On the Third Day of Christmas: St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

St. John is the author of the Gospel account bearing his name, plus 1st, 2nd and 3rd John and the Revelation.

He never mentions himself by name in his Gospel. He is always the "beloved" or "the one whom Jesus loved."

Lots of great music comes from John's writings.

Probably the most well-known is JS Bach's Passion According to St. John.

Bach used the text from Scripture as well as hymn verses to convey the message of Jesus' crucifixion. The final hymn verse is Ach Herr, lass' dein lieb' Engelein, or "Lord, Let at Last Thine Angels Come." You can find the texts for both the German and the English here. The first setting of this text is in German and taken directly from Bach's Passion. The second setting is Hans Leo Hasler's setting for double chorus in English. You can check out the conductor's blog by clicking "Composing My Thoughts" over on the sidebar. As a bonus, the spiritual, "I Can Tell the World" follows the video. The students are from Winnebego Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

JS Bach: Ach Herr, lass' dein lieb' Engelein

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"Lord, Let at Last Thine Angels Come" with "I Can Tell the World"

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From John's Epistles comes the praise chorus, "Behold What Manner Of Love." The text is from 1 John 3:1 and is quoted pretty much word-for-word. This simple song is taught to children and adults alike. Here's a piano arrangement followed by a setting for two guitars and solo voice.

"Behold What Manner of Love" for piano

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"Behold What Manner of Love" for guitars and solo voice

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The Book of Revelation lends itself to hymn writing. Popularly known as "This is the Feast," the song "Festival Canticle: Worthy is Christ" is sometimes sung in the place of "Glory to God in the Highest" during the Divine Service. Here's the original setting featuring a male chorus.

"Festival Canticle: Worthy is Christ"

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia!

Worthy is Christ the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia!

Power, riches, wisdom and strength,
and honor and blessing and glory are His.

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia!

Sing with all the people of God
and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory and might
be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia!

For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia!

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Similar themes run through the final sections of Handel's Messiah. Here is a dramatized version of "Worthy Is the Lamb" and the Great "Amen." They use hand motions inspired by American Sign Language. German subtitles are included!

GF Handel: Worthy is the Lamb and Amen

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,
and hath redeemed us to God by His blood,
to receive power,
and riches,
and wisdom,
and strength,
and honour,
and glory,
and blessing.

Blessing,
and honour,
glory
and power
be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb,
for ever and ever.

Amen

Revelation 5:12-13

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Perhaps the most famous of all of John's writings is from his Gospel account, John 3:16. To read this passage in multiple languages click here. To listen to the text sung in various musical settings, click here.

Too busy for that? Here's John Stainer's classic setting of John 3:16 (and 17).

John Stainer: God So Loved the World

God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son
that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
should not perish,
should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world,
God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world might be saved.

God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son
that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
should not perish,
should not perish but have everlasting life,
everlasting life,
everlasting, everlasting life.

God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world.