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Ainsley Earhart
The Life of Jesus podcast is sponsored by Riverbend Ranch. Hello, everyone. This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you so much for joining me for episode four of this 52 episode podcast series, the Life of Jesus. Today we will be listening to Sean Astin as Matthew and Neil McDonough as Jesus as they continue their presentation of events during the days when Jesus walked the earth. Thus far, we have encountered Jesus compassion as he brought healing and restoration into the lives of those who were hurting or in need. Though Jesus ministry brought joy and hope to the multitudes, his very presence generated contempt from religious leaders of the day. Let's listen in as the love and wisdom of Jesus continues to bring understanding to those who will hear and bring sight to those who will see. You're listening to the Life of Jesus. We'll be right back.
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Narrator
At that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus. And he said to his servants, this.
Jesus
Is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead. That is why these powers are at work in him.
Narrator
For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Because John said to him, it is.
Peter
Not lawful for you to have her.
Narrator
And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter. And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl. And she brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it. And they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns as he went Ashore he saw a great throng. And he had compassion on them and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him.
Peter
This is a lonely place, and the day is now over. Send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.
Jesus
They need not go away. You give them something to eat.
Peter
We have only five loaves here and two fish.
Jesus
Bring them here to me.
Narrator
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke. And gave the loaves to the disciples. And the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. The disciples took up 12 baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. But the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night. He came to them walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified.
Jesus
It is a ghost.
Narrator
And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them.
Jesus
Take heart, it is I have no fear.
Narrator
And Peter answered him, lord, if it.
Jesus
Is you, bid me come to you on the water, come.
Narrator
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink. He cried out.
Jesus
Lord, save me.
Narrator
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him.
Jesus
Man of little faith, why did you doubt?
Narrator
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Those in the boat worshiped him.
Peter
Truly you are the Son of God.
Narrator
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent round all that region. And brought to him all that were sick. And besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem. Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.
Jesus
And why do you transgress the commandment of God? For the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, honor your father and your mother. And he who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die. But you say, if Anyone tells his father or his mother. What you would have gained from me is given to God. He need not honor his father. So for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites. Well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said, this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.
Narrator
He called the people to him and.
Jesus
Said to them, hear and understand. Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Narrator
Then the disciples came and said, do.
Disciple
You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?
Jesus
Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone. They are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.
Narrator
But Peter said to him, explain the parable to us.
Jesus
Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and so passes on? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart. And this defiles a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.
Narrator
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, have mercy.
Canaanite Woman
On me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is severely possessed by a demon.
Narrator
But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him.
Jesus
Send her away, for she is crying after us. I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Narrator
But she came and knelt before him.
Canaanite Woman
Lord, help me.
Jesus
It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.
Canaanite Woman
Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.
Jesus
O woman, great is your faith. Be it done for you as you desire.
Narrator
And her daughter was healed instantly. Jesus went on from there and passed along the Sea of Galilee. He went up on the mountain and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the dumb and many others. And they put them at his feet. And he healed them so that the throng wondered when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him.
Jesus
I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. Where are we to get bread?
Peter
Enough in the desert to feed so great a crowd?
Jesus
How many loaves have you?
Disciple
7. And a few small fish.
Narrator
Commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and the fish. And having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples. And the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children, sending away the crowds. Jesus got into the boat and went to the region of Magadon. The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, when it is evening.
Jesus
You say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning it will be stormy. Today, for the sky is red and threatening. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign. But no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
Narrator
So he left them and departed. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
Jesus
Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Narrator
The disciples discussed it among themselves.
Jesus
We brought no bread. O men of little faith. Why do you discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the 5,000 and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves of the 4,000 and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Narrator
Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread. But of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples.
Jesus
Who do men say that the Son of man is?
Disciple
Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
Jesus
But who do you say that I am?
Narrator
Simon Peter replied, you are the Christ.
Peter
The Son of the living God.
Jesus
Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. But my Father who is in heaven. And I tell You. You are Peter. And on this rock I will build my church. And the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Narrator
Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him.
Peter
God forbid, Lord. This shall never happen to you.
Jesus
Get behind me, Satan. You are a hindrance to me. For you are not on the side of God, but of men. If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it. And whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return?
Narrator
For.
Jesus
For his life. For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father. And then he will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
Narrator
And after six days, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them. And his face shone like the sun and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah. And talking with him, Peter said to.
Peter
Jesus, lord, it is well that we are here. If you wish, I will make three booths here. One for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.
