Did you know that Handel’s Messiah was first performed during the Easter season close to three hundred years ago? I know that we typically associate this beautiful music with Christmas, but the second and third parts of this masterpiece focus on his death, resurrection, the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost, and the final resurrection of all believers. (Handel’s Messiah: An Unexpected Easter Masterpiece by Dr. Mark D. Roberts)
Today is Palm Sunday. Passion week, or Holy week, has begun. We would do well to read along in the gospels this week to remember how “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2) Today we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry as the multitudes spread their clothes and branches on the road. They cried out, saying:
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!
Matthew 21: 9
This Jesus, who the Jews were cheering on, was their Messiah. They had been oppressed by the Romans and others and they desperately wanted deliverance. They had been longingly waiting for Him. They had all sorts of ideas in mind…little did they realize the true path of Jesus the Messiah.
While the Messiah didn’t appear like the One the Jews had hoped for, that did not diminish His delivering power at the Cross. It also does not affect the future victorious second coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
We are so privileged today to celebrate Jesus as Messiah! He glorified God on the earth as He finished the work He gave Him to do. As we recall His final week of earthly ministry, let’s rejoice in His perfect obedience and complete submission to His Father.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Love, Wendy
