Baldhead Bible Podcast

The Bible sometimes has peculiar little-known stories that many people skip over on the way to the really important stuff. One such story is found in Matthew 27. It's a story I like to call the time Jesus met some Zombies. But they weren't Zombies, no these were people coming out of graves, but they weren't half dead, half alive monsters. No, they were resurrected saints proclaiming the victory of Jesus over death. Who were they? And what story am I talking about? Turn to Matthew 27 to find out.

We now come to Friday of Jesus' last week on earth. It is one of the saddest stories in the Bible and one full of hope because of what Jesus accomplished. This is a story of two Marys and their devotion to Jesus. This is a story of betrayal, abandonment, and denial. But it is also a story of hope, loyalty, and spiritual power. It is the end of one story and the beginning of a more glorious one. Read on and learn more about Jesus's death and burial and how all the disciples abandoned Him except for two women named Mary. Turn to Matthew 26 - 28 to follow along.

Jesus had just spent the evening celebrating the Passover meal with the disciples. Jesus introduced the New Covenant and gave His disciples a new perspective on the Passover meal. A new perspective that they were to do from now on "in remembrance of Him." But now, as they began to ascend the Mount of Olives, I believe the burden of what He was about to bear on the cross became real to Him. Maybe it's too real. And this is where Jesus finds a quiet place to beg His Father to take this cup of wrath from Him. Will the Father do it? Listen to this week's episode to find out. Turn to Matthew 26 to follow along.

The disciples are eating the Last Supper in the upper room. They are enjoying their time together as they reflect upon Yahweh's faithfulness in leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. But then Jesus makes an announcement: one of them sitting right there will betray Him. The disciples look at each other in fear and begin shouting: is it I, Lord? But there was one who was silent, plotting and scheming, and was glad to be rid of this imposter Messiah. Who it was and what happened next, listen to todays episode to find out.

We are coming down to the end of Jesus' earthly ministry. We are in the middle of passion week. It's Wednesday. But I wonder if the knowledge of what He is about to go through on Friday begins to weigh on His shoulders and begins to color everything that He sees and tastes. Remember, Jesus is 100% God, but He was also 100% man and lived and felt the things any human would feel during His time on earth. And I cannot imagine the feelings He must have felt knowing what He was about to go through. But I think one caring soul did sense the deep sorrow that Jesus was feeling, and she did something about it. She celebrated who Jesus was. How? Listen to this week's story and turn to Matthew 26 to follow along.

It is the Tuesday of Holy Week, the week Jesus went to the cross to die and then 3 days later defeated sin and death by resurrecting from the grave. But before that Friday, Jesus still had a lot to do. His Father had much for Him to accomplish on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. One of those jobs was to confront the Pharisees and Sadducees, to warn them of the peril they were in and to offer redemption. Confront their hypocrisy and call them to repentance. Listen on to find out what happens on Tuesday. You can also turn to Matthew 23 to follow along.

It is now Tuesday of Holy Week and Jesus is heading back into Jerusalem. He is about to encounter a group of men who will hound His every move, looking for any opportunity to discredit His ministry and arrest Him. These men were part of a powerful religious organization called The Sanhedrin who are afraid of Jesus and His attack on their power and prestige. They were beginning to fear Jesus, and they were looking for ways to try to take Him down. Listen on to hear how Jesus fights these attacks and along the way teaches us how to be better disciples.

It is now Monday of passion week, the week Jesus will die for the sins of the whole world. But that is on Friday, and there is still Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to come. Today is full of service, ministry, healing, and teaching. But before all that starts, Jesus and His disciples need to eat some breakfast. A nice juicy fig will do. So, as they walk towards Jerusalem, Jesus spots a fig tree. What happens next will be an opportunity for us all to learn more about faith and what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. Turn to Matthew 21 to follow along.

This is a beautiful day and the beginning of the final week in the earthly life of Jesus. It is a Sunday, and what will happen today will fulfill an ancient prophecy Daniel and other Old Testament prophets foretold. Today will be a day that will introduce Jesus as King to His people. Sadly, they will ultimately reject Him, but today they are shouting Hosanna, today they are praising His name, calling Him King. Today is a good day.

Who was John the Baptist? How did his ministry relate to the life and ministry of Jesus? And if Jesus was God, why did He have to be baptized? Today we tell the story of John the Baptist and the incredible honor and privilege he was given when he was chosen to baptize the son of God, and we also wrestle with the question as to why Jesus needed to be baptized by John. Listen to this week's episode to find out more. Turn to Matthew 3 to follow along.

As you read the gospels, it is interesting how difficult it was for the disciples to learn spiritual truths from Jesus. He would make a point that seems clear to us, the reader, but it goes right over the disciple's heads. Well, in today's story, we will hear one of those moments, and be reminded again of the wonderful Savior we serve and how He came to serve and to give Himself as a ransom for many. Turn to Matthew 20 to follow along.

In this week's episode, we listen to Jesus teaching through story, or as we often call them, parables. In this parable, Jesus is trying to get his thick-headed disciples to understand what it means to live with generosity based on the grace of God. He wants His disciples, then and now, to see that the rules for living in the Kingdom of God are not like the worlds and are fundamentally different. So, Jesus tells the story of the Vineyard Workers. What is that story, that parable? Well, listen on to find out.

Can you imagine dealing with the fact that every day you would meet people who would seek to trip you up, or try to embarrass you? Essentially, you would be tested every day of your life., Well, that was the life that Jesus led every single day, as He was constantly being tested by a group of men desperate to make Jesus look bad in the eyes of His followers. These men were the Pharisees. And on this day, they had the perfect controversial question to try to humiliate Jesus with, or to use a modern concept, to cancel Him. And that was the issue of divorce, specifically the question of on what grounds could a man legitimately divorce his wife? This was a dangerous question for Jesus to answer because He could offend so many people. What is Jesus to do? Turn to Matthew 19 to follow along.

The power of a story. Stories move us, do unique things to our brains when we listen and can engage us for a longer time than any lecture. We know this from modern studies of the brain, but the ancients knew the power of story. And the greatest man who ever lived also knew the impact of story. Jesus would tell parables to teach great spiritual truths. He would tell stories to move the hearts of his listeners. Today we are going to hear one of those stories, one of the parables Jesus told to teach His disciples. Today, we will hear a story that will teach us the importance of forgiveness and how forgiving others is a sign that you are a true follower of Jesus. The power of story and the power of forgiveness come together in this parable from Matthew 18.

Children were not worth a lot to society in Jesus' day. They could not generate any money; instead, they cost you a ton of money as a parent. Plus, many of them never made it out of childhood. So, the average kid costs you a lot of money and heartache. Consequently, many were neglected and fought for survival at the margins of society. But then came Jesus. Jesus loved children, elevated their status, and saw in them the perfect example of what it meant to be one of His followers. Jesus also warned anyone who would hurt one of these little ones: mess with a child and you will literally have Hell to pay. Listen to hear the rest of the story and turn to Matthew 18 to follow along.

At the end of Matthew 17, we stumble across a delightful but odd story. It's a story of taxes, Jesus' declaration of His deity, and fishing. It's a story showing that Jesus cares about the mundane things in life and that He provides for His own in miraculous and marvelous ways. Turn to Matthew 17 and listen on to find out more.

It is now roughly 6 weeks after the events from last week and Jesus and the disciples are still hanging around Cesearea Philippi and the Gates of Hell. I believe Jesus was witnessing in the town: witnessing the glory of the Father and the kindness of God upon the nation of Israel. But I also think Jesus was there to send a theological, supernaturally devastating message to all the hostile spiritual forces surrounding Him. This message was simple: The Messiah is here, the Kingdom has arrived, and you rebellious, evil supernatural forces, your time has come. To follow along turn to Matthew 17.

