Jesus Shed His Blood for Me - Hymn with Lyrics

1. Jesus Shed His blood for me,

Bore, for our salvation,
On His cross, the agony
Of a lost creation.
Jesus, Lord, Jesus, Lord,
For my sins they slew Thee.
Now by Thy dear blood restored,
Draw the sinner to Thee.

2. For what crime should He be killed,
For His killers praying?
Mad, that mindless mob has willed
Their Messiah's slaying.
Jesus, Lord, Jesus, Lord,
For my sins they slew Thee.
Now by Thy dear blood restored,
Draw the sinner to Thee.

3. None there lives who dose not know
Sin, bloodied as crimson;
But the cross makes white as snow
All in Christ's dominion.
Jesus, Lord, Jesus, Lord,
For my sins they slew Thee.
Now by Thy dear blood restored,
Draw the sinner to Thee.

4. Jesus, oh so fair art Thou!
My good Friend, my Saviour,
Thy grace, only, saves me now,
And from hell forever.
Jesus, Lord, Jesus, Lord,
For my sins they slew Thee.
Now by Thy dear blood restored,
Draw the sinner to Thee. Amen.

Scripture; Matthew 26:28; John 19:34; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19 

The hymn "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed" was written by Isaac Watts in 1707 and is one of his most well-known and beloved hymns. The story behind the hymn is closely tied to Watts' deep reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his belief in the power of hymn singing to express deep theological truths.

Background of Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was a prominent English hymn writer and theologian, often regarded as the "father of English hymnody." During Watts' time, hymns were not commonly sung in churches, and most of the music used in worship consisted of psalms. Watts believed that hymns should be more expressive of Christian doctrine and should speak to the emotions and experience of believers. He sought to write hymns that would help people understand and feel the significance of the Christian faith.

Inspiration for the Hymn

"Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed" was inspired by the deep theological reflection on Jesus' atoning sacrifice and the emotional response it should evoke in Christians. The hymn's lyrics focus on the suffering and death of Christ on the cross, particularly the shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of sins. It asks the believer to consider the gravity of Jesus' sacrifice, which is a central theme in Christianity.

One possible inspiration for this hymn is Psalm 22, which is a messianic psalm that describes the suffering of Christ on the cross. Watts likely drew from the idea of reflecting on Christ's suffering, His love for humanity, and the redemption that comes through His blood.