“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was God.”
If you’re of a certain age, then you remember those inspiring youth musicals sung in many a church across America during the 1970s. One of the more popular ones was “Celebrate Life” by Buryl Red and Ragan Courtney in 1972.
It tells the story of Jesus from birth to death to Resurrection. The narrator opens by reciting John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
The story progresses from there through a combination of dialogue and songs; songs that more than 50 years later still resonate with their depth of thought, transformative message, and, of course, the lyrics.
Each of the songs builds off the one before it to present the account of Jesus’ ministry as He fulfilled the will of His Father to bring salvation to His people.
Through it all is the underlying message of peace and hope. In fact, the word “peace” is the most repeated word in “Celebrate Life.” It is a reminder that no matter what is going on in the world, there is a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Our Lord’s first obedience was to the will of His Father, not the needs of the people; their salvation would be thenatural outcome of His obedience. So, when we turn to Him, as is so beautifully written in “I Quietly Turn toYou,” we see “the peace, the joy, the hope that perfect love could be.” We see the One who is “hope of thehopeless, friend of the friendless…and suddenly, warmth and love and joy were shining through me.”
While you think the musical would end with the joyful “Easter Hymn” proclaiming that He Is Alive, we hearone last song, “Prayer for Peace.” Its lyrics present a straightforward message; a message that today, as whenJesus walked the earth, encourages us to do as He did…“Make me an instrument of thy peace, Lord. Wherethere is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon; Doubt, faith; Despair, hope; Darkness, light;Sadness, joy.” Let us be instruments of His peace.
In Remembrance of Him!
Floyd, Bonnie and Meg
Comentarios