Passion Week, Singing “Messiah” - The Lord's Redemption and Loan Payoff

This picture was created by ChatGPT to depict the Passion of Jesus.

Each year, I usually post photos of Israel related to the Lord’s Passion on my Japanese blog. This time, however, I would like to introduce four songs from Händel’s Messiah that related to the Passion. Our church choir sings these four pieces as well as the familiar  “Hallelujah Chorus.”

 All of the lyrics are taken directly from the Bible (NKJV: New King James Version). While memorizing English text alone can be difficult, lyrics in songs are much easier to remember. The numbers I refer to below are from the Messiah score. Please refer to the NKJV and the Japanese (口語訳) translations. The underlined parts are the actual lyrics.

22. Behold the Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
(John 1:29)

その翌日、ヨハネはイエスが自分の方にこられるのを見て言った、「見よ、世の罪を取り除く神の小羊。」
（ヨハネ 1:29）

24. Surely he has borne our griefs

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)

 まことに彼はわれわれの病を負い、 われわれの悲しみをになった。 しかるに、われわれは思った、 彼は打たれ、神にたたかれ、苦しめられたのだと。 しかし彼はわれわれのとがのために傷つけられ、 われわれの不義のために砕かれたのだ。 彼はみずから懲らしめをうけて、 われわれに平安を与え、 その打たれた傷によって、 われわれはいやされたのだ。（イザヤ書 53:4-5） 

25. And with his stripes we are healed

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5) 

しかし彼はわれわれのとがのために傷つけられ、 われわれの不義のために砕かれたのだ。 彼はみずから懲らしめをうけて、 われわれに平安を与え、 その打たれた傷によって、 われわれはいやされたのだ。
（イザヤ書 53:5） 

26. All we like sheep

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6) 

われわれはみな羊のように迷って、 おのおの自分の道に向かって行った。 主はわれわれすべての者の不義を、 彼の上におかれた。
（イザヤ書 53:6）

Each piece is short, but the last one, “All we like sheep,” is challenging due to the fast melisma (a style where many notes are sung on a single syllable) and the sudden soprano entries that pop in between the other parts, which are difficult to pitch correctly. Also, since you can't relax your abdominal muscles while singing it, I found it impossible to perform right after recovering from illness.

Last year, it had been less than two months since my cancer surgery, so I didn’t have the energy to sing Messiah, which requires strong abdominal support. I also lacked the stamina to stand and sing multiple pieces for a long period. I’m truly thankful to be well enough this year to sing for Easter. 😄

Now we have entered Passion Week. About 2,000 years ago, Jesus was mocked, whipped, and endured unimaginable suffering for our sins and illnesses. Though sinless, He sacrificed Himself to redeem us. Jesus paid the full price for our sins—something we ourselves should have borne—on the cross. His love and grace are beyond what words can express.

As I reflect on this grace, I’m reminded of something more personal: last month, I was finally able to pay off my mortgage and was freed from a burden I had carried for many years. Of course, this cannot be compared to the Lord’s redemption on the cross, but the cancellation of my debt gave me a small glimpse of what that grace feels like.

Through the joy and relief of this physical release, I was reminded once again of the profound spiritual freedom and peace that the Lord has given me. During this Passion Week, I want to quietly reflect on the grace of the cross and give heartfelt thanks.

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にほんブログ村