BWV 22 Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe

Estomihi (Quinquagesima Sunday).

Poet unknown; PT for re-performance (Leipzig, 1724); Facs: Neumann T, p. 427.

1. Lk. 18:31 and 34; 5. Elisabeth Kreuziger, verse 5 of "Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn," 1524 (Wackernagel, III, #67f.).

1723, for the audition for the cantorship in Leipzig?; also 2 February 1923, Leipzig.

BG 5, 1; NBA I/8.


1. Arioso and Chorus [Dictum] (T, B, and S, A, T, B)

(T)
Jesus took aside the twelve then and said:

(B)
See now, we shall go up to Jerusalem, and there will all be accomplished fully that was written about the Son of man.

(S, A, T, B)
However, they understood nothing and did not fathom what his meaning was.

2. Aria (A)

My Jesus, draw me unto thee,
I am prepared, I will from here
And to Jerusalem unto thy passion go.

    Well me, if I the consequence
    Of this the time of death and pain
    For mine own comfort may completely understand!

3. Recit. (B)

My Jesus, draw me on and I shall hasten,
For flesh and blood completely fail to see,
Like thy disciples then, what this thy saying meant.
Our will is with the world and with the greatest rabble;
They would, both of them, when thou transfigured art,
Indeed a mighty tow'r on Tabor's mountain build thee,(1)
But there on Golgotha, so full of suffering,
In thy distress so low with not an eye behold thee.
Ah, crucify in me, in my corrupted breast,
Before all else this world and its forbidden lust,
And I shall for thy words completely grasped the meaning
And to Jerusalem with untold gladness journey.

4. Aria (T)

My treasure of treasures, mine infinite store,
Amend thou my spirit, transform thou my heart,
Bring all in subjection
Which to my denial of flesh is resistant!
But when now in spirit I've mortified been,
Then summon me to thee in peace there above!

5. Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Us mortify through kindness,
Awake us through thy grace;
The former man enfeeble,
So that the new may live
E'en in this earthly dwelling,
His will and every purpose 
And thought may give to thee.


1. Cf. Mt. 17:1-9, Mk. 9:2-8 and Lk. 9:28-36 for the story of the Transfiguration. Though without specific basis in Scripture, Mt. Tabor was the traditional site of the Transfiguration.


© Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose


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