Lent is the period of time in the church calendar that occurs right before Easter. For many, it is a solemn time of reflection, fasting, and prayer. It is a time when churches study the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A vast number of hymns were written with Lenten themes and the sacrifice that Christ made as their focus. Here are the top five hymns for the Lenten Season.
Go to Dark Gethsemene. The words to this beautiful hymn were written by James Montgomery in 1825, and the music was later written by Richard Redhead in 1853. It is especially appropriate for Maundy Thursday, when Jesus celebrated what we call the Last Supper with the disciples, then went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Jesus was then taken captive, beginning the events leading up to His crucifixion and death. This hymn covers the events from Gethsemane to the miraculous resurrection of Jesus. “Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter’s power; your Redeemer’s conflict see, watch with him one bitter hour. Turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.” The music is available at http://www.hymnsite.com/pdf/290piano.pdf .
Beneath the Cross of Jesus. This beautiful hymn is often used for the service of Communion as well as for the Lenten season. It’s words were written by Elizabeth C. Clephane in 1872 and it’s music was written by Frederick C. Maker in 1881. This hymn points out the wonderful redeeming love of Christ as He suffered and died for our sin: ” Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see the very dying from of One who suffered there for me; and from my sticken heart with tears two wonders I confess: the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. The music is available for download at http://www.hymnsite.com/pdf/297piano.pdf .
Were You There. This African-American spiritual was adapted for hymnal use by the Methodists in the mid-eighties. It is especially appropriate for Good Friday and Communion, but can be used anytime during the Lenten season. This hymn speaks for itself: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there) Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there) Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there).” Find the lyrics at http://nethymnal.org/htm/w/e/r/wereyout.htm .
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. This ancient anonymous hymn was set to music by Hans Hassler, in 1601, and later harmonized by Back in 1729. It is often associated with Bach, as he used it in his Christmas Oratorio, and also called the Passion Chorale. This hymn is rich with imagery and has been sung in churches for hundreds of years, set to many different tunes and harmonizations. “What thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain; mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain. Lo here I fall my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve they place; look on me with thy favor, vouch-safe me to thy grace.” The music is available at http://www.hymnsite.com/pdf/286piano.pdf .
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. This hymn is one of the best known hymns from the Lenten season, also used for Communion and any time throughout the church year. It was written by Isaac Watts in 1707 and set to an anonymous tune arranged by Edward Miller in 1790. Christ Tomlin and Matt Redman turned this rich, ancient hymn into a modern worship song for the church of today. The timelessness of this hymn reaches across generational lines: “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my riches gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride… Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” A piano transcript is available at http://www.hymnsite.com/pdf/298piano.pdf .
