Day 16-17 : The Agony of the Cross - Scene 1b (27-30)

HEART HEARING

Movements 27-30 

(1:16:31-1:22:51)

Scene 1 continued - "The redemptive sacrifice, the scourging and the agony on the cross"

27. Accompanied recitative (Tenor)

All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn: they shoot out their lips, they shake their heads, saying, (Psalm 22:7, Book of Common Prayer)

28. Turba chorus

He trusted in God that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, if He delights in Him. (Psalm 22:8; Matthew 27:43)

29. Accompanied recitative (Tenor)

Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man; neither found He any to comfort Him. (Psalm 69:20, Book of Common Prayer)

30. Arioso (Tenor)

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. (Lamentations 1:12)

(Note: Jennens changed from the first person in the Scriptures to the third person for purposes of continuity in Messiah.) 

MIND MEDITATION

Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:43

This is a psalm of David. We do not know what event in his lie it is linked to, but David felt forsaken by God as he was surrounded by enemies who persecuted him. David was never near execution, but this is what this psalm describes. 

Most commentators agree that it is a prophetic psalm about the crucifixion of Jesus. David described the suffering of the Messiah that would occur almost 1,000 years later!

Note the similarities between this psalm and events in Jesus' life:

22:6-8/Matthew 27:39,42-44 - People mocked and scorned Jesus at the cross 

22:15/John 19:28 - Jesus thirsted on the cross 

22:16/Luke 24:39-40 - Jesus' hands and feet were nailed to the cross 

22:17-18/Matthew 27:35 - They divided up Jesus' garments by casting lots 

22:22/Hebrews 2:12 - Jesus will declare God's name  

22:27 All the earth will remember, turn, and bow down to the LORD, and he will rule the nations through Jesus!

Psalm 69:20 

Psalm 69 is also a psalm of David and is one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament behind Psalms 22 and 110. Many verses are applied to the ministry and suffering of Jesus:

69:4/John 15:25 - Jesus' enemies 

69:8/John 7:5 - Jesus scorned by his brothers 

69:9/John 2:14-17 - Christ's zeal when he threw out the money changers at the temple 

69:20/John 19:28-30 - Christ's suffering 

69:25/Acts 1:20 - Judas

Jesus was the perfect example of a righteous person who was persecuted for being zealous for the will of God. For clarification, the "rebuke" in 69:20 is the rebuke of the people taunting Him on the cross and not the rebuke of the Lord. 

Lamentations 1

Jeremiah turned his feelings about the fall of Jerusalem (586 B.C.) into poetic form. The book is written in the style of ancient Jewish funeral songs or chants. Lamentation 1 is the first of five poems (or dirges) that correspond to the five chapters. 

In its historical context, Lamentation 1:12 is Jerusalem calling out to people passing by to notice her terrible condition, but it is also a prophecy of Christ. Those passing by were hurling abuse at Christ (Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29). 

SOUL SEARCHING

The oratorio leaves the first line of Lamentations 1:12 out, but it is a question we can all ask ourselves:

Is it nothing to all you who pass this way?

And I ask you today, what is the Cross to you? Lamentation 1:12 is a plea for us today to not merely "pass by" but to stop and ponder the power of the Cross.  The Hebrew words "behold and see" mean "to look, to watch, to regard. It has the sense of looking somewhat intensely in a focused way at something" and "requires the individual to see physically outside of himself or herself: to see so that one can learn" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament, p. 700, 1023). 

Is it nothing to you? What can you learn from the Cross today?

I realize that this is not the cheeriest of sections of Messiah. It is often hard to get through this dark time in the Messiah oratorio. Think about the words in the verses: scourging, scorn, shoot (lips), shake (heads), and sorrow.

The Cross was not a pretty picture. Have you found yourself restless to get out of the darkness? I encourage you to stay there just a bit longer. There is something very powerful about truly facing the Cross directly. So I encourage you to go there, and I am confident that Jesus will meet you in the midst of it.

Do not despair. Hold on for the "Hallelujah Chorus"! It is right around the corner. It is always darkest before the dawn. 

STRENGTH STRETCHING

Psalm 22 is perfect for practicing Ignatian Contemplation (or what I used to call, "The Loyola Method"). Place yourself as a witness to the crucifixion using both Psalm 22 and the passages in the Gospel accounts.

