Day 17: How Does the Master Story Relate to the Good News?
In our last reading for the week, we consider how the Master Story creates the context that is needed to understand why the message about Jesus is Good News – the Gospel. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to be shifting our focus to the Gospel. Before we get there is it important to have some frame of reference that helps us understand why this Gospel is “Good News!”
1 Corinthians 15:3–6
For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6 Then he appeared to …. {NET}
In this passage, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the truths that are of “first importance” in The Gospel. First, the fact that Jesus died for our sins must be clearly proclaimed. Next, the reality that Jesus was buried and raised from the Dead must be clearly stated. Both of these truths were foretold by the Scriptures and so we are showing that the Lord-God’s Word is trustworthy. Lastly, something should be said about Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection from the dead. Those who saw Jesus after His resurrection became His witnesses, living evidence that He was alive and present with His people. So the Gospel should state three primary things:
>That Jesus died for our sins,
>That Jesus was buried and raised from the dead, and
>Jesus was seen by many after His resurrection.
Think about Paul’s presentation in Acts 17 that has been at the center of our discussion this week and consider this question: “Where does Paul mention any of these ideas?” Go back and read that passage again and see if you can find them.
Were you able to find those three key ideas mentioned clearly? The answer is “no”—Paul does not clearly mention any of those ideas in that presentation! The reason we bring this up is that many people consider Paul’s speech on Mars Hill as his presentation of the Gospel. We think however he is doing something else.
Clearly, Paul was asked to come and speak because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection (see Acts 17:18). Here, as Paul gives a narrative from creation to judgment, he creates a frame of reference for understanding why the Gospel is Good News. That is what The Master Story does for us: it gives us the context so that we have a clear understanding of why the Gospel of Jesus is Good News.
Take a look at this illustration:
In Acts 7 Stephen gives another presentation of The Master Story. In this account Stephen is put on trial before the Sanhedrin—the key ruling council of Israel in that day. These leaders ask him to give an account of the things he is teaching about Jesus that seems to be in conflict with their tradition.
Stephen begins with Abraham, the forefather of the people of Israel, and tells a version of their Master Story showing that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior that had been promised to their people. He also makes the case that just like their fathers before them, the people of Israel were now rebelling against the Lord-God’s purposes for them in rejecting Jesus. This passage is another great example of how a Master Story gives a frame of reference for understanding who Jesus is and why His Message is central in the bigger picture of things.
We have covered a lot of ground this week. Take the time now to collect your thoughts and take some notes on what a Master Story is and the key things we need to know about a Master Story.
Scan back over or reflect on this week’s reading and ask yourself:
1. What have I learned that gave me new ideas and images?
2. How do these truths call me to change the way I am thinking?
3. How do these truths call me to trust Father-God more?
*You can find a complete list of all the MilktoMeat readings here.
