A wonderful theme has been chosen for the lectureship and this book. To learn about the songs we sing and the message they proclaim is indeed commendable. As we sing praises to the Lord, each one of us should seek to know as much as possible about the lofty and sublime thoughts often portrayed in the songs of our worship. The church must sing with fervor, sincerity, and grace, but it also must sing with knowledge and understanding. Since we are teaching and admonishing one another in song, our hymns must be understandable and faithful to the word of God. And further, since our hymns are to be in praise to the Lord, they should be centered on the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and on Their marvelous nature and acts in creation. Our knowledge and understanding of the songs we sing can deepen our faith and renew our zeal. When each one realizes the profound significance of what they are saying and to Whom it is directed, our hearts will be richer and our lives made finer. Singing is a blessing and a privilege of the Christian life. How wonderful it is to be learning more about this wonderful act of worship.
PREFACE
Tell Me the Story of Jesus is a wonderful hymn expressing the sweetness and beauty of the life and work of Jesus the Son of God. First published in 1880, the song has continued to be a favorite among members of the church. From my youth, I have continued to hear the sweet refrain of this wonderful song in the auditoriums and meeting places of dedicated Christians. Tears often fill the eye when hearing and contemplating the meaning and message of this beloved hymn. It continues to be popular among many of the denominations, and without a doubt is one of the most recognized hymns in the “Christian” world. Its melody, composed by John R. Sweney, is simple in its arrangement and yet powerful and sublime in its tone. Its movements are fitting to the words, as it in grandiose style crescendos to some of the song’s most lofty phrases and concepts. It has always been a favorite of mine, and I am elated to be writing about it.
The song, organized in a summary fashion, was written by Fanny J. Crosby in the late 19th century. Crosby was a prolific writer with over 8000 of her poems set to music. I have yet to see a songbook without several of her songs included. Publishers even used some 200 different pen names for her work, and unknown to most, her songs often appear under these names so that the public would not know that she had written so many. Born on March 24, 1820 in South East, New York, her family moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut when she was nine. At the age of fifteen, she was taken to New York City and enrolled in the New York City Institution for the Blind. Tragically, Crosby was the victim of an unlicensed country doctor who prescribed hot mustard poultices to be applied when she developed a cold in her eyes at the age of six weeks. She suffered permanent blindness, but used this tragedy as a source of inspiration for writing many of her poems. At the tender age of eight she wrote her first poem, and by the time she was twenty-three, she was reciting some of her religious works before such prestigious bodies as the U.S. Congress. Surprisingly, it was not until she was thirty-one that she professed her conversion to Christ. In a Methodist church in New York, she claimed that she saw the light during the singing of Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed? Crosby was undoubtedly affected by Methodist theology and their acceptance of the rudimentary teachings of Wesley and Calvin. While some of Crosby’s songs are questionable as to their Calvinistic bent, others blatantly reflect the doctrine of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit in both conversion and sanctification (see her songs The Holy Spirit, Lord, Alone and Pass Me Not Gentle Saviour). Thus, we must be careful not to perpetuate false doctrine as we seek to teach and admonish one another in song (Col. 3:16). While many of Crosby’s songs are biblically based and sound, we must not be willing to endorse all that she wrote. Each song must be judged upon the basis of its own merit and in view of the three principles mentioned above.
ANALYSIS AND COMMENT
“Tell me the story of Jesus”: Being blind, I am certain that Fanny Crosby loved to hear others tell her the story of Jesus. I, too, love to hear the story of Jesus whether in full or in summary form as expressed in the sentiments of this song. By story I do not mean fable or untruth although it can have that meaning. The Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines story as “a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to …instruct the hearer or reader” (1402). Thus when I think of story in the context of this song, I think of the many pages of narrative recorded in the New Testament about the life and work of the Saviour. The narratives found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are certainly true and are designed not only for instruction but also for fostering and producing faith (Jn. 20:31). They are themselves a summary of what Jesus came to do, for if all of Jesus’ actions were recorded, “the world itself could not contain the books” (Jn. 21:25). This Biblical summary is indeed the greatest and most important story ever told. Since Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6), it behooves every one of us to tell the story of Jesus. Without Jesus and “his story” none of us would have a personal story of redemption, forgiveness, or hope.
“Write on my heart every word”: The story of Jesus must not just be received audibly. The story of Jesus and His actual words must dwell abundantly in our hearts (Col. 3:16). It must be received and implanted deep within the human soul. The heart is not only the seat of human emotions, but it is also a reflection of the human will. Jesus emphasized the importance of the heart when He said “for from within, out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts…foolishness” (Mk. 7:21-22). Whatever we put into our hearts will be reflected on the outside. It is imperative therefore that we place the story of Jesus there. Instead writing the stories of human philosophy, self-centeredness, science fiction, pop culture, and of human athletes on our hearts, let us write the story of Jesus. If that story is there, we will prevent sin from developing (Ps. 119:11) and our minds will be comforted during the tragedies and trials of life.
“Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard”: The word precious often has the meaning of valuable, and thus in this song clearly conveys the importance and value of what the Lord did for all of mankind. When the Lord left heaven’s glory and took upon Himself the form of a servant, He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). The blood that He shed on the cross was truly valuable. Peter identifies that blood as precious, which accurately translates the Greek word timios, and has reference to something that is very costly and unique. Peter proclaimed, “that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The story of Christ is valuable, because it tells of the eternal blessings to be gained when men will but believe and obey. If more individuals would allow the story of Jesus to penetrate their hearts, they would not allow themselves to exchange their soul for the world’s fleeting riches (Matt. 16:26).
The story is the sweetest ever heard because of the vicarious nature of the Lord’s life and death. He came and suffered on our behalf so that we might have a merciful high priest (Heb. 2:17). He stood in our place and received the stripes that belonged to you and me (1 Pet. 2:24). While we were yet in our sins He died that we might live. Indeed, no greater love exists than when a man lays down his life for his friends (Jn. 15:13). He is the greatest friend the world has ever known. Nothing could be sweeter than to know that Christ tasted of death for every man, and that He did it willingly and compassionately. It is indeed the sweetest story ever told.
“Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed his birth”: This part of the song comes from Luke 2:13, where we find the announcement of the Lord’s birth to the shepherds in the field being accompanied by “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” According to Luke 2:15, the heavenly host were the angels of heaven, to which the Scripture often refers. What wonderful singing must have been heard on that glorious occasion, and how excited some must have been as this news was being spread by the shepherds (Lk. 17-18). It is reminiscent of the new song being sung in praise to the Lamb in the book of Revelation (Rev. 5:9-12). Like those who welcomed the birth of Jesus some two thousand years ago, so I love to sing and tell about this wonderful event. Many of our hymns have references to this miraculous event and its meaning for the Christian today. No, we do not celebrate December 25th as a religious holiday for Christ’s birthday, but I do sing about His birth throughout the year. At those times I cannot help but think about the chorus of praise that “welcomed his birth.”
“Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings on earth”: Notice in the hymnbook that this portion of the song is in quotations. The quotation comes from Luke 2:14 and expresses the tremendous jubilation present at the announcement of the Lord’s birth. Glory has reference to praise, honor, and respect. The object of this praise, as expressed in both the Hebrew and Greek languages, is often identified as possessing magnificence, preeminence, dignity, grace, and absolute perfection (Ps. 19 and Col. 1). The resulting “peace and good tidings on earth” are the result of the great God in the highest. Peace generally follows grace (see the salutations of the epistles) and in this case it follows the praise given to the God of grace.
“Fasting alone in the desert, Tell of the days that are passed”: In these phrases of the second stanza, the reader is reminded of the temptation of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter four. In that chapter we are told that Jesus fasted for forty days and nights (perhaps this is the meaning of “the days that are passed”) and then was tempted of the devil in the wilderness. Jesus often endured many things on our behalf. Even though Christ was on equality with God, He did not cling to the rights and privileges that belonged to Deity, but emptied Himself and became a man (Phil. 2:6f). In the humility of inhabiting a human body, our Lord was tempted in all points like we are and yet He overcame the devil (Heb. 4:15). Even when His flesh was at its weakest, because of the fasting and wilderness experience, He overcame each different avenue of temptation (1 Jn. 2:15-17). He proved himself worthy of our adoration and praise. He serves as a model for trusting in God and in God’s plan.
“How for our sins He was tempted, yet was triumphant at last”: As described above, Jesus was tempted on our behalf so that He might be a merciful High Priest and thereby give help to them that are tempted (Heb. 2:17-18). Jesus was not only tempted in the wilderness, but also on other occasions. For example, in Matthew 16:23 Peter became a stumbling block to the Lord (examine the Greek word for offence). In all of these temptations, Jesus was triumphant and able to overcome. He did not give into the wiles of the devil. When He was threatened, He threatened not. When He was reviled, He reviled not again, but was committed to God (1 Pet. 2:21f). He not only was triumphant at the end of the wilderness temptation, but was ultimately triumphant over death, even over the one who had the power over death, that is the devil (Heb. 2:14).
“Tell of the years of His Labor, Tell of the sorrow He bore”: Though some scholars disagree, three and one-half years seems to be the accepted number of years of the Lord’s public ministry. In those years Jesus went about doing good. He “went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Matt. 9:35). He labored day after day in a hot and barren land, without the modern conveniences of the modern era. People who were requesting various and sundry things regularly surrounded him. He found it difficult to be alone (Mk. 1:35-37), and yet in all of the thronging of the masses, He was constantly moved with compassion and concern for their difficulties. He bore the sorrows of many, both in His earthly ministry and on the cross. When seeing the masses in Galilee, “He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:37). He wailed at His entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday of the passion week, because He knew that many of His Jewish brethren would ignore His warnings regarding the destruction of their beloved city. He was grieved as well because He knew that they would disregard His warnings about the ultimate destruction of their souls (Lk. 19:41). And finally in the garden, He bore His sorrow alone as His disciples slept during a time when He may have needed them the most.
