1 JESU, take my sins away,
And make me know thy name!
Thou art now, as yesterday
And evermore, the same;
Thou my true Bethesda be;
I know within thine arms is room,
All the world may unto thee,
Their House of Mercy, come.
2 Mercy then there is for me,
(Away my doubts and fears!)
Plagued with an infirmity
For many tedious years.
Jesu, cast a pitying eye!
Thou long hast known my desperate case;
Poor and helpless here I lie,
And wait the healing grace.
3 Long hath thy good Spirit strove
With my distempered soul,
But I still refused thy love,
And would not be made whole;
Hardly now at last I yield,
I yield with all my sins to part;
Let my soul be fully healed,
And throughly cleansed my heart.
4 Pain and sickness, at thy word,
And sin, and sorrow flies:
Speak to me, Almighty Lord,
And bid my spirit rise!
Bid me bear the hallowed cross,
Which thou, my Lord, hast borne before;
Walk in all thy righteous laws,
And go and sin no more.
Jesu, Take My Sins Away
Jesu, Take My Sins Away Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
This hymn, titled "Jesu, Take My Sins Away," is a profound expression of personal repentance and a plea for divine healing and transformation. Penned by Charles Wesley, one of the most prolific hymn writers in Christian history, it reflects the earnest, experiential faith characteristic of the Methodist revival in the 18th century. Wesley's hymns often captured the emotional and spiritual journey of conversion and sanctification, providing accessible theological truth through song. The hymn begins with a direct appeal to Jesus, acknowledging His unchanging nature and universal accessibility as the source of mercy and healing, drawing on the biblical image of the pool of Bethesda as a place of hope for the afflicted.
The second stanza delves deeper into the individual's struggle, confessing a long-standing condition of spiritual or physical infirmity that has caused persistent doubt and fear. It mirrors the plight of the man at the pool of Bethesda who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, unable to reach the healing waters. The plea here is intensely personal, asking for Christ's compassionate gaze and the dispensing of His potent, healing grace to overcome this desperate state of helplessness and suffering.
Building upon this personal confession, the third stanza acknowledges a history of resistance to God's persistent efforts through the Holy Spirit. The soul confesses a past unwillingness to fully accept divine love and be made spiritually whole. There is a turning point described, a difficult but final yielding, signifying a decisive surrender of one's sins and a complete desire for inner cleansing and thorough healing of the heart from its spiritual maladies.
The final stanza is a declaration of faith in Christ's authority and power. It speaks to the immediate effect of His word, causing pain, sickness, sin, and sorrow to vanish. The hymn becomes a prayer for strength not only to be healed but also to follow Christ fully. It asks to be empowered to embrace the hardships of discipleship, symbolized by bearing the cross as Christ did, and to live a life in accordance with His righteous laws, ultimately seeking the grace to "go and sin no more." This concluding stanza encapsulates the aspiration for a transformed life, empowered by divine grace to live righteously.
Throughout the hymn, there are echoes of various scripture passages that inform its themes. The reference to Jesus being the same "yesterday, and evermore" aligns with Hebrews 13:8. The imagery of Bethesda and the long-suffering infirmity directly recalls the narrative in John 5:2-9, where Jesus heals the man at the pool. The concept of God's Spirit striving with humanity is found in Genesis 6:3. The theme of repentance and yielding aligns with passages calling for surrender to God's will, such as James 4:7. The power of Christ's word to heal and command life is central to the Gospels (e.g., Mark 1:41, Luke 7:7). The call to bear the cross is a direct reference to Jesus' teaching on discipleship in passages like Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23. The commission to "go and sin no more" comes from Jesus' words to those He healed and forgave, as seen in John 5:14 and John 8:11. These biblical connections ground the hymn in core Christian beliefs about sin, redemption, healing, and the call to holy living.
The enduring appeal of this hymn lies in its raw honesty about human frailty, sin, and resistance, coupled with its unwavering focus on the mercy and power of Jesus Christ. It offers an inspirational message of hope for anyone burdened by sin or spiritual sickness, assuring them that in Christ there is ample room for healing and forgiveness. The hymn's journey from confession of infirmity and resistance to a prayer for surrender, healing, and empowerment to live a life of obedience provides a powerful spiritual roadmap. Its simple yet profound language continues to resonate, offering solace and encouragement to believers seeking a closer walk with their Redeemer.
