Welcome!  Hymns have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration to me.  My desire in this blog is to share special hymns with my readers hoping that the words will minister to them, especially in times of great personal need.  If one of these hymns ministers to you, please take time to leave a comment so that I know that my blog is helping others as much as it helps me. Sometimes I will also provide a link where you can go to hear the hymn played.  So, please join me here each week and sing along as we praise God together.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

WHEN JESUS COMES


In searching for the background of the writing of this great hymn I came upon two different stories and I'm not sure which one is the accurate one.  The first one says that the great missionary Dr. Oswald Smith (1890-1979) spent 1915-1917 as a missionary to the West Coast Canadian Indians. He traveled to the villages by packboat. Oswald's faith was simple - knowing Jesus personally. Secondly, he knew Jesus brought deliverance and divine healing. He saw the despair, the disease, the alcoholism that was destroying the native people. He was particularly shaken by the anguish and lack of hope at a traditional Native funeral for a young child. The image haunted him, and he wrote a hymn depicting the change that took place in the lives of men when Jesus came.  The second story tells of Evangelist Dr. Harry Rimmer preaching on John 11.   He pictured the sorrow that darkened the home, and the sadness of Mary and Martha, when their brother Lazarus died. Suddenly, he paused, and shouted triumphantly, "Then Jesus came!" Sitting in the audience that evening was gospel musician Homer Rodeheaver. The phrase struck him as a great theme for a song. Shortly after, he was visiting with pastor and hymn writer Oswald Smith. It was May of 1939. The musician said, "I want a hymn depicting the change that took place in the lives of men and women when Jesus came. Dr. Smith provided the text, and Rodeheaver set it to music. Now I have no idea which story is the correct one, but I assume that part of the hymn is based on the story of blind Bartimaeus who was miraculously healed by Jesus as He passed by the blind man.  But it also shares other incidents where lives where changed when Jesus came.  And even today more verses could be written as lives continue to be changed when Jesus comes.  He takes away the gloom, breaks the tempter's power and He fills the life with glory.  And He comes to stay.  Hopefully you, too, have experienced this transformation when Jesus came your way.  Thank Him for the transformation in your life as you reflect upon these words this week.

(1)   One sat alone beside the highway begging, 
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see. 
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows 
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken; 
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away, 
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory, 
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

(2)   From home and friends the evil spirits drove him, 
Among the tombs he dwelt in misery; 
He cut himself as demon powers possessed him, 
Then Jesus came and set the captive free.
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken; 
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away, 
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory, 
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

(3)   "Unclean, unclean!" the leper cried in torment, 
The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near; 
The fever raged, disease had gripped its' victim, 
Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken; 
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away, 
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory, 
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

(4)   Their hearts were sad as in the tomb they laid him, 
For death had come and taken him away; 
Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling, 
Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken; 
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away, 
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory, 
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

(5)   So men today have found the Savior able, 
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin; 
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely, 
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken; 
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away, 
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory, 
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

Listen to it being sung by George Beverly Shea who used this song so often in Billy Graham Crusades.    LISTEN

6 comments:

David B Severy said...

It is very possible both accounts are true and interwoven.

John Allan said...

Both accounts are true. See http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/hymn3.html for an interview in which Smith describes the circumstances. The hymn is credited to both men in the papers and recordings stored after Smith's death in the archives of the Billy Graham Center (http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/322.htm ).
Hope this helps.

Gregory Kirk said...

I am a Rescue Mission Pastor and I sing this song almost every time I present the mission. In fact I sang it tonight. If any song is a testimony our ministry this is our theme song.....

Unknown said...

Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Anonymous said...

I’ll soon be 78 years old. I grew up in a family with missionary parents who exposed us to all kinds of Christian music. Out of nowhere, as I first awoke this morning, the words ‘when Jesus comes, the tempter’s power is broken’ came to mind so I immediately googled. What a powerful message, so timely always but especially fitting in today’s world.

Elizabeth hall said...

This is such a great, powerful song! Where can I get the music and words.?.