“He was despised and afflicted, Homeless, rejected and poor”: Despite His constant desire to help others, the Lord was often despised. His own city rejected Him (Lk. 4:28f). His family failed to believe in Him (Jn. 7:5). His disciples forsook Him (Matt. 26:56). His enemies ridiculed Him and mocked His holy name. He had nowhere to lay His head, and His earthly possessions were meager. His crown was made of thorns and His garments were stripped and worn. He suffered humiliation and scorn at the hands of the people He came to save. All of this is so hard to believe and accept, and yet the song authored by Crosby calls to our mind what Jesus had to endure on our behalf.
“Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain”: The cross is the center and focus of our hope. It is indeed the crux (which is Latin for cross) of the matter. Through the cross, we can receive reconciliation and the forgiveness of our sins. Thus, the cross was necessary, but oh so terrible. Jesus was literally nailed to the cross so that He might be suspended between heaven and earth. This grueling Roman instrument of punishment was designed for pain and misery. Sometimes men might live a week or more upon the cross, as it was designed to bring about a slow and agonizing death. It was an execution brought on by suffocation, because a man hanging outstretched would have to push up on the nail driven through his feet in order to relax the diaphragm muscles long enough to exhale the air from his lungs. The up and down process would linger on and on, becoming extremely painful as the victim felt the sharp shooting pain from the feet and the horrifying sting of the splintered cross on his bruised and bleeding back. It is almost unimaginable and certainly distressing. It was because of us that He died. It was because of our sin that He suffered. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…and with his stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:5).
“Tell of the grave where they laid him, Tell how he liveth again”: The place of the Lord’s burial is hotly contested today by archaeologists and historians. Was the Lord buried at the traditional site marked by the well-known “Church of the Holy Sepulcher”? Or, was the Lord buried at the garden tomb just west of the present day city wall of Jerusalem? The discovery of a first century burial chamber in an ancient garden, known at the garden tomb, gives the modern day visitor to Jerusalem a better idea of what the tomb may have looked like during the time of Jesus, though it is probably not the actual site. Nevertheless, this tomb and similar discoveries have shown that large round stones were used to seal the graves of the dead.
Jesus had once made His abode among the dead. He departed the earth to take up a temporary residence in the hadean realm. However, His soul was not left there (Acts 2:31). It did not see corruption for, as predicted, He arose from the dead (Jn. 2:19). He conquered death and took away the victory from the grave (1 Cor. 15). Death can no longer dominate our Lord (Rom. 6:9). He lives again. He is and forevermore will be raised from the grave. The death, burial, and resurrection were the pillars of the Gospel message presented to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Likewise, our proclamation today emanates from the fact of Christ’s resurrection from the grave and His blood shed at Calvary.
“Love, in that story so tender, Clearer than ever I see”: Mrs. Crosby, though blind, could easily see, in the sense of understanding, that the story of Jesus was a wonderful story of love. It has for thousands of years moved people to tears and sorrow. It is indeed a tender and emotional story. It prompts and provokes the sinner and compels the Christian. The command of the new birth is under girded by this message of love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son” (Jn 3:16).
“Stay, let me weep while you whisper, Love paid the ransom for me”: This is the only part of the entire song that is somewhat obscure in its meaning. Most likely it is the response of the reader or recipient of the story that has just been told. The story has reached its climax and the listener has been completely absorbed in its message. The story has now left the boundaries of the Palestinian world and permeated a receptive audience. In reality, the story includes you and me. Now the singer should understand the force and power of the story. “Love paid the ransom for me” is to be whispered by the one telling the story. The effects of the message are moving and profound. The listener requests the storyteller to continue as the tears flow freely from the eyes. The meaning of “stay” is somewhat unclear, but perhaps it means to continue (e.g. as used in “stay the course”.) In other words, continue, as I weep over my sins and over what Jesus endured for me. Remind me that it all occurred because Christ loved me enough to pay the price for my freedom.
CONCLUSION
Like the story that never grows old, this is the song that never grows old. Now well over a hundred years old, Tell Me the Story of Jesus continues to be fresh and new. Whenever the content of our songs reflects the beauty of the Savior’s love, we should never grow tired of its theme. Singing is a powerful medium that can touch the heart and impact the soul. If we sing with the sentiments of this song in view, we will most certainly live in sorrow for our sins and experience the joy of our salvation.
END NOTES
Abrams, M.H. (1981), A Glossary Of Literary Terms, 4th edition (New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston).
Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, published in 1994 (New York: Barnes and Noble).
