New Testament | Hebrews 10:5-10 (with Jeff Sholar)

Opening Song:
There Blooms A Rose in Bethlehem by Neil DeGrade

Lyrics:
There blooms a rose in Bethlehem
From tender stem hath sprung
Of Jesse's line this flower grows
As men of old have sung
Isaiah told us long ago
About this rose we'd find
In virgin arms we shall behold
The Savior of mankind

The glories of the heavens
Surrounded shepherds bright
The angels sang a sign was shown
The Christ was born that night
What mystery they came upon
The sign the heralds laud
In manger slept the Holy One
In flesh the Son of God

This flow'r in bloom a scent so sweet
That greets us in the air
It has dispelled with hopefulness
The sting of death's despair
Foretold this rose was born to die
But would not see decay
So those who place their faith in Him
Shall blossom from the grave

So those who place their faith in Him
Shall blossom from the grave

Passage:
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
(Hebrews 10:5–10 ESV)

Musical Reflection:
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming (ES IST EIN ROS) by Michael Praetorius

Reflection Notes:
Praetorius composed this tune in the early seventeenth century while working at various court and church appointments in Germany. The somewhat melancholy nature of the melody reflects the theological tension of the text: the rose of Christ is born to die, but will rise again in resurrection glory.

Prayer:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this
mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in
great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again
in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.