Wounded, Crowned, Risen: Isaiah’s Vision of The Messiah

A few weeks before Christmas, Melody and I had the chance to do something surprising for two people who grew up in Northeast Ohio—we visited Severance Hall for the first time. We dressed up, enjoyed dinner in Little Italy, and then attended a Cleveland Orchestra performance of Handel’s Messiah. Walking into the hall was breathtaking, but even more powerful was the experience of worship through music.

Many people know the famous “Hallelujah Chorus,” but what struck us most was how much of Messiah comes directly from Scripture. Handel originally composed it with Easter in mind, telling the story of the Messiah—Jesus Christ—who came to rescue us.

That realization led us to the words of the prophet Isaiah, written centuries before Jesus. Isaiah points to the incredible promise that through Christ, our sins—though stained like scarlet—can be washed white as snow. It’s a powerful reminder as we prepare our hearts for Easter: Jesus came to wash away our sins.