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A different music

6 April  2007                     Good Friday                                      

One of the many differences between the Christian faith and others is its music. Christians sing and rejoice and give thanks. We learnt it, of course, from the people of the Old Testament. The scriptures that formed the basis for the Christian faith had at their heart hundreds of songs (not all of them in the book of Psalms). Songs of grief, of joy, of thanksgiving, of praise.

Christians developed the practice, and in fact had many more reasons to give thanks than the people of Israel did. Christians were encouraged to sing, and new songs seem to have been sung from the very early days of the church’s life.

One of the best examples is in Philippians 2 which celebrates the big event that makes the difference between the old and new - the death (and exaltation) of Jesus. A death we celebrate on a day that is paradoxically named Good Friday. And it is undoubtedly a good day. A day of praise and rejoicing. For although we remember a brutal and foul deed, we are convinced that his death had an entirely different meaning to what appeared to be the case.

This was God’s own Son, giving up his life by his own choice on behalf of the world, so that we could live with God. God made him to be sin for us who are the sinners, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God - like him.

God did something in the death of Jesus that was accomplished once and for all when he died and was raised. God reconciled us to himself. He removed what was stopping us from having fellowship with God forever. He did it. Without our help or cooperation. He did everything that needed to be done.

Christ was not forced to die. But neither are we forced to be reconciled to God. But we are urged to. We are called on to be reconciled to God. To turn back to him in repentance knowing that everything has been done that needs to be done in order for us to be forgiven by God. Nothing remains for us to do except to turn back.

And when we have turned back and received his reconciliation, we too are appointed as ambassadors for Christ. God makes his appeal to others through us. We are sent to speak on behalf of God and to urge others also to be reconciled with God.

No wonder so much great music has been written to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is an event without equal and continues to stir up our hearts in praise and thanksgiving.

Dale

Comments

That's right that we have different music in our heart, our soul and our lips since Jesus has died and risen for us. Jesus is our strength and joy, He is the reason we live and sing.
For every blessing,
For saving us from the death to eternity life,
For every answer prayer,
For always being there,
For love that hears us when we call,
For arms that lift us when we fall,
For everything in our lives,
We should sing and praise Him all the time.

Posted by Lidia on Monday, April 9, 2007 at 07:01:13

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