There is also an entire handout on many methods of meditation for download HERE.

It is also in this post. Below gives you an example of how to do it from the birth of Jesus. So, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out how to adapt it for the passages above. 

Get Totally Involved -The Loyola Method (Ignatian Contemplation)

(This is an approach to meditation adapted from the “Spiritual Exercises” [scroll down to "About the Exercises"] of Ignatius Loyola. He was a spiritual director in the 16^th century. The Loyola Method works better when you have a passage that involves a narrative story.)

PART ONE (Preparation)

a. In prayer, ask God for grace to direct your thoughts, words, and actions to service and praise of his Divine Majesty.

b. Read the passage upon which you intend to meditate. Read unhurriedly, but without attempting yet to meditate on the passage. Your goal now is simply to familiarize yourself with the passage.

c. Determine an objective for your meditation time and ask God to help you accomplish it. If the passage you choose, for example, is the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1–7, your objective may be a sense of awe and humility as you contemplate the mystery of your Savior’s entry into the world.

Usually, this preliminary request is formulated in terms of some emotion you wish God to give you as a result of your meditation. Ignatius Loyola believed that the ultimate purpose of meditation is application (that is, an act of the will), and that the will is motivated primarily by emotion rather than reason.

PART TWO (Meditation)

a. Visualize the scene. In the case of Luke 2:1–7, see in your mind the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Is it level, or does it wind through valleys and around hillsides? See Mary, in her ninth month of pregnancy, riding on a donkey, accompanied by Joseph who is perhaps leading an ox. They are going to Bethlehem to pay a tax. What kind of people are they passing on the way? Soldiers? Peasants? Merchants? Other families?

Study in your imagination the place of the Nativity. Is it spacious or cramped? Clean or dirty? Warm or cold? How is it furnished?

b. Assume the role of one of the characters in the passage, or of someone else who might be present. In Luke 2, for example, you could be the hotel’s servant or maid.

c. Now apply your five senses to the scene. Look carefully, watching all the action. Use your ears as you listen in on conversations. Apply your senses of smell and touch. What odors are present? What quality of garments is being worn? Feel the woodwork of the manger. Smell and feel the straw. Apply your sense of taste—is there anything there to eat?

d. Analyze your own feelings as a member of the scene. How do you feel about what is happening? How do you feel about the persons involved? How do you feel about yourself?

PART THREE (Conversation)

Talk to Joseph, Mary, or someone else in the scene. Talk to them about the thoughts that have come to your mind as you have meditated on this passage. Talk to God or to the Lord Jesus.

          This conversation should in most cases lead to some form of action or personal application. 

Loyola Method exercise adapted From Discipleship Journal, Issue 6 (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress). Used by Permission.

Day 15: Behold the Lamb of God - Part II, Scene 1a (22-26)

HEART HEARING

(This is the longest day of listening, but try to listen to the music in one sitting, allowing about 20 minutes. Cozy up with the Christmas fire and/or candles burning for a period of uninterrupted quiet before the Lord during this busy season. Yesterday I listened to it as I walked around my block.)

Movement 22

Movement 23 

Movements 24-26

PART II: "The accomplishment of redemption by the sacrifice of Christ, mankind's rejection of God's offer, and mankind's utter defeat when trying to oppose the power of the Almighty" 

Scene 1 - "The redemptive sacrifice, the scourging and the agony on the cross"

22. Chorus

Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)

(Notice how the music communicates the weightiness of sin. It is a very "heavy" tune.)

23. Aria (Alto)

He was despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3)

He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)

24. Chorus

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. (Isaiah 53:4,5a)

25. Chorus

And with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5b)

26. Chorus

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. (Isaiah 53:6)

MIND MEDITATION

Scene 1 in Part 2 is the longest in the entire oratorio, but I could not split it up. You must experience it in its entirety in one sitting. It is not a pretty picture, and as you might well understand, after today's meditation, why Handel's Messiah was originally intended for Easter and not for Christmas. You are welcome to delay Movements 22-31 for Holy Week (Palm Sunday - Good Friday) and Movement 32 to the end of Messiah for Easter Sunday and beyond. It is up to you. Regardless, do not skip this very difficult part of Messiah.  Do not be alarmed, the "Hallelujah Chorus" is right around the corner!  We can so much more appreciate the Christmas season if we fully understand that the baby in a manger was born to die on a cross so that He could fulfill God's purpose and plan that we first learned about in Genesis 3:15. 

