In a loud voice [the angels] sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.” ~ Revelation 5:12
His name was Charles Jennens. Charles was a wounded, broken man. He was wounded and broken in spirit because of a tragic death in his family. But in his bouts of grief, he found comfort in the Word of God, especially in those passages that spoke to him about his Savior.
As a result, Charles decided to put together a set of lyrics that, he hoped, someone could set to music. The lyrics were unusual in that he lifted almost all of them from the Bible. They contained passages about his Savior—the same passages that had given him light in his moments of darkness.
As it happened, the set of lyrics Charles had put together did, indeed, catch the eye of a gifted composer. But that composer was under a cloud of sadness as well. A recent stroke, money troubles and a series of failures in his life had left him feeling defeated. But in those lyrics, the Word of God spoke to him—so much so that it moved him to pick up his pen.
He started slowly. But soon the music began to flow. Note after note, page after page, he worked from morning until night. He wrote non-stop for a week. One week became two, then three. In 24 short, explosive days, he was done. The sad composer had set to music a collection of Bible verses that brought comfort and strength to a man reeling from tragedy and pain.
The composer was George Frideric Handel. He entitled his composition, Messiah. In it, the Word of God proclaims the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It declares that Jesus is the One who has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. It declares that Jesus is the One who has washed our every sin away. It declares that we have forgiveness and eternal life through faith in him, for Christ is risen from the dead.
At the conclusion of Messiah, the choir sings, Worthy is the Lamb. If you have a moment, find it on YouTube and listen. It is a song of victory and unbridled joy in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The truth of that song will never fade. It will never fade because Jesus, our Messiah, lives.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. You have risen from death. Your promises are true. Move me to sing your praise with my life. Amen.
Living Hope Church 