Talata Podcast

Herod has thrown John the Baptist into prison. Messengers come to him in the prison. They relay to him all that Jesus has been doing. Specifically, they tell him about a funeral procession where Jesus sees the widow who has lost her son. His heart fills with compassion. He tells the young man to get up! The son rises from the dead and goes back with his mother. After hearing this, John asks them to go ask Jesus if He's the Messiah, or if they should expect someone else. The messengers arrive where Jesus is sleeping and ask Him what John wants to know.

Jesus continues through the countryside. He's adamant in preaching the good news about the kingdom of God. The twelve disciples follow him. And some women follow as well. They serve the disciples, using their own resources to aid the ministry of Jesus.

A Pharisee invites Jesus to have dinner at His house. They're eating when a woman approaches Jesus. Everyone in the house stares, including the Pharisee. Jesus tells the Pharisee a story. He says that there were two men who owed money to someone. One owed 500 silver coins. The other owed 50. Neither men could pay their debt. So the lender canceled both debts. Jesus asks which man loved the lender more for what he'd done.

Jesus reminds us that those who hear and obey are blessed.

Jesus turns to the crowds and walks through them, teaching. He advises everyone how to walk through life in love. And talks of how, out of pride, we often judge others. He implores those who are listening to love their enemies, to actively pray for them. He speaks of offering more than what is asked of you. Do for others what you would have them do for you.

Jesus looks out over the crowds gathered to hear him speak. But instead of speaking to the masses, Jesus turns back to his disciples. He encourages them for the journey ahead. He assures them that they are blessed when people hate them, reject them, insult them, and say that they are evil because they follow Jesus. He encourages them to be happy and dance for joy when that happens. Because there will be great reward in heaven for them. And He reminds them that their ancestors acted the same way toward prophets. Episode 10

Jesus spots a tax collector named Matthew Levi at the gate. He collects toll money for customs as people pass through. As Jesus looks at him, Matthew senses it and looks up. Jesus says, "Follow me." Matthew watches Him go for a moment. Silently, he stands and leaves everything to follow Jesus. Later Jesus goes up a hill to pray. He prays the entire night to God. When He comes down from the hill the next morning, He gathers His followers. From them, he chooses 12 apostles. Simon (who Jesus named Peter) and Simon's brother Andrew had been the fishermen who experienced the miracle of a large catch of fish. Then Jesus chooses James and John, Philip and Bartholomew. And He chooses Matthew, the tax collector he had called at the gate. And finally Jesus chooses Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus. Episode 9

Crowds press in on Jesus as He leaves the synagogue. One voice rises above the others. A man, Jairus, begs Jesus to save his sick, 12-year-old daughter. Another man runs up to Jairus. He tells him not to bother the teacher, that his daughter has died. Jesus turns and tells him not to be afraid. And that if Jairus would believe, his daughter would be well. Jesus and the disciples visit the family. The neighbors wail for the loss of the daughter. She lies lifeless on a cot. Jesus looks at her for a moment. Then He looks to the child's mother and comforts her. He says the child isn't dead, but that she's actually just asleep. Jesus sits and looks at the girl for a moment, then tells her to rise. Episode 8

Jesus tells the fisherman who owns it to push out farther and let down their nets. The fisherman grumbles that he and the others have already been out all night long. They didn't catch anything. The fisherman agrees to go out and calls to his partners. Jesus sits in the boat with the fisherman. He waits expectantly. Then gathers the nets, slowly bringing something to the surface. He laughs with joy when he sees the nets are full of flopping fish. When they're done, the fisherman sits in a boat full of fish. He looks up to Jesus. The fisherman frowns and says, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man." Jesus tells him not to be afraid, that from then on, he would be a fisher of men.

Jesus teaches from a boat off the shore of Lake Gennesaret. He speaks in parables, giving the example of a Pharisee and tax collector going to the temple to pray. The two men approach prayer very differently.

When Jesus returns to Nazareth, He goes to the synagogue. He's asked to read the Scriptures and is handed the Book of Isaiah. From it, He reads Isaiah 61:1-2. The prophecy speaks of bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freeing the oppressed, and announcing that it's time the Lord will save His people. When He finishes reading, Jesus announces to the people that the prophecy has come true as it was just read.

After Jesus has been baptized, He's led by the Spirit into the desert. He spends 40 days there, constantly tempted by the devil. All that time, he eats nothing. The devil tries to tempt Jesus, but Jesus answers using Scripture, resisting him.

John the Baptist calls out in the desert. He preaches by the river Jordan, "Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins." He is the one Isaiah predicted would make way for the Lord. The crowds gather. Immediately, he warns them not to only say they have repented. Instead, they're to follow repentance with actions that exhibit a changed heart. Jesus is baptized and receives the Holy Spirit. He kneels at the feet of someone lesser than Himself to be baptized. He demonstrates how we are to be humble.

One week after the baby is born, He is circumcised and officially named Jesus. While Jesus is a small boy they go to the temple where they meet a man named Simeon. The Holy Spirit had assured Simeon he would not die before seeing the Lord's Messiah. Simeon sees Jesus and declares Him the promised Messiah.

Luke makes his introduction as the careful author of this Gospel. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary, a virgin in Nazareth. He announces to her that she has found favor with God and will give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. Through Jesus' birth, prophecies are fulfilled by the arrangement of events. God leaves no detail unnoticed. The same can be said of our own lives.

Talata Podcast is an immersive Tagalog Audio Bible