Liturgy, the Work of the People
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain..." Revelation 5:12 (NIV)
Sunday is Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. During the week, we'll be reflecting on the events that led to Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Mass school shootings; Austin package bombs; #Metoo movement; the increasingly coarse, vulgar language now accepted as routine in media and public discourse; trillions of dollars of national debt; and an increasingly secularized society have left my heart aching over the last few weeks. I need to be reminded that by his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death, and hell.
Enter singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson's latest hymn release "Is He Worthy?" Because there aren't a lot of hymns written about the resurrection of Jesus, Peterson decided to write a hymn that is liturgical. Peterson writes, "One of the things I like best about liturgy is the more or less constant involvement of the congregation. The word “liturgy” means “the work of the people.” It’s not so much about us coming to sit while the pastor and the elders do everything, but about all of us together rehearsing the story of redemption, edifying each other by reading Scripture aloud, reaffirming what we believe, embodying worship by kneeling or singing together—all of it culminating, of course, in the Lord’s Supper. I can’t overstate how much I crave the moment at the end of the service when I kneel at the front and a friend of mine places the unleavened bread in my open hands, looks me in the eye and says, “Andrew, this is the body of Christ, broken for you.”
"Is He Worthy?" is organized as a series of musical questions and answers. A soloist sings a question and the congregation responds corporately. Together they rehearse the story of redemption in a question and answer format, affirming truths we know, but of which we need to be reminded. Verse one of "Is He Worthy?" asks four questions to which the congregation responds "We do."
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)
In verse 2 four questions are again asked, but the corporate answer is changed to "It is:"
Is all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
Verse 3
Does the Father truly love us? (He does)
Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)
And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loved? (He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)
Peterson writes, "The chorus of “Is He Worthy?” is taken from that staggering moment in Revelation 5 when the prophet asks, “Is anyone worthy to break the seal and open the scroll?” He looks around, along with all the hosts of heaven, and when no one is found who is worthy to do so, he weeps bitterly. But then one of the elders says, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able.” And then the Lamb, looking as if it has been slain, appears at the center of the throne, takes the scroll and breaks the seal, and at once all the heavenly hosts sing his praises: “He is worthy!”
Chorus:
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to GodTo reign with the Son
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?Of all blessing and honor and gloryIs He worthy? Is He worthy?Is He worthy of this?He is!Is He worthy? Is He worthy?He is! He is!
The official video for "Is He Worthy?" was launched last week by The Gospel Coalition and is available on the TGC website and Youtube. I hope you can use the lyrics this week in your heart preparation for Easter.
He IS worthy!