Jesus Calls Us - Cecil Francis Alexander

During the Victorian era, when women weren’t well-received as hymn writers, there were three women who were especially prolific. Fanny Crosby and Francis Havergal are both well-known in hymnody, but Cecil Francis Alexander, the author of “Jesus Calls Us,” isn’t as familiar to most. She was also a gifted writer, but most of her 400 hymns and poems were written for children with simple language they could understand.

Cecil was born in Ireland in 1818, and she began to write poetry when she was only nine years old. Her father was a Major in the Royal Marines, and she was afraid that he wouldn’t approve of her writing. She hid her poems under her bedroom carpet, but one day he discovered them. Instead of being upset, he was delighted, gave her a box for her poems, and offered her lots of encouragement. She loved children, and in 1848, she published “Hymns for Little Children.” Hundreds of thousands of these hymnals were sold. She gave the profits to support disabled children in Northern Ireland. It was said that she never sought praise for her hymns or poetry.

In 1850, Cecil married William Alexander, a poor country preacher who later became the Archbishop of Ireland. In their early years together, they served a church in a poor rural area during the days of the Great Famine. She worked among the poor and sick and shared Christ, feeding those who were spiritually and physically hungry as well. Her writing helped to support her husband’s ministry. She wrote poems to illustrate his sermons, and in 1852, at his request, she wrote “Jesus Calls Us” to be read after a sermon he was going to preach about Jesus’ call to Simon Peter and Andrew. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20).

“Jesus Calls Us” was first published in 1887 in “The Congregational Church Hymnal.” The tune “Galilee” was named after the place where Jesus was called Simon, Peter, and Andrew. It was composed by William H. Jude, who was well-known in England and Australia as an organist and music lecturer. 

This hymn is an expression of Christ’s call of discipleship to believers to serve and love Him. In the first stanza, Jesus tells them to follow Him above “life’s wild, restless sea.” The often-omitted second stanza reflects the call to Simon, Peter, and Andrew to leave all for the Saviour.  Stanza three is an admonishment not to love the things of this world but for the Christian to “love me more.”  The fourth stanza challenges the believer to love Christ always, in times of joy and also in times of sorrow. The last stanza is like a prayer that believers will hear and obey Christ’s call, resulting in the desire to “Serve and love thee best of all.” May this hymn move others to respond as Peter and Andrew did and become faithful followers of Jesus. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour (John 12:26).

All rights reserved. Without the express written permission of the publisher, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted, whether in whole or in part, in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, storage retrieval system, recording, or any other.