When Our Messiah Comes (Isaiah 35: 1-6, 10)

(A sermon preached November 19, 2006 at University United Methodist Church, East Lansing MI by Kennetha Bigham-Tsai)

There is a story that as Handel composed Messiah, he wept at the beauty of the music. But friends, I would like to imagine that though Handel’s Messiah is a beautiful work of art, it was not just the music that caused Handel to weep. Instead, I would like to imagine that in and through this great composition and the story it tells, Handel was able to see some of the glory of God revealed in Christ. And so he wept at the beauty of God’s glory revealed in and through the Messiah about whom he composed this great oratorio.

Through Messiah, Handel tells the story of God’s salvation and glory realized and revealed through the advent, passion and resurrection of Christ. Indeed, Handel’s Messiah and our text for this morning in Isaiah 35 are both about the advent of God’s glory and of God’s salvation—the coming of God’s glory and salvation into the world through the one we call the Christ—the Messiah.  

Let’s look at this passage in Isaiah 35. In this text, the prophet writes for a people who had experienced exile. The Israelites, at different times in their history, had been conquered and taken into exile by both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. They had been taken away from the land which they considered holy. They had been taken away from the holy places where they worshipped their God. I can only imagine the pain they must have experienced from being driven from these holy places. I can only imagine their feelings of hopelessness and separation from their Lord.

And so Isaiah sought, through these words recorded in Chapter 35, to give them hope, for he envisioned a day when they would return from exile—when they would be saved and brought home by their God.

And that return from exile would be much more than a return to the land. It would be a return to a state of righteousness and holiness—a return to right relationship with God and with each other. It would be a return to a way of living in which they would exist in the presence of God’s glory. And in the presence of that divine glory, the whole of creation would be saved.

Look at what this text envisions for the Israelite people returning from exile. It envisions the wilderness and dry lands being watered with God’s glory and then breaking forth with singing. It envisions the desert plains blossoming with crocuses and rejoicing. This text envisions the desert revealing the splendor and beauty of God’s glory. Then the people who must have been so fearful—the people who must have been so insecure about their safety—this text envisions them being strengthened and made strong. This text imagines fearful hearts being quieted, and the Lord, their Messiah, coming with salvation.

This text shows us a people who will be changed when their Messiah comes. Indeed, their blinded eyes will be opened. Their eyes, which failed before to see their God, will now see. And God in all of God’s glory will be revealed to them.

And their ears will be unstopped as well, and they will hear God. They will hear God’s gentle leading toward holy living. They will hear the words of their God calling them into faithful relationship—in those great words in Deuteronomy—“Hear O Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might,” (Deut 6: 4-5). They will hear—with ears wide open-- the words of their God wooing them into a relationship of love.

And when they hear their God, the lame shall be healed and will leap and dance with joy. Those who could not speak, will be able to sing. And they will sing of God’s glory, and they will dance to the music of gladness at God’s provision and salvation, for in the midst of their spiritual dryness, it is their God who will provide water—living water--that which must have been so precious to a people who lived in desert places.

The prophet promises the Israelites that they will be saved; they will be ransomed and will return from their exile to their beloved Zion with joy and gladness. The prophet promises them that their Messiah will save them and bring them home, and that they will live in the presence of God’s glory, and that they will rejoice. This is the promise of a coming Messiah that Isaiah extends to the people of Israel.

But friends what will happen when our Messiah comes?—for we too are a people in exile—a people sometimes living in spiritually dry places and in desert lands.

This text speaks to us as well of that day when our Messiah will come with the hope of salvation. This text calls us to imagine the places in our lives that are barren and dry—those barren places of broken relationships and failed dreams—those dry places of struggle and pain. This text calls us to close our eyes and listen to its words and to imagine those dry places in our lives flowing with living waters and blossoming with crocuses and rejoicing in the glory of our God.    

What will happen when our Messiah comes?

