Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain
Come to Calvary's holy mountain
Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain is a hymn text by Samuel Rodigast (1675) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Benjamin Schmolck. Found in CW21 394, CW93 106, elw 735, lbw 301. Sung to CALVARY.
The hymn presents Christ's sacrifice at Calvary as the fountain of cleansing for sinners, directly reflecting Zechariah 13:1 and Lutheran sacramental theology. It emphasizes both the objective reality of Christ's atonement and the subjective experience of forgiveness and renewal available to all believers.
History & Background
Originally composed in German as 'Komm zu des Heilands Gnadenbrunnen' by Samuel Rodigast during the Thirty Years' War, it was published in 1675. Benjamin Schmolck's English translation appeared in the 18th century and became the standard version in English-language Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 394
- Christian Worship — 106
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 735
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 301
- Lutheran Service Book — 435
- Lutheran Worship — 96
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 149
Translation
Bulletin Note
Samuel Rodigast (1675) anchors this hymn in Zechariah 13:1, presenting Christ's sacrifice not as distant theology but as an accessible fountain of grace. A treasure of Lutheran sacramental piety, it unites objective atonement with personal renewal.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms Zechariah's prophetic promise into lived experience: the Law strips us bare before our sin, and the Gospel announces that Calvary's fountain—Christ's atoning blood—flows without measure for our complete healing.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law-Gospel movement: conviction of sin (stanzas 1-2) → proclamation of mercy (stanzas 3-4); Calvary as the locus of both judgment and grace
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Lent 2 (1×)
- Quinquagesima (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Lent 5 (2×)
- Lent 3 (1×)
- Lent 4 (1×)
- Maundy Thursday (1×)
- Proper 23 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
An invitation hymn by James Montgomery, built on Zechariah 13:1 — 'a fountain opened… to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.' Sinners are called to Calvary, where a healing fountain flows for all (st. 1); to come as they are, defiled within and without, and wash their robes white (st. 2); to come in sorrow, wounded and blind, and find forgiveness and peace (st. 3); and to drink and live forever, because God will never break his covenant of blood (st. 4). It joins Old Testament cleansing imagery with Christ's invitation and the sacramental waters of Baptism.
Central theme: Christ's blood as the fountain opened on Calvary, where all sinners may come as they are to be cleansed and live
Structure
Four six-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.7.7). The repeated 'Come' structures st. 1-3: come ruined (1), defiled (2), contrite (3). St. 4 rests the invitation on God's faithfulness and covenant.
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'ruined by the Fall,' 'defiled,' 'leprosy of sin,' 'wounded, impotent, and blind' (1-3). Gospel: the fountain, remission, peace, life, the covenant of blood (1-4). A clear invitation from the Law's diagnosis to the Gospel's cure.
Confessional Connections
Original sin ('ruined by the Fall'; AC II). The Gospel is universal: 'to you, to me, to all' (FC XI). The fountain and washing evoke Baptism (Titus 3:5; AC IX); 'covenant of blood' evokes the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:20; AC X). Contrition and faith as the two parts of repentance (st. 3; AC XII).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Lent; Holy Week; invitation hymn; Baptism; preparation for Communion.
Historical Notes
Montgomery (1771-1854) published it in 1819. TLH's source page mislabels stanza 4; corrected in the master.
About the Tune
CONSOLATION (Ludvig M. Lindeman, 1871) — the Norwegian melody also known by its first line NAAR MIT ØIE.
Scripture References
Zech 13:1 Matt 11:28 John 19:34 1 John 1:7 Isa 55:1 Lev 13-14 Rev 7:14 Rev 22:14 1 John 1:7 Isa 61:1 Luke 4:18 John 4:13-14 John 7:37-38 Heb 13:20 Luke 22:20 1 Cor 1:9 Heb 9:12-15
Stanza by Stanza
Come to Calvary's holy mountain, sinners ruined by the Fall; here a pure, healing fountain flows to you, to me, to all, in a full, unceasing stream, opened when our Savior died.
