Author: Rev. Johann Caauwe

This is a post that I wrote last Lent. But I thought it was worth thinking about again. I had also promised to write another post and I never got around to it. This year I’ll make sure to do that.

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This evening I was singing to the kids before bed–just going through the hymnal singing various Lenten hymns. I was reminded of something I had noticed some time ago, but forgot about. I noticed a couple
themes that keep repeating themselves in Lutheran Lenten hymns. Both of them are unique to the Lenten season (at least among Lutheran hymns).

The first theme is the idea that our sin caused Jesus’ suffering and death. This probably sounds terribly obvious for Lent, but it needs to be said. Here are a few examples:

[The second stanza of "Jesus, I Will Ponder Now" points out that Jesus died for those who put him to death.]
Yet, O Lord, not thus not thus alone
Make me see your passion,
But its cause to me make known
And its termination.
Ah! I also and my sin
Wrought your deep affliction;
This indeed the cause has been
Of your crucifixion. (CW 98 st. 3)

Of course, the next stanza reminds us that when our sin troubles us, we remember that the cross is what disarms our fear. Some more examples:

A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,
Our guilt and evil bearing
And laden with the sins of earth
None else the burden sharing. (CW 100 st. 1)

My burden in your passion,
Lord, you have borne for me,
For it was my transgression,
My shame, on Calvary. (CW 105 st.4)

’Tis I who should be smitten,
My doom should here be written:
Bound hand and foot in hell.
The fetters and the scourging,
the floods around you surging,
’Tis I who have deserved them well. (CW 113 st.3)

Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which you, Lord, must languish;
Yes, all the wrath, the woe that you inherit,
This I do merit (CW 117 st.3)

Do you see what I mean? We caused it, and knowing this brings us great sorrow. But what joy to know that he did it for us. And that joy–even during Lent–always brings a response. That is the 2nd theme I noticed. I’ll write about that theme in another post.

Can you think of other hymn stanzas that make this point? Leave them in a comment.

I’ll try to catch up on the list of favorite hymns. For now I’m going to stick to Epiphany hymns. Maybe next year I’ll go through the list again and re-evaluate my hymns, but here they are for now:

#4 — To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord (89)
This is one of two hymns in our hymnal on the Baptism of our Lord. The other one is a Luther hymn, which may actually be a better hymn—but I’m not as familiar with it because it’s much more challenging to sing. This one was written by Professor Tiefel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

#5 — Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (93)

#6 — Down from the Mount of Glory (97)
I just discovered this hymn this year. I taught it to our upper grade class for hymnology. I love the reference to Jesus’ "double glory" at his transfiguration. The obvious glory is Jesus in the bright light and his changed appearance. He gives to his disciples a glimpse of the glory that is his by right but that he set aside in his humiliation. Jesus’ majesty and divinity is his glory.

But the hymn makes the point that Jesus is also in his glory when he goes "down from the mount of glory." He could have stayed up on that mountain. He could have stayed in his glory. But he didn’t. He went down the mountain and went on his way to the cross. Jesus came down from the mountain so that he could complete his mission: our salvation. He went down from the mountain in glory, but his glory was hidden in his suffering. His glory was hidden in his death.

When St. John describes the throne of God in heaven (in Revelation), the saints and angels give honor and glory to the Lamb. Why? Because he was slain, and with his blood he purchased men for God. Jesus’ greater glory is displayed by coming down the mount of transfiguration and going to Mt. Calvary.

I’ve come to really appreciate this communion hymn. We sang it here on Sunday. I especially appreciate the first line of the 5th stanza that describes the worshiper at the end of communion:

Too soon we rise; the vessels disappear.
The feast, thought not the love, is past and gone.
The bread and wine remove, but you are here,
Nearer than ever, still my shield and sun.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,
Yet, passing, points to that glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
The Lamb’s great marriage feast of bliss and love.

I appreciate the line "Feast after feast thus comes and passes by." It is as though every single time we come to the table we’re so appreciative of what is offered there and what we truly receive. But yet there is still a part of us that aches for that feast that will never end. But soon, soon…

I’m a little behind on this one. This is my favorite Epiphany hymn. It is the known as the "Queen of Chorales". Of the five stanzas included in Christian Worship (79), this one is my favorite.

O mighty Father, in your Son
You loved me ere you had begun
This ancient world’s foundation.
Your Son has made a friend of me,
And when in spirit him I see, I joy in tribulation.
What bliss Is this!
He is living, To me giving
Life forever;
Nothing me from him can sever.