Jesus Jesus Only Jesus

Jesus Jesus only Jesus

Jesus Jesus Only Jesus is a hymn text by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1894) in 8.7.8.7 meter. Found in CW93 348, ELH 379, lw 377, tlh 348.

This hymn embodies evangelical Lutheran piety by emphasizing Christ as the exclusive center of salvation and spiritual experience, reflecting both Reformation sola Christus and 19th-century American revivalism. It presents Christian devotion as single-minded focus on Christ for life, purpose, and eternal hope.

History & Background

Written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt in 1894, this American evangelical hymn reflects late 19th-century revivalist piety emphasizing Christ as the sole focus of Christian devotion. It gained popularity in Lutheran hymnals through the Traditional Lutheran Hymnal (1941).

Hymnal Appearances

Christian Worship — 348
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 379
Lutheran Worship — 377
The Lutheran Hymnal — 348

Bulletin Note

Written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt in 1894, this American hymn reflects nineteenth-century revivalist spirituality while standing firmly in the Lutheran Reformation's conviction: Christ alone is sufficient for salvation.

Preaching Connection

This hymn powerfully embodies sola Christus by portraying Christ as the exclusive answer to spiritual longing, making it an ideal response to proclamation of grace that liberates us from the law's impossible demands.

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

TLH 348. "Jesus, Jesus, nichts als Jesus" by Countess Ludämilia Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (b. 7 April 1640; d. Rudolstadt, 12 March 1672). Her father died when she was six, and her mother raised her in strict Lutheran piety at Friedensburg Castle. Her sister-in-law Ämilie Juliane (herself a hymnwriter) and Ahasverus Fritsch encouraged her writing. In 1671 she was engaged to Count Christian Wilhelm of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, but she died at 31, unmarried, in a measles epidemic that also killed two of her sisters. Her hymns appeared after her death as Die Stimme der Freundin (Rudolstadt, 1687) (Wikipedia). It reads as a hymn written in the face of death: "only Jesus" in life and death. English by August Crull (1880). Lead: Grindal's Hymn for the Day no. 352 and the BibleHub "Only Jesus in life and death" (12 March 1672) page.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

A hymn of surrender by Countess Ludämilia Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, a devout young noblewoman who died of measles at 32 (1672). Every stanza ends with a form of 'as Thou wilt.' Only Jesus can still my longing; I pledge to will what he wills (st. 1); I give him what he gave me — his blood hides my guilt (st. 2); remove pleasures that harm me (st. 3); accomplish your will in me and let me die as you will (st. 4); praise for his gift of himself (st. 5). The pattern is Gethsemane's 'not as I will, but as You will.'

Central theme: Total surrender to Jesus' will, grounded in the gift of himself and his blood that hides our guilt

Structure

Five six-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.7.7) each ending '…as Thou wilt.' Longing (1) — giving back (2) — harmful pleasures (3) — will accomplished (4) — praise (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: harmful 'treasures' (3). Gospel: 'Jesus' blood hides all my guilt'; 'Thine own self and all Thy graces' (2, 5).

Confessional Connections

Eph 3:19 (TLH's text): 'to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.' 'As Thou wilt' — the Third Petition (SC: 'God's good and gracious will is done… when he breaks and hinders every evil plan'). The will is renewed by grace, so that the believer now wills God's will (FC II.63-65); 'In me, through me, with me ever, / Lord, accomplish Thou Thy will' (st. 4; Phil 2:13) — God works in the regenerate, who then cooperate (FC II.65-66). St. 2: 'Jesus' blood hides all my guilt' — surrender rests on justification, not the reverse (AC IV, VI).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Trinity season; consecration; funerals; Lent.

Historical Notes

Ludämilia Elisabeth (1640-1672), countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt; her hymns were published posthumously in Die Stimme der Freundin (1687).

About the Tune

JESUS, JESUS, NICHTS ALS JESUS (Vollkommenes Choralbuch, Hamburg, 1715).

Scripture References

Eph 3:19 Matt 26:39 Matt 6:10 Ps 73:25 1 John 4:19 1 John 1:7 Matt 5:29-30 Phil 2:13 Col 3:10 Rom 14:8 Ps 28:7 Rom 8:32

Stanza by Stanza

1 Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus,…

Jesus, only Jesus, can quiet my heart's longing. See, I pledge myself to Jesus, to will only what he wills. For my heart, which he has filled, always cries, 'Lord, as you will.'

'Whom have I in heaven but you?' (Ps 73:25). 'Not as I will, but as you will' (Matt 26:39). 'Your will be done' (Matt 6:10).

Scripture: Ps 73:25, Matt 26:39, Matt 6:10
Imagery & language: Only Jesus; longing stilled; as Thou wilt.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ fills the heart.
Connection to previous: Only Jesus.

surrender Third Petition devotion

2 One there is for whom I'm living,…

There is one for whom I live, whom I love most tenderly; I am giving to Jesus what in love he gave me. Jesus' blood hides all my guilt; Lord, lead me as you will.

'We love because he first loved us' (1 John 4:19). 'The blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin' (1 John 1:7).

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, 1 John 1:7, Rom 14:8
Imagery & language: Living for him; given back; blood hides guilt.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — guilt covered.
Connection to previous: Blood hides guilt.

justification love for Christ

3 What to me may seem a treasure,…

Whatever seems a treasure to me but displeases you, remove such harmful pleasure and give instead what helps me. Let my heart be stilled by you; make me yours, Lord, as you will.

'If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out' (Matt 5:29). 'Godliness with contentment is great gain' (1 Tim 6:6).

Scripture: Matt 5:29-30, 1 Tim 6:6-8
Imagery & language: False treasure; harmful pleasure; heart stilled.
Law / Gospel: Law — harmful attachments; Gospel — God gives what profits.
Connection to previous: Remove it.

sanctification contentment

4 Let me earnestly endeavor…

Let me earnestly try to do your good pleasure; in me, through me and with me always, Lord, accomplish your will. Built in your holy image, let me die, Lord, as you will.

'It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure' (Phil 2:13). 'Renewed… after the image of its creator' (Col 3:10). FC II.65-66.

Scripture: Phil 2:13, Col 3:10, Rom 14:8
Imagery & language: Endeavor; in, through, with me; holy image; death.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — God at work in the believer.
Connection to previous: Thy will in me.

sanctification image of God death

5 Jesus, constant be my praises,…

Jesus, let my praise be constant, for you brought me your own self and all your graces so that I may sing joyfully: my Shield, be it to me as you will, Lord, as you will.

'He who did not spare his own Son… how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?' (Rom 8:32). 'The LORD is my strength and my shield' (Ps 28:7). Mary's 'Let it be to me' (Luke 1:38).

Scripture: Rom 8:32, Ps 28:7, Luke 1:38
Imagery & language: Praise; His self and graces; Shield; as Thou wilt.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ's self-gift.
Connection to previous: As Thou wilt.

praise grace surrender

Themes

Christ-centeredness Devotion to Christ Surrender to Christ Evangelical conversion Christology

Look Further

Search Hymnary.org for "Jesus Jesus Only Jesus" ↗