Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring

Artwork:
The Harrowing of Hell is a late Byzantine fresco of the Anastasis (rising from the dead), (image by Jim Forest CC 2.0) located in the parecclesion (side chapel) of the Church of Chora in Istanbul, Turkey. This particular fresco depicts Christ releasing Adam and Eve from their tombs.

Carol Text: Johann Sebastian Bach, 1723
Carol Melody: Johann Sebastian Bach, 1723
Piano accompaniment by Lezlie Taguding

Jesu, joy of man’s desiring
Holy wisdom, love most bright
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring soar to uncreated light
Word of God
Our flesh that fashioned with the fire of life impassioned
Striving still to truth unknown
Soaring, dying round Thy throne

“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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

- John 1:1-4 (ESV)

Advent Devotional


This lovely lilting Baroque piece is often performed as an instrumental at weddings, but the composer who popularized it is the inimitable J.S. Bach who originally programmed it as the finale to a ten-movement liturgical work celebrating the miraculous pregnancies of Mary and Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke, and God’s subversion of the world order through the birth of Christ. Under Bach’s design, this carol becomes a choir-song of praise to Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, our joy and our strength.

Even the light, bright major chords give way to a text that has a somewhat mystical quality, continuing advent allusions. “Word of God” and “uncreated light” suggest John 1:1 and John 1:4, respectively. Clearly connecting the biblical passage with the stanza, the phrase “un-created light” illuminates new meaning to some of us. In the Orthodox tradition, “uncreated light” is not natural light; and neither is it light that emanates from God or Christ. “Uncreated light” is the being of God, God’s Self and energy. This light is represented in the Transfiguration and Resurrection icons of the Orthodox Church by a white (or blue-tinted) light which surrounds the representations of the transfigured and resurrected Christ, signifying God’s presence at these pivotal points in Christ’s ministry and life. We are “drawn” to this Light, even “soaring, dying round thy throne.”

Jesus, He is our heart’s desire. He is The Word, The Life, The Light, the Creator of all things, the desire or every person’s heart, even if some may not realize it yet.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,
You are the light of my life,
my heart’s desire. Draw
my soul to Thee.


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Lynne Marie Kohm

Lynne Marie Kohm, serves as the John Brown McCarty Professor of Family Law at Regent University School of Law. She is the author of the books Estate Planning Success for Women and The Christian Guide to Wills, Living Trusts and Estate Planning. Her professional affiliations include and have included the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board of Governors, Virginia Bar Association Domestic Relations Council, Christian Legal Society, American Bar Association, Eagle Forum, Alliance Defense Fund, Concerned Women for America, and Bethany Christian Services. She and her husband have two children.

 
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