The longest movement in this scene is "He was despised" lasting more than nine minutes. Part II is also unique in that it is the only part opened by a chorus and is dominated by choral singing. 

John 1:29

We heard from John the Baptist in the first vocal movement of Messiah as he quoted Isaiah 40:3 stating he was not the Messiah or Elijah or a prophet but was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness" calling all people to "make straight the way of the Lord" (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4). I mentioned in that post, this was alluding to people who removed all obstacles on a road so a reigning king could go through unhindered; but when Jesus arrives the next day, John does not say, "Behold the King" but "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Hardly a title for a king! But His title as the "Lamb of God" is so important for us.

John was alluding to the Passover lamb. Let's review the events in Exodus 12.

The previous nine plagues were terrible, but this one [the death of the firstborn] "sent upon them His burning anger, fury, and indignation and trouble, a band of destroying angels" (Psalm 78:49). This plague hit Pharaoh at his Father's heart. In that time, Pharaoh's son would have been considered a god. This plague was a challenge to the goddess Isis, who was the wife and sister of Osiris. She was the goddess who protected children, yet no Egyptian firstborn child would be protected by her. The Israelite children would be protected though. The blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and lintels of the door told the destroying angels to "passover" (pāsaḥ in Hebrew) the houses where the Israelite firstborn children slept safely in their beds. From this night on, they would commemorate this by holding the feast of Passover (pesaḥ in Hebrew). 

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption 

Jesus is the perfect "Lamb of God" (John 1:29) who takes away the sin of the world. The blood of the Passover lamb sprinkled over the doorposts and lintels allowed the Israelites to escape death and be delivered from bondage, so Christ's blood is our means of redemption and deliverance (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7).  Bible Book Club Exodus 12 post

The corresponding Hebrew words for the phrase "takes away" when applied to sin means:

To be chargeable with the guilt of it (Exodus 28:38; Le 5:1; Ez 18:20), and to bear it away (as often). In the Levitical victims both ideas met, as they do in Christ, the people's guilt being viewed as transferred to them, avenged in their death, and so borne away by them (Le 4:15; and compared Is 53:6-12; 2 Co 5:21).  (Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, John 1:29)

Isaiah 53:3-6

In Isaiah 53, Jerusalem is called to "wake up," put on glorious garments, and sit enthroned. Gentiles would no longer thrash the holy city. Jerusalem was sold for free because of their sins (50:1), but they would be redeemed (the Hebrew word, gā’al, means "to purchase out of slavery") and pay nothing. But Who will pay? 

I absolutely love how the chorus is a “waterfall” of voices when singing “with His stripes we are healed.” It gives me chills. Listen to this movement (25) again. It is just lovely, isn’t it?

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

Parts of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 are quoted in the New Testament:

52:15    in Romans 15:21
53:1      in John 12:38 and Romans 10:16
53:4      in Matthew 8:17
53:7-8   in Acts 8:32-33
53:9       in 1 Peter 2:22
53:12     in Luke 22:37

It prophesies of a servant Messiah who would suffer and die for our transgressions.  He would be "disfigured, despised, stricken, afflicted, pierced through, crushed, oppressed, cut off, and numbered with the transgressors." This would pay the penalty for our transgressions and purchase our redemption. We would be "bought out of slavery," and the purchase price would cost us nothing, but it would cost Him everything.  With this, we would have peace (Shalom - completeness, wholeness, harmony, fulfillment, unimpaired relationships with others, and fulfillment in one's undertakings) and healing (forgiveness of sin, not healing of the body; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 103:3). 

His death satisfied God's righteous demands for judgment against sin leading to salvation for everyone who believes!

Now that is GOOD NEWS!

Isaiah 50:6

Many performances of Messiah leave out this verse. Maybe it is too harsh?

In Isaiah 50, The Lord was temporarily "divorcing" Zion because she had rejected Him without reason. They were being sent away because she had sinned. God did not reject Israel, but Israel rejected God. Therefore, their exile would be like a son sold into indentured servitude because of the great debt they owed God.

