Tell me the story of Jesus is a hymn written by Fannie Crosby in 1880.
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.
These words are words that never get old because it reminds us just how much God loves us. When I think of why Jesus was born, and how it benefited us, I am forever humbled and more in love with God.
The story of Christmas dates way, way, back before Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. Before the wise men went to worship, before the angels sang glory to God in the highest, because God had a plan in place to save fallen creation. Revelation 13:8 records that All inhabitants of earth will worship the beast… all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the lamb that was slain from thefoundations of the world! God is not confined to our perception of time. He is limitless, almighty, and all-knowing. He knows all things that have been , that are, and are to come. Before Genesis 1:1, God knew a sacrifice would need to be made. So Christmas was conceived in the heart of God from the establishment of the world! Back in the Garden of Eden when God placed Adam in it, Hecaused a deep sleep to fall upon him and took one of his ribs and fashioned it into a woman and Adam called her woman, because she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. And then that crafty serpent beguiled Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and she gave some to Adam to eat. And their eyes were open. And when God walked through the garden in the cool of the day, and called to them, God asked, “why they were hiding”, and they explained that they had eaten the fruit from the tree of which he commanded them not to. God being a God, who does not lie, had to exact his punishment on them. He told them that they would return to dust and he banished them from Garden. He could do that, because He already knew there would be a Christmas! God in his immeasurable love for us already had a plan He had to reconcile us back to Him. God also knew that the earth was the dwelling place for humankind, and that He needed a body to exist on earth. He knew Christmas was coming and would be the day that the angels would calm the fears of some shepherds who were tending his sheep . So he called into existence a virgin called Mary and His Holy spirit overshadowed her and she became pregnant. During her engagement to Joseph, he planned to put her away, but God being God, sent an angel to put him at ease. He let him know that the child that Mary was carrying would be the savior of the world, and giver of Salvation. This Christmas story that we are reminded of every single December, is the personification of the love that God has for the us! He wrapped himself in flesh so that he could live on earth and take on the death and punishment that we deserve. He knew that we were doomed to die, so Christmas had to come! He knew the payment for sin was death, and so Christmas had to come. God Almighty had to be bornso He could die for you and die for me!
So keep telling the ancient story of Jesus from generation to generation, “ Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth. 2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [e]Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.”13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men [g]with whom He is pleased.”
So keep telling about the Christmas story, because it’s the story that precludes the Resurrection story. The story of why God came to earth. To be give up his life. You know the story, he was betrayed by Judas, had trumped up charges made against him. He was condemned to die. They led Him up a hill called Golgotha. He carried that cross and when they placed it on the ground, he laid himself on it. The soldiers nailed him to it. And mocked him, they pierced him in his side. The blood that he shed covered our sins, by the stripes that he endured we are healed. He gave out a loud cry and gave up the ghost. But…. That’s not how the story ends, on the third he rose from the dead with ALL Power in His hands. So you see Christmas had to come because it brought the savior of the whole world. This ancient story is a story needed for the modern world we live. It’s a classic because its message holds true as it did in ancient times.
Christmas had to come to bring a savior to earth so he could break the chains that bind us, and set the captive free, to make us fit for heaven where we will live eternally!
So 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.Because this is not just a story. No, it’s not just a story, no not just any story, BUT reality!!!
