In 1963, JFK, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated, and finally many of the details of the official investigations into his death are being released to the public. These details have been classified up until now, which has caused widespread debate and numerous conspiracy theories about his death. Once the details are released, perhaps we will know, like a famous radio personality used to say, “The rest of the story.”
But there is another story that many people have never heard, either because no one has ever told them, or because they refuse the opportunity to hear it. That story was once put into a 1965 movie called “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” and it told the story of Jesus from his nativity through the Resurrection. Not only is this story still the greatest story ever told, but it is a story that dramatically affects the eternal destiny of the human soul. For this reason, it is a story that needs to be told today more than ever.
Every day in the news we hear about some new national tragedy, some natural disaster, some new scandal, or some other story that claims to be of national interest. When many people hear these stories, they might dismiss the news as being of no personal interest to them, or they might become totally upset with the news and retell the story everywhere they go to everyone they meet. As far as the story of Jesus is concerned, it should, without doubt, be of personal interest to every single person in the world, since it affects the eternal destiny of the human soul. Unfortunately, there are untold numbers of people who do not even know the story. This then raises the question as to what can be done about this situation.
Jesus Himself had the answer to this question when he told His disciples about what we now call “The Great Commission.” He began by saying that He personally had all power in heaven and in earth, and that because of that, it was His desire that His disciples go out into the world and tell the world everything that He had told them. Specifically, what He had told them included the commandments of God, as well as the teachings that He had shared with them. Over and over again, Jesus taught His disciples how to live lives that would be pleasing to God, and lives that would give honor and glory to God. Now He wanted them to pass those teachings on to others so that they would also know.
The apostle Paul later wrote a letter to a young pastor named Timothy, and he told him in II Timothy 2:2, “the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” So today God’s people have the awesome responsibility to pass on the story of Jesus.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com
