The Jesus Podcast: "Behold Him"

Host: Pray.com
Date: August 27, 2025

Episode Overview

“Behold Him” immerses listeners in the nativity story, offering a vivid, emotionally rich retelling of the shepherds’ visit to the newborn Jesus. The episode’s core theme is the awe-inspiring humility of Christ’s arrival and the impact of witnessing God’s incarnation firsthand. Through cinematic storytelling and thoughtful theological commentary, the episode explores reverence, faith, the unexpected movement of God in humble circumstances, and how ordinary people become heralds of hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Prayer and Framing (00:00)

• Rabbi Schneider opens with a prayer reflecting on the transformative power of the Gospel and a call for boldness and humility in sharing Christ’s message.
  • “We know that the message of your gospel holds the power to change and transform lives. May our lives echo the Shepherd's song of hope and redemption.” (Rabbi Schneider, 00:00)
• Establishes a sense of reverent anticipation for the story.

2. The Shepherds in Awe: Storytelling Segment (03:04–08:13)

• Narrator dramatizes the biblical account where shepherds experience the angelic proclamation and visit the infant Jesus:
  • The angel choir’s message fills the shepherds with joy and urgency to find the child (“Their hearts were aflame with a joy they could not contain and a purpose they could not deny.” — Narrator, 03:04).
  • The journey to Bethlehem is marked by excitement, humor, and disbelief at their participation in such a momentous event.
• Encounter at the Manger:
  • The shepherds feel the grandeur of the moment, likening their awe to Moses at the burning bush.
  • The elder shepherd presents a humble, woven blanket as a gift to Jesus, received gratefully by Mary (“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice was warm and soothing.” — Mary, 08:13).
  • Overcome with reverence, the shepherds leave transformed, bursting with worship and spreading the news (“Their contemplative walk slowly turned into a dance of praise and worship.” — Narrator, 08:13).
• The testimony reverberates beyond the stable, stirring hope and even reaching the ears of Herod’s servants, sowing fear, hope, and the possibility of redemption.

3. Theological Reflection & Lessons (04:49 & 16:08)

• Pastor Jack Graham introduces commentary, setting up the story's relevance to modern Christians (“This story will showcase the transformative power of Jesus' presence and how it changes us from the inside out.” — Pastor Jack Graham, 04:55).
• Bible Story Commentator offers key insights:
  • The lowliness of Christ’s birth underscores how God works through humble people and ordinary circumstances:
    • “God packaged a remarkable event in unremarkable circumstances. … God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wisdom of the wise.” (16:08)
  • The episode calls listeners to embrace reverence — recognizing the holy and pausing to experience awe:
    • “The shepherd’s reaction...was pure awe. They felt the weight of the moment—they were in the presence of something holy and divine.” (16:40)
    • “When was the last time you stepped back and allowed yourself to be in awe of God?” (17:55)
• Suggests a parallel: Just as the shepherds became bearers of good news despite their low status, listeners too are invited into God’s story to share hope.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “None of it makes sense, the older shepherd said with a chuckle, but we know what we heard and saw.” — Narrator, 08:13
  Highlights the paradox of faith and the certainty found in encountering Christ.

• “God chose these simple men to witness his newborn son. The knowledge was a weight and a blessing, a secret that filled them with a reverence they had never known.” — Narrator, 08:13

• “Their souls were forever changed. They looked to the bright blue skies and basked in the sun's warmth. Their eyes would permanently be filled with wonder and gratitude that God had chosen them to bear witness to his greatest gift.” — Narrator, 13:00

• “We often want to see God move in mighty and miraculous ways. Still, the Christmas story reminds us that God is also at work in life's mundane and unremarkable margins.” — Bible Story Commentator, 16:25

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 — Opening prayer and call to boldness (Rabbi Schneider)
• 03:04 — Angelic visitation and shepherds’ rush to Bethlehem (Narrator)
• 08:13 — The shepherds’ encounter at the manger; gift-giving and transformation (Narrator)
• 13:00 — The spreading of the shepherds' testimony and its ripple effect (Narrator)
• 16:08 — Theological reflection on humility, awe, and God’s surprising actions (Bible Story Commentator)

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is rich in imaginative, reverent storytelling, blending the emotional closeness of the nativity with accessible lessons for modern listeners.
• Through blending narration and commentary, the podcast encourages listeners to:
  • See holiness in the ordinary.
  • Cultivate awe and reverence in spiritual life.
  • Embrace their role as heralds of hope, regardless of status.
• The retelling imparts a personal invitation: much like the shepherds, all are called to witness, wonder, and share in Christ’s story of redemption.