I was in my freshman year of college, dreading speech class that day. The class wasn’t boring or useless, because I recognize the value of speaking well, but it was just blah most days. We spoke about widgets (what’s a widget anyway?!), and things that didn’t matter to me at all, so really, it was all just rhetoric.
This day, though, was different.
We all filed in three seconds before it was time to begin, and our professor, who was pretty fantastic, said, “Today is a different day. I’m going to teach you about empathy. Empathizing is one of the most powerful things you can do as a speaker because it allows you to reach your audience where they are. Listen today. I’m going to tell you a story.”
Well, needless to say, I was intrigued. Now we’re talking. Out with the rhetoric and the exercises, in with the passion & drama.
He told us a story that day. One I was sort of shocked to hear in class. He told us the story, actually. And while many of us may know this story like the back of our hands, this story? It’s worth a pause.
I’ve thought about how much it impacted my life, this story. That day caused me to see its power, its beauty, its heartbreak.
You see, there is power in the telling.
I hope you’ll take a quiet minute, whether this story matters to you or not, or whether you’ve heard it a million times. It is a good story, after all.
It’s really the only story there is.
*********************************
After spending the night in communion with his dearest, the Man was heavy & full of sorrow. His heart broke a little each time he shared news of things to come. His closest would betray him, and deny him, and the burden that lay before Him felt relentless.
He went to the place of Gethsemane, and he asked for watch while He prayed. He fell to the ground once alone and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Do you see him? Can you feel the dirt in your hands, running through your fingers? Can you see his sweat & worry & heartache as he kneels?
He returned to the committed to find them sleeping. He woke them and chastised them, knowing the end was nearing. He went away a second time and He prayed again the same prayer. He came back to find their eyes heavy, and instead of waking them, He went away for a third time. Three times to cry out for a miracle, three times to trust.
He came to find them sleeping where He left them, and as He was speaking to them, the Man knew. It was time.
His friend, Judas, arrived with a large crowd of soldiers armed with clubs & swords. Judas kissed the cheek of the Man, but He knew of the farce. He knew it was a sign. He felt the betrayal all the way to His bones.
“Do what you came for, friend.”
Do you see him? Can you imagine the betrayal He felt? The breaking of His heart? The knowledge that wealth mattered more than His life?
The crowd stepped forward instantly and seized the Man to arrest Him. His friend struck a soldier, and He calmed his dear one with these words, “All who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then will the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
He reminded the crowd of the same.
And get ready for this…
Then all the disciples, His committed, fled and deserted Him.
Do you see him?
They took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law had gathered. His friend, Peter, followed Him at a distance, careful not to be seen. The priest & law makers found it difficult to find any evidence against Him. After much debate, the charge was finally given–the Man was charged with blasphemy of the Scripture. He was charged with blasphemy against His Father.
He was questioned, and amazingly, He remained silent.
But when they asked Him to deny or claim that He was the Christ, the Son of God, His reply was, “yes, it is as you say.” And with His yes came fists and blows and spit to the face. He was beaten and slapped, and He fought back none.
Do you see him? Can you feel his head throbbing, his Faith tested?
And his friend, Peter, denied him three times as He knew he would. He was seen & questioned and rather than remain beside Him, he denied Him. With finality, a rooster crowed as the Man had predicted & betrayal formed a complete circle.
Betrayal enclosed around Judas, the ultimate betrayer, and life became impossible to live.
The Man was then placed before Pilate, a governor of sorts. Pilate questioned him, and questioned him, and he questioned him. But the Man remained silent. He won over the heart of Pilate, but to appease the crowd, His sentence was ultimately given.
Death on a cross.
Now was the time for humiliation, for shame, for blood.
They stripped Him, beat him, and mocked Him. They placed a crown of thorns onto his head and mocked Him, kneeling before Him. After the beating and torture came the long walk to the crucifixion.
Do you see him? The weight of the cross bearing down upon Him?
After they arrived to Golgatha, they nailed Him to the cross, and with criminals flanking Him, He hung to die. The mocking continued and for three hours, He hung there, dying.
At mid afternoon, He groaned, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me??”
Do you see him?
And after crying out again he spoke, “It is finished.”
The earth shook and the temple curtain was torn in two, tombs were opened, and bodies were raised.
His body was wrapped in clean linens and placed in a tomb with a large stone across the entrance. It was guarded day and night so the body wouldn’t be stolen.
