Warning: This post will contain some pretty nerdy musical references, but some hopefully good spiritual references. :) Stick with it to the end. It will be worth I hope!
One of the seminars that I (David) am taking this semester as part of my Ph.D. studies is a music theory course in which we are studying the 9 Beethoven symphonies. At the beginning of the semester I was a bit apprehensive in approaching these works because I am a vocalist and an orchestral score can be cumbersome and difficult to read if you aren't used to it. Not to mention that fact that it was a doctoral level seminar!
Part of the requirements for the course has been to listen to each of the symphonies three times during the semester. This has been quite the journey. The more I listen, the more I am amazed. It is incredible that God gifted this flawed man with the insight, ability, and emotional capacity to write such music.
Music up until Beethoven's time largely followed a closely regulated system of compositional rules, customs, and traditions. There were musical geniuses that preceded him (Bach, Mozart, Haydn) but none revolutionized music the way in which Beethoven did. His groundbreaking 3rd symphony announced to the world that from the first performance onward, music would never be the same.
This got me thinking about Christ and the way that he transformed the lives of those in Israel when he was on earth and how he continues to revolutionize the way in which his followers live.
Following his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Christ inaugurated his ministry by preaching at the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. He was invited to speak and, as was the custom, was handed the scroll and opened it to the appointed place for the day's readings. Then he read words that were familiar to all of the Jews present in the synagogue - a prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
The scriptures then say that he slowly rolled up the scroll and took his seat (in those days the rabbi sat and preached while the congregation stood!) Everyone's eyes were fixed upon him, waiting to hear what this promising young teacher would have to say about this familiar text.
His family, childhood friends, and community had no idea what he was about say. "Today the scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." From that moment on, his earthly life and those with whom he came into contact would never be the same. He perfectly fulfilled this prophecy by demonstrating the new Kingdom of Heaven on earth through incredible signs and miracles. More importantly, he made provision for humanity's ultimate problem - spiritual death through sin - by his death on the cross.
The same person who shook Nazareth to its core with his first proclamation is the same one who in the book of Revelation proclaims "Behold, I am making all things new." True to his word, he is making all things new, one transformed believer at a time. As we are conformed into the image of the Son through the power of the Spirit, we regain our true identity as the image of the Creator and ultimately bring glory to God.
Each day our lives have the opportunity to proclaim to the world and those around us that, like Christ in Nazareth and Beethoven through his symphonies, there is more to this life than what they see, think, or could imagine. There are greater possibilities and newer heights to experience. The transforming power of Christ displayed in our lives reflects God's nature and speaks volumes more than the greatest of Beethoven's symphonies.