Isaiah 50:6 fits nicely with Isaiah 53 because it is part of the third "Servant Song" in the book, and Isaiah 53:3-6 is in the fourth. Isaiah 53:6 is a specific "snapshot of the Savior" describing Jesus more than seven centuries before His birth. There are several of these "snapshots" in the book of Isaiah (7:14; 9:2, 6-7; 11:1-2; 35:4-6; 40:10-11; 42:1-4, 6-7; 50:6; 52:13-53:12; 61:1-2).

SOUL SEARCHING

It is such a paradox that the sad news of the suffering Servant is GOOD NEWS for sinning sheep! It is part of the stuff we are to SHOUT from the high mountains (Isaiah 40:9, Part I, Movement 9).

It was hard for me to write anything on this post this morning. So, I stopped and did a freewrite. I do a "Friday Freewrite Fifteen [minutes]" almost every week to get my fingers rolling across the keys, but I did not think I had anything to say until I just had this overwhelming sense of the presence of God with me:

I also like to record when I get one of those Holy Spirit waves coming over me, and I just had one. I am in the "Passion" of the Christ in Messiah right now meditating on "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," and I just had to pause. I cannot write my "Mind Meditation." (This is for my headier readers who might want to have more of a background of the verse - I like them by the way. I am by no means a "heady" person, but I do think that knowing the context of an isolated verse brings richness to my heart and life.) 

Just reading about John the Baptist announcing Jesus that way to all who would hear.  He was that "voice crying in the wilderness" that said to "prepare the way of the Lord." It all ties together with Part I of Messiah. Then, Jesus comes. "Preparing the way" in that the context of Isaiah 40 was likened to preparing the way for a coming King. That is what the Jews thought that He would be, but what a turn-on-the-head kind of thing for John the Baptist, that lone voice in the wilderness saying, "Behold the LAMB OF GOD." Jews would have known that the LAMB meant death, blood, and sacrifice. What about the coming King? Why did John the Baptist say that? I am sure they were scratching their heads in amazement.  

But John was speaking under God's direction. He did not even fully understand what he was saying because later, from prison, He would say, "Hey, are you the guy we have been waiting for all these years, or should we keep on waiting for someone else?"   

This blows my mind: The LAMB of GOD. Messiah masterfully starts with all the parts in the chorus saying it over and over and over: BEHOLD the LAMB of GOD. I love how it washes over you in wave upon wave of voices tumbling over like water.    

What a price He had to pay. 

STRENGTH STRETCHING

Pray through John 1:29 and Isaiah 53:3-6 today. Journal about it. Draw it. Write a poem. God might even give you a song! I wrote a song to Isaiah 53:4-5 back in the 80s that I still sing to this day. It is such a sober reminder of the price He paid for my wholeness and healing. Maybe I will be brave enough to post a video of me singing it someday!

2023 Update: Here is a link to me singing it this morning! (I couldn't figure out how to embed it.)

Day 13-14: The Savior-Shepherd-King - Scene 5 (18-21)

HEART HEARING
(Enjoy this over the next two days.)

Movement 18

Movements 19-20

Movement 20 (alternative)

Movement 21

Scene 5 - "Christ's redemptive miracles on earth"

18. Aria (Soprano)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is the righteous Savior, and he shall speak peace unto the heathen. (Zechariah 9:9, 10; Matthew 21:5)

19. Secco recitative (Alto)

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. (Isaiah 35:5, 6)

20. Aria (Alto) (or Duet)

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)

Aria (Soprano)

Come unto him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and he will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of him; for he is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28, 29)

21. Chorus

His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)

MIND MEDITATION

Scene 5 shows all the things that Messiah will do for us: save and speak peace, heal, shepherd, and give rest. This gives us reason to rejoice. Let's unpack all of them: 

1) Save and Speak Peace - Zechariah 9:9, 10

This prophecy occurred in 480 B.C. This was more than 500 years before Jesus' Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-5). Zechariah 9:9-10:12 looks toward the blessings of the Messiah who would come in righteousness and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey (Jennens leaves this phrase out of the libretto). In the ancient Near East, if a king was coming in peace, he would ride on a donkey rather than a war stallion. Often, the women of the city would come out to greet the king singing songs of praise and shouts of triumph. Sometimes it was a newly crowned king or one returning from a victory in battle. 

