Tell Me the Story of Jesus…

With our recent ‘Blessing of the Backpacks’ service in August and the beginnings of school and the new church program year, I have been reminded of the beginnings of my faith as a youth of twelve. The newness of it all; the joy of just being in God’s house; the joy of finding an old piano in a Sunday School room where I would attempt to play hymns from the old shaped-note hymnal that my church used—all these wonderful remembrances brought joy. Of course, remembering those times reminded me of songs I hadn’t played or sung in many years. It is the hope of all sincere preachers and teachers (of music and all disciplines) that something that is shared will ‘spark’ the learner to desire to know more. Certainly, scholarly work and teaching are important to our deeper understandings of important subjects. However, as any experienced teacher will tell you, being willing to teach the basics first lays a solid foundation for further learning. Many of the songs we learn as children stick with us. I’ll share one that distills the basics of our faith in such a lovely and simple way that it invites the reader to, hopefully, desire to know more. Indeed, in the opening lines of the poem the author conveys such joy about her faith and her longing to share that joy.

The song I mentioned is titled “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”. I’ll share the text of this hymn at the end of this article, but first, I’d like to tell you about the author and her enormous contributions to American hymnody. Frances Jane van Alstyne (née Crosby) is more commonly remembered as Fanny J. Crosby. Blind from birth, she was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist and composer. To say she was prolific in her output of work would be an understatement. The estimates of her hymn texts alone vary but it is said to be between eight and nine thousand. This is in addition to her many secular songs, cantatas, poems and political and patriotic songs. Perhaps because of her blindness, her mother and grandmother encouraged her to memorize parts of the bible. Crosby memorized five chapters of the bible per week, beginning at about the age of ten. By the age of 15, she had memorized the four gospels, the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Old Testament), the Book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon and many of the Psalms. She remarked that her blindness is what made her memory so prodigious. She was living proof of the scripture that says: “God is made strong in our infirmities.”  **Although the details of her many accomplishments are astounding, this information is shared not merely to praise her but is offered to exemplify how her faith was used by God to bless many people.  

Although her family’s puritan roots go back to the Mayflower and many of her songs were first sung in revivalist settings, they are known and cherished in many branches of the Christian church, including the Episcopal church. In one of our Episcopal hymnals, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, An African American Hymnal, there are five of her hymn texts. For our parish, the most well-known of these is likely “Blessed Assurance.” At one point, Crosby became an active member of the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Manhattan. One of her most famous relatives is the beloved American singer/actor Bing Crosby. It is reported that Crosby was the first woman to address the United States Senate to advocate for educational support for the blind. She recited these lines to a joint session of Congress: “O ye, who from every state convene, illustrious band! May we hope not the scene you now behold will prove to every mind that instruction hath a ray to cheer the blind.”

To say the least, I am in awe of the gifts of those who have come before me. Their willingness to share faith through poetry and music has been and continues to be an immeasurable contribution to Christ’s body, the church. As promised, below is the text of this sincere and simple song that has helped so many of every age begin a journey of faith.

Peace,

John

“Tell Me the Story of Jesus”

Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word; tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard. Tell how the angels, in chorus, sang as they welcomed his birth, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Fasting alone in the desert, tell of the days that are past, how for our sins he was tempted, yet was triumphant at last. Tell of the years of his labor, tell of the sorrows he bore, he was despised and afflicted, homeless, rejected, and poor.

Tell of the cross where they nailed him, writhing in anguish and pain; tell of the grave where they laid him, tell how he liveth again. Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see: Stay, let me weep while you whisper, love paid the ransom for me.

Words: Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915).

** There is much more information about Crosby’s life and work available on Wikipedia and from many other sources.