Victory in Jesus hymn history is one of the most touching hymn stories you will ever hear due to the situation the author found himself in when he decided to write this hymn. The author of Victory in Jesus hymn is none other than Eugene M. Bartlett Sr.
Eugene M. Bartlett Sr. was born in 1885 in Missouri in the United States. He was one of the most prolific song writers, music producers, music publishers and singers of his time. It is one thing to be a song writer but it is quite another to also be a producer and singer and publisher at the same time.
It seemed as everything was going on well for him. He married his childhood sweetheart in 1917. And he was selling thousands of copies of his hymn books in the United States of America. And to top it all he had two lovely children with his wife.
Further he and his colleagues had established Hartford Music Company in 1918. And he spent a lot of time travelling around the country singing and teaching people music.
Then suddenly in 1939 at the age of 53 he was struck by a paralyzing stroke which left him unable to speak and walk. It is said that during this time he spent most of his time in bed. This was definitely not an easy time for someone his age.
It would be understandable if he had felt bitter and given up on anything. Fortunately he still kept the faith and it is during this time that he wrote this hymn which turned out to be his most popular hymn ever.
It is said that the song came when he began to think back to the time that he accepted Christ as his personal savior. He thought of the fulfilling life that resulted from that decision to be born again.
Instead of complaining he decided to write a song full of hope and joy of what the story of Jesus meant to him then and even now. He decided not to focus on his misfortune in the song.
It is said that the first line he wrote was, “I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wretch like me”.
Since he could not sing or travel, it was left to his son Eugene M. Bartlett Jr. to share this music with the world. He first sang this song in public in Texas. It is said that after a sermon by a well known evangelist and an altar call no one responded to the call. It is then that Eugene M. Bartlett Jr rose and decided to sing Victory in Jesus.
As a result of the message of this song, 50 people gave their lives to Jesus.
Eugene M. Bartlett Sr. passed away in 1941 due to complications related to his stroke.
Victory In Jesus Hymn Lyrics
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow’r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and bro’t
To me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.
Words and Music by E.M. Bartlett
© 1939 – Administrated by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.
All rights reserved
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Victory In Jesus Hymn Video
Below is a video featuring Cynthia Clawson, Steve Amerison, Sue Dodge, Guy Penrod. It was sung during the Gaither Homecoming.
