March 18, 2017 (Saturday)
Lindsay Terry tells us the story behind the hymn, “I Must Tell Jesus.” He tells us that Elisha A. Hoffman was a great preacher and wonderful minister. “He heard hymns in his home as he grew up and learned to love them. His ministry to people was personal. One day he visited a distraught lady and counseled with her and quoted verses from the Bible, but she seemed to be unable to rise above her distress. He then suggested that she could do nothing better than to take all of her sorrow to Jesus. “You must tell Jesus,” he told her. A light broke across her face and she cried, “Yes! I must tell Jesus.” And so she did. After a period of prayer, she rose from her knees with a brightness in her face. As soon as he arrived at home, and while still under the influence of this experience, he wrote this hymn.”
Elisha A. Hoffman 1866 Chorus: I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone. Verses: I must tell Jesus all of my trials, I cannot bear these burdens alone; In my distress He kindly will help me, He ever loves and cares for His own. I must tell Jesus all of my troubles, He is a kind, compassionate Friend; If I but ask Him He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end. Tempted and tried I need a great Savior, One who can help my burdens to bear; I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus: He all my cares and sorrows will share. What must I do when worldliness calls me? What must I do when tempted to sin? I must tell Jesus, and He will help me Over the world the vict’ry to win. |
Click here to hear “Light in the Darkness” sing this grand old hymn