Revelation 15,2-4. Cantate

Revelation 15,2-4 3024

Cantate 40 

Vitalis of Ravenna, Italy. Martyr 171 

28. April 2024

1. ℣ Sing to Yahweh a new song:

  ℟ For He has done wonderful things. (Psalm 97,1a vul mas). 

О Jesus, dearest Friend, Your resurrection brings us a three-fold comfort: the resurrection of Jesus is our victory. Now our sins can no more condemn us. By the blood and wounds of Christ, by Your resurrection, we have obtained forgiveness of all our sins, no matter how many or how great and grievous they may be.  Amen. (Stark 515-16 © 1852; English 89). 

2. »And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: „Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.“« 

3. When the Apostle John received his revelation, imperial persecution against Christians were still fresh in the Church’s memory. Nero’s persecution of Christians began in Rome, and reached to other provinces; it lasted from ad 64-68; the Apostles Peter and Paul (ad 67/68) were martyred in Rome and the Evangelist Mark, now a bishop, was martyred in Alexandria (ad 68). The Church also commemorates 3 Christians who were martyred under Nero: Anastasia, Basilissa (ad 66) and Pudens (ad 64-68). Then Domitian’s persecution martyred more Christians and lead to John’s imprisonment on Patmos (circa ad 95), which is where he received his revelation. When Domitian died in a 96, so did the persecution of the Church, temporarily. Numerous Christians had been persecuted and martyred. In this terrifying conflict, though they are conquered by the beast and its image (Revelation 13,5-7), through death and martyrdom they come out of the struggle victorious, just as their Lord did on their behalf (Revelation 19,15; Isaiah 63,1-6) (Brighton 400). 

4. Tertullian (115-220) wrote: Plures efficimur, quotiens metimur a vobis: semen est sanguis Christianorum (Apologeticus L.13). The more we are mown down by you, the more we spring up in greater numbers: the blood of Christians is the seed. The Church on earth is always the Church militant; more often than not the Church suffers and is persecuted; through it all the Church testifies to Jesus and the gospel of His crucifixion and resurrection. Iubilatemus et cantatemus. We rejoice and we sing. Sometimes we sing laments; other times we sing imprecations, i.e. for justice; we always sing praises to Jesus, for salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7,10). 

5. Since the Holy Spirit convicts the world in regard to righteousness, then the prince of this world has been judged (John 16,8.11). In his revelation, John sees the victorious saints standing before the throne of God, singing a song of praise to the Lord. This is a song of victory, for they have conquered the beast and its image through the blood of the Lamb. This victory is not their own, but it is the victory of Christ Jesus, who has conquered sin, death and the devil through His death and resurrection.

6. Jesus is our Rock, our Fortress and our Might; He is our Captain in the well fought fight; in the dreary darkness, Christ is our one, true Light (lsb 677,2). To Jesus who is the Lamb that was slain we sing hymns and songs rejoicing in His victory over every earthly and spiritual power that seeks to enslave and control us. 

7. The Christian life is one of agonizing struggles (Anfechtungen, tentatio; Bayer xiii). Such agonizing struggles are not pleasant, but our Lord Jesus Christ uses them to strengthen us as persons and Christians. Meditate upon the words of the Apostle Paul concerning the thorn in the flesh Jesus had put in his life: »But Jesus said to me: „My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.“ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong« (2. Corinthians 12,9-10). Paul can say this because he knows that »Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart, and in Him we find rest for our souls« (Matthew 11,29). 

8. So when agonizing struggles bear heavy upon your body and soul, turn to Jesus, let Him take upon Himself your struggles, for His yoke is light and His shoulders are more than capable of bearing your soul-wrenching struggles and tribulations. Do not bear such things by yourself. Jesus is here for you, and he wants to bear your burdens. You are not bothering Him when you pray and ask Him to take your troubles upon Him. Jesus wants to do this for you. He bore all your sins upon the cross; He can handle whatever struggles you are over-burdened with. 

9. Iubilate Deo, omnis terra; cantate, et exsultate, et psallite (Psalm 97,4 vul). Rejoice in God, all the earth; sing, rejoice and make music. Christ is risen!! Alleluia! 

9. O people, heed this lesson wise,

It will be useful in your task:

Do not be fooled by the disguise

Of the world’s alluring mask.

Trust not in the power and grace

Of princes, for they too, in the end,

Are nothing but a haze, a trace,

No more than a fleeting trend. 

   (Du meine Seele, singe elkg 583,2 2021 Paul Gerhard 1653 nach Psalm 146). 

This is most certainly true. 

10. Et pax Dei, quæ exuperat omnem sensum, custodiat corda vestra, et intelligentias vestras in Christo Jesu. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

11. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast promised in Thy Holy Gospel that Thy disciples shall know the truth and the truth shall make thee free, give us, we pray Thee, the Sprit of truth, sent by Thee and leading to Thee, that we may find the truth in finding Thee, who art the Way, the Truth and the Life, forever and ever.  Amen. (Cantate, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.) 

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

Starck, Johann. Tägliches Hand-Buch. Copyright © 1852 Enßlin & Laiblin.

Starck, Johann. Tägliches Handbuch. Franz Pieper, tr. Copyright © 19oo Concordia Publishing House.

Starck, Johann. Starck’s Prayer Book. Copyright © 2009 Concordia Publishing House. 

Bayer, Oswald. Martin Luther’s Theology. Copyright © 2008 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.