Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/205737
2 Foreword "You are My witnesses, and My servants whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe that I am God." (Isaiah 43:10) nl y The cantata, Witness, takes us to the heart of the Passion Story as we view Christ's journey to the cross through the eyes of people who witnessed the final days of His earthly life. As we experience these events through the varied testimonies of devout believers, angry religious leaders, and skeptical government officials, we are challenged to become faithful witnesses in our own right. This inspired idea was conceived by my friend and colleague, Jean Anne Shafferman, while pondering the great mystery of our faith during a Maundy Thursday worship service. vi ew O The dictionary defines a witness as one who provides a firsthand account of an event or a person's actions. There were many firsthand witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus. As is often the case, though, these first century witnesses were frequently miles apart in how they perceived Him. The view through the lens of faith saw Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of the prophecies of old. The view through the lens of skepticism saw Him as a fraud, a charlatan, a common carpenter's Son who had grown up in a nearby village. Regardless of one's perspective, there was no denying that His presence was polarizing. People either identified strongly with Jesus and His message, or they chose to vehemently deny His sovereign claims. Fo rP re One could say that things have not changed dramatically in twenty centuries. Those who witness Jesus through eyes of faith see a Savior who lives and loves, a Redeemer of grace and compassion. Those who consider the story of Christ a myth still reject the claims of the One who called Himself the Son of God. Following the resurrection, Jesus told Thomas, His disciple who was struggling with his own doubts, to touch His scars. It was a life-changing moment for Thomas as his weakened faith was restored. Jesus said to him, "You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." (John 20:29) Like Thomas, many of us have questioned the claims of Christ. Though we cannot literally touch the crucifixion scars, the experiences of life bear witness to the presence of a living God: the beauty of creation, the miracle of life in a newborn, the encouragement of another amidst our own difficult situations, the devout prayer of a faithful saint, the physical or emotional healing of a loved one, the restoration of a broken relationship. We, too, are living witnesses to the claims of Christ. What do we do with those claims? Do we embrace or reject them? I pray that this cantata will renew your faith and mine in the power of the resurrected Christ! –Lloyd Larson 55/1169&71L-2