Jesus I Will Never Leave
Jesus I will never leave
The hymn expresses the Lutheran understanding of faith as personal trust and adherence to Christ as Lord and Savior, rooted in the Gospel promise of Christ's abiding presence. It reflects Grundtvig's vision of vital, committed discipleship as central to Lutheran faith and practice.
History & Background
Grundtvig wrote this hymn in Danish as 'Jesus jeg aldrig skal forlade' in the 1840s, reflecting his focus on personal commitment to Christ and the living word. It was translated into English by George A. T. Rygh in 1909 and published in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) in 1941.
Hymnal Appearances
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 365
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Danish bishop and hymnologist Nikolai Grundtvig (1783–1872), this 1840 hymn shaped Lutheran devotion by linking personal commitment to Christ with assurance of His unchanging grace—a hallmark of Grundtvigian piety.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies Grundtvig's conviction that the Law's demand for complete loyalty to Christ finds its answer not in human resolve but in the Gospel's promise of Christ's abiding, unbreakable presence.
Themes
Discipleship and commitment to Christ Perseverance in faith Loyalty to Jesus Trust and confidence