The hymn we sing in response to the proclamation of the Word today is the long-cherished “Fairest Lord Jesus.” Our Gospel lesson recounts a time in Jesus’ ministry when he is questioned by chief priests and elders. They challenged his authority and demanded to know where the command of his teaching and ministry came from. The hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus,” in response, boldly proclaims that Jesus is sovereign: Ruler of all nature. Ruler of the nations.
Both the text and the tune of this beloved hymn have a storied, if not complex, history. Hymnologist Carl Daw even calls it “a classic example of the persistence of erroneous information.” Our United Methodist friends enjoy a regular column on their Discipleship Ministries website called History of Hymns. Hannah Cruse recently detailed the origins of “Fairest Lord Jesus.” Her article is well-researched and clearly written. Take a look, and enjoy!
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-fairest-lord-jesus
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