Advent Devotions

Movement 46: 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Chrsit all shall be made alive.

Click HERE and HERE to listen to this scripture passage as sung in Handel’s Messiah. 

Commentary:

These two verses written by the Apostle Paul provide a breathtaking panorama that spans from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation.  It is clearly implied in the Creation story that people were originally created to live forever.  Free access to the Tree of Life is an unmistakable symbol for eternal life.  The first man “Adam” chose to break fellowship with his creator. One of the primary results was being cut off from access to the Tree of Life, thereby introducing death into God’s creation.  Death was NOT in the original design specs for creation.  The Advent of Jesus, also called the Second Adam, was the first step in restoring the access of humanity to the Tree of Life.  This is confirmed at the end of the book of Revelation, where free access to the Tree of Life is once again restored.  In Christ shall all be made alive!

These verses, which are already powerful in written form, are so powerfully brought to life through Handel’s brilliant and dynamic musical interpretation.

After listening please return to this page. If you feel led to share your reaction to hearing the scripture in song, you may do so by clicking "comments." (website field may be left blank)