In this prophecy, the Messiah will establish peace in His kingdom and regather Israel as the "righteous Saviour" of His people. Zechariah 9:13-17 probably refers to the conflict of the Maccabees (169-135 B.C.) with all the Greek rulers of Syria including Antiochus IV Epiphanies (See post for Daniel 11 & 12). While this is a partial fulfillment of this prophecy, the complete fulfillment will come at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ when God will care for them as a shepherd for his flock and Israel will shine in God's land like "jewels in a crown" (Zechariah 9:16).

In the long-term prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus is the righteous Saviour who came to the world to save us from our sins. He did that by paying the price that satisfied the righteous justice of God through His blood sacrifice on the cross. Sin and death are defeated forever for those who accept this unmerited gift freely offered to them. 

This is a reason for rejoicing, and this song exudes JOY! The other key word in this aria is PEACE which is something Jesus came to do for all peoples, Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-16).  

The King James Version says that He speaks to the "heathen" but this is the same Hebrew word for "people" or Gentiles (goy) that we have been referring to throughout the Bible Book Club. This peace fulfills the promise in the opening song of the Messiah, "Comfort Ye." Warfare has ended. We have peace through the Messiah!

The "Rejoice" song connects to the end of Scene 4 because we can rejoice at the birth of Christ the newborn King, the Messiah! This song is sung with "melismas" which are groups of notes sung to one syllable of text. Melismatic singing was a common way to express joy and goes back to the time of the early centuries of the church. St. Augustine said that in this kind of singing, "the heart may tell its joy without words, and the unbounded rush of gladness not cramped by syllable" (Expositions of the Psalms: Volume 1, translated by Maria Boulding, O.S.B., Psalm 32 [2]:8).

2) Heal -Isaiah 35:5, 6

In the immediate context, Isaiah spoke of the joy felt when His people would be delivered from Assyria and Babylon, but it is partially quoted in Matthew 11:5 when Jesus responds to the messengers John the Baptist sent from prison with the question "Are you the One Who was to come, or should we keep expecting a different one?" (Amplified Bible, Matthew 11:3) Jesus healed physically, but He specifically states in Matthew 11:5 (and alludes to in Isaiah 61:1) that the "poor have the gospel (good news) preached to them." There is also such a thing as spiritual blindness and deafness that keeps us from walking and singing praises to Him. There is a double meaning in this text!

3) Shepherd Flock - Isaiah 40:11

We have heard in this scene of Jesus as King, but He is a Shepherd-King:

God’s arm is a mighty arm for winning the battle (Isa. 40:10), but it is also a loving arm for carrying His weary lambs (v. 11). “We are coming home!” would certainly be good news to the devastated cities of Judah (1:7; 36:1; 37:26).  (Be Comforted: “Be” Commentary Series, p. 109)

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep to the point of laying down His life for them (John 10:11-14). 

The Lord is truly our Shepherd (Psalm 23). Also, David was a shepherd turned king:

He also chose David His servant  

And took him from the sheepfolds; 

From the care of the ewes with suckling 

lambs He brought him 

To shepherd Jacob His people, 

And Israel His inheritance.  

So he shepherded them according to the 

integrity of his heart, 

And guided them with his skillful hands. 

(Ps 78:70–72)

Really the best kind of King is one who can care for His people. Jesus is the Shepherd-King! I also love how this ties back with the shepherds in the last scene (Movements 13-17).

4) Give Rest - Matthew 11:28-30

These verses are amid Jesus' "woe" statements in Matthew 11. Judgment was not Jesus' primary objective in coming to earth (John 3:17), but He announced some "woe" on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. He had been in Galilee performing miracles right in front of their eyes for around a year (five of the ten miracles performed in Matthew 8-9 were in Capernaum), but they still did not repent and believe. Jesus contrasted these three Jewish cities with the wicked Gentile cities of Tyre and Sidon and the godless city of Sodom. (Genesis 18-19; Ezekiel 27-28). Each was destroyed by God for their wickedness. 

