The Old Old Story

From 101 Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck (Grand Rapids, MI 1982), pages 109-10, we learn that the hymn author was A. Katherine Hankey (1834-1911), with these paragraphs giving the possible relationship between the hymn and the poem that follows.

"When Katherine was only thirty years of age [1864], she experienced a serious illness. During a long period of recovery she wrote a lengthy poem on the life of Christ. The poem consisted of two main sections, each containing fifty verses. The first section of the poem was entitled 'The Story Wanted.' It was from this part of her poem that she later adapted the words for another of her familiar hymn texts, 'Tell Me the Old, Old Story.' This hymn has since become another of the church's classic children's hymns.

"Later that same year while still recovering from her illness, Kate Hankey completed the second part of her poem on the life of Christ. This sequel to the first section was entitled 'The Story Told.' From these verses came the text for 'I Love to Tell the Story,' written in the same meter but with a different accent than her other familiar hymn text."

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

You have asked me for a story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.

You want the old, old story,
And nothing else will do.
Indeed, I do not wonder,
It always seems so new.

I often wish that someone
Would tell me it each day.
I never would grow tired
Of what they had to say.

But I am wasting moments --
Oh, how shall I begin
To tell that old, old story
How Jesus saves from sin.

Well, you listen and I will tell you.
God help both you and me
To make this old, old story
His message unto thee.

Once in a pleasant garden
God placed a happy pair.
All within was peaceful,
And all around was fair.

But they disobeyed Him.
The one thing that He denied
They longed for, they took, they tasted,
They ate of it and they died.

Yet in His love and mercy,
The Lord at once declared
How man though lost and ruined,
Might after all be spared.

For one of these descendants,
Not sinful like the rest,
Has spoiled the work of Satan --
And man He saved and blest.

Hundreds of years were over
And Adam and Eve had died,
And the following generation,
And many more beside.

At last, the shepherds watching
Beside their flocks one night
Was startled in the darkness
By a strange and heavenly light.

One of the holy angels
Had come from heaven above
To tell that new, new story
Of Jesus and His love.

He came to bring glad tidings --
"You must not - need not - fear,
For Christ you new-born Savior
Lies in a village near."

Then many other angels
Took up the chorus then,
"On high to God be glory,
Goodwill and peace to men."

And was it true, that story?
They went at once to see
And they found Him in the manger,
And they knew that it was He.

He, whom the Father promised
So many ages past,
Had come to save poor sinners;
Yes, He had come at last.

He was content to do it --
To seek and to save the lost --
Although He knew beforehand,
Knew all that it would cost.

He lived a life most holy.
His every thought was love,
His every action showed it
To man and to God above.

His path on earth was lowly;
He was a working man.
Who knows the poor man's trials
So well as Jesus can?

His last three years were lovely.
He could no more be hid,
And time and strength would fail me
To tell all the good He did.

He gave away no money
For He had none to give;
But He had power for healing,
And He made dead people live.

He did kind things so kindly --
It seemed His heart's delight
To make poor people happy
From morning until night.

He always seemed at leisure
For everyone who came,
However tired or busy
They found Him just the same.

He heard each tale of sorrow
With an attentive ear.
And He took away each burden
Of suffering, sin and fear.

He was a Man of Sorrow,
And when He gave relief
He gave it like a brother,
Acquainted with their grief.

Such was the man Christ Jesus,
A friend of sinful men.
But, hush, the tale grows sadder --
I'll tell it if I can.

This gentle, holy Jesus
Without a spot or stain
By wicked hands was taken,
Was crucified, was slain.

Look! Look! If you can bear it!
Look at your dying Lord!
Stand near the cross and watch Him.
Behold, the Lamb of God!

His hands and feet are pierced,
He cannot hide His face;
And cruel men stand staring
In crowds about the place.

They laugh at Him, they mock Him,
They tell Him to come down --
To leave that cross of suffering
And exchange it for a crown.

Why did He bear their mockings?
Was He the Almighty God?
And could He have destroyed them
With one almighty word?

Yes! He could have done it!
But I will tell you why
He would not use His power
But He chose instead to die.

He had become our Surety
And what we could not pay
He paid instead and for us
On that one dreadful day.

For our sins He suffered!
For our sins He died!
Not for ours only,
But for all the world beside.

And now the work is finished.
The sinners' debt is paid,
Because on Christ the Righteous
The sin of all was laid.

Oh, wonderful redemption,
God's remedy for sin --
The door of heaven is open
And you may enter in.

For God released our Surety
To show the work was done,
And Jesus' resurection
Declared the victory won.

And now He has ascended
And He sits upon the throne
To be a Prince and Savior
And to claim us for His own.

Now, when He left His people
He promised them to send
A Comforter to teach them
And to guide them to the end.

And that same Holy Spirit
Is with us to this day,
And is ready now to teach us
That new and that living way.

Now, this is the old, old story.
Say, do you take it in --
This wonderful redemption,
God's remedy for sin?

Do you with heart believe it?
Do you believe it was true
And was sent for every sinner,
And therefore meant for you?

Then take this great salvation,
For Jesus loves to give.
Believe, and you'll receive it;
Believe and you shall live!

Now, if this simple message
Has now brought peace to you
Then tell the old, old story,
For others need it, too.

Let everybody know it --
That Christ has made you free --
And if it sets them longing
Tell them, "Jesus died for thee."

Soon, soon, our eyes shall see Him;
And then in heaven above
We'll sing that old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

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Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda