scripture reading: Mark 9:33–37

Ta-Ta-Ta-Tum

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5:3)

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is one of the greatest and most popular pieces of classical music. Performed in Vienna, Austria, for the first time in 1808, it has been played perhaps more times by more orchestras worldwide than any other symphony ever written. The four note motif with which the symphony begins (ta-ta-ta-tum) is universally recognized and has been used and abused in many and various forms: rock music, television and radio ads, ringtones on cell phones, etc. The short-short-short-long motif, announced so prominently in the first four notes, recurs throughout the entire musical score. The theme nominates the symphony and unifies the whole. Once ta-ta-ta-tum enters your soul, the Fifth Symphony of Beethoven suddenly makes sense . . . no longer just noise. A theme is woven through the whole that ties it all together.

The first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth actually help me to better understand the opening verses of Matthew’s Fifth. Jesus is about to preach the Gospel of God. Up until this point, all has basically been prelude. But now, he formally steps to the podium, taps his baton on the music stand and raises his arms. A hush of anticipation falls over the crowd gathered on the mountain slope. The First Movement of the Gospel Symphony will be the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), but there will be other movements to follow. Some of the music will involve words, some miracles, some prayer, some conflict. The symphony will reach its dramatic climax when Jesus dies on a cross and then rises from the dead so that he can pour out his sanctifying Spirit on all of his followers. No music like this has ever been heard before.

Many however will only hear noise: interesting noise, perhaps even beautiful noise. But because they have missed the opening theme, the sounds and rhythms and instruments just don’t make sense. There is no unifying motif, nothing holding it all together. So go back and listen again. If you miss the opening notes, you miss everything. Blessed are the poor in spirit: Ta-ta-ta-tum . . . for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: Ta-ta-ta-tum.

Did you hear it? It comes so quickly you might miss it the first time. So play it again. Blessed are the spiritually bankrupt because they get the kingdom: Ta-ta-ta-tum. The entire Gospel Symphony is embedded in these few notes. This motif unifies the whole. All that follows in the Gospel story is simply an unfolding of this basic theme.

In Jesus’ day, many heard these opening notes and were enraptured by the sound. Because they had absorbed the opening theme, the rest of the Gospel made sense: the poor are rich, the sinful are righteous, the foolish are wise, the small are great, the servants will lead, the mournful are joyful, the weak are strong, the dead are alive, and the meek will inherit the earth! Ta-ta-ta-tum. But many found the opening notes to be strange music indeed, even discordant. And because they missed the first four notes, the Gospel never made sense. Ta-ta-ta-tum.

What about you? Do you hear it? Blessed are the spiritually bankrupt! They get the kingdom! Ta-ta-ta-tum.

The poor in spirit, when he acts most like a saint, confesses himself to be “the chief of sinners.” He blushes more at the defect of his
graces than others do at the excess of their sins . . . He lives, yet not he, but Christ lives in him. He labors, yet not he, but the grace of God. —Thomas Watson

point to ponder • Do you get it? Have you grasped the opening theme? The spiritually bankrupt inherit the kingdom! If you miss this, you will miss everything.

prayer focus • Those confused about the true message of the Gospel.