Lord Who the Night You Were Betrayed Did Pray
Lord, who the night you were betrayed did pray
The hymn emphasizes Christ's intercessory prayer and sacrificial act, connecting His Gethsemane prayer to the institution of the Eucharist as a memorial of redemption. It reflects Lutheran sacramental understanding of Communion as a means of grace rooted in Christ's passion and redemptive work.
History & Background
Written by Fred Pratt Green in 1961, this modern hymn was created for ecumenical Communion services and has become widely used in Lutheran, Methodist, and other Protestant traditions. It was included in the Worshipbook (1972) and subsequently in LBW (1978).
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 397
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 463
- Glory to God — 530
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 206
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 253
- United Methodist Hymnal — 570
- Voices Together — 461
Bulletin Note
Written by Fred Pratt Green in 1961, this modern hymn recovers the Reformation's sacramental theology by linking Christ's Gethsemane prayer directly to the institution of Eucharist as a means of grace.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the law of our unworthiness into the gospel of Christ's intercessory prayer and sacramental grace, making it a powerful witness to how the Supper grounds forgiveness in the cross.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Definition & Command of Communion Small Catechism — Holy Communion
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: The hymn moves from joyful praise of Mary's dignity through her power to deliver and her role in reversing the curse, arriving at a wholehearted, sense-encompassing glorification of grace mediated through her.
Themes
Christ's passion and prayer Eucharist/Communion Christian unity Redemption through sacrifice