I Lay My Sins on Jesus

I lay my sins on Jesus,
The spotless Lamb of God;
He bears them all and frees us
From the accursed load.
I bring my guilt to Jesus
To wash my crimson stains
White in His blood most precious
Till not a spot remains.

I lay my wants on Jesus,
All fulness dwells in Him;
He healeth my diseases,
He doth my soul redeem.
I lay my griefs on Jesus,
My burdens and my cares;
He from them all releases,
He all my sorrows shares.

I rest my soul on Jesus,
This weary soul of mine;
His right hand me embraces,
I on His breast recline.
I love the name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ the Lord;
Like fragrance on the breezes
His name abroad is poured.

I long to be like Jesus,
Meek, loving, lowly, mild;
I long to be like Jesus,
The Father’s holy Child.
I long to be with Jesus
Amid the heavenly throng
To sing with saints His praises,
To learn the angels’ song.

I came across this particular hymn as part of an Easter devotion we do with our kids.  I am not familiar with this song, but I am familiar with it’s author – Horatius Bonar.  Mr. Bonar has been called the “prince of Scottish hymn writers,” and is the author of a previous hymn of the week entitled “I heard the voice of Jesus say.”  It is believed that this was Mr. Bonar’s first hymn.  He was quoted as saying “It might be good Gospel, but it is not good poetry.”  Well, I will have to disagree with the author.  I think it is both good Gospel and good poetry.

My youngest daughter informed me that this hymn was the favorite hymn of Elsie Dinsmore.  Elsie Dinsmore is a character in a book series she loves to read.  This hymn does remind me of the child-like faith required to follow Jesus.  A faith that can lay their sins on Jesus, and believe that He will take their sins away.  A simple faith that comes to Jesus as we are (weary, and worn, and sad) and then accepts His free gift of grace and forgiveness.

There are three things that the author “lays on Jesus” in this song that are worth commenting on:

• “I lay my sins” – I get the mental picture of myself standing at the foot of the Cross.  I am carrying a heavy load of sin.  I am stumbling and struggling under the weight of that sin.  I can go no further.  At the feet of Jesus, I take this heavy, black load of sin, and place it on Jesus’ back.  I then turn around and see thousands, if not millions, carrying the same heavy load.  Jesus freely accepts me unloading my baggage of sin upon Him.  He doesn’t complain.  He doesn’t condemn.  He winces under the load, and then accepts another.

• “I lay my wants” – I thought this phrase was kind of interesting.  Does someone really lay their “wants” on Jesus?  However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Jesus takes not only our sin and shame, but He is desiring for us to give Him our all.  Our dreams, our lives, our passion, and yes, our wants.  We give Him our selfish wants and desires, and He replaces them with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

• “I lay my griefs” – I thought of another old hymn when I read this line – “All our sins and griefs to bear.”  One of the greatest Messianic prophecies found in the Old Testament tells us what the Messiah will do.  Isaiah 53:3-5 tells us “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But 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.”

I am thankful today that I have laid my sins, my wants, and my griefs on Jesus.  He has taken them and exchanged them for so much better.  For my sins, I receive salvation.  For my wants, I receive contentment and peace.  And for my griefs, He gives gladness and song.  I pray today that you too have laid these things at Jesus feet.  He will gladly accept them and give you life more abundantly.