"Woe" can mean judgment, but it can also include pity and sorrow. I think Jesus felt this for these cities too because He follows up this judgment with an invitation. The religious leaders were challenging Jesus because of their pride and would not come to Him like humble, innocent children, but Jesus invites ALL who are weary ("tired from hard toil') and heavy-laden with legalistic religious obligation and the sin of their lives to . . .

• Come to Him - All are welcome (including you, my dear reader - let's make this personal). 
• Take on His yoke - A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen and attaches to the equipment they pull. His yoke was easy ("well-fitted") and restful. Sometimes, younger more inexperienced oxen would be paired with an older stronger one. The older one carried more of the weight. Jesus carries our weight. With Him, there is peace with God (Romans 5:1) and the peace of God (Philippians 4:6-8).
• Learn from Him - The Greek word for learn is mathete and disciple is mathētēs. A disciple is a learner of His words, ways, wounds, and wisdom. We can learn much about gentleness and humility from this burden-bearer!

Notice that Jennens takes liberty with the libretto by changing Jesus' words to the third person ("come to me" changes to "come to him"). Handel wrote this aria in the same style as the "Pifa" or Pastoral Symphony from Scene 4, movement 13, connecting it to Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd that we just learned about in Isaiah 40. 

After the beautiful, slow aria, the verses at the end of Matthew 11 close with a lively and light final fugue with many rapid runs. But the song and Part I ends with a somewhat "heavy" sound when they sing in unison, "His yoke is easy and His burden is light." This leads into Part II where we learn the price that Jesus had to pay to lighten our burden of sin.  

Stay tuned. 

SOUL SEARCHING 

"Come to me. 

Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. 

I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. 
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with me and 
you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

I am talking with someone right now whose heart is tired, heavy-laden, and broken. If you could hear her story, you would understand why. Her primary relationship is breaking down and so is she. In the midst of this, Jesus is very distant to her. My heart is breaking too. I am praying she can come to Him today. 

I have compassion for anyone in this situation because I have been there too. Perhaps you are there now. Christmas can be a lonely time for so many when relationships are breaking down. I am praying anyone who reads this will learn to come to Him. 

STRENGTH STRETCHING

There is so much here to mull over. Can I suggest taking two things Jesus does for us today (saves and heals) and two tomorrow (shepherds and gives rest) and really let it penetrate your heart?

Here is another possible "I will":

Jesus came to give us rest. How perfect for the busy Christmas season! Sometimes we just need to unload our burdens to the Lord and listen to Him. 

At the beginning of my time with God, I often give Him everything on my "plate": all the things that are burdening my heart and causing anxiety and sin. Sometimes I even draw a plate and put all those things in my life I am carrying on it. (I just did this with the women in my Romans Bible Study last month, and it was a great springboard for our prayer time.)

Another exercise I love to do regularly includes these verses in Matthew 11 and Psalm 46:10. It is a way for you to process your circumstances ("your plate") and hear God's voice about them. 

Where Am I? How am I? Who am I? 

What are things you can "let go" of this season? Are you carrying too much by way of the expectation of the "perfect" Christmas? Have you lost sight of the reason for this wonderful season because you are over your head in gift shopping, cookie baking, decorating, etc.? 

Meditate on Matthew 11:28-30 again and let Jesus wash over your soul. Linger long over it. Give Jesus the burdens you have been carrying and take on His easy yoke!

Day 11-12: Glory to God in the Highest! - Scene 4 (13-17)

HEART HEARING
(Meditate on this over the next two days.)

Movement 13

Movements 14-17

Scene 4 - The appearance of the Angels to the Shepherds

Let's review two musical terms and introduce one new one:

Secco recitative is a "dry recitative" usually with only harpsichord and cello accompaniment. It recites the words directly and does not repeat them.

Accompanied recitative also recites but has more instruments involved.

Turba chorus means "crowd" or "throng" chorus meaning to convey a lot of voices (like a multitude of angels).

13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)

Pifferi By Wikinaut (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

"Pifa" is Handel's word for how the musical instruments imitate the sound of a piva (bagpipe) and a pifferi (shepherds' reed pipe from the oboe family). In Italy, country shepherds would come down from the mountains to Rome to play these instruments during the Advent season.  It sounds like bagpipe drones with a simple melody in triple rhythms on top of that. The mood is quiet and peaceful. This sets the perfect mood for how the shepherds are described in Luke 2:8. 