Jesus and His disciples are about to declare holy war on Satan and His doomed minions. But Jesus doesn't do it through any act of violence, but simply through His words. Well, more specifically, through the words of Peter. What were those words that would storm the gates of Hades? Turn to Matthew 16 and make sure to listen to today's podcast to find out.

Jesus is about to enter the period where He begins His long march to the cross and crucifixion. But before that, He has a lot of teaching and warning and encouragement for the disciples. He does not want them to lack knowledge and the spiritual fortitude to take on the evil forces amassing all around them. And one group in particular He wants to warn them about. Listen to this week's story as we hear our Savior warning His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees. Turn to Matthew 16 to follow along.

Now, that is quite a provocative title. Can you imagine! There is a story in the Bible where Jesus compares a woman to a dog. But He also heals her daughter, feeds 4,000 people, and, by the end of the story, provides blessings upon blessings to people who do not deserve it. Why would Jesus compare a woman to a dog? And how does this lead to blessings? Turn to Matthew 15 and listen on.

This week's story focuses on the importance of handwashing. While it may not seem like the most captivating topic, it carries significant religious questions and practical applications for living a life of faith. To read more, turn to Matthew 15.

O you of little faith, why do you doubt? That is the message I want all of us to learn after listening to this week's story: we should never doubt that God will provide for our needs. Listen to this week's story and be encouraged in your faith. Be encouraged that if Peter can walk on water, we can trust that Jesus will provide for us. To follow along, turn to Matthew 14

Jesus has learned that John the Baptist was beheaded and martyred for his faith. Jesus escapes the crush of the crowd in order to be alone, but soon the crowd follows and they find Him. And in His compassion, Jesus leaves His grieving to minister among them and to heal their sick and to cure the blind. Jesus performs miracle after miracle, but then the evening begins to draw near, and the people do not have enough food to eat. How are Jesus and the disciples going to feed all these people? Listen on to find out. To follow along in the Bible turn to Matthew 14.

When Jesus heard that His friend John the Baptist had died, Matthew writes that Jesus went to a remote place to be alone. John the Baptist was killed for standing up for the truth. He was killed because he wasn't afraid to confront those in power with their sin. But he paid a high price for doing what was right. From a human perspective, it was a terribly sad moment, and I believe Jesus felt the deep grief and injustice of that moment. I wonder if the way John died bothered Jesus because the way he was murdered was bizarre and horrific. Turn to the book of Matthew, chapter 14, to follow along.

Jesus is beginning to teach in parables as an act of condemnation upon the people of Israel for not accepting Him as King and believing He is the Messiah. But what about His own family? Wouldn't it be hard to take if your own family didn't believe you were the Messiah, and some of your brothers tried to kill you at one point? This week we hear the story of Jesus' brothers and how they refused to believe that their older brother Jesus was, in fact, God in flesh. This week we learn more about Jesus and His immediate family and how Jesus turned their cold hearts from unbelief to belief.

This week we tell the story of Jesus beginning to speak and preach in parables. What would cause the son of God to begin speaking in stories and illustrations with deeper spiritual meanings? Why would Jesus speak in obscure ways? Wouldn't Jesus want to be as clear as possible, so He can tell as many people as He could about the Kingdom? Well, there was a reason found in the prophecies of Isaiah. Listen to this week's podcast to find out more. To follow along turn to Matthew 13.

Are you a follower of Jesus who likes the show and the rituals? You like the fact that going to church pleases your grandma and that you are a better person because you obey the basic principles found in the Bible. But you don't really believe what the Bible says, and you are not really sure if Jesus was God or just a good man. But you like your church and eating out afterward for Sunday dinner. But whether you genuinely want to follow Jesus is still up in the air. Well, if that is you, I want to say: this week's story contains a warning for you. Listen to learn more about Jesus and the danger of a Swept Out Soul. To follow along, turn to Matthew chapter 12.

