Scripture
Meditations
Evangelist
Recitatives
Chorales
Jesus
Arias
Chorus (groups, crowds)
Choruses
- Daughter of Zion: (Choir 1)
- Believers: (Choir 2)
|
| O guiltless Lamb of God slaughtered on the stem of the cross, always found patient, how despised You were. You have born all sin, else we must have despaired. Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!  |
| Beloved Jesus, what have you done wrong that they have pronounced so hard a sentence? What is your guilt, into what sort of misdeeds have you fallen? |
But not during the Feast, or there may be a riot among
the people.
Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a
high price and the money given to the poor.
| Dear Redeemer -- when your disciples foolishly quarrel because this pious woman with ointment your body would prepare for the grave, -- grant then, also, that I with the tears streaming from my eyes may pour water upon your head. |
| Penance and remorse grind the sinful heart in two. May the drops of my tears be an acceptable anointing to you, faithful Jesus. Penance and remorse . . . |
| Bleed on, dear heart. Ah, a child that you raised, that sucked at your breast, threatens to murder its guardian, for it has become a serpent. Bleed on . . . |
Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat
the Passover?
Surely not I, Lord?
| It is I. I should
atone, my hands and feet bound, in hell. The scourges and the fetters and all that you endured -- that has my soul earned. |
| Although my heart swims in tears because Jesus takes leave of us, yet his testament makes me glad. His precious flesh and blood, he bequeaths into my hands. As He, in the world, with his own self could not think evil, so He loves them to the end. |
| I will give my heart to You; sink yourself in it, my Salvation. I will submerge myself in You. And if the world is too small for You, ah, then for me alone shall You be more than world and Heaven. I will give ... |
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount
of Olives. Then Jesus told them,
This very night you will all fall away on account of me,
for it is written: "`I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered." But after I have
risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.
| Know me, my keeper, my shepherd, take me to you. Through You, source of all good things, much good has befallen me. Your mouth has refreshed me with milk and sweetmeats. Your spirit has favoured me. with many a heavenly longing. |
Peter, replied,
Jesus answered,
I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster
crows, you will disown me three times.
But Peter declared,
And all the other disciples said the same.
| I would stand here beside You; do not then scorn me! I will not depart from You even if your heart is breaking. ' When your heart grows pale in the last pangs of death, then I will hold You in my arms and lap. |
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called
Gethsemane, and he said to them,
Sit here while I go over there and pray.
Daughter of Zion:
| 0 sorrow! Here trembles the anxious heart! How it sinks! How pales his countenance! The judge leads him to
judgement, He suffers all the pains of hell, Ah! if my love for You, my Saviour, |
Believers:
| What is the cause of all such woes? Ah, my sins have felled You. Ah, Lord Jesus, I have deserved this, which You are suffering! |
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with
him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them,
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.
Daughter of Zion:- Believers:
|
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the
ground and prayed,
My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from
me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
| The Saviour falls down before his Father, Thereby he raises me and all men from our fall. upward to God's grace again. He is ready to drink the cup, death's bitterness, wherein the sins of this world are poured and stink odiously, because it pleases dear God. |
| I will gladly submit myself to take up cross and cup, since I drink as my Saviour did. For his mouth, which flows with milk and honey, has made the cause and the bitter shame of suffering sweet through his first draught. I will gladly . . . |
Then he returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping and said to them,
Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing,
but the body is weak.
He went away a second time and prayed,
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken
away unless I drink it, may your will be done.
| Whatever my God wills, may it be so. His will is best. He is ready to help those who firmly believe in him. He helps them in time of need, and, in his goodness, chastises in measure. Who trusts in God and builds firmly on him, God will not forsake. |
When he came back, he again found them sleeping,
because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once
more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he
returned to the disciples and said to them,
Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is
near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the
Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs,
sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the
betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man;
arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said,
and kissed him. Jesus replied,
- Daughter of Zion:
- Believers:
|
Friend, do what you came for.
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and
arrested him.
| Have lightnings, has thunder vanished in the clouds? Open your fiery pit, o hell, wreck, ruin, engulf, shatter with sudden force the false betrayer, the murderous blood. |
With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his
sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off
his ear. Jesus said to him,
Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the
sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father,
and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in
this way?
At that time Jesus said to the crowd,
| 0 Man, mourn your great sin; For this, Christ, from his Father's bosom, went forth and came to earth. Of a Virgin pure and gentle, He was born here for our sake. He was willing to mediate. To the dead He gave life and conquered all sickness, until the time came that He should be sacrificed for us, and carry the heavy burden of our sins upon the Cross itself. |
Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with
swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts
teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place
that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.