The Story of Jesus

In an age such as ours it is easy to get distracted by the effect of the noises around us. Telling the story of Jesus depends on the ability of the teller “to bind the ‘ears of the heart’ to the words of higher heavenly truth” as one writer says.

In an age like ours, telling the story of Jesus must surpass the usual skills in public speaking. Fit the message to the audience, be interactive, and show spurts of passion so the listeners know you care about what you are talking about. Always make sure what your goals are; tell stories to keep the audience’s attention. Make sure some of these are personal, and above all, sound relaxed.

Telling the story of Jesus must transcend human expectations. It is an announcement that comes directly from the mouth of God through the story teller. As God shared His Son with the world, those to whom the story of Jesus is being told must be left with a sense that any reason for love, hope or faith is to be found only in this One Jesus.

Telling the story of Jesus engages the listener into the truth that is lived reality. There are those who say that what is lived pertains to our first hand experiences. Reality, on the other hand, is what we become immersed into and must therefore become comfortable with– the shifting definitions of reality. In the age in which we live we are subjected to both of these constantly, experience and change.

In the art of telling the story of Jesus, the messenger must be skilled in speaking to all of the vistas of the listener’s experiences in a manner that roots them all in the reality of who Jesus Christ is.

The Apostle Paul, a profound messenger of Christ, made this very clear. All the roads of our experiences lead to Christ as on the Road to Damascus. In the particular verse that follows points to Jesus.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

For some reason not mentioned by Paul, he felt the need to write to the church at Colossae to emphasize the supremacy and sovereign greatness of the reality of Christ. Perhaps false teachers were robbing Christ of His glory. He doesn’t mention this.  Often when the reality of Christ is not exalted, the simple gospel is not enough and must be supplanted with one’s own ideas and teachings.  

Fanny Crosby’s hymn is so compelling. Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word; tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard. Tell how the angels, in chorus, sang as they welcomed His birth, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.