George Frideric Handel's Messiah

I've been looking forward to Good Friday for a long time.  Not only is Good Friday the beginning of my favorite holiday, Kevin and I had front row seats to a symphony at Royal Albert Hall.  It wasn't just any symphony, it was Handel's Messiah, my favorite symphony.  As a child, it played every Sunday afternoon and as an adult, the words and melody regularly echo in my mind.  Although the symphony lasts nearly three hours, there are few words.  These words summarize the gospel message including our need for Christ, his arrival on earth, death and resurrection, and our redemption.

While I could talk for hours about this profound piece of music, I'll let the words of the symphony speak for themselves:

But who may abide the day of his coming?  And who shall stand when he appeareth?  For he is like a refiner's fire.  And he shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Behold!  A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel:  "God with us".  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the governement shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.  He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows!  he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him.  And with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.  The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  Hallelujah!


I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.  For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.  Blessing, and honor, glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.

Amen.