“Call to me and I will answer you; I will tell you great mysteries of which you know nothing.”

Spend a few minutes thinking about the following questions:

Where do you see Jesus working in life around you?

If you were to write about the accounts of Jesus and what He is doing in your lifetime, where would you start? What would you think is most important to mention? How would it end?

What stands out to you about His ministry in this day and age?

What words from the prophets most resonate with you about Jesus in your lifetime?

Where does all of it point? What is the big story during your lifetime?

How do you fit into this bigger story?

What promises has Jesus gave you are you standing on right now?

We hear first account from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of the bigger story of their lifetime:

Matthew started with the genealogy of Jesus, son of David, son of Abraham. He tracked back the lineage of Jesus through the spiritual fathers of the Jewish people. Prophets, priests and kings in this lineage. Of course people saw themselves in that day as sons of Abraham, David and Moses. So did they know where it was all leading?

Fourteen generations from Abraham to David; Fourteen from David to exile in Babylon and fourteen from exile to Christ. As Mathew lays out the story of His supernatural birth, he refers to words fulfilled through the prophets that has been spoken in time past. “Immanuel, a name which means

'God-is-with-us” (Mttw 1:23).

Mark starts with the words of Isaiah 40:3,

“Look, I am going to send my messenger before you;

he will prepare your way.

A voice cries in the wilderness:

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight.”

Mark begins with John preparing the way for the one who comes... “Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7-8)

He then introduces Jesus... It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. No sooner had he come up out of the water than he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.”

Luke starts by writing up an account of events to someone called Theophilus. No one for certain knows the true identity of Theophilus but we assume since Luke calls him “your Excellency” that he is someone in a position of power. His name means friend of God.

Luke starts His account with the faithful priest Zechariah and his barren wife Elizabeth. He shares the joyous and miraculous story John he baptist and the promise that he will prepare the way in the spirit and power of Elijah for the Lord to come. He then moves to the story of Gabriel coming to Mary and her virgin conception of Jesus.

Luke includes the incredible visitations by angels and prophetic declarations of Mary and Zechariah when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke also includes the prophetic declaration by Simeon an “upright and devout man” who had been waiting and promised not to see death until the coming of Jesus. And that of Anna, a faithful prophetess and 84 year old widow who fasted and prayed day and night her whole life for this day of salvation to come.

John starts with what seems to be possibly a poem or maybe more a prose:

“In the beginning was the Word:

the Word was with God

and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things came to be,

not one thing had its being but through him.

All that came to be had life in him

and that life was the light of men,

a light that shines in the dark,

a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God.

His name was John.

He came as a witness,

as a witness to speak for the light,

so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light,

only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light

that enlightens all men;

and he was coming into the world....

(John 1:1-9)

In all these stories, at the time of the Gospels, the big story in their lifetime was “Emmanuel, God-is-with-us.” Jesus came to earth to bring salvation to all men!

“Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.” (Luke 2:10)

It takes spiritual discernment to recognize the work of God around us and the time and season He has us in. We have to listen with our spiritual ears and see with our spiritual eyes. We have to be open to what God is doing and willing to allow us to invite us into it.

Is it possible to miss God's bigger story? The Pharisees did. Jesus walked among them and they could not see it. Their hearts were closed. In the same way, we can miss the bigger story if we are not open to it, afraid, or unwilling to come before Him and ask.

The Lord says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you; I will tell you great mysteries of which you know nothing.”

Going back to the questions I first asked. Could you answer them all? What ones did you struggle with? What emotions came up for you around them?

Spend some time this weekend in His presence with them and journal out what you hear God speaking to you. Get His vision for today and your part in it so you do not miss out on the fullness of all He has for this generation.

Lord, we do not want to miss out on what you have for us in this time in history! We long to be invited into Your bigger story. Would you give us spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear? Would you help us to see your bigger story, what you are working, what prophetic scriptures you are bringing to pass, and what is our place in this story? We know you are doing amazing things, trust you that all Your workings are good and want to participate in what You are doing.