meskipun messiah lebih banyak menceritakan kisah tentang kebangkitan yesus dari kematian, setelah kematian handel, oratorio ini lebih sering ditampilkan pada masa-masa advent (menjelang natal).
organisasi dan penomoran gerakan
penomoran gerakan-gerakan di bawah ini sesuai dengan "novello vocal score" (1959), yang disunting oleh watkins shaw, dengan mengambil penomoran sebelumnya yang dirancang oleh ebenezer prout.
edisi-edisi lain menghitung gerakan-gerakan agak berbeda; edisi brenreiter tahun 1965, contohnya, tidak memberi nomor semua recitative dan mengurut dari 1 sampai 47.burrows (1991), pp. ix and 86100 pembagian ke dalam bagian dan adegan ("scene") adalah berdasarkan buku-kata tahun 1743 yang disiapkan untuk penampilan perdana di london.burrows (1991), pp. 8384 judul adegan ("scene") diberikan ketika burrows menyarikan judul-judul adegan oleh jennens.burrows (1991), pp. 5557
scene 2: the coming judgment ("penghakiman yang datang")
thus saith the lord of hosts (bass)
but who may abide the day of his coming (alto or bass)
and he shall purify the sons of levi (chorus)
scene 3: the prophecy of christ's birth
behold, a virgin shall conceive (alto)
9. o thou that tellest good tidings to zion (alto and chorus)
for behold, darkness shall cover the earth (bass)
the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light (bass)
for unto us a child is born (chorus)
scene 4: the annunciation to the shepherds
pifa ("pastoral symphony": instrumental)
there were shepherds abiding in the fields (soprano)
and lo, the angel of the lord (soprano)
and the angel said unto them (soprano)
and suddenly there was with the angel (soprano)
glory to god in the highest (chorus)
scene 5: christ's healing and redemption
rejoice greatly, o daughter of zion (soprano)
then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (soprano)
he shall feed his flock like a shepherd (alto and soprano)
his yoke is easy (chorus)
scene 1: christ's passion
behold the lamb of god (chorus)
he was despised and rejected of men (alto)
surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (chorus)
and with his stripes we are healed (chorus)
all we like sheep have gone astray (chorus)
all they that see him laugh him to scorn (tenor)
he trusted in god that he would deliver him (chorus)
thy rebuke hath broken his heart (tenor or soprano)
behold and see if there be any sorrow (tenor or soprano)
scene 2: christ's death and resurrection
he was cut off (tenor or soprano)
but thou didst not leave his soul in hell (tenor or soprano)
scene 3: christ's ascension
lift up your heads, o ye gates (chorus)
scene 4: christ's reception in heaven
unto which of the angels (tenor)
let all the angels of god worship him (chorus)
scene 5: the beginnings of gospel preaching
thou art gone up on high (soprano)
the lord gave the word (chorus)
how beautiful are the feet (soprano)
their sound is gone out (chorus)
scene 6: the world's rejection of the gospel
why do the nations so furiously rage together (bass)
let us break their bonds asunder (chorus)
he that dwelleth in heaven (tenor)
scene 7: god's ultimate victory
thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (tenor)
scene 2: the day of judgment
behold, i tell you a mystery (bass)
the trumpet shall sound (bass)
scene 3: the final conquest of sin
then shall be brought to pass (alto)
o death, where is thy sting (alto and tenor)
but thanks be to god (chorus)
if god be for us, who can be against us (soprano)
scene 4: the acclamation of the messiah
worthy is the lamb (chorus)