Hymn Devotion for 3 September 2024 Anno domini,
the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
Click here to watch and listen:: https://youtu.be/dS48f9MjBTI?si=DehIjRF-InumBGrB
“But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”
Gospel of St John 21:4
This hymn is a bit longer than those on which I usually comment, however, the beauty and magnificence of the lyrics and meaning are far too profound to pass over. The author is Mrs. C.H. Morris (I862-1929) who composed her hymns while performing her daily household duties. This hymn she wrote in 1893.
IN FANCY, I STOOD BY THE SHORE ONE DAY
1 In fancy I stood by the shore, one day,
Of the beautiful murm’ring sea;
I saw the great crowds as they thronged the way
Of the Stranger of Galilee;
I saw how the man who was blind from birth,
In a moment was made to see;
The lame was made whole by the matchless skill
Of the Stranger of Galilee.
Refrain 1-3:
And I felt I could love Him forever,
So gracious and tender was He!
I claimed Him that day as my Savior,
This Stranger of Galilee.
2 His look of compassion, His words of love,
They shall never forgotten be;
When sin-sick and helpless He saw me there,
This Stranger of Galilee;
He showed me His hand and His riven side,
And He whispered, “It was for thee!”
My burden fell off at the pierced feet
Of the Stranger from Galilee. [Refrain]
3 I heard Him speak peace to the angry waves,
Of that turbulent, raging sea;
And lo! at His word are the waters stilled,
This Stranger of Galilee;
A peaceful, a quiet, and holy calm,
Now and ever abides with me;
He holdeth my life in His mighty hands,
This Stranger of Galilee. [Refrain]
4 Come, ye who are driven and tempest-tossed,
And His gracious salvation see;
He’ll quiet life’s storms with His “Peace, be still!”
This Stranger of Galilee;
He bids me to go and the story tell—
What He ever to you will be,
If only you let Him with you abide,
This Stranger of Galilee.
Refrain 4:
Oh, my friend, won’t you love Him forever?
So gracious and tender is He!
Accept Him today as your Savior,
This Stranger of Galilee.
1 In fancy I stood by the shore, one day, Of the beautiful murm’ring sea; I saw the great crowds as they thronged the way Of the Stranger of Galilee; I saw how the man who was blind from birth, In a moment was made to see; The lame was made whole by the matchless skill Of the Stranger of Galilee.[Refrain 1-3] The beauty and mystery of the endless sea raises our awareness to our smallness compared to the greater creations of God. Why should He take notice of tiny man compared to the depth and wideness of the Universe? The sea never rests in its constant rush and retreat along the shore; yet, God sent His only Begotten Son to redeem and save us as a man who was both human and divine in His earthly ministry. Strangely, our Lord was followed by great multitudes many of whom simply followed out of curiosity and worldly expectations and physical healings – healings which were far less magnificent than the healing He offered in eternal healing and redemption for our sinful souls. Like the Good Samaritan, He came as a Stranger to so many, and whose compassion was mirrored in that wonderful descriptive parable of the Good Samaritan. Our Lord was stranger to our frailty and sinful dispositions. He came as a Stranger, but departed as the darling of the souls of multitudes down the annals of the ages.
2 His look of compassion, His words of love, They shall never forgotten be; When sin-sick and helpless He saw me there, This Stranger of Galilee; He showed me His hand and His riven side, And He whispered, “It was for thee!” My burden fell off at the pierced feet Of the Stranger from Galilee. [Refrain 1-3]
Our Lord came as a stranger to all of us who could not conceive the tremendous love of God in sending His Son to suffer and die, not only in our own stead, but to cleanse us from the spiritual dearth of our filthy rags of sin. It was not simply His inconceivable power to heal and restore the hurts of the body, but more than this, the overflowing fountain of love that His coming to us represented. He loved us when no one else would offer us a mite of love. Because He loved us first, a seed of love was planted in the hearts of all who have placed their trust in Him that shall never suffer extinction. He was that Stranger who cared for the helpless and dying man on the Road to Jericho when the religious leaders passed by on the other side. He was that Stranger who came walking among the billows of the Sea. He was that resurrection Stranger who walked along the Galilean shores that beautiful day following His passion, death, and resurrection. “4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)
3 I heard Him speak peace to the angry waves, Of that turbulent, raging sea; And lo! at His word are the waters stilled, This Stranger of Galilee; A peaceful, a quiet, and holy calm, Now and ever abides with me;
He holdeth my life in His mighty hands, This Stranger of Galilee. [Refrain 1-3] How fearful are the billows of trouble and pain in our lives, yet, the Stranger comes walking on the tumultuous seas of life and makes our souls at peace and removes our fears. The billows build and ebb, but these are no impediment of our Lord in coming to us – for He is the Master of the Ocean Seas. He made them and they conform to His perfect will. Not only may we have the peace of God to calm our stormy seas, but we have His only Begotten son to actually abide in our hearts to rule them in joy and righteousness.
4 Come, ye who are driven and tempest-tossed, And His gracious salvation see; He’ll quiet life’s storms with His “Peace, be still!” This Stranger of Galilee; He bids me to go and the story tell— What He ever to you will be, If only you let Him with you abide, This Stranger of Galilee. Peace, be still! What a wonderful expression to those who are perishing in the overwhelming waves of the troubled sea. Our Lord remains a Stranger of contempt to those who believe themselves to need no Savior, yet He loves us with a love so immense as the Sea and Sky. Once we have embraced Him as Savior, He will abide with us always, and we may be assured – He will never leave nor forsake us.
Refrain 1-3: And I felt I could love Him forever, So gracious and tender was He! I claimed Him that day as my Savior, This Stranger of Galilee. When Christ ceases to by a Stranger, He becomes our dearest friend, brother, and Savior. We are enabled to love Him forever because He loved us with such a magnificent and endless love.
Refrain 4: Oh, my friend, won’t you love Him forever? So gracious and tender is He! Accept Him today as your Savior, This Stranger of Galilee. Comes there a Stranger walking along the shores of old Galilee – may I introduce you, friend, to this wonderful Stranger for whom we had only contempt ere we came to know Him as Friend?
