Thank you to Lisa West for writing today’s article. I appreciate her study and thoughts about this beautiful song.

There are differing arrangements for many songs we sing in our worship services, so it’s no surprise that the song, Alleluia/Jesus is Lord, is this way also.  In the song book, Church Gospel Songs and Hymns, Jerry Sinclair is credited with penning the words to this song.  The melody is quite simple using only 4 notes which has lent this song to many different verses throughout the years and even adding echoes of the melody for men’s and women’s parts.  All this said, the words and meanings are the most important part of a song of worship.

Let’s look at a few of the most common verses.  

What a friend we have in Jesus.  All our sins and griefs to bear;

What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.

We read in the old and new testaments of countless examples of people praying to God for many reasons.  In Matthew 6 we’re given the example of how we should pray and in I John 5:14 and 15 we are told God always hears our prayers.

Jesus is Lord, my Redeemer. How He loves me, how I love Him.

He is risen, He is coming. Lord come quickly! Alleluia!

God sent His Son Jesus, to earth to die on the cross for my sins so that I might have a chance to live in heaven with Him someday.

The last verse I will mention is, in my mind, a triumphant one.  In this verse the male voices sing, Alleluia, while the female voices sing a melody of what sacrifice Jesus made for us, a lost world.  He died on the cross to redeem us, but rose triumphantly on the third day, thus conquering death to be at the right hand of His Father. (Hebrews 1:3)

Alleluia!!

v.1 Jesus is Lord, my redeemer 
How He loves me, how I love Him 
He is risen, He is coming 
Lord, come quickly! Alleluia!
v.2 What a friend we have in Jesus 
All our sins and griefs to bear! 
What a privilege to carry 
Everything to God in prayer!
v.3 Precious is He, He that cometh 
I will love Him, I will serve Him 
When He comes with shouts of glory 
I will join Him, Alleluia!
v.4 He still loves me, me the sinner 
what a sorrow if I lost Him 
But He owns me, me the sinner 
Praise our Jesus! Alleluia!

“Alleluia” © Copyright 1972, Renewed 2000.  Manna Music Inc./ASCAP (admin. By ClearBox Rights).  All rights reserved.  Used by permission.