The Author Behind The Song "Tell Me The Story of Jesus"

SONG WRITER: Fanny Crosby

MUSIC WRITER: John R. Sweney

WHEN WRITTEN: 1880

HYMN HISTORY: The story of Fanny Crosby is one of sorrow, yet of the deepest love. At the age of six weeks old, Fanny developed an eye infection. The family physician was unavailable so another physician was called. He applied hot mustard poultices to the baby's eyes. This caused severe burns to Fanny's eyes and she was permanently blind from then on.

Fanny never felt bitter but instead grew into a young woman who "saw" God in everything around her and in every circumstance that life handed to her. Although she was physically blind, Fanny had the keenest of spiritual sight...which is reflected in her 9,000 plus hymns. Her love for God and her eagerness to share with others what Christ had done for them brought countless numbers to Christ.

God gifted Fanny with the ability to put into words what her heart contained. She gave full credit to God for what she was able to accomplish in His name. Today, so many of our favorite and famous hymns are from this small, humble blind woman who opened her heart to see what those with physical sight often could not.

Fanny married and had one child, who died shortly after birth. Her insight on a mother's love is reflected in an incredibly beautiful poem: The Child and the Angel.

Everything that touched Fanny in this life found a way into her poems and hymns. When we read Fanny's poetry or sing her hymns we are confronted with a blinding truth. Fanny KNEW her Savior as a real and living person. He was with her moment by moment each and every day. He was as real to her as the "physical" people in her life. It is because she knew Him as a living breathing person that her hymns reflect that truth and are so loved by Christians everywhere.

Fanny was the "salt of the earth" to so many who knew her personally, and her legacy lives on through the wealth of hymns she has left behind. A heart-felt legacy for the future generations of Christians to come...

HYMN LYRICS:

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.”

Refrain

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

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 sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.

Refrain

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.