August 14, 2020 (Friday)
In February 2018 I published six blogs about hymns that contain the word, “story,” or “stories” in their titles. “Story” is an interesting word that is defined 18 ways in the dictionary. The word, “story” that is in the titles of the hymns I’m thinking about is defined as, “an account of incidents or events.” That’s the meaning of the word in those hymns. They are all about Jesus, a very real person. They are not fictional accounts of an imaginary superhero of some kind. They are real acounts of actual events that happened and are recorded in the gospels of the New Testament.
The Bible lets us know not only that Jesus existed in Heaven before He came to earth as a baby born of a virgin, but that He is the One who created the heavens and the earth and holds them together by his power. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-4 NIV).
The New Testament gives us details of his “Advent (his coming into this world)” but tells us little about his growing up in the village of Nazareth in Galilee, other than his visit to Jerusalem as a 12-year-old having discourse with the respected teachers of that time. The next time we see Him, he is about 30 years old, followed by multitudes of people flocking to hear his words. We are treated to His “Sermon on the Mount,” recorded in the gospel of Matthew, Chapters 5-7.
For three and one-half years, He taught about God’s kingdom, performed miracles, and let everyone know of God’s love for this world and all the people in it. He lived a perfect life, and became the Lamb of God, dying on a cruel Roman cross in behalf of all of us, providing redemption for all who will accept it.
He came from Heaven and took upon Himself human flesh, emptying Himself of his Heavenly Glory. He became one of us. We are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to follow the example of Jesus in our relationships with one another, to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV).
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16 NIV).
The story of Jesus — quite a story! The one true story that everyone needs to hear and accept. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
FYI, The six blogs about hymns with “story” in their names:
I Love to Tell the Story February 2, 2018
Tell Me the Story of Jesus February 3, 2018
Tell Me The Old Old Story February 4, 2018
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus February 5, 2018
The Wondrous Story February 6, 2018
O Listen to Our Wondrous Story February 17, 2018