We continue working our way through the book of Matthew and his telling of the story of the life of Jesus. In today's episode, we hear about a sin that is so bad and horrible that Jesus says it's unforgivable. If you commit this sin, it can never be forgiven. But I thought God died for all sins, and there is no condemnation in Christ. So how can there be an unforgivable sin? And if there is an unforgivable sin, have I committed it? Great questions, and in this episode, Jesus answers each one. Turn to Matthew 12 to follow along.

Jesus takes on the Pharisses through a series of Sabbath controversies. On one Sabbath He eats some grain, which to a Pharisee is fine. It was the plucking of the grain that got Him in trouble because that was work. Later on, Jesus performs a miracle and heals a man on the Sabbath, which to the Pharisees who were scrutinizing His every move, it was too much. Why is doing good getting Jesus in so much trouble? Because the Pharisees are forgetting that people are more important than sheep and that God wants mercy more than sacrifice. Listen to this week's story to find out about how Jesus took on the religious establishment and showed the true heart of the Father for people. Turn to Matthew 12 to follow along.

Have you sometimes doubted whether Jesus is real? Have you ever wondered if another religion has it right, and we followers of Jesus are wrong? What if we are wrong? What if Jesus is not the way to Heaven? If you have ever doubted, I want to say that others have doubted before you. One of them was John the Baptist. Listen to John's question, but also listen to Jesus' resounding answer. We do not have it wrong. Jesus is the Messiah, and we can be confident in that fact no matter our circumstances. Turn to Matthew 11 to follow along.

With this episode, we come to chapter ten in the book of Matthew, and here we meet the twelve disciples by name. We learn how Jesus commissioned them and sent them as "sheep among wolves." And so, in their final pep rally, before Jesus sends his workers out into the harvest, Jesus tells them some exciting news and reminds them of a sober reality. His words are important for all of us to hear as we work to harvest in the field God has called us. To follow along, turn to chapter ten in the book of Matthew.

So what do you accomplish in an average day? How much do you get done? Well with this week's story, we catch a glimpse into an average day for Jesus, and you might be surprised at how much Jesus did in an average day. According to Matthew 9, Jesus taught, Jesus healed, Jesus raised people from the dead, and yet Jesus' day wasn't yet finished. I hope with this week's story you come away with a better appreciation for what Jesus did during His time on earth, and that He lived with compassion for the "distressed and dejected" people around Him. If you would like to follow along please turn to Matthew 9.

With this episode, we continue with the telling of the conversion of Matthew. Now that Matthew is a follower of Jesus, he wants others to hear about Jesus, so he invites all his friends to one big party—a party where they could meet with Jesus and decide whether they should follow Jesus. But the thing is, Matthew was an outcast in Jewish social circles, and because of that, many of his friends were outcasts as well. People shunned by polite society, are now coming to Jesus, to be saved and to follow Him. This sounds all good, right? But to some people, this was the worse thing imaginable. Listen to this week's episode to hear more about Matthew and all his friends. To follow along, turn to Matthew 9.

What is your spiritual story? When did you get saved? How did you come to faith? In this week's story, we hear the call of Matthew by Jesus to follow Him. We hear the beginning of his spiritual story and the healing by Jesus of a paralyzed man. But Jesus did not just heal this paralyzed man but also forgave his sins. And when He said that, some scribes in the audience began to cry blasphemer, heretic. Why would that cause these men to accuse Jesus of such a thing? Isn't forgiving sin a good thing? Well, listen to this week's episode to find out more. To follow along, turn to Matthew Nine.

Can you imagine asking God to leave because He is doing too much good? Well, that is what the townsfolk of Gaderene asked Jesus to do. To go, get out of town, leave before you do too much good. Jesus had faced two men who were demonically possessed, who had threatened and hurt their people, and He defeated them. He cast the demons out of these two men, and for His good work, the people asked Him to leave. Why? Why did they do that? Well, you better listen to this week's episode to find out. Or turn to Matthew 8 to follow along.

