Allow the Timeless Lyrics of the Hymn "Jesus, My Savior" to Encourage You Today
Christianity has given the world some great works of literature, visual art, poetry, and hymns such as “Amazing Grace,” “In Christ Alone,” “Rock of Ages,” “All Creatures of our God and King,” and “This Is My Father’s World.” Another time-tested hymn is “Jesus, My Savior," with lyrics written by Samuel Trevor Francis. What inspired Francis to write the hymn, and how did it become so well-known throughout the world? Let's explore answers to these questions and dive into the lyrics of the hymn.
Who Wrote the Lyrics to "Jesus, My Savior"?
Samuel Trevor Francis was born in Hertz, England in1834. Francis grew up in a Christian home reading scripture, learning the importance of prayer, and going to a local Anglican church where he sang in the choir. Although Francis was raised by a family that was deeply devout, Francis was not a follower of Christ, yet still spiritually curious. At an early age, Francis began to write poetry. Through poetry, Francis found a way to express his deepest questions and emotions, and it would sow the seeds for him to become a prolific writer of hymns later in his life.
At the age of 19, Francis found himself in a spiritual crisis. One day, when walking into London on Hungerford Bridge, Francis thought of taking his own life. In that great moment of desperation, Francis heard the Holy Spirit speak to Him. After being comforted by the Holy Spirit, Francis gave his life to Christ. This encounter with Christ changed everything for Francis, and he found his vocational calling as a poet, hymnist, and preacher. Francis is an example to all people who have struggled with depression and confusion that there is hope greater than the darkness.
After Francis answered the call of God’s will on his life, he became a minister. Harvey preached in many different congregations and was part of the revival in England between 1859 and 1860. During these revival years hundreds of people came to know the love of Christ as Francis worked alongside with the Moody and Sankey campaign which took place between 1873 and 1874. Francis died at the age of 92 in 1925. During his lifetime Francis had numerous poems and hymns published and made a profound impact for the kingdom of God in his vocation as a poet and minister.
What Are Some Important Theological Themes In "Jesus, My Savior"?
The Hymn “Jesus, My Savior” was first published in 1912. The first verse expresses the existential human condition of being lost. Some of the lines liken the feeling of being lost to being shipwrecked at sea, while acknowledging that the only one that can save a lost soul is Christ. Whether someone feels lost because of feeling as if they do not fit in anywhere, because of worldview confusion, or like there is no hope, the message of the gospel is that they are not lost in an empty universe.
“Jesus, my Saviour, to Thee do I flee,
Whither for rest could I go but to Thee?”
These two lines of the second verse of the hymn conveys the reality of the omnipresence of Christ. This truth brings joy to someone that is struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, and that is feeling quite weary. What a grand truth it is to know that as Christians we can find true rest through the peace of Christ!
The third line,
“Praising my Father for all He has given,”
expresses praise to God for all his glory, majesty, and fatherhood. God alone is the only one worthy of worship, and it is for each one of us that He died so we could spend eternity with him and because he loves all of humanity with an agape love. In the Greek definition, agape love is the highest form of love. This is portrayed by Christ's sacrifice on the cross and glorious Resurrection. Father God came to this earth to save all his children.
The last line of verse two mentions the Christian journeying to “a mansion in Heaven.” Though many in modern culture mock the Christian view of Heaven as wishful thinking, this belief is central to all Christians and based on the historical event of Jesus’s Resurrection. This is attested to by the eyewitnesses that saw the Christ, as well as sources outside of The Bible such Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, and others that attest to what the early Christians believed about Jesus’ bodily Resurrection.
The third verse explores how Jesus was a friend to those who felt loveless, lost, and ostracized from society. In the first century Jesus spent his time with those who were viewed as unclean and unlovable by the religious elite. This caused Jesus to be condemned as a heretic and viewed with contempt since he spent his time with the lost, the poor, and the broken. The last line of the third verse, expresses the hope that Christians have for eternal life. Naturalism offers no one hope beyond the grave, but the hope offered in Christ allows one to experience redemption in the present, and what is to come in eternity.
The fourth verse of the hymn explores the reality of true faith in Christ being an act of utter trust and surrender. Faith in Christ is not blind faith, nor a leap in the dark, but complete trust in a good and righters Creator that loves every personally individually, giving them intrinsic worth. Every Christian experiences doubt on their journey of faith, but doubts strengthen one’s faith, as can be seen in many of the Psalms of David and with the Apostle Thomas when he saw the scars in the hands and nails of the risen Christ.
“Trusting Thee fully, Lord, lest I should fail,
Counting on Thee for the power to prevail;
Learning of Thee every step of the way,
Singing of Thee as I journey each day”
The writer, preacher, artist, and hymnist Francis wrote “Jesus, My Savior” to express his love for Christ and humanity. Francis felt a profound sense of gratitude to Christ for meeting him in his darkest moment and bringing him hope, joy, and abundant life. The lyrics of the hymn are quite simple. Still, it is a profoundly moving affirmation of hope and eternal life being possible for all of humanity because of Jesus’ Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection. This affirmation is in direct contrast to the modern materialistic view that human beings are accidents alone in the universe. Fortunately, this is not true. Francis conveyed in his poignant hymn that the hope everyone is looking for is found in Jesus Christ alone and not man-made materialistic philosophies that reduce humanity to nothing more than chemicals and atoms with no hope beyond the grave. If this materialistic worldview were true, life would have no objective meaning. The redemption offered in Christ gives life objective meaning for all human beings.
Another Hymn Called "Jesus, My Savior"
It's interesting to note that another hymn, “Jesus, My Savior,” was first published in 1878. Though the author of the original version is unknown, the tune was written by Emerson E. Hasty. Hasty was a beekeeper, writer, and hymnist who lived between 1840 and 1914. Though Hasty’s version is quite different from Francis,' both hymns were written to the glory of Christ.
Since Christ is the source of all goodness, beauty, and truth, the arts offer a unique way of helping people encounter Him—especially those who may have been turned off by rigid fundamentalism or had negative experiences with organized religion.
Old hymns such as “Jesus, My Savior” will always be timeless since they are written by poets who had an incredible gift for understanding the way language works and used their gift by writing poetry that millions of people around the world have found to be inspiring, encouraging, and spiritually nourishing.
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Justin Wiggins is an author who works and lives in the primitive, majestic, beautiful mountains of North Carolina. He graduated with his Bachelor's in English Literature, with a focus on C.S. Lewis studies, from Montreat College in May 2018. His first book was Surprised by Agape, published by Grant Hudson of Clarendon House Publications. His second book, Surprised By Myth, was co-written with Grant Hudson and published in 2021. Many of his recent books (Marty & Irene, Tír na nÓg, Celtic Twilight, Celtic Song, Ragnarok, Celtic Dawn) are published by Steve Cawte of Impspired.
Wiggins has also had poems and other short pieces published by Clarendon House Publications, Sehnsucht: The C.S. Lewis Journal, and Sweetycat Press. Justin has a great zeal for life, work, community, writing, literature, art, pubs, bookstores, coffee shops, and for England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Originally published January 06, 2025.
