35. Aria
Zerfleiße, mein Herze, in Fluten der Zähren
Dem Höchsten zu Ehren!
Erzähle der Welt und dem Himmel die Not:
Dein Jesus ist tot! 35. Aria (Soprano)
Dissolve, my heart, in floods of tears
to honour the Highest!
Tell the world and heaven the anguish:
Your Jesus is dead!
36. Evangelist
Die Jüden aber, dieweil es der Rüsttag
war, daß nicht die Leichname am
Kreuze blieben den Sabbat über (denn
desselbigen Sabbats Tag war sehr
groß), baten sie Pilatum, daß ihre Beine
gebrochen und sie abgenommen
würden. Da kamen die Kriegsknechte
und brachen dem ersten die Beine und
dem andern, der mit ihm gekreuziget
war. Als sie aber zu Jesu kamen, da sie
sahen, daß er schon gestorben war, brachen
sie ihm die Beine nicht; sondern der
Kriegsknechte einer eröffnete seine Seite mit
einem Speer, und alsobald ging Blut und
Wasser heraus. Und der das gesehen hat, der
hat es bezeuget, und sein Zeugnis ist wahr,
und derselbige weiß, daß er die Wahrheit
saget, auf daß ihr gläubet. Denn solches ist
geschehen, auf daß die Schrift erfüllet würde:
“Ihr sollet ihm kein Bein zerbrechen.” Und
abermal spricht eine andere Schrift: “Sie
werden sehen, in welchen sie gestochen
haben.” 36. Evangelist
The Jews however, since it was the
Sabbath day, so that the corpses would
not remain on their crosses over the
Sabbath (for this particular Sabbath day
was very great), asked Pilate for their
bones to be broken and that they be
taken away. So the soldiers came and
broke the bones of the two thieves who
had been crucified with Him. But when
they came to Jesus, and they saw that
He was already dead, they did not break
His bones; instead one of the soldiers
opened His side with a spear, and
immediately blood and water came out.
And he that saw this, bore witness to it,
and his testimony is true, and this same
knows that he speaks the truth so that
you believe. For all this has happened in
order that the Scripture might be fulfilled:
“You shall break none of His bones.”
And in addition another Scripture says:
“They will behold what they have
pierced.”
The chorale that follows is the eighth verse of the hymn “Christus, der uns selig macht”
(“Christ who makes us blessed”), already used for the chorale of No.15. Here it is made
more ethereal by the use of a higher key, and more dramatic by a completely new har-
mony for the second half.
37. Choral
O hilf, Christe, Gottes Sohn,
Durch dein bitter Leiden,
Daß wir dir stets untertan
All Untugend meiden,
Deinen Tod und sein Ursach
Fruchtbarlich bedenken,
Dafür, wiewohl arm und schwach,
Dir Dankopfer schenken!
37. Chorale
O help, Christ, Son of God,
through Your bitter Passion,
that we, being always obedient to You,
might shun all vice,
Your death and its cause
consider fruitfully,
so that, although poor and weak,
we might offer You thanksgiving!
Appearing now for the last time, the Evangelist completes the events of the crucifixion
with the Descent from the Cross. The unforgettable chorus “Ruht wohl” is formed out of
a slow, minor-key sarabande, and combines a spirit of lament with a sense of final repose.
A closing chorale (No.40) sums everything up in music of triumph and assurance.
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