14. Recitative (Soprano)

Secco
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. (Luke 2:8)

Accompanied
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9)

15. Secco recitative (Soprano)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10,11)

16. Accompanied recitative (Soprano)

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, (Luke 2:13)

17. Turba Chorus

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)

(Note: this is the first time trumpets are used in the Messiah.)

MIND MEDITATION

Luke 2:8-14

This is where prophecy turns into history in Messiah!

When the angels appear, the music sounds like lights shining in the sky pungent with excitement in the music! It is such a contrast to the somberness of the secco recitative right before it.

How wonderful that angels would appear to poor, outcast shepherds. The work of the shepherds made them ceremonially unclean.  God calls the poor and lowly to Himself (Luke 1:51-53; 1 Corinthian 1:26-29). This baby was also the Good Shepherd (John 10) and Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). 

The shepherds were to "fear not" (Remember this is the most often repeated commandment in the Bible. See also in this context: Luke 1:13, 30, 74; Matthew 1:20). 

The angel pronounced GOOD NEWS of a GREAT JOY (and JOY is a theme in the book of Luke.) of a Savior who is Christ the Lord! 

Also notice this was for ALL PEOPLE, not just the Jews. This is HUGE. 

Then a multitude of angels came praising God and announcing PEACE for the whole earth. Even though the Roman Peace ("Pax Romana") had been in effect since 27 B.C., there was really no peace.

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus (A.D. 55 – A.D. 135) said, “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 176)

The Hebrew word for peace, Shalom, is translated as eirḗnē in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint). This Greek word:

Has to denote, not merely rest, but a state of well-being or wholeness [emphasis mine], so that one can even be said to die in peace (as distinct from suffering violence). Nor is this well-being restricted to material welfare. (The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 208)

They also announced GOOD WILL (eudokias) toward men. These "people of good pleasure are the recipients of God's grace by his free and unfathomably sovereign choice or counsel" (The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p.273).

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST FOR THAT!

SOUL SEARCHING

As I meditated this morning, the quote from the Stoic philosopher above made me realize that a military and political response will not quell what is happening in our world today. This will not give "peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace."  We cannot have "well-being or wholeness" apart from Jesus because He brings:

Good News
Great Joy
Peace 
Good Will 

Doesn't that just thrill you?

Let this wash over you and soak in deeply. It is so easy to just gloss over this because you hear it so many times during Christmas. Jesus is our Peace! It is amazing!

STRENGTH STRETCHING

"I will" pray for ISIS. Here is a guide to help you:

30-Day Prayer Guide for ISIS

(2023 Update: When I wrote this, ISIS was at the peak of its power. They are still active and still need prayer.)

I have posted this before, but please listen to these two messages about the response we as followers of Jesus should have toward people like ISIS:

Serve to Win

The Other Side of Fear (exciting news about current events)

I encourage the use of the Loyola Method (Imaginative Contemplation) for this particular passage. Imagine yourself as a shepherd out in the fields. You might even like to go outside on a starry night and plop yourself in the middle of a field. 

There is also an entire handout on many methods of meditation for download HERE.

Get Totally Involved -The Loyola Method (Imaginative Contemplation) 

(Note: Here’s an approach to meditation adapted from the “Spiritual Exercises” of Ignatius Loyola. He was a spiritual director in the 16^th century. The Loyola Method works better when you have a passage that involves a narrative story.)

PART ONE (Preparation)

a. In prayer, ask God for grace to direct your thoughts, words, and actions to service and praise of his Divine Majesty.

b. Read the passage upon which you intend to meditate. Read unhurriedly, but without attempting yet to meditate on the passage. Your goal now is simply to familiarize yourself with the passage.

c. Determine an objective for your meditation time and ask God to help you accomplish it. If the passage you choose, for example, is the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1–7, your objective may be a sense of awe and humility as you contemplate the mystery of your Savior’s entry into the world.

Usually this preliminary request is formulated in terms of some emotion you wish God to give you as a result of your meditation. Ignatius Loyola believed that the ultimate purpose of meditation is application (that is, an act of the will), and that the will is motivated primarily by emotion rather than reason.

