The greatest story

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules or a book of heroes.  The Bible is most of all a story.  It's an adventure story about a young hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure.  It's a love story about a brave prince who leaves his palace, his throne, everything...to rescue the one he loves.  It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life.  You see, the best thing about this story is, it's true.  There are lots of stories in the Bible but everything is telling one big story: the story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.  It takes the whole Bible to tell this story; and at the center of the story, there's a baby.  Every story in the Bible whispers his name.  He is like the missing piece in a puzzle, the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together; and suddenly, you can see a beautiful picture. (Andrew Peterson, opening narrative, Behold the Lamb)

 As we prepare the celebrate the birth of the Christ, I wish every reader the most joyous of times with your family or friends.  I wish you comfort for any pain that comes from loved ones whom you may miss this holiday season, either because of schedules or loss.  I pray that you will receive the joy of knowing that others love you enough to bless to bless you with gifts, and the greater joy that comes from giving them something that makes them happy.  But most of all, I pray that you will know fully the joy that comes from responding to the Hero's love in the true story that dominates history: God's pursuit of us to redeem and rescue us.

I heard the narrative above last Thursday while attending a performance of Behold the Lamb with friends.  Friends that share a passion for being God's hands and feet in rescuing his children.  It was followed by what may have been the most compelling musical telling of history's story that I've ever seen and heard. Amazing.  It traced the story all the way from Abraham to Jesus...and then to us.

At the emotional heart of this telling is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever.  Sung from Mary's point of view, it reminds us that Christmas is not all angels and singing and a happy nativity scene.  It is the God who made the moon humbling himself to a very difficult birth in very difficult circumstances, because he loved us that much.  And, as Mary learned that night, obedience to him is not always easy, but it's worth it.

It's just below; as you watch the video and listen, may God bless you with an new awareness of how much he loves you, and how much he wants to bring us all home.  Merry Christmas!



Lyrics:
It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love