Hymns written for Bible study of John's Gospel.

I am co-leader of a monthly Bible study group including Baptists & Anglicans & my wife Ann & I - Independent Evangelical.

Often a new hymn, or a verse added to a hymn comes to mind.

John 1 includes the contrast between Moses & our LORD Jesus Christ & an allusion to Jacob's ladder.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” ​

The hymn which came to mind was -

1. As Jacob with travel was weary one day,
at night on a stone for a pillow he lay;
he saw in a vision a ladder so high
that its foot was on earth and its top in the sky:
Alleluia to Jesus who died on the tree,
and has raised up a ladder of mercy for me,
and has raised up a ladder to heaven for me!

2. The ladder of Moses is based on God's law ​

and when one law is broken the ladder will fall;
but the ladder of Jesus is grace from above
and we climb it by faith and are kept by his love​

Alleluia to Jesus who died on the tree,
and has raised up a ladder of mercy for me
and has raised up a ladder to heaven for me!

3. This ladder is Jesus, the glorious God-man,
Whose blood freely streaming from Calvary ran;
By His great atonement to Heaven we rise,
And sing in the mansions prepared in the skies.
Alleluia to Jesus who died on the tree,
and has raised up a ladder of mercy for me
and has raised up a ladder to heaven for me!

4. And when we arrive at the haven of rest
we shall hear the glad words, 'Come up hither, you blest,
here are regions of light, here are mansions of bliss'.
O who would not climb such a ladder as this?
Alleluia to Jesus who died on the tree,
and has raised up a ladder of mercy for me
and has raised up a ladder to heaven for me!

Composite of 2 versions & added verse 2 by me, Ian Day.
Genesis 28, John 1

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Great to see all those hymnbooks! Make sure no-one introduces a OHP screen!

 

This hymn relates to John 1 & many other references to baptism of believers. In the Gospel there must be an emphasis on repentance.

Repent and be baptised
and trust the name of Jesus.
The Gospel call comes clear,
He loves & saves and frees us.
Believe with all your heart
He is the Son of God;
your sins are washed away,
cleansed by his precious blood.
2.
The Spirit shows our sin
as guilty covenant breakers;
we must be born again,
He'll cleanse, renew, remake us.
Redeemed & saved by grace;
buried & dead to sin;
and raised to life in Christ;
we live new lives in him.
3.
The Father calls us his;
his children by adoption.
The water speaks of blood -
the price of our redemption.
The children of his love;
joint heirs with Christ, God's Son
one family in Christ;
with all his people one.
4.
Reborn, renewed, restored;
eternal life before us.
Christ walks with us each day
till he to glory calls us.
Then we shall see his face;
be free from all our sin;
this Paradise is ours -
repent and come to him.

© Ian Day 2016
Tune – “Nun danket” “Now thank we all our God,”

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We can't have our group Bible studies at present. I wrote this for John 8.

In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.
Now what do you say? John 8:5

Condemned by the elders they brought her to Jesus;
Would Jesus condemn her and order her stoning?
He stooped down before them and wrote with his finger.
“The one without sin take and throw the first stone.”

Ashamed by their conscience they left her with Jesus;;
the Law that condemned her condemned her accusers.
She called Jesus “Lord” and received his forgiveness.
He welcomes lost sinners and he gives us new life.

O Light of the world, you are shining in darkness;
you shine in our hearts and we know we are sinners;
we dare not turn from you, for you are our Saviour.
We turn from our darkness and- come to the light.

© Ian Day John 8 2020

 

Does the FB video work OK? I've got lots more to do.

 

John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.” .


Sat down by a well, Jesus met with a woman.
He asked for a drink, though she was a Samaritan.
She asked how a Jew could share drink with a stranger.
Jesus said, “Ask of me for the water of life.”

He warned her of sin when she said she'd no husband.
She knew she was speaking with one of God's prophets.
She asked him the place where the true God was worshipped.
Come, worship the Father in the Spirit and Truth.

She went back to town and called others to meet him.
They came out to hear him, he found there a welcome.
They loved what he taught them, good news of salvation.
O come to meet Jesus, he's the Saviour of all.

© Ian Day 2019
Tune – “Down by the Glenside”