THE WHOLE STORY

"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 on earth.'

Fasting alone in the desert, tell of the days that He passed, how for our sins He was tempted, yet was triumphant at last. Tell of the years of his labor; tell of the sorrow He bore; He was despised and afflicted, homeless, rejected and poor.

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain; tell of the grave where they laid Him; tell how He liveth again. Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see; stay, let me weep while you whisper, Love paid the ransom for me."

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

This Gospel Song was written by Fanny J. Crosby in 1880. Though blind all her life, she was known as "The Queen of Gospel Song Writers". She wrote more than 8,000 hymns, published multiple books of poetry, two biographies, contatas, patriotic and political songs, all dictated to her scribe. She memorized numerous books of the Bible, including the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament), the four Gospel Writings, Proverbs, Song of Solomon and multiple Psalms. She never considered blindness to be a hindrance. She wrote, "How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't. To weep and sigh because I am blind, I cannot and I won't!" I WONDER WHAT EXCUSES WE GIVE FOR ALLOWING OUR WEAKNESSES TO BE OUR HINDRANCE! Fanny Crosby loved the story of Jesus!

In my previous three December blogs, I made the attempt to give insight into the unexplainable, incomprehensible, unfathomable BIRTH STORY of Jesus - THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! (If you haven't already, I encourage you to stop right here and go back and read them.) It seems only fitting that I end this year of 52 weekly blogs with this one focusing on "THE WHOLE STORY OF JESUS". This "baby Jesus" grew up to be "Jesus of Nazareth" a carpenter by trade and a Jewish Rabbi in the first century A.D. Most importantly, He was definitely the prophesied Messiah and Savior of the world! "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, Behold the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) Christ was sent to earth by God The Father through being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary, and His earthly name was Yeshua/Jesus. No wonder, "the angels in chorus sang as they welcomed His birth, 'Glory to God in the highest. . . .' "

But it is so imperative that we don't just leave Him in the manger! At the age of 30 he came to be baptized in the Jordan River by His cousin, John The Baptist. Not only was His baptism the ritual purification with water, but it was His perfect identification with mankind, demonstrating He came into the world "to save sinners." "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world (people, including you and me) might be saved through Him." (John 3:17) "This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (including you and me)." (I Timothy 1:15) "But God had mercy on me (us too) so that Christ Jesus could. . .show His great patience with even the worst of sinners. Then, others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life." (I Timothy 1:16-17) These verses are a summary of the entire Christmas Good News! They allude to Christ Jesus' humble birth, obedient life, death and resurrection as the ONLY way for the sins of people. to be forgiven. Jesus' baptism was so very important that it is described in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). Aren't you glad Jesus identified fully with you and me throughout His earthly 33 year ministry, as well as in His suffering and death?

Following His baptism, for 40 days and nights Jesus fasted without food and water in the desert where He was tempted of satan to betray His mission. Is it any wonder that Fanny Crosby's song includes, "Tell of His fasting alone in the desert. . . how for our sins He was tempted, yet was triumphant at last?" He thus began His public ministry, refusing to yield to satan's temptations, emerging victorious through the Power of God's Word. He repeatedly refuted satan by saying, "It is written. . ." (Matthew 4:1-10)

Jesus' ministry was characterized by meeting people at the point of their need. He blessed people with countless miracles. He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the mute to speak, the lame to walk, raised the dead to life, gave hope to the hopeless, cast out demons, healed lepers, forgave prostitutes, defended the outcasts, fed thousands with very little food, and He admonished the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. He taught individuals and the large crowds. Jesus brought into existence a brand new covenant. His New Covenant promised the assurance that everyone who does not resist the continual drawing (calling) of the Holy Spirit on their hearts will be drawn to Jesus through repentance and faith. Jesus declared that His new covenant would make it possible that through His death and resurrection, forgiveness of sins would be made available to ALL and that humanity could once again live in harmony and communion with God. "He took bread. . .and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also He took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood.' " (I Corinthians 11:23-25) The new covenant is a new relationship between God and human beings mediated by Jesus upon a person's sincere declaration of belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and God!

Regardless of our relationship outside of His redemptive grace today, a new covenant provided by Jesus awaits you and me at this very moment! Let's not waste the opportunity; Let's enter into His new covenant right now!

His new covenant is ONLY because of and through His broken body and poured out blood on the Cross. His sufferings, sorrow and afflictions are indescribable! We can't even imagine His agony. Seven hundred years before Christ Jesus was born, the Prophet Isaiah declared this stunning truth, "For He (Jesus) grew up. . .He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for OUR transgressions; He was crushed for OUR iniquities; upon Him was the chatisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes (beatings) we are healed." (Isaiah 53:2-5) "The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted. . .like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. . .By oppression and judgment He was taken away (to be crucified). . . ." (Isaiah 53:6-8) And after the Last Supper (Jesus ate Passover with His disciples), Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. "He said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.' He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour (suffering and death) might pass from Him." (Mark 14:34-35) Jesus was arrested by the Pharisees, exposed to a fake trial, falsely accused, beaten beyond recognition, sentenced to death by Pilate, mocked and scorned, deserted by His disciples, denied by one disciple, and crucified on a Roman Cross.. No wonder Fanny Crosby wrote, "Tell of the sorrow He bore; He was despised and afflicted, homeless, rejected and poor." (Remember He had told one would-be-disciple, "The Son of Man has no where to lay His head." - Luke 9:58) "Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain." I dare say, the greatest pain He suffered was "HE BECAME SIN FOR US" and experienced the absence of God's Presence while He hung alone on the cross. "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

(II Corinthians 5:21) "He is the sacrifice for our sins, and not ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." It is as the sins of everyone in all places, at all times, was dumped onto Jesus and He died for every one of them at the same time. (I John 2:22) ". . .He might taste death for everyone."

(Hebrews 2:9) And, yes, HE WAS SEPARATED FROM GOD WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS! At about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) Why had God The Father turned away from His own Son in death? Because God cannot look at sin, and Jesus BECAME SIN FOR US. As Fanny wrote. . ."love paid the ransom for me".

I truly hope we are through with the practice of sin in our personal lives! God cannot and will not tolerate sin and neither must we! The Bible says that nothing unclean and no one who continues to sin will ever get into heaven! "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book Of Life." (Revelation 21:27) Our name written in this Book of Life happens when we repent of our sin and accept Jesus as OUR Savior!

"Tell of the grave where they laid Him." "And Joseph took the body (of Jesus) and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away." (Matthew 27:59-60)

On Friday, Jesus died, but Sunday came and an unexplainable miracle took place - HIS RESURRECTION! The tomb was now empty; the stone was rolled away, not to let Him out, but to let others IN to see for themselves that the tomb was empty! "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN, AS HE SAID!' " (Matthew 28:1-6) In the words of Fanny Crosby, "tell how He liveth again."

The Whole Story of Jesus also includes His ascension back to heaven. . .where He is currently! He is praying for you and me, interceding for us to the Father on our behalf! (Romans 8:34) However, He is also on alert, awaiting the WORD from the Father to return to earth in GLORIOUS MANIFESTATION OF HIS POWER AND AUTHORITY! ". . .as they (His disciples) were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight." (His ascension) "And while they were gazing into heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.' " (Acts 1:9-11) YES, INDEED, HE IS GOING TO COME BACK! This fact begs the question, ARE WE READY? ARE YOU PERSONALLY READY? We ONLY have this life (long or short) to become ready for His return! Do we now know Jesus as our Savior and Lord? Let's receive Him today!

Well, this is the whole story of Jesus! I've attempted to tell it accurately and succintly! As Fanny Crosby said, "Write on my heart every word, tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard."