Today’s hymn comes from John Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918). Chapman entered full-time evangelistic work, preaching with Dwight L. Moody and also conducting many of his own revivals. This hymn was written in 1910 when Chapman preached that Jesus was a friend to the greatest sinner. He used Luke 7:34 as his inspiration, “A friend of tax collectors and sinners¹.” Enjoy the version below by Matthew Smith.

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Saviour, makes me whole.
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my vict’ry wins.
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving;
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows o’er me roll,
even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving;
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
storms about me, night o’ertakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving;
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
more than all in Him I find;
He hath granted me forgiveness;
I am His, and He is mine!
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving;
He is with me to the end.

¹eu.goupstate.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2016/09/29/8216jesus-what-friend-for-sinners8217/25298604007/#

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