PART TWO (Meditation)

a. Visualize the scene. In the case of Luke 2:1–7, see in your mind the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Is it level, or does it wind through valleys and around hillsides? See Mary, in her ninth month of pregnancy, riding on a donkey, accompanied by Joseph who is perhaps leading an ox. They are going to Bethlehem to pay a tax. What kind of people are they passing on the way? Soldiers? Peasants? Merchants? Other families?

Study in your imagination the place of the Nativity. Is it spacious or cramped? Clean or dirty? Warm or cold? How is it furnished?

b. Assume the role of one of the characters in the passage, or of someone else who might be present. In Luke 2, for example, you could be the hotel’s servant or maid.

c. Now apply your five senses to the scene. Look carefully, watching all the action. Use your ears as you listen in on conversations. Apply your senses of smell and touch. What odors are present? What quality of garments are being worn? Feel the woodwork of the manger. Smell and feel the straw. Apply your sense of taste—is there anything there to eat?

d. Analyze your own feelings as a member of the scene. How do you feel about what is happening? How do you feel about the persons involved? How do you feel about yourself?

PART THREE (Conversation)

Talk to Joseph, or Mary, or someone else in the scene. Talk to them about the thoughts that have come to your mind as you have meditated on this passage. Talk to God or to the Lord Jesus.

          This conversation should in most cases lead to some form of action or personal application. (Discipleship Journal, Issue 6 (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress)

Here is a website with several Imaginative Contemplations like this:

Imaginative Contemplation Exercises

I have also some exercises written out. Leave a comment, and I can get those to you!

Day 10: For Unto Us a Child is Born - Scene 3 (12)

HEART HEARING

12. Chorus

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

MIND MEDITATION

Isaiah 9:6 declares both the humanity (“A Child is born”) and the deity (“A Son is given”) of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet then leaps ahead to the Kingdom Age when Messiah will reign in righteousness and justice from David’s throne. God had promised David that his dynasty and throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16); and this is fulfilled literally in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32–33; Zech. 9:9), who will one day reign from Jerusalem (Isa. 11:1–5; Jer. 23:5–8; 30:8–10). This kingdom is called “the Millennium,” which means “one thousand years."

If His name is "Wonderful," then there will be nothing dull about His reign! As Counselor, He has the wisdom to rule justly; and as the Mighty God, He has the power to execute His wise plans. "Everlasting Father" does not suggest that the Son is also the Father, for each Person in the Godhead is distinct. "Father of Eternity" is a better translation. Among the Jews, the word "father" means "originator" or "source." For example, Satan is the "father [originator] of lies" (John 8:44, NIV). If want anything eternal, you must get it from Jesus Christ; He is the "Father of eternity."  (Be Comforted. p. 36–37)

Here is a wonderful meditation on this passage from the God in All Things website:

God In All Things · And He Is Named

And He Is Named – An Audio Meditation

SOUL SEARCHING

I have been slowly going through these characteristics describing Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Originator of eternal life, and the Prince of Peace. I am thanking Him for playing each of these roles in my life. It is so rich to just slowly marinate this in my soul. I suggest you do it too! 

As I have marinated on Jesus being the Originator of eternal life, I am reminded of this verse:

In Him was life, 

and the life was the Light of men. 

The Light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness did not comprehend it.

(John 1:4-5)

The light that came into the darkness was the virgin's child, Emmanuel, God with us, who brings life!  Can you fully comprehend this? The chorus speaks for itself. The music is full of joy and celebration. Won't you celebrate as you let this sink deeply into your soul? 

STRENGTH STRETCHING

What is your "I will" statement?

Instead of rushing into an "I will" statement, I like to sit at His feet and have a time of waiting and listening. I call it my "listen and obey" time. I sit with pen and paper in hand and ask God what He would have me do with what I just learned about Him. He is usually very faithful to tell me what to do. 

If this concept seems strange to you, I would like to recommend you read the book God Guides by Mary Geegh. It will be a great Christmas gift to yourself, and you may want to give it to others once you read it! 

You may also want to listen to the meditation from the God in All Things podcast above. It is beautiful. 

My "I will" is going to be pure, unadulterated praise. Praising Him for each of His characteristics mentioned in this passage. I am shutting down my computer and am going to dance too!  Amazing!