The Heart of Christmas

The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ . . . And he shall reign for ever and ever . . . King of kings, and Lord of lords!

These familiar words from the Hallelujah chorus come at the climax of Handel’s Messiah. An apocryphal story tells of how King George II was so moved that he rose to his feet during this chorus. Whether or not it is true, audiences still rise to their feet for the Hallelujah chorus.

This year marks the 100th since the Calvin Oratorio Society made its debut performance of Handel’s Messiah. I am now able to enjoy the music of Messiah from the other side of the conductor after joining the Calvin Oratorio choir. It’s comprised of over 160 voices, some of whom have been singing for decades in this annual Calvin performance.

Attending a performance of Messiah is not a uniquely Christian tradition. Many concert-goers seek out these performances each Christmas for Messiah’s artistic merit; it’s one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. I find it interesting that performances of Messiah attract many folks who are not Christians. How do they receive the words? What might it be like to memorize the notes of Messiah without believing it? How can anyone overlook the gospel in its moving solos and majestic choruses set to stirring orchestral movements? 

Study is not enough
In the book Provocations, Christian philosopher Søren Kierkegaard writes about the wise men at the time of Jesus’ birth and how they consulted the scribes to determine where he was to be born. Kierkegaard observes, “Although the scribes could explain where the Messiah should be born, they remained quite unperturbed in Jerusalem. They did not accompany the Wise Men to seek him.” He goes on to observe that, “Similarly one may know the whole of Christianity, yet make no movement.” Kierkegaard continues to marvel at the contrast between the scribes and the wise men: “What a difference! The three kings had only a rumor to go by. But it moved them to make that long journey. The scribes were much better informed. They sat and studied the Scriptures like so many scholars, but it did not make them move.” It seems that a deep knowledge of Scripture, or memorizing every word and note of Messiah are not enough if, like the scribes, we are not moved.

Abraham Kuyper was an accomplished newspaper columnist, professor, pastor and politician. In his writings, however, he emphasizes the importance of personal rebirth or “palingenesis.” In his book on Kuyper titled Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition, Craig Bartholomew writes that “There is no value in being about ‘kingdom business’ if one has not been born again! The kingdom is first about coming into a right and living relation to the King, and cultural engagement follows from and always builds on this experience.”

And so I am reminded during this Christmas season to reflect on this reality. It’s a delight to sing Messiah with people who not only enjoy the music but likely believe the words in their hearts.

This Christmas, let us not remain “quite unperturbed” and read the “Scriptures like so many scholars.” Like the wise men, may we be moved by the gospel story again, and celebrate the coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords.