How Sweet The Name of Jesus Sounds (1779)

Words: John Newton 1725-1807

Music: Thomas Hastings 1784-1872

         “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11. KJV)

         John Newton, the great hymnwriter, was still able to preach at eighty. However, he was almost deaf and nearly blind. He would take an aide to the pulpit and have him read his next sermon point on his outline. Newton would then talk about that point. One Sunday his reader gave his first point and Newton said to the congregation, “Jesus Christ is precious.” The aide told John Newton that he had already said that. The old minister said, “I know, and I will say it again and again.” He then asked the church to sing this hymn he had written about 25 years earlier.

Prayer Focus: What a joy to pray in the blessed name of Jesus.

-Graham McKay lives in Spring Hill, TN