This text and Handel’s oratorio invite us to hope and allow us to imagine all of our fears and insecurities being wiped away—our fearful hearts being quieted and our God embracing us saying “Comfort, comfort my people,” (Isaiah 40:1). This text and our music today allow us to imagine God speaking tenderly to us and proclaiming our pardon. This text and Handel’s great work allow us to imagine every valley being lifted up and every mountain and hill being made low…and all of the crooked places of our lives being made straight, and the glory of the Lord being revealed to us,” (cf. Isaiah 40: 1-5).   

What will happen when our Messiah comes?

This text in Isaiah and Handel’s composition speak to us of that day and of that hope and allow us to imagine that our Messiah will come and that we will be refined like silver and made holy and pleasing to God, (cf. Malachi 3: 2-3). And we will live with justice and in right relationship with one another and with the earth. And the places of injustice and conflict and strife will be smoothed away. And we will live in peace.

What will happen when our Messiah comes?

I can only imagine that our blinded eyes will be opened. Our eyes which sometimes do not see the poverty of others will be opened to the reality of their poverty. Our eyes which sometimes do not see hope for peace will be opened to the possibility of peace. Our eyes that sometimes do not see the way out of our difficulties will be opened so that we might see the inviting hand of God beckoning us to a place of comfort. Our eyes that sometimes do not see the light will be opened so that we will see the light of God’s love and of God’s peace.

What will happen when our Messiah comes?

Friends, he has come. And his name is Jesus, and the shepherds heralded his coming, and the wise men brought him gifts. And the lowly animals put him up in the stable, and Mary sang to him, and Joseph cradled him. And he grew up and became a man, and he was tested in the desert and overcame, and he was baptized and proclaimed the pleasing and righteous son of God. And he walked the earth, and talked to women, and healed lepers, and ate with outcasts, and challenged injustice, and called disciples, and fed the people, and set them free. And through his sacrifice, we too have been ransomed and set free. Our weak knees have been strengthened, our fearful hearts quieted. And he has given us peace that surpasses all circumstance and understanding, (cf. Philippians 4:7).

He is the glory of God revealed to us--our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,  our Prince of Peace--the one who will uphold justice and righteousness in our land, (cf. Isaiah 9: 6). He is our king who has come triumphant and victorious, yet humble and riding on a donkey. He is our Emmanuel, God with Us. And he is here. He is here in our hearts and in our church and in this music that we have heard this morning.

He is here, for God has revealed Godself to us in the person of Christ—our Messiah. He has stilled our hearts and formed our Church and given us strength to work for justice and righteousness in our world. And through us, the glory of the Lord will be revealed to all the earth, and the earth shall blossom in its dry places.

In its places of war, peace will spring up like the crocus. In its places of poverty, the glory of God shall flower and bloom, and there will be plenty. In its desert places of injustice, justice and righteousness will flow like living waters throughout the land. In the lonely and barren places of pain and struggle, joy and singing shall rise up to the heavens.

And then we will weep as Handel did at the glory of the Lord revealed. And we will celebrate and bring thanksgiving to God, for the whole of creation will return from its exile. The ransomed of the Lord will return and come with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon our heads. And we will live with joy and gladness. And, we will sing Hallelujah—Praise God—Hallelujah! Rejoice! For our Messiah has arrived! Amen.

Some Notes on the Scriptural Texts for Handel’s Messiah

The musical presentation for Music Sunday consisted of selections mostly from the Advent portions of Messiah. Charles Jennens, a clergy person, selected the scriptural texts for Messiah using the King James translation of the Bible. I have listed below the corresponding texts for most of the selections we enjoyed on Music Sunday.

Comfort ye (Introit/Nathaniel Peake, tenor)—Isaiah 40:1-4

Rejoice, the Lord is King (Opening Hymn, UMH 716, words by C. Wesley, Music by Handel)—1 Cor 15: 51-52

And the glory of the Lord, (Anthem/Chancel Choir)—Isaiah 40:5

But who may abide (Anthem/Nancy Perry)—Malachi 3:2-3

For unto us a child is born (Anthem/Chancel Choir)—Isaiah 9:6

There were shepherds… (Anthem/Susan Stinson)—Luke 2: 8-13

Glory to God (Anthem/Chancel Choir)—Luke 2:14

Rejoice greatly, Second Version (Offeratory/Susan Stinson)—Zechariah 9:9-10