Sifa Lyrics

Charles Wesley - JESUS IF STILL THE SAME THOU ART Lyrics

Artist:
Charles Wesley

Lyrics

1 Jesus, if still thou art to-day
As yesterday the same,
Present to heal, in me display
The virtue of thy name.


2 If still thou goest about to do
Thy needy creatures good
On me, that I thy praise may show,
Be all thy wonders showed.


3 Now, Lord, to whom for help I call,
Thy miracles repeat;
With pitying eyes behold me fall
A leper at thy feet.


4 Loathsome, and vile, and self-abhorred
I sink beneath my sin;
But, if thou wilt, a gracious word
Of thine can make me clean.


5 Thou seest me deaf to thy command,
Open, O Lord, my ear;
Bid me stretch out my withered hand,
And lift it up in prayer.


6 Silent, (alas! thou know'st how long)
My voice I cannot raise;
But O! when thou shalt loose my tongue,
The dumb shall sing thy praise.


7 Lame at the pool I still am found;
Give, and my strength employ;
Light as a hart I then shall bound,
The lame shall leap for joy.


8 Blind from my birth to guilt and thee,
And dark I am within;
The love of God I cannot see,
The sinfulness of sin.


9 But thou, they say, art passing by;
O let me find thee near!
Jesu, in mercy hear my cry,
Thou Son of David, hear!


10 Behold me waiting in the way
For thee, the heavenly light;
Command me to be brought, and say
"Sinner, receive thy sight!"


Meaning & Inspiration

This Charles Wesley hymn presents a prayer for Christ’s cleansing and restoring mercy. Each stanza draws on a different Gospel scene: a leper asks to be made clean, a withered hand is stretched out, the speechless sing, the lame rise, and the blind receive sight. These physical conditions also become images of spiritual need. The speaker confesses sin and helplessness while appealing to the unchanging character and compassionate authority of Jesus.

Hebrews 13:8 directly supports the opening claim that Jesus remains the same. The plea of the leper closely echoes Matthew 8:2-3, where Christ responds with willingness and cleansing. Later stanzas gather several signs associated with Christ’s ministry, including restored hearing, speech, movement, and sight. The hymn does not treat those signs as spectacle; it turns them into a sustained request for forgiveness, obedience, prayer, praise, and spiritual perception. Its conclusion adopts the cry of the blind man who addresses Jesus as the Son of David and waits for merciful sight.

Related Scripture

  • Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is declared to be the same yesterday, today, and forever.
  • Matthew 8:2-3 A leper asks Jesus to make him clean, and Jesus answers with compassion and healing.
  • Luke 18:38-42 A blind man calls Jesus Son of David and receives sight through Christ’s mercy.