This is the exciting story of Jesus and the disciples caught in a terrible storm on the Sea of Galilee. It is a story where Jesus demonstrated His power over nature, and it is the moment some of the disciples finally realized that Jesus is God. This is also a story about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and what it takes to follow Him. To follow along, turn to Matthew 8.

Jesus gives the greatest sermon of all time. We know it as the Sermon on the Mount. This week, we touch on this sermon, but we mainly tell the backstory of what happened after Jesus preached. We give you the story around the sermon and tell the miraculous story of the faith of a Roman Centurion. It was faith in Yahweh that the Bible says amazed even Jesus. Turn to Matthew 5 - 8 to follow along.

Jesus triumphed over Satan and his temptations, and now Jesus is ready to continue His earthly ministry. He was preaching and teaching in Nazareth, but then Jesus heard that John the Baptist was arrested. And so for His own safety, Jesus leaves Nazareth and heads north to a small fishing village called Capernaum. There Jesus begins to preach the same message that John the Baptizer preached: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." And while preaching, teaching and healing, and calling for repentance, Jesus also calls four disciples to leave all they had to find life and come follow Him. Listen to this week's story to find out who those disciples were, and what it means to repent and follow Jesus. Turn to Matthew 4 to follow along.

Jesus had just been baptized. He had heard His Father say to the world how proud He was of His son. This must have been a wonderful moment for Jesus during His short time here on earth. But now we see Jesus facing one of the darkest chapters of His life. During the next 40 days, Jesus is asked by His Father to go without food, to face wild beasts, and to wander in a hot and dangerous desert. And then, at the end of it, Jesus would have to face one of His greatest tests: He would have to face being tempted by Satan. How Jesus handles Satan's onslaught is a perfect example for us today of how to handle our daily temptations and should make us love our Savior even more. Turn to Matthew chapter four to follow along.

This week we tell the story of the angelic announcement to the Shepherds of the arrival of the Messiah. How would you react if suddenly a glowing figure appeared before you? How would you handle it if all of a sudden, the place where you were standing was full of other supernatural beings all glowing with a great fire, proclaiming that a miraculous event had occured? How you would handle it,? Well, these shepherds were afraid enough that the main angel had to tell them to stop being afraid. They had good news of greaforjoy for all people. And you want to know what it was? Well, listen to this week's story and follow along in Luke chapter two to find out.

Matthew tells the story of Mary and Joseph and the virgin birth of Jesus. Now he moves on to establish that Jesus is the heir to the throne of David. He clarified that earlier when he shared the genealogy of Jesus, but now he confirms it when he tells the story of the Magi from the East who came to see the new King, and they honored Jesus as King. Listen as I share how tough it must have been for Joseph and Mary to raise Jesus in first-century Palestine. But then moments like this, meeting the Magi who came to see their little King, reminded them of the specialness of their little boy and the importance of Jesus' mission here on earth. If you want to follow along in your Bible, turn to Matthew chapter two.

What was it like to be Joseph and to hear your beloved wife-to-be tell you that she was pregnant and that the Father was God almighty? What must that have been like? I think I would not have believed her either, and instead of putting her away privily as my King James Version says, I would have divorced her loudly. But Joseph wasn't like you or me. Instead, he was a righteous man, and a loving man, and a man of great faith. Hear the story of Joseph and what he went through and what we can learn from him about how to live righteously in our chaotic, confusing times.

