GroshLink

 April 13, 1742: Handel's famous oratorio Messiah [note: not The Messiah] premieres in Dublin's Fishamble Street Musick Hall and is met with critical praise. -- source This Week in Christian History. 

Although many times associated with Advent, first performed for Easter (and what a joy to have pieces incorporated over the past 2 weeks at our local congregation which ended our Easter service with the Hallelujah Chorus).  David Lyle Jeffrey has an excellent piece regarding Sawyer's The Fifth Gospel: Isaiah in the History of Christianity in which he includes a part regarding John Newton's use of the text in a sermon series.

After having the opportunity to hear Baruch Maoz present on Passover and Jesus - a Jewish Christian's Point of View, on Good Friday (great work InterVarsity Dickinson Christian Fellowship, John Newton Center, The Christian Legal Society of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law!), I desire even more to dig into the relationship between the prophetic anticipation of the Messiah and the fulfillment in the coming of our Lord Jesus. At present, enjoying the presentation of Handel's Messiah by Minnesota Public Radio.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Fur unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.