The Song of the Cross

I t was before Easter. Adolf Stöcker, the founder of the Berlin City Mission, led a conference for volunteers at the mission. He opened with the hymn: “While in the Garden of Olives.”  None of those present knew the song, but that did not bother the old man. He just sang it alone, and by the third or fourth time we were able to sing along. The song and the melody made a lasting impression on us. We felt as if we were transported into the inner sanctuary of God’s love.

A few days later, one of the missionaries from the City Mission was walking along the harbor at midnight.  Deep in thought and devotion he sang that song to himself. All at once he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was the hand of a girl that slept during the day, so that she could pursue her dark trade in the night. 

„You like to sing?“ she asked. 

„Yes, I love to sing,“ the missionary said. 

„I like to sing too,“ she said „but not such depressing  religious songs, but happy songs.“  

The man replied: „Certainly, the song is not a happy song, but it is a beautiful song, very beautiful and true. I will sing it for you.“ And without waiting for a reply he sang the whole song for her.

While in the Garden of Olives,

On that last night I was praying;

Blood-red, my sweat it was draining,

Flowing for you from my brow.

Oh, don’t you care, don’t you know?

Will you not think of me now?

Angels can say what transpired,

Wounded and mocked on the morrow,

Silent for you through the sorrow,

Soldiers, they beat on my brow.

Oh, don’t you care, don’t you know?

Will you not think of me now?

Spat at and mocked without mercy,

I was the lamb they were leading;

What caused the wounds that were bleeding?

The crown of thorns on my brow!

Oh, don’t you care, don’t you know?

Will you not think of me now?

As on the cross, I hung dying

I thought of you. Now in glory

It’s still not the end of the story;

Love needs to reach you somehow.

Oh, don’t you care, don’t you know?

Will you not think of me now?

A mission outreach was happening at a harbor in Berlin, a song reaching out to the heart of a girl of the night!

And remarkably, the girl listened. The song escalated. And the girl? She listened attentively, and in silence. Tears swelled up in her eyes and started to roll down her cheeks. As soon as the song was finished, the girl shook the missionary’s hands, turned and hurried off. He still managed to give her a card with the words, “If you ever need me, here is my address.” Then she was gone into the darkness of night. 

Years went by. The mission worker had pretty well forgotten this encounter. Then a letter arrived in the mail. “A member of our church asked me to write this letter to you. Years ago you sang a song with much meaning to a young girl at a harbor in Berlin. The girl could not forget the song. It went with her day and night. It became so powerful that she could not stand her life of sin any longer. She left Berlin and moved to our city. She found a job as a domestic worker, and earned the trust of the people who hired her. She married a simple, but hard-working laborer. She told him about her past, but he loved her so much that he was willing to overlook it. For a number of years they had a happy marriage. At church, she was not only a regular visitor, but she was also very dedicated in trying to help people with addictions. 

A few weeks ago this lady became severely ill, and she has now passed away. While she was dying, she asked me to please write to you and tell you that the song was not only instrumental in getting her to leave her life of sin, but it led her to Christ. She found peace for her soul and forgiveness for all her sins in the Blood of Jesus. She died in peace and is with the Lord.”