The Lord promises that His Word will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25) and that He will leave a remnant to preach and hear the Gospel. Sometimes God's Word may seem so very hidden in the secularity of modern-day America, especially in our colleges and universities. The public educational system infused with liberal theology, atheistic morals, Eastern religious philosophy, etc. doesn't appear to welcome or tolerate historic Christianity, particularly as it is viewed through the clear lens of the Reformation.
That's where the choral tradition comes in. One of the few places where the Gospel has been guarded its place is in the great choral music of the church, now also shared with the classroom and the concert hall for its artistic value and teaching significance. Singing the liturgical mass settings (based on Scripture, arranged in a Law and Gospel format around the means of grace) as well as the fine chorale settings by J.S. Bach keeps the true message of the cross alive in some very dark places.
Bach's setting of the St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) is one of the richest proclamations of the Gospel (in its Christocentric or Lutheran framework) that remains in the public square today. It not only relates the Passion account from the gospel of Matthew, Picander's libretto calls for additional hymn verses and poetic texts which support the sola principles of the Reformation.
A couple of years ago, I attended a semi-staged performance of the St. Matthew Passion at a state university. While the choir sang the German text, English subtitles were provided in the program on the screen. The dramatic movement of the singers onstage also influenced the depiction of the story, and altered the role of the chorus from angry mob to mournful disciples of Christ. I thought to myself - how else could one go to such as institution and hear the pure Gospel delivered for three hours straight? Definitely not in the psychology classroom or the biology lab. The choir still proclaims the Gospel in its best musical apparel long after it has been rejected in other academic disciplines.
Every Holy Week, I try to listen to the entire St. Matthew Passion in its entirety (which, from my perspective, is the most edifying way to take it in). It considers several themes which, broadcasted from any other part of a college, would be offensive and untolerated:
- All of us, not only the disciples, are those for whom Christ died (1 John 2:2).
- We deserved the punishment Jesus received because of our sins (Is. 53:5).
- We must recognize these sins and repent (Mark 1:15).
- In this life, we endure persecution as Christians facing the devil, the world, and our flesh, In this way, we share in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13).
- Jesus Christ, even in the darkest part of His humiliation, retains His Godhood as well as its divine glory and attributes (the string "halo" around His words). It is evident that the Man dying on the cross and paying for the sins of the world is God's own Son (Matthew 27:54).
- He is also truly human. He feels pain and thirst, and does truly bear in His body the sufferings of hell, as well as true abandonment by the Father. Because of His humanity, He is truly our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
- Because of His sufferings, the Christian is able to look with confidence to Him for comfort in his or her trials (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Christ died so that we may not be afraid of our own earthly hardships, even death.
Overall, the Lutheran hermeneutics of BWV 244 bring out the "for-you-ness" of the salvation story, the gravity of sin, the "joyful exchange" of Christ's vicarious satisfaction, and the consolation it gives to each believer.
Of course, the Passion ends with Jesus' body being laid in the grave by His sorrowful friends - the resurrection is saved for Easter Sunday. Yet, new listeners whose hearts have been stirred by the Gospel should be inspired to seek out the conclusion to the story, to which the many chorales and poetic texts have alluded.
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU6QEklM4SA
Translation: http://www.emmanuelmusic.org/notes_translations/translations_cantata/t_bwv244.htm
The Lord's blessings on your Holy Week and Easter celebrations!
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