Moses has led the people of Israel from their mighty exodus out of Egypt to where they are now: about to enter the Promised Land. But Moses cannot lead them into the land. Because of what happened at the waters of Meribah and the act of outright rebellion against God committed by Moses, he was no longer allowed to go into the Promised Land. He had to die and go to be with Yahweh. And so Moses dies at the age of 120. In this episode, we briefly sum up his life, and we also sum up this series. In the end, the writer of Deuteronomy sums up Moses' life this way: No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. 11 He was unparalleled for all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do against the land of Egypt — to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land— 12 and for all the mighty acts of power and terrifying deeds that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.  -- Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (CSB)

Balaam was a prophet for hire, and he had just lost a lot of money because of Israel and their God, Yahweh. For which he was angry at Israel and their God. So, as he was heading home penniless, growing angrier and angrier with each passing mile, I believe Balaam hatched a plan to get back at the people of Israel for all the money he had lost and to stick it to the God of Israel. What was that plan? Listen to this week's podcast to learn about faithful Phineas and his action that stopped a plague in its tracks. To follow along in the Bible, turn to Numbers 25.

Moses and the people of Israel are getting closer to entering the Promised Land. God led them and watched over them as they took their winding, wandering route to finally end up in the land of the Moabites, home to the Amorite Kings: Sihon and Og. But these weren't just your ordinary Kings. No, these two were powerful, and also they had a bloodline that could be traced back to one of the scariest moments in human history. What was that moment, and what in particular made them so frightening? And why were they both giants? Listen to this week's fascinating story about how God used the people of Israel to defeat these powerful giant Kings on their way to the Promised Land. To follow along, turn to Numbers 21.

This week we hear the story of Moses rescuing the people of Israel with a snake. Now a snake was the shape Satan took in the garden when he deceived Eve, and generally speaking, a snake is a bad thing, but here God commands Moses to use a snake to save the people of Israel from certain death. Jesus later uses this passage from the book of Numbers to help explain what it means to be born again. If Jesus used it, then this must be a pretty important story. Listen to this week's episode to discover how snakes, Moses, and Jesus are connected, and point to a great salvation offered in Christ. Turn to Numbers 21 to follow along.

Moses and the people of Israel are back. God had commanded them to wander in the desert for 40 years until the faithless generation died, and now their children were ready to inherit the Promised Land. They were back at the southern border. But you know what else was back? Fear. Complaining. Faithlessness. The people again cried out to Moses about the lack of water to drink. They were complaining just like their parents about how they were all going to die, and if they had just stayed in Egypt, they would all have been eating well and drinking all the water they wanted. And so Moses approached Yahweh and asked for help. And God gave him an answer, and Moses pretty much obeyed every command God gave him. Except for one very vital command. And disobeying in that one area would cost Moses dearly. Do you want to know what it was? Listen to this week's episode to find out and learn that complete obedience matters to God.

The Jewish people were at the border of the Promised Land and had to turn around. They saw the grapes that were so big they had to be carried on poles. They also saw giants and became afraid for their very lives. So they ran rather than trusting in Yahweh, and for that, they paid a very heavy price: they were forced to wander in the desert for 40 years until everyone over 20 died. Unhappy with God's will, some men decided to rebel and lead a coup to try to take the leadership of the country away from Moses and Aaron. But in rebelling, they weren't simply rebelling against Moses; they were ultimately rebelling against Yahweh and His choice and will for Israel. Korah has two prominent leaders of Israel on his side and over 250 tribal leaders backing his bid for control. Things are looking bleak for Moses, and his leadership of Israel seems to be hanging in the balance. But then, the order is restored through a miraculous intervention by Yahweh. Listen to this week's episode to find out how. And to follow along, turn to Numbers 16 and 17.

Have you ever sung that Sunday School song about the twelve spies? If you have, you know ten were bad, and two were good. But you don't realize from that song how bad the ten other spies were. They forgot about Yahweh's promises and His miracles and chose instead to focus on the reality around them. And what you also don't realize from that famous Sunday school song is how terrifying a prospect it was to take on the giants in the land. These were not just tall people; these were giants who were the descendants of the Nephilim. And for the average Jew, the Nephilim represented a supernatural evil that would have been truly frightening. Listen on to find out the fear displayed by the ten spies and the faith demonstrated in the face of evil by Joshua and Caleb. To follow along, turn to Numbers 13 and 14.