Narrator
He was still speaking when, lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And a voice from the clouds said.
Jesus
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.
Narrator
When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them.
Jesus
Rise, and have no fear.
Narrator
When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus. Only as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, tell no one.
Jesus
The vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.
Peter
Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?
Jesus
Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come. And they did not know him, but did to him whatever they Pleased. So also the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.
Narrator
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and knelt before him.
Man with Epileptic Son
Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to your disciples. They could not heal him.
Jesus
O faithless and perverse generation. How long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.
Narrator
And Jesus rebuked him. And the demon came out of him. And the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately.
Jesus
Why could we not cast it out? Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you.
Narrator
As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them.
Jesus
The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men. And they will kill him. And he will be raised. On the third day.
Narrator
They were greatly destroyed. When they came to Capernaum. The collectors of the half shekel tax went up to Peter.
Peter
Does not your teacher pay the tax?
Disciple
Yes.
Narrator
When Peter came home, Jesus spoke to him first.
Jesus
What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others? From others. Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them. Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up. And when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.
Narrator
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, calling to him a child. Jesus put him in the midst of them.
Jesus
Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck. And to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin. For it is necessary that temptations come. But woe to the man by whom the temptation comes. And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Narrator
Then Peter came up and said to.
Peter
Him, lord, how often shall my brother sin against me? And I forgive him as many as seven times.
Jesus
I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. And as he could not pay his Lord ordered him to be sold with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. Out of pity for him, the Lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii and seizing him by the throat, he said, pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused, and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their Lord all that had taken place. Then his Lord summoned him and said to him, you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you besought me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? In anger His Lord delivered him to the jailers till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.
Loren Greene
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Life of Jesus Podcast series. I'm Loren Greene, host of the Lighthouse Faith Podcast and the author of the Devotional Light for Today. We will be back with more of this series after this.
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Ainsley Earhart
Jesus rebuke of the religious leaders seems harsh to some and at first glance may not appear to be in keeping with his words of compassion and love. However, a second look will reveal much about his reasons. Jesus never had any motivation other than love, but love isn't a presentation of the emotional equivalent of hearts and flowers or a warm fuzzy feeling. Real love is a commitment to another to always have their best interest at heart. Love does not ignore danger. It calls out any hazard and wars against any threat toward the loved one Christ. Love is a dynamic love that operates in every aspect for the good of all. In calling out the hypocrisies of the religious leaders, he hoped for their repentance even as he warned others of their treachery. May our love for all people do likewise. May we never shirk from speaking truth in the knowledge and its power will transform lives one at a time, bringing a greater degree of unity to our broken world. Father, make me a channel of your love. Help me to speak truth no matter the risk. Use me as an instrument in your hand to increase the unity of our world. Thank you for listening to episode four of this 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus. Make sure to spread the word. Listen ad free with a Fox News Podcast plus subscription on Apple Podcasts, Amazon prime members can listen ad free on the Amazon Music Appliance.
Episode 4: The Matchless Love of God
Date: November 30, 2025
Featured Cast:
Episode 4, “The Matchless Love of God,” dramatizes pivotal moments from the Book of Matthew, focusing on Jesus’ transformative love, his miracles, teachings, and his challenging confrontations with religious authorities. The episode explores how Jesus’ compassion and wisdom impact not only those he heals and teaches, but also the disciples and his critics. The dramatization is designed to immerse listeners in the emotional and spiritual journey of Jesus’ ministry.
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:31 | Herod’s fear, John the Baptist’s death | | 03:17 | Miracle of the loaves and fishes | | 04:46 | Jesus walks on water, Peter’s doubt | | 06:23 | Jesus rebukes Pharisees’ tradition vs. God’s commandments | | 08:42 | Healing of the Canaanite woman’s daughter | | 10:21 | Feeding of the four thousand | | 13:25 | Peter declares Jesus as the Christ | | 14:54 | Jesus predicts his suffering and death | | 16:04 | The Transfiguration | | 18:08 | Healing of the epileptic boy and teaching on faith | | 20:29 | Teaching on humility, children, parable of the lost sheep | | 24:01 | Parable of the unforgiving servant and radical forgiveness |
Episode 4 of “The Life of Jesus” vividly dramatizes Jesus’ acts of miraculous compassion, bold proclamations of truth, and teachings on faith, forgiveness, and humility. The performances bring scripture to life, emphasizing not only events but the emotional and ethical core of Jesus’ ministry. The episode concludes with a heartfelt reflection on the meaning of true love—one that challenges, redeems, and commits itself for the good of others.
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