Zech 13:1: 'On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David… to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.' The fountain is the blood and water from Christ's side (John 19:34) — the Church Fathers saw there the origin of the Sacraments. 'Sinners, ruined by the Fall' names our condition (Rom 5:12). 'To you, to me, to all' — universal grace; no one is excluded (1 Tim 2:4-6). 'Full, perpetual tide' — the merit of Christ's death is inexhaustible and always available, applied now in Word and Sacrament.
- Scripture
- Zech 13:1, John 19:34, 1 John 1:7, Rom 5:12, 1 Tim 2:4-6, Isa 55:1
- Imagery & language
- Mountain, fountain, tide.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — ruined by the Fall; Gospel — a fountain for all.
- Connection to previous
- Opening invitation.
Come in poverty and lowliness, come defiled outside and in; from infection and uncleanness, from the leprosy of sin, wash your robes and make them white; you will walk with God in light.
'Come as you are': in poverty (Matt 5:3), defiled 'without, within.' Leprosy (Lev 13-14) is the Old Testament's great image of sin's uncleanness — isolating, spreading, incurable by human means; Jesus cleansed lepers with a touch and a word (Matt 8:2-3). 'Wash your robes and make them white' is Rev 7:14: the saints 'have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' The imperative is Gospel, not Law: the washing is done in his blood, received by faith. The result — 'walk with God in light' (1 John 1:7) — is restored communion.
- Scripture
- Matt 5:3, Lev 13-14, Matt 8:2-3, Isa 1:18, Rev 7:14, Rev 22:14, 1 John 1:7
- Imagery & language
- Leprosy; robes washed white; walking in light.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — defilement; Gospel — washing in the Lamb's blood.
- Connection to previous
- Second 'Come': come defiled.
Come in sorrow and contrition, wounded, helpless and blind; here the guilty find free forgiveness and the troubled find peace; this fountain will restore health; whoever drinks will never thirst again.
Repentance in its two parts (AC XII): 'sorrow and contrition' (terror of conscience) and faith that finds 'free remission.' 'Wounded, impotent, and blind' echoes the sick at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:3) and Isa 61:1 / Luke 4:18 — the Messiah's mission to the broken. 'Free remission' — forgiveness without price (Isa 55:1; Rom 3:24). 'He that drinks shall thirst no more' is John 4:14: the fountain becomes living water, and the imagery moves from washing to drinking — from Baptism toward the Supper.
- Scripture
- John 5:3, Isa 61:1, Luke 4:18, Ps 51:17, Isa 55:1, Rom 3:24, John 4:13-14, John 7:37-38
- Imagery & language
- Wounded, impotent, blind; health restored; quenched thirst.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — contrition; Gospel — free remission and peace.
- Connection to previous
- Third 'Come': come contrite.
He who drinks will live forever; it is a soul-renewing flood. God is faithful; he will never break his covenant of blood, signed when our Redeemer died, sealed when he was glorified.
John 6:54 and 4:14: eternal life. 'Soul-renewing flood' — regeneration (Titus 3:5). The invitation rests on God's faithfulness: 'God is faithful' (1 Cor 1:9; 10:13). The 'covenant of blood' is the new testament in Christ's blood (Luke 22:20; Heb 13:20). Montgomery's legal image is precise: a testament is 'signed' at the testator's death (Heb 9:15-17) and 'sealed' — confirmed — by his resurrection and ascension (Rom 1:4; 4:25). Lutherans hear in this the words of institution: the Supper is Christ's last will and testament, guaranteed by his death and exaltation.
- Scripture
- John 4:14, John 6:54, Titus 3:5, 1 Cor 1:9, Luke 22:20, Heb 9:15-17, Heb 13:20, Rom 4:25
- Imagery & language
- Flood; covenant signed and sealed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's unbreakable covenant.
- Connection to previous
- Grounds the invitation in God's faithfulness.
Themes
Atonement Blood of Christ Repentance Forgiveness Cleansing from sin