Did you hear about the One?

Comics often begin new stories with, “Did you hear the one about the ... “ The phrase establishes anticipation. Entertainers hope a roar of laughter will follow and his popularity soar.

If we move the words around a bit, we ask, “Have you about the One who ...?” and the expectation is very different. For instance,


• “Have you heard about the One who ... HELPS THOSE WEAKEN BY THE BURDENS OF LIFE? Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. – Psalm 54:4
• “Have you heard about the One who ...IS UNLIKE ALL OTHERS AND PRESIDES WITH AUTHORITY OVER ALL CREATION?
Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; -- Psalm 113:5-7
• “Have you heard about the One who ...REMAINS FOREVER MINDFUL OF HIS PEOPLE?
... to the One who remembered us in our low estate. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:23
• “Have you heard about the One who ... ENTERED THE HUMAN STORY UNIQUELY?
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1
• “Have you heard about the One who ...ALLEVIATES THE FEARS OF ALL WHO KNOW HIM?
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. – Matthew 10:28-31
• “Have you heard about the One who ... IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP?
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. – Revelation 11:17

Comics present barrages of gags. They amuse, momentarily distracting those they entertain from the harsh realities of life. Laughter is the product for sale. Customers pay dearly for a respite from the realities of life. Troubles are pushed into the background for a few minutes, but paying customers and their burdens are reunited before an evening passes.

But Jesus’ followers know the One and are honored to speak of Him, assuring all who will hear that the One is present in the realities of life. The order of a few words makes a whole lot of difference! Let us speak of the One, Jesus, or we have done no more that the comic repeating gag lines, distracting from reality and offering no enduring help.

An old Sunday School chorus says –
Let's talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He,
The Lord of lords, supreme, throughout eternity
The Great I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door
Let's talk about Jesus more and more!

As the clerks around Philadelphia say, “Have a good un!” And, talk about Jesus!