Gory Devastation Before Glorious Resurrection: Three Musical Depictions
Josh Rodriguez
C. S. Lewis, one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the 20th century, transitioned from atheism to theism but laughed at the idea that we could ever “know” our Creator any more than Hamlet could “know” Shakespeare. It later occurred to him, however, that this might be possible if Shakespeare wrote himself into the story. If Creator came in the form of the Created perhaps the Created could know and be known. Infinity entering finitude, Word becoming flesh, perfect love and light taking on human form: that is the glorious truth that Christmas proclaims. And it is followed by the equally bold claim of Good Friday – that God shares in our suffering, that Christ, “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing…and he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:6-8, NIV) This reality comes as both sword and salve; it mends the broken and breaks the proud. That God participates in our suffering and invites us to participate in his suffering as doorway to abundant life in Christ – this is a paradoxical and profound reality that has fueled artistic creativity around the world for centuries. With that in mind, here are three recent works that explore the mysterious beauty, goodness, and truth of Holy Week.
Read More