Andrew Peterson
Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ
(2004)
Reviewed by Burton Wray
Andrew Peterson Presents: Behold the Lamb of God: the TRUE Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ is one of the most unique Christmas CDs to come along in years. It is not just a CD of random Christmas songs, it is a retelling of the Christmas story. No, not a retelling of A Christmas Story the classic seasonal movie about a boy and his desire for a Red Ryder BB Gun. This CD is a retelling of the birth of Christ. Unlike most retellings of the Christmas story, this one does not begin with Mary and Joseph but with an intro song that makes one think of a grandparent with all the grandchildren around them going further and telling the children about how God went on to raise this son up to the Highest places. The next track goes back in time to the story of Moses and his confrontation with Pharaoh and the final plague, the death of the firstborn sons. The Hebrew children knew that if they put the blood of a lamb over their doorposts then their firstborn would be spared (a beautiful foreshadowing of the blood of the Lamb who would ultimately take away all the sins of the world). Even after the original Passover, the priests continued to sacrifice a spotless lamb to atone for the sins of their people (yet another picture of Christ).
"So Long Moses" is almost like a Cliff Notes version of the history of the Hebrew people, especially focusing on their leaders. After Moses, Joshua lead the nation, but it was not long into the nation's history that they started demanding a king. God gave them Saul, who didn't last long and he was succeeded by David. Eventually the nation is split and the people are divided. Prophets start prophesying of a King that would come, who would be "full of wisdom, full of strength." Isaiah prophesies that this King will be one who is "rejected, despised / A man of such sorrow." Micah prophesies that this King will come from Bethlehem.
Derek Webb is featured in "Deliver Us", which hints of the struggle of the Hebrew people in Egypt, but also hints of the coming Deliverer. The song ends with Christ saying "Jerusalem, Jerusalem / How often I have longed / To gather you beneath my gentle wings."
An instrumental version of one of the few traditional Christmas songs on the project, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," seems to serve as the turning point of the CD, moving from a discussion of the history of the Hebrew people and their need for a savior to the birth of Christ.
One of the most unique songs of the CD is "Matthew's Begats," which actually features the genealogy of Matthew 1:1-16 in song form. It may remind some listeners of those education cartoons that put the states of the U.S. or the countries of Europe or even the Presidents of the U.S. to song. Listeners will get a kick out of it, especially its rhymes.
"It Came to Pass" focuses on the story of Joseph, who was ready to leave his pregnant betrothed before an angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel told him that the child was the work of the Holy Spirit, so Joseph remained. In contrast, "Labor of Love," sung by Jill Phillips, focuses on what is going on with Mary at the time of the birth. The birth took place in a stable that was dirty and had cold cobblestones, but for Mary it was a "labor of love."
The remaining songs deal with the story of the shepherds and the Lamb of God "who died and rose again" and "who takes away our sin." A beautiful reprise wraps things up nicely.
This unique CD leaves listeners pondering the theological implications of the birth of Christ and the events and things in the Old Testament that foreshadowed it. It makes listeners think about Christmas in a way that few do, as more than just the birth of Christ, but also the fulfillment of years of promises.
This album flows wonderfully, moving from a prologue into the events of the Old Testament that foreshadowed the birth of Christ to the birth. Then it moves from the birth of Christ into a worshipful proclamation of the Lamb and finally into a reprise that wraps the project up wonderfully. Unfortunately, the reprise is not the final song on the CD. The CD closes with a hidden track that is simple and yet paradoxically theologically profound but it doesn't fit with the flow of the rest of the project. This leaves listeners focused on that extra track instead of the amazing story that the rest of the CD tells.
This is the most thought-provoking Christmas CD of recent memory. Peterson has done a wonderful job retelling the Christmas story in a unique and fresh way easily making this one of those Christmas CDs that will be pulled out every year.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Steve StockmanAndrew Peterson has produced an album that is brilliant in concept, in musical construction, in poetic adeptness, in theological eruditeness, and in personal and cultural challenge. There is a one line that swings the album in the hurtling heavenly meteorite way that Christ's birth turns history. "Labour of Love" sung by Jill Phillips begins "It was not a silent night..." and gives as realistic a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Brian A. SmithA project five years in the making, Behold the Lamb of God is a re-telling of the birth of Christ written by Andrew Peterson. Peterson and a plethora of guests make this the best Christmas-themed album since Your King Has Come, on which many of them (Andrew Osenga, Derek Webb) also were featured. Peterson continues to grow as an artist, as well as improving vocally. It is no secret that he…Similar sounding releases
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