Messiah, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is: the expected king and deliverer of the Jews. We also hear messiah used many times for people who enter dire circumstances and turn them around for the better.
Once again we are in the Advent season of the Christian Church. To most people outside the Messiah makes little sense because they have the general definition of messiah in mind. The amazing thing is that this season of Advent is all about preparing for the coming of THE Messiah who came from God, and who is God. This One came to buy us back into relationship with our Creator through the sacrifice of His own life. Does that make sense? Probably not initially.
Handel’s great choral work titled The Messiah is entirely scripted from the King James version of the Bible. It tells the story of the redemption of God’s Creation, humankind especially. I listen to it at least once a year.
The full performance is usually two and a half to three hours long. I have not been to a live performance in years, but as a new believer I went several times. When I sit and focus, in a live performance, it usually brings me to tears. I am deeply moved by the love of God for me and the conviction of the Holy Spirit reminding of my need for the Messiah/Savoir. Then there is genuine gratitude and amazement for the beauty of the work and the creativity of people yielded to the inspiration of our Creator. I thank God for George Fredrick Handel who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write it. Then those who perform wow me. There is so much scripture that it is difficult to imagine leaving unchanged by two to three hours of marinating in this powerful work.
As I think about how this masterpiece touches me I find myself drawn in to the heart of our Creator for us. The One who made us, only has good intentions for us. Agreed, the evil in the world can be used to hide those from us, but that is not the Creator’s fault. From before the beginning of time Creator had a plan to bring us back into relationship, then keep us there. The Holy Spirit lives in each person who worships Jesus Christ of Nazareth as The Messiah. Now that’s relationship.
Advent is an annual month of waiting for The Messiah to come to earth for the first time. The birthday of the baby in a manger in Bethlehem, an historical fact. The God-Man who is our only Redeemer. . . .
Have you listened to Handel’s Messiah lately? I pray we, me included, can make the time and space to reflect on the coming of The Messiah. What does it means for each of us and our entire world?
