DayBreaks for the Week of 12/12/22: The Impact of Just Three Years

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men, who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity.

Jesus painted no pictures yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from him. Jesus wrote no poetry but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by him. Jesus built no buildings but St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome and Notre Dame in Paris are some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, Jesus composed no music still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in his praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.

His unique contribution to humanity is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin. He alone can speak peace to the human heart, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.

It is one thing to talk about the impact of Jesus on the world, but the far more important question is: how have you let him impact you? Why was his impact so great? Because he was not just another human, but Lord of all Creation!

As great as his impact when he came as a babe in a manger has been, when he returns it will be even greater. We need to be ready!

PRAYER: Father, we thank you for Jesus and pray that we’ll be wise enough to not just let him impact our lives, but to be Lord of our lives!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright 2022, Galen C. Dalrymple.