I’m getting older so I can’t always remember what I have shared and what I haven’t.  In a way, that doesn’t matter because this is worth sharing many times over.

“Go To Dark Gethsemane” is not in our hymnal, but it’s a song I grew up singing every Lenten season in the Lutheran Church.  I came across this video back in Lent and it crossed through my YouTube feed again this morning as I was trying to get a handle on what another hymn, I was considering for Sunday sounds like.

I was struck then and again today, by the way the organist/music director chose to play this hymn.  The somber single pipe playing of the introduction with an almost taps-like feel to it is powerful in itself.  As I sat and reflected, I thought about Jesus, singularly praying in the garden, singularly taking on the sin of the world and that intro seemed even more appropriate.  But, more than that, the congregation begins singing as the organ is opened up full-throttle.  Because of the singular sacrifice of Jesus, we all get to come along, we are brought to loud singing, by his individual taking on of our sinful burden.

Perhaps I am more in tune with the topic because of the Gospel lesson and the sermon that I just put the finishing touches on, but it is a reminder to us as Christians, that the death and resurrection of Christ is something to be recognized each and every day, no matter the liturgical season or what season of life we are currently in.

Let us all go to Dark Gethsemane, let us watch with him one bitter hour so that we can more greatly appreciate what he has done for us and more greatly understand our calling to pick up our cross and follow Him.

Here’s what the website hymnary has to say about this song:

“As this hymn is sung, contemplate the lessons we can learn from Jesus through His Passion. Consider how Jesus prayed fervently in the face of certain death that He would do God's will, and how He warned His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40, ESV). In the scene of the mock trial in the second stanza, see how much pain Jesus accepted without a murmur. Jesus went even further in His selflessness in giving up His very life (st. 3). Meditate on how Christ calls each of us to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Finally, with the risen Christ, we look forward to the time when we, too, will rise.”

May God richly bless each and every one of you.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday to worship and praise our God and King.