Go to Dark Gethsemane

Every once in awhile, I enjoy dusting off the hymnal, playing through its pages, and occasionally discovering new or unfamiliar tunes.  This past Saturday was one of those times.  I sat down to play and began to flip through the pages in order to reflect on the events surrounding the celebration of Easter weekend.  Positioned under an old favorite, I found this gem written by James Montgomery in 1820, Go to Dark Gethsemane.

Below is an explanation of the hymn's format (emphasis mine):
(http://www.hymnary.org/text/go_to_dark_gethsemane)
Each of the four stanzas of this hymn describes a scene from the story of Christ's Passion: the temptation in the Garden of Gethsemane, the mock trial and scourging, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection (though this last stanza is often omitted from hymnals).  The first three stanzas each conclude with a lesson we can learn from Christ in that scene: 
- how to pray
- how to suffer silently
- how to die
The fourth stanza has a petition that Christ will teach us to rise with Him.

Here are the lyrics.  Hope you find encouragement as you read as I did.  Disclaimer: At the very bottom is a very raw, "I just learned this and wanted to capture a recording of it one morning" rough draft - End Disclaimer... (ha ha).  

Go to dark Gethsemane,
You who feel the tempter's pow'r;
Your Redeemer's conflict see;
Watch with Him one bitter hour;
Turn not from His griefs away;
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

Follow to the judgment hall;
View the Lord of life arraigned;
O the worm-wood and the gall!
O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suff'ring, shame, or loss;
Learn of Him to bear the cross.

Calv'ry's mournful mountain climb
There' adoring at His feet,
Mark the miracle of time,
God's own sacrifice complete:
"It is finished!" Hear the cry;
Learn of Jesus Christ to die.

Early hasten to the tomb
Where they laid his breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom;
Who hath taken Him away?
Christ is ris'n! He meets our eyes:
Savior, teach us so to rise.


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