The Hymn of Jesus – Context

The hymn was performed by Jesus and his disciples, just before the Last Supper, before his Crucifixion. It was a dance.

Jesus gathers his disciples in the Upper Room. Rather than proceeding directly to his arrest, he initiates a ritual described as a “mystery.” He instructs the disciples to form a circle around him, holding hands. He stands in the center—symbolizing the Logos or the fixed point around which the universe revolves—and leads them in a rhythmic dance. As they dance, Jesus sings the hymn, which consists of a series of mystical, paradoxical declarations (See below) The disciples are instructed to respond to each of his lines with “Amen.”

By participating in the “Round Dance of the Cross,” the disciples are meant to move beyond their physical reality and participate in the divine harmony of the heavens. It serves as a spiritual preparation for the events to follow, teaching the disciples that the impending crucifixion is not a tragedy, but a cosmic event.The hymn was performed by Jesus and his disciples, just before the Last Supper, before his Crucifixion. It was a dance.

The Hymn of Jesus

This Hymn of Jesus was used in the 1920’s by the composer Gustav Holst and the text below is used in this piece.