Chapter 24 No Ordinary Life

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty when public opinion turned against him

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Dr James Allan Francis © 1926.

On Sunday we will dive once more into the life & ministry of Jesus... this week focusing on his role both as miracle-worker and as teacher. As I read through the readings for the week, I was once again struck by the important role Jesus plays not only in our salvation and ultimate destiny, but in our way of life right now. Jesus' teachings spoke not simply to the way things WILL be in heaven, but the way things SHOULD be right now on Earth. It is remarkable that this one, solitary life... no ordinary life... has made such an impact on the world and upon me. What did you think as you read through these stories of Jesus again this week?

Chapter 23 "Jesus Begins"

After twenty one weeks of reading through the Old Testament narratives, we finally arrived at the culmination of all that God was working His people towards… the arrival of the Messiah!  The birth of the King!  Over the next several weeks we will be digging into the gospels and exploring the life and ministry of Jesus.  These “chapters” are at the heart and core of all that we are at Washington Street as disciples of Jesus.  His life and ministry is the model and pattern for how we want to do ministry as well.  

It is our aim to “preach good news” to those who so desperately need to hear it!  To proclaim freedom for those imprisoned to sin and recovery of sight to those who’ve been blinded by the “gods of this age.”  I hope you will invite friends and family to join us as we embark on these great chapters of our “Story”.  Reading plans are still available in the auditorium or the office for those willing to read and be prepared for each lesson on Sunday.  Please join us… the best is yet to come!

--Jim

Week 22 The Birth of the King!

Silence. For 400 years God did not speak. No visions. No dreams. No prophets. No burning bush.
No splitting seas. No manna meals. Just silence.  Then, in a magnificent yet inauspicious way, a word – but not just a word, The Word. The One who had no beginning, the expression of God who is Himself God, came into the world to make Himself known.  It is to this event that everything thus far in The Story has pointed. This Jesus Christ was the source of life and light. His presence dispels the darkness of sin and provides the light of salvation to all who receive Him. Those who receive Him become the children of God. The Son’s humanity was the greatest possible demonstration of God’s grace and truth to mankind.

Lest we confuse the familiar with the ordinary, the birth of the king was quite extraordinary. God’s
promise to David would finally be realized in Jesus. To emphasize that this child would be no ordinary man, God heralded His birth celestially. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was the chosen woman who would give birth to the son of David, the Son of God, impregnated by the Holy Spirit. But there was just one problem—Mary was an engaged virgin. Joseph kindly considered divorcing her to save them both the humiliation of this pregnancy, but another angelic explanation eased his concerns; so a righteous Joseph took her as his wife. They journeyed to Bethlehem for the required census where Mary gave birth in a humble manger, because the local inn was booked full.  The angels then had the privilege of delivering the blessed birth announcement to shepherds in a dark, cold field. They hurried to see for themselves and found a surprisingly unassuming setting for a king: a baby in a feeding trough, accompanied by his mother, earthly father, and the local livestock. Afterward, they told everyone about their out-of-this-world experience.  Another celestial sign, a star, told three Magi of the birth. They followed it until they reached Jerusalem where they inquired of His whereabouts. The Scribes cited the prophet Micah who predicted that this Ruler would come from Bethlehem. They were overjoyed to find the child and give Him their gifts.  King Herod, however, was not so pleased to hear of this threat to his power. So he ordered the massacre of all the baby boys in the area.  Again, God’s angel would see to it that His great redemptive plan would stay its course. He warned Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt until it was safe to return. When it was, the angel gave Joseph the green light to return to Galilee where he raised Jesus in the town of Nazareth.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth as the precocious son of pious Jews. They went to Jerusalem each and every year to celebrate the Passover. The year that Jesus was twelve, He stayed behind in the temple unbeknownst to his frantic parents. When they found Him three days later, He was amazing the teachers with His questions and answers. As Jesus grew up, He increased in wisdom and favor with God and with people.

God’s Upper Story and Lower Story converge in the God-man Jesus Christ. The Son of God from eternity past will remain the Son of Man for eternity future. It is toward Him that God’s redemptive story has been pointing all along.
--David Frazee