And on Sunday, three days after His death, the stone was rolled away to find no body.
On Sunday, He triumphed and the light from heaven shown down on this Earth.
On Sunday, He rose.
********************************
No matter your story, friends, this is the only story that matters.
For the broken hearted and the depressed.
For the weary and lonely.
For the addicted and abused, for the rich and the poor.
For the hate-filled, worry-filled, pride-filled earth.
This story is yours. It wasn’t written for you, it wasn’t told for you, but it was lived for you. Most days I can’t give you a scientific answer for why I believe so fiercely what I believe. But I will tell you that this story is at the core.
He bled for you and me and he did it all so we would be set free. To bind up the brokenhearted, to restore peace in us, to fill us so that we might become a shadow of His kind of love.
It’s the story that gets me every. single. time.
And a love like that? It was meant to be shared a million times over.
May you have a happy, peace-filled, conviction-filled Easter as you contemplate His Story. And may we never forget the power in the telling.
Thank you for the powerfully worded reminder. He is risen!
So beautifully written. <3 Thank you and have a blessed Resurrection Day!
Tamara
And so it is we have eternity. It was all about love, so strong, so convicted, so generous that He died for us. I hope we can remember this Easter, the most important day of the year, these things.
You shared this in a beautiful way. Thank you.
Thank you…
This story, your story, my story, every individual’s story, is The Only Story that matters.
When I found Jesus, it was the single most emotionally charged day of my life. I was on top of the world and the lowest form of life at the same time. That absolute best moment of life for me.
Life has been so different since that day.
When I think and read about what Jesus suffered that day it still chills me to my core. The purest form of love given to every single person. Born and yet to be born. That kind of selfless act of love is hard to comprehend.
I am so grateful for that day, for every price of sin was paid in full for all of us.
What an incredible gift we have been given. For without that gift, life would not be worth living.
Your writing it the way you did, show just how much you love and appreciate your gift.
Thank you for sharing your love if Jesus.
Lovely!!! Empathy at its best. He cries every tear, feels all my pain and walks the path with me. No one gets it like He does!!!
No Greater LOVE!!!!!!! Thank You Lord Jesus….
thank you for sharing such a beautifully worded recounting of The Story…Jesus dying for you, me, & all mankind, rising & defeating death, hell, & the grave…hallelujah!
Amen! Truth.
Beautiful! Thank you!
Amen! Thank you for sharing THE story. Happy Easter!
Thank you, this post is exceptional and sincerely what I needed on this Easter Sunday.
Your inserted comments within The Story made for an impactual
reading before our family’s breakfast today! Thank you!
Beautifully written. Thank you for this perfect story, THE story.
A story randomly discussed in the Easter candy isle of a grocery store yesterday
between a store worker, a man and myself. Man, “What a lot of hoopla over such a
tragedy”. A conversation begins…. about the great sacrifice, the great love.
Store worker also knows Jesus. Words exchanged, GRACE revealed.
I smell beer as the man walks past me to the magazine rack. Has he seen any light in the isle of chocolate bunnies and marshmellow candies? I hear him say as I turn to leave, “Oh good, the swimsuit issue!”
Oh to have shared the story as you have here!!!!
I pray many hearts will be opened to His love.
~ Violet
Christ is Risen!
Today at the end of service my pastor asked those in the crowd do you want Jesus. Do you want to be frees from you sin…. I was blessed! About 45 people stood. Making that choice for Jesus!! He has Risen indeed and He is coming back soon!!! Happy Easter!!!
…..x
Hey there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room
mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article
to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
A heartfelt thank you for sharing.
I didn’t exactly remember the “story”, heart breaking details. To think Jesus died such a painful heartbreaking death for all of us. I’m so glad you told us the story. I know I needed to be reminded.
Thank you for this beautifully written reminder – He gave everything for us. The only story that really matters….
Johnny come lately here! Beautiful post. Such a reminder for us that our problems would fit in a thimble compared with Jesus’ suffering both before and on the cross. He died for us and was raised from the dead. Hallelujah!
Thank you. Beautiful. HE LIVES!!! Words from one of my favorite Hymns: “I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives! He lives who once was dead. He lives. My ever living head.”
Great job so powerfully written. Awesome knowing our SAVIOR Has RISEN!.
Thank you Shaunna.
No Words….Just amazed by HIM and your ability!