Johann Sebastian Bach

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

On this day, July 28, in the year 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach died.  Christians celebrate the day of a believers death as his birthday into eternal life.  Johann believed in Jesus as his Savior. He now lives in Christ and awaits with us the resurrection.  He was a Lutheran Christian and a Kantor (choirmaster) at his church.  If you go to Leipzig, you can tour his home, and right across the street, see his church. To modern eyes it is a magnificent building. But, there are much larger and more ornate churches in Germany.

We are thankful that God has given us the Gospel through pastors, musicians, teachers, and all God’s people in His church.  He did this for you so that so that “you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” When you listen to the music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, this must be in your mind, or you will not understand it at all.  His work is a profound proclamation of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

When I visited Leipzig a number of years ago, I saw Bach’s church and visited his home, now a museum.  Though the church seemed amazing, it wasn’t, as I mentioned earlier, the most beautiful I had seen in Germany.  In fact, there was a more magnificent church right in town by the name of St. Paul’s, or in German, the Paulinerkirche.  But, I didn’t see St. Paul’s.  Why not? Leipzig is located in what was once Communist/Atheist East Germany.  Though the church survived World War II almost unscathed, the communists decided to dynamite the church to make room for expansion of the university.  That was their stated goal, but they demolished the beautiful St. Paul’s to try to erase the spiritual heart of the city and the Christian faith.  People protested.  Many were arrested.  Where once the Gospel rang out, there was but an empty hole after the explosions. 

Many years later, it was determined to replace the church. The building that replaced St. Paul’s was in the shape of the former church, but cold and dead in comparison to what had been dynamited.  Sadly, so much more was lost in terms of faith in their culture, not to mention the lives of so many people lost in the war.  

But, God is gracious.  The Gospel of Jesus that could not be halted by the cross of calvary, continues to this day.  Jesus rose from the dead and His church still calls all people to repentance and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Even in a very broken and secularist society, even in Leipzig, the song of faith is heard.  And today we remember the victory of one of God’s servants who died on this day 271 years ago, Johann Sebastian Bach.  For through His compositions we are still lifted to look to Jesus, believe and be saved.

Let us pray

Lord God heavenly Father, I thank you for your rich mercy in giving your Gospel to your church so that your love in Jesus is still heard among us.  I thank you for church musicians who help us to take this Gospel with us into the week, giving us an eternal song in our hearts.  Bless all who labor in your church to provide music.  Direct them so that their musical efforts will clearly proclaim your word and glorify Jesus Christ.  In your name I pray.  AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.