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Tell Me The Old, Old Story

In the past couple of years, there has been a major shift in preaching style and content, even in Children Ministries. Bible preachers emphasized less and less on Bible Stories and more and more on Bible Lessons for Life. This skewness (lopsidedness) of emphasis has made majority of us possess only a very shallow knowledge of many actual events recorded in the Bible.
In a time when people are becoming increasingly too busy to read the Bible themselves thereby depending more and more on what they hear in church, it is annoying to hear even Bible Teachers make wrong references, mix up events, omit key facts, insert non-existent facts etc. Many of us our children (maybe you’re one of them) know next to nothing about Bible Stories, even the Great Events. Even the little they know were largely learnt from cartoons, gospel music and Bible films; with all the embellishments (salt-and-pepper) added to make the story “sweet.”
The early church father left a legacy for us by setting Church Seasons for the Year, to help us remember the Great Event of the Bible, the Old, Old Story. We are now in a week known generally as “Passion Week” or “Holy Week” – commemorating the last one week Jesus spent on earth before His Resurrection, which brought us the victory we have today as Christians. The week started with Palm Sunday, commemorating the Triumphal Entry of Jesus to Jerusalem (Matt.21:1-9). Today is Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Institution of the Lord’s Supper, which was also the night of His travail at Gethsemane, Betrayal and Arrest. (Matt.26:17-end).

Easter Weekend

Tomorrow, Friday will be “Good Friday” – to commemorate the Judgment and Death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary (Matt.21:1-61). Saturday night will be “watch-night,” reminding us of the restlessness of some of the women-followers of Jesus as they even went to His grave to anoint Him. As part of the celebration, women (other may join too) go round the streets with lit candles to “the grave of their Master who was crucified” (Mark 16:1-3). This procession continues until it is 12am Sunday (Easter) Morning; and then the Resurrection is heralded with loud cries of “He is Risen! He is Risen!! Hallelujah!!!” (Matt.28:1-10)
As we celebrate this important season, we encourage you to find time to read these stories again for yourself. Find time to tell it to your children or younger ones, for it is the defining point of our faith. The holiday is long enough for us to do this if we decide to. You will be blessed in doing this.
And as you read and meditate on them, do not forget this: that Jesus went through all of that just for you to be saved and reconciled with your Maker. Do not postpone accepting Him and living for Him any longer, for NOW is the acceptable time; NOW is the Day of Salvation.
Here is a Hymn written sometime in the 19th Century, by Katherine Hankey (in 1866)
1.
Tell me the old, old story, Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love;
Tell me the story simply, As to a little child,
For I am weak and weary, And helpless and defiled.
[Chorus]
Tell me the old, old story (3x)
Of Jesus and His love.
2.
Tell me the story slowly, That I may take it in—
That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin;
Tell me the story often, For I forget so soon,
The “early dew” of morning Has passed away at noon.
3.
Tell me the story softly, With earnest tones and grave;
Remember I’m the sinner Whom Jesus came to save;
Tell me the story always, If you would really be,
In any time of trouble, A comforter to me.
4.
Tell me the same old story, When you have cause to fear
That this world’s empty glory Is costing me too dear;
And when the Lord’s bright glory Is dawning on my soul,
Tell me the old, old story: “Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”
Have a Blessed Easter Holiday
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