One of my favorite songs we sing in worship is “Tell Me the Story of Jesus.” It has a simple melody, easy harmonies, and straight forward lyrics. But something about the song really makes it stand out.
The song is from the perspective of someone who desires to hear the gospel message. In each verse, the speaker asks to hear about a different phase in the life of Jesus, beginning with His birth, then through His ministry, and finally His death, burial, and resurrection. When the story is fully laid out, the speaker expresses their response to that most wonderful story. They say, “Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see. Stay, let me weep while you whisper, love paid the ransom for me.”
The most simple interpretation of this song is that the speaker is someone who has not heard the gospel yet. Who would be more desirous to hear the gospel than someone who is lost? No one needs the story of Jesus more! When they finally hear and accept the truth of Jesus’ story, they are able to respond and obey the gospel plan of salvation, saving their soul from condemnation (cf. Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:37-38).
However, if you look a little closer, the subject of the song might not be so obvious. Notice that it is the speaker of the song who lays out all of the points of Jesus’ life. It is the speaker who notes the angels who welcomed the birth of Jesus. It is the speaker who tells of the temptation and painstaking works of Jesus’ ministry. And it is the speaker who perfectly describes the agony of Jesus’ death and triumph of His resurrection. The speaker knows the story of Jesus!
What makes this song stand out is that the one asking to hear the story of Jesus is someone who is already well acquainted with it. It is a Christian who already knows the love of that story so tender and has received the ransom for their sins. This Christian loves that story so much that they can’t wait to hear it again.
Before you sing this song next, answer these questions. Do you long to hear the story of Jesus told? Do you desire to have every word of the gospel written on your heart? Is the message of Jesus really more precious to you than any story you’ve heard? Does this song describe you?
If the answer is yes, then it should be evident in your daily life! Would the speaker of this song miss a sermon? Would they neglect their personal study of the Bible? Would the speaker of this song shy away from telling the story to others? There are millions out there pleading, asking, “Tell me the story of Jesus.” We must desire it, we must learn it, and we must tell it.
