Monday, December 07, 2009

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.
H
e grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter shop
until he was thirty


He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never went to college.
He never visited a big city.
He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born.
He did none of the things usually associated with greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.

When he was only thirty three his friends ran away.
One of them denied him.
He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth.

When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race

And the leader of mankind's progress.
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life.

-from a sermon by Dr. James Allen, 1926

4 comments:

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! said...

My favorite, favorite part of the show...

Tara said...

Love it and loved that I was seeing it for the first time at Rockettes performance. It was so moving and very unexpected. Hope you guys had as much fun as we did!

elizabeth said...

I love this and actually the first time I saw the Rockettes I was shocked...in a good way, that they did this. In this day in age, especially in NYC, I am suprised that nobody has tried to make them quit doing that. However, it is the CHRISTMAS Spectacular, not HOLIDAY Extravaganza!! ;) Glad people still know what's important and recognizes who allows them to breathe in and out every day.

Unknown said...

Beautiful ... very moving.