The Greatest Epic: The Gospel

Two people. The destiny of all future generations rested on their shoulders, all heaven and hell watched in anticipation. Deceit. One moment frozen in history. One bite. One little mouthful of disobedience, of believing just for a moment that man, that woman could be like God. Despair. Shame. Sorrow. Pain. Death. The groaning of the earth in bondage. All afterwards were born into this sorrow, this pain, this death. They were the living dead, those cut off from Life.

But there remained a promise—a promise of a Man who would redeem, who would reclaim honor, who would restore life. After years and a flood of water that destroyed all flesh but the faith-full remnant, there was painted in the sky a bow of color to remind the world of the Covenant-keeper. He would redeem. He would not forget.

Hundreds of years passed. A nation in bondage. Pain, slavery, hurt—but there was a remnant who still hoped, who still believed the covenant. Deliverance through the parting of the seas. Rejoicing. Triumph. Then, more disobedience. Desolation. The desert—the sun, the smoke, the sand—year after year.

But the covenant was kept. They entered the promised land, flowing with milk and honey. They conquered. They claimed the land...but they forgot the covenant. Judges. Prophets. Wickedness.

And then a shepherd boy became a king. His-story continued, and in that king's line, generations later, was born a boy who grew up to be a carpenter. He met a girl, just barely a woman, and decided to marry her. This prefaced the greatest event in all of history: a King, a highly exalted One, at whose Name all knees will bow, was born—not in a palace to sit on a golden throne, but in a stable, with the bleating sheep and tail-swishing donkeys. He lived among the commoners, held the children on His lap, healed the blind eyes, the withered hands, the hurting hearts, taught love and obedience to a world filled with hate, and submitted to the mocking, the beatings, the shame, the crucifixion. All hell rejoiced. The women, the disciples, the faithful wept.

But then, in the fullness of times, amidst the fog of dawn, burst forth from the tomb the Man, the Redeemer, the Intercessor. Jesus. The covenant was fulfilled. He crushed the serpent. He defeated all the enemies of heaven. He triumphed over death. He rescued the prisoners. He rewrote the conclusion of the story for all those who believe. He breathed life where there had been only death.

This is our story. We who believe are the redeemed. We are the bought-back, those purchased with His blood, rescued from darkness, sin, and death. We are characters in the Master Storyteller’s greatest epic. We are His ambassadors—and not only that, we are His children.  We are loved. We are cherished. We are chosen. 

It’s not a fairy-tale. It's not just a story. It’s reality. It's history past; it's history future. He is the keeper of His covenants. He will keep His covenant of justice and wrath on those who do not believe; He will keep His covenant of mercy on those who do. 

Tell the story. Live the story. Believe. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.  -Acts 16:31

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. -2 Corinthians 5:20-21