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.

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