1
One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see;
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see;
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.
When Jesus comes the tempter’s pow’r is broken;
When Jesus comes the tears are wiped away.
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
When Jesus comes the tears are wiped away.
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
2
From home and friends the evil spirits drove him,
Among the tombs he dwelt in misery;
He cut himself as demon pow’rs possessed him,
Then Jesus came and set the captive free.
Among the tombs he dwelt in misery;
He cut himself as demon pow’rs possessed him,
Then Jesus came and set the captive free.
3
“Unclean! unclean!” the leper cried in torment,
The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near;
The fever raged, disease had gripped its victim,
Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.
The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near;
The fever raged, disease had gripped its victim,
Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.
4
Their hearts were sad as in the tomb they laid him,
For death had come and taken him away;
Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling,
Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.
For death had come and taken him away;
Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling,
Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.
5
So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
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Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
The spirit and life of this song wells up in me whenever I have a challenge; as I humm and sing it the peace and comfort only JESUS CHRIST our Lord and Saviour can give comes upon me and I know that it is settled. Hallelujah!
Orlando, FL, United States
Just before my Grandfather preached the gospel, an American missionary sang this wonderful song. That night I was born again. I wept like a a hardened sinner, yet I was but a child nearly ten years old. That was May 22, 1954.
Lagos, Nigeria
The first time I heard this song in my church I think around May 2018, I was seriously moved and I was touched really. To God be the Glory for ever Amen!
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Knew this song as a kid singing in the choir where my father pastored. My experience with God through this song came when I was sick and dying. It got to a stage that my parents were just helpless. It was in the midst of that darkness that God brought this hymn and another one to my heart and I both sang and hummed it. Suddenly a revelation of Jesus got to me and I knew that I would not die but live; and I was healed and got back to school the next week. After more than thirty years, now as a pastor I am meditating and preparing a sermon and this hymn was whispered to me. I simply googled to find it. So, I expect the move of God when this hymn is sung and I preach on the coming of Jesus into the lives of people. Our great God has a great hymn here!
Larne, County Antrim, Ireland
I first heard this sung in church 70 years by my Uncle, and as a young Christian I was deeply moved. Now 81 years of age a retired Pastor , and not having heard it in many years I discovered it again on 10/4/2018, and am inspired to prepare a series of messages on it.
All is changed when Jesus comes🙌 Praise Him 🙌😕
Houston, TX, United States
Hearing this song for the first time sung by a senior client as she laid in bed recovering from minor hospital surgery.
She sang with such conviction that WHEN JESUS COMES, He'll SET Her Captured Soul-- Go FREE!
Charlotte, NC, United States
I first heard this at Elysian fields Baptist Church in New Orleans when I was 13. The preacher sang it just before the sermon. It was wonderful.
Benton, Ark., United States
Lister Rolloff, I think, sang it and my mother also taught it to me. It's been one of my favorites for many years.
Van Wert, Ohio, United States
My dad was a singer at home and church. This song has had a place in my heart for 50 years! It comes to mind often, ministered to my broken, wounded heart in the early nineties, and I hope to share it with the ladies in jail church today. JESUS only!
Detroit, MI, United States
Dr. Smith authored 35 books, which have been translated into more than 100 languages. He has also written approximately 1,200 hymns, poems and gospel songs.
Another beloved hymn of his is "Deeper and Deeper", which was composed in this way:
"I was traveling secretary of the Pocket Testament League founded by Mrs. Charles Alexander. Arriving in Woodstock, Ontario, one day in the year 1911, I was invited to preach one Sunday morning in the largest Methodist Church in that city. As I walked along the street on my way to the church, the melody of this hymn suddenly sang itself into my heart and with it these words -
Into the heart of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Seeking to know the reason
Why He should love me so,
Why He should stoop to lift me
Up from the miry clay,
Saving my soul, making me whole,
Though I had wandered away.
I can still recall the joy and buoyancy of youth, the bright sunshine overhead, and the thrill with which I looked forward to my service that Sunday morning as again and again I hummed over the words. I wondered if I could retain the music in my mind until after the service was over. I was just 21 years of age. After preaching, I quickly returned to my rented room and the first thing I did was to write out the melody as God had given it to me. I had been able to remember it, and it has never changed from that day to this."
The writing of the remaining verses was much more difficult. Three years later, however, while pastoring the First Presbyterian Church of South Chicago, Dr. Smith completed his hymn.
"It was then 1914, and I was 24 years old. The writing of the hymn afforded me much joy, nor has it ever grown old. I still love it and always will, for it was the child of my youth. It proves conclusively that God can impart His deepest truths to the hearts of the young, for I doubt I have ever written anything more profound since." - '52 Hymn Stories Dramatized' by Kenneth W. Osbeck