Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. — Matthew 26:14-16

This is the first of an eight part series featuring the "sounds of the passion". They are based on a sermon series that was published by Concordia Publishing House a few years ago. My church will be using this theme for its midweek Lenten services and you can get a sneak peak of the complete series here. These will be released every Friday, leading up to Easter Sunday.

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. — Joel 2:12,13

The Chi Rho symbol is one of the most ancient of the monograms of our Lord Jesus Christ. It takes the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ). Books have been written about this one symbol and its use in catacombs, coins, lamps, and pottery that have been discovered by archaeologists. Countless variations of the Chi Rho have been made over the centuries, often combining other names of Christ within the symbol or rearranging the two letters. Here, the upper-right portion of the Chi (Χ) is joined together with the Rho (Ρ).

Latin

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

English

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." — Isaiah 7:14

Latin

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

English

O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

"He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." — Isaiah 2:4

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6