0211 THEY SANG A HYMN

SINGING A HYMN

So much takes place in this chapter, as the final hours of Jesus’ life unfold. And there is much that I would like to discuss. For example: There are at least three occurrences of blasphemy in this single chapter: Jesus would be the worst case, claiming to be the Christ–except that it is true. Peter commits both perjury and blasphemy when he calls down curses on himself and swears that he never knew Jesus. And Judas commits blasphemy against the Lord when he calls him Rabbi and betrays him with a kiss. Another famous quote in this chapter is what Jesus says to Peter when Pete keeps falling asleep, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

But there is one detail that must be talked about, because those of you who know me are aware that I am something of a music geek. This little detail is mentioned, but I’d like to delve into it a bit more. In verse 26, Mark writes, 

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

First, it is encouraging to know that Jesus and the disciples sang. I wonder what kind of voice Jesus had, but I wouldn’t expect it to be unusual. He was, after all, a Nazarene, you know. But how many of us sing a hymn together around the table before we leave the room? It’s a challenging example, don’t you think? I’d love to make it a regular practice that when someone joins us for dinner, we sing before we leave the table.

Having said that, the fact that they sang after the Passover meal is not unusual at all. It would be unusual if they neglected to follow the tradition of Jewish celebration of the Passover by simply leaving.

But they did more than just sing “a hymn,” as we have come to define a hymn in our day. The traditional text to be sung after Passover was the group of psalms known as the Great Hallel, consisting of Psalms 113-118, (sometimes also 111 and 112) because several of the psalms begin and/or end with “hallelujah!” (Praise the Lord). The words they sang were memorized and very familiar to Jewish adult men. Appropriately for Passover, they speak in praise of God for his deliverance and goodness to Israel. But there are also several lines that are strikingly prophetic, in light of the deliverance and sacrifice that are about to take place in ultimate fulfillment of the Passover Lamb himself. I wonder if the disciples thought back on those words they sang that night, thinking, “If I only knew how that psalm was about to be fulfilled, I’d have sung it louder!”

Here are some of those salient lines:

Psalm 111

    [9] He sent redemption to his people;

        he has commanded his covenant forever.

       Holy and awesome is his name! 

Psalm 112

    [8] His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,

        until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 

    [9] He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;

        his righteousness endures forever;

        his horn is exalted in honor. 

Psalm 116

    [3] The snares of death encompassed me;

        the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

        I suffered distress and anguish. 

    [4] Then I called on the name of the LORD:

        “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

    [8] For you have delivered my soul from death,

        my eyes from tears,

        my feet from stumbling; 

    [9] I will walk before the LORD

        in the land of the living.

    [15] Precious in the sight of the LORD

        is the death of his saints.     

Psalm 118

    [5] Out of my distress I called on the LORD;

        the LORD answered me and set me free. 

    [6] The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.

        What can man do to me? 

    [7] The LORD is on my side as my helper;

        I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

    [13] I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

        but the LORD helped me.

    [14] The LORD is my strength and my song;

        he has become my salvation. 

    [17] I shall not die, but I shall live,

        and recount the deeds of the LORD. 

    [18] The LORD has disciplined me severely,

        but he has not given me over to death.

    [22] The stone that the builders rejected

        has become the cornerstone.

    [23] This is the LORD’s doing;

        it is marvelous in our eyes. 

    [24] This is the day that the LORD has made;

        let us rejoice and be glad in it.

    [26] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

        We bless you from the house of the LORD. 

    [27] The LORD is God,

        and he has made his light to shine upon us.

    Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

        up to the horns of the altar!

    [29] Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

        for his steadfast love endures forever!