The Bible Recap – Day 306 (Luke 19) – Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: November 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble explores Luke 19, focusing on Jesus’s encounter with Zacchaeus, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Tara-Leigh draws out key lessons about spiritual curiosity, repentance, the nature of Christ’s mission, and the prophetic significance of Jesus’s final days before His crucifixion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The Jericho Passage

• Contextual Placement:
  • Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for Passover, passing through Jericho—“the City of Palms,” an oasis in the desert and perhaps the oldest city in the world.
  • A large crowd is traveling for the holiday.

2. The Story of Zacchaeus (00:25–03:05)

• Zacchaeus’s Spiritual Curiosity:

  • Zacchaeus, a wealthy and powerful tax collector, seeks out Jesus not out of desperation or need but out of "deep curiosity."
  • Tara-Leigh:

    “It’s easy to realize our need for God when we have a tangible, real need. But for a wealthy businessman to be curious about Jesus is a different thing altogether.” (01:13)

• Jesus Invites Himself Over:

  • Jesus calls to Zacchaeus in the tree:

    “I’m coming for dinner tonight. I hope you have dried figs and chicken minis in the pantry somewhere.” (01:36)

  • The crowd is shocked that Jesus would dine with a sinner—emphasizing Jesus’s mission to seek out those who are spiritually lost.

• Comparison with the Rich Ruler (03:10–04:05):

  • Both Zacchaeus and the rich ruler (from Luke 18) are wealthy, but only Zacchaeus acknowledges his spiritual poverty.
  • Tara-Leigh:

    “The rich ruler thought he was acing life and morality, whereas Zacchaeus is fully aware of his own wickedness. Despite their financial wealth, they have different levels of awareness of their spiritual poverty.” (03:45)

  • Zacchaeus responds with repentance and restitution once he encounters Jesus.

3. Jesus’s Triumphal Entry (04:10–08:05)

• Fetching the Colt:

  • Jesus sends disciples to fetch a colt, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9’s messianic prophecy.
  • Tara-Leigh, humorously:

    “That’s like hiking the Appalachian Trail, then taking an Uber to your campsite.” (05:05)

  • Matthew’s account mentions a donkey and a colt: “Two for the price of free.”

• Prophecy Fulfillment:

  • Jesus intentionally fulfills multiple Old Testament prophecies during this journey.
  • As Jesus enters Jerusalem, crowds proclaim, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” echoing earlier prophecies (Luke 13).

• The Scene on the Mount of Olives:

  • The route is lined with thousands of grave plots (“anywhere from 70,000 to 150,000 tombs”), which Tara-Leigh references later in the episode.

4. The Stones Crying Out (08:10–09:10)

• The Pharisees urge Jesus to quiet His followers. He responds:

  “If they were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (08:40)

• Tara-Leigh speculates that the “stones” may not be literal rocks, but the grave markers on the hillside:

  “If you try to stop the living from praising me, the eternal souls of the dead will do it instead. My praise will echo through the universe regardless.” (08:55)

5. Jesus Weeping Over Jerusalem & Cleansing the Temple (09:12–10:40)

• Jesus laments Jerusalem's spiritual blindness and prophesies its coming destruction.
• Tara-Leigh points out that the temple cleansing, out of order in John’s Gospel, truly happens here—at the finale of Jesus’s ministry.

6. The “God Shot” (10:50–11:40)

• Tara-Leigh’s takeaway focuses on Luke 19:10:

  “Mine was in verse 10 where Jesus points out his mission: ‘the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’ It may not be immediately evident, especially since I wasn’t alive back then, but I’m in that story. Do you know what I’m doing in it? Nothing. I’m just lost, that’s all. But Jesus is doing a lot of stuff in that story. He comes, he seeks, he saves. He is the active agent in my salvation.” (11:05)

• She highlights the passive role of the lost and the initiative of Christ’s pursuit and rescue:

  “I desperately needed his rescue. It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. He’s where the joy is.” (11:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Zacchaeus’s Curiosity:

  “For a wealthy businessman to be curious about Jesus is a different thing altogether.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble (01:13)

• On Jesus’s Invitation:

  “I’m coming for dinner tonight. I hope you have dried figs and chicken minis in the pantry somewhere.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble (01:36)

• On Prophecy Fulfillment:

  “That’s like hiking the Appalachian Trail, then taking an Uber to your campsite. But this is all very intentional.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble (05:05)

• On the Stones Crying Out:

  "If you try to stop the living from praising me, the eternal souls of the dead will do it instead. My praise will echo through the universe regardless.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble (08:55)

• On Christ’s Role in Salvation:

  “He comes, he seeks, he saves. He is the active agent in my salvation.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble (11:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Zacchaeus’s Story: 00:25–03:05
• Comparison with Rich Ruler: 03:10–04:05
• Fetching the Colt & Prophecies: 04:10–08:05
• Stones Cry Out: 08:10–09:10
• Jesus Weeping & Cleansing the Temple: 09:12–10:40
• The “God Shot”: 10:50–11:40

Episode Tone & Style

Tara-Leigh uses a friendly, conversational tone, mixing in humor and genuine curiosity. She keeps the language accessible while weaving in deep theological insight. Her focus is always practical and devotional, connecting ancient stories to listeners’ lives today.

Summary:
This episode of The Bible Recap encourages listeners to recognize Jesus’s active pursuit of the lost, the importance of spiritual curiosity and repentance (illustrated by Zacchaeus), and the fulfillment of messianic prophecy during Holy Week. Tara-Leigh Cobble invites listeners to reflect on their place in Jesus’s story, closing with her signature affirmation:

“He’s where the joy is.” (11:35)