joseph to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus. Waking from the dream, Joseph feels his fear dissipate, replaced by a profound sense of awe and purpose. He resolves to protect and stand by Mary, trusting in God’s plan and embracing his role in this extraordinary story.

Joseph’s decision is not without cost, as whispers of judgment and scorn ripple through their small community. Yet, he and Mary face the challenges with steadfast faith, finding strength in their shared devotion to Elohim. Their bond deepens as they commit to walking this path together, bolstered by the knowledge that God has chosen them for a sacred mission. As the episode closes, Joseph’s faith and Mary’s courage set the stage for the incredible journey ahead, one that will forever change the course of history.

The series reaches a gut-wrenching turning point as Herod’s fury descends upon Bethlehem. After the Magi fail to return, the Roman official Flavius announces a decree to "register" all male children, a thin veil for the impending massacre. Despite the defiant witness of the elderly Ruth, who boldly proclaims she has seen the Messiah and no longer fears death, the soldiers carry out their orders at dawn. Leah describes the haunting "screaming in Ramah" as twenty-three children are murdered. In the aftermath, a grieving Leah questions the cost of the miracle, but Ruth offers a final lesson in faith: that while we may lack answers, we must refuse to let go of the One who holds them.

Years pass into decades, and the story of the child in the cave shifts from memory to rumor and, finally, to a world-altering reality. Now an old woman living in Jerusalem, Leah witnesses the "Teacher from Nazareth" entering the city to the polarized shouts of the crowd. On the road to Calvary, she catches the eye of the condemned Jesus as he carries his cross; in that brief, bloodied moment, she recognizes the same "knowing light" she saw in the manger thirty-three years prior. After the crucifixion, a radiant Mary visits Leah with the transformative news of the Resurrection, confirming that death could not hold her son and that every prophecy has been vindicated.

The story concludes with a powerful thematic reversal: the Child who was once denied a room in the inn has now gone to "prepare a place" for all humanity. Leah reflects on how her "one small yes" to a pregnant stranger made her part of an eternal narrative. The final anthem celebrates that Jesus, who knew the weight of human suffering and the homelessness of the world, has thrown wide the gates of His Father’s house. The series ends on a note of universal invitation, declaring that for every seeker, outcast, and sinner, there is finally and forever "room" in the heart of God.

In this Christmas special, Leah reflects on the cosmic significance of the events she witnessed in Bethlehem. She recalls Mary’s "Magnificat," a song of praise that defines God’s mission to lift the lowly, scatter the proud, and fulfill the ancient covenants made with Abraham and Sarah. Leah marvels at how the world "dreamed on obliviously" while stars danced and angels sang the Gloria, heralding a night where the boundaries between heaven and earth finally dissolved in a borrowed stable.

Leah contemplates the profound mystery of "the Word" made flesh, realizing that God chose to reach humanity not through distant decrees, but through a vulnerable child who breathed and slept within her reach. She understands that while words can bless or wound, this specific Word—Jesus—brought an enduring light that the darkness could not overcome. This "incarnation" represents a shift from abstract promises to a tangible presence, where truth and mercy finally meet in a human embrace, offering "grace upon grace" to all who believe.

The episode culminates in a powerful chorus of worship, identifying Jesus as the face of hope and the name of glory. Leah concludes that her journey from a busy, stressed innkeeper to a witness of the divine has taught her that glory is not a distant, untouchable concept. Instead, it is a Person who entered into human brokenness to heal what was lost. Standing in the lingering light of the stable, she acknowledges that while she didn't always have the words, her heart has found its song: the King has come, and His name is Jesus.

The atmosphere of Episode 13 shifts from wonder to urgent desperation as God speaks through dreams to safeguard the child. The three Magi all wake to the same divine warning: do not return to King Herod, whose supposed desire for worship has been revealed as a murderous intent to eliminate a rival. Simultaneously, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, commanding him to flee to Egypt immediately. Before vanishing into the pre-dawn shadows to take a secret southern route home, the Magi share a final moment with the family, providing them with additional gold to fund their long journey and sustain them in a foreign land.

Leah is jolted awake by the commotion and finds Mary and Joseph frantically packing their few belongings onto a donkey. Though she is devastated by their sudden departure and terrified of the arduous trek across the wilderness with an infant, Mary consoles her by insisting that their connection is part of a larger, ongoing story. In a poignant farewell, the two women embrace, acknowledging the courage and kindness that transformed a lowly cave into a sanctuary. Leah watches until the darkness swallows the small family, leaving her alone with the weight of the danger they face and the glory they left behind.

The episode concludes with Leah standing in the now-empty cave, reflecting on how her life has been irrevocably altered. The physical traces of the family—the smell of hay and the impression in the straw—remain, but the tangible presence of the divine has moved on. Leah realizes that while the cave has returned to being mere stone and silence, she herself cannot be "unchanged." Having witnessed the intersection of heaven and earth, she carries the story within her, waiting in hope for the day when the danger has passed and the promise of the child is fully realized.

As several weeks pass since the baby’s dedication, Bethlehem returns to its quiet, winter rhythm. Mary and Joseph have settled into a modest life, with Joseph finding work as a carpenter while Leah, the innkeeper’s wife, continues to visit them daily, drawn by the profound sense of peace found in their presence. This domestic calm is suddenly shattered by the arrival of a regal procession of Magi—learned men from the East who have traveled for months following a celestial sign. They reveal that they first visited King Herod in Jerusalem, whose troubled reaction and request to find the child have left Leah and her husband, Simon, deeply uneasy.

The town watches in awe as the wealthy foreigners bypass palaces to kneel in the dust before a cave. Led by the elderly Ruth, the Magi present symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, acknowledging the child as both a divine King and a destined sacrifice. During their worship, the atmosphere is charged with a mixture of immense joy and a growing shadow of dread, as the Magi realize that their discovery fulfills ancient prophecies while simultaneously placing the family in the crosshairs of a jealous earthly ruler.

In the quiet hours of the evening, Leah speaks with the Magus Melchior, who explains that faith is the act of "following the light you have been given." He confesses his growing suspicion that Herod intends to hunt the child rather than worship him, prompting the travelers to seek divine guidance for their return journey. As the episode concludes, Melchior reminds Leah that she is no longer a mere spectator; by offering shelter and bearing witness to these miracles, she has become an inextricable part of a story that is beginning to reshape the world.