Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
Let us ever walk with Jesus
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus is a hymn text by Sigismund von Birken (1653) in 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by John Stark. Found in CW21 704, CW93 452, ELH 236, elw 802.
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran soteriology by emphasizing the costliness of discipleship and the believer's responsive obedience to Christ's call to follow. The text reflects the paradox central to Lutheran theology: Christ's redemptive suffering becomes the model and empowerment for the Christian's willing self-denial.
History & Background
Originally published in German as 'Laßt uns dem Lamme folgen' by Sigismund von Birken in 1653. The English translation by John Stark appeared in 1858 and became the standard version for Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 704
- Christian Worship — 452
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 236
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 802
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 487
- Lutheran Service Book — 685
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 509
- Lutheran Worship — 381
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 409
- Voices Together — 614
Translation
Bulletin Note
Penned by German hymnodist Sigismund von Birken in 1653, this hymn marries the chorale tradition to radical discipleship, insisting that following Christ means bearing the cross as his redeemed and empowered disciples.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran insight that the Law's demand for self-denial finds its answer not in human effort, but in the Gospel's proclamation that Christ's suffering precedes and empowers our own witness.
Background Research
Birken (Betulius, 1626–1681) was a Nuremberg poet; Bach-cantatas dates the text 1652. Its shape carries the theology: four stanzas, each opening 'Lasset uns mit Jesu …' and moving through ziehen (follow his example on the way to heaven), leiden (suffer with him), sterben (die to sin with him) and leben (live with him as members of his body). That is a little summary of Romans 6 and the Christian life under the cross, which helps the stanza analysis. The tune is Johann Schop's 'Lasset uns den Herren preisen' (1641); Bach's sacred song BWV 481 (Schemelli 1736) is a setting. From memory, not checked: Birken led Nuremberg's literary society, the Pegnesischer Blumenorden, and was ennobled in 1655.
Sources: bach-cantatas.com (Chorale 481).
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Proper 8
Suggested in the one-year series
- Quinquagesima (3×)
- Trinity 5 (3×)
- Trinity 9 (2×)
- Trinity 15 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 8 (6×)
- Epiphany 3 (2×)
- Lent 5 (2×)
- Ash Wednesday (1×)
- Proper 14 (1×)
- Proper 17 (1×)
- Proper 19 (1×)
- Proper 22 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A hymn of union with Christ built on four verbs: walk with Jesus (1), suffer with him (2), die with him (3), live with him (4). Each stanza ends with a personal couplet ('Christ, I suffer here with Thee; / There, oh, share Thy joy with me!'). It is a sung form of Rom 6 and 2 Tim 2:11-12, and of the baptismal pattern of dying and rising with Christ.
Central theme: Union with Christ in his walk, suffering, death, and life — here and eternally
Structure
Four parallel stanzas: walk, suffer, die, live; each ends with an 'I… Thee / There… eternally' couplet.
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel grounds each stanza (his death frees us; his rising releases us); mortification of the flesh is the believer's response.
Confessional Connections
Baptism as dying and rising with Christ (Small Catechism IV); daily mortification of the old Adam; theology of the cross (suffering with Christ).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Lent; Easter season; Baptism remembrance; funerals; confirmation.
Historical Notes
Von Birken (1626-1681), Nuremberg poet (also 'Jesus, I Will Ponder Now'). Rimbach was a Missouri Synod pastor and translator.
About the Tune
LASSET UNS MIT JESU ZIEHEN (Georg G. Boltze, 1788).
Scripture References
John 11:16 1 Pet 2:21 Rom 8:17, 29 Ps 126:5-6 Rom 6:3-11 Col 3:5 Rev 20:6, 14 2 Tim 2:11-12 John 14:19
Stanza by Stanza
Let us always walk with Jesus, following his example, fleeing the deceiving world; treading in his steps, body on earth but soul above, full of faith, hope, and love, doing the Father's will; faithful Lord, stay with me; Savior, lead, I follow.
TLH's reference is John 11:16 (Thomas: 'Let us also go, that we may die with him'). Walking with Jesus: following his example (1 Pet 2:21), fleeing the world (1 John 2:15-17), with the soul set above (Col 3:1-3). 'Faith and hope and love' (1 Cor 13:13). 'Faithful Lord, abide with me' — the walk depends on his presence (Luke 24:29).
- Scripture
- John 11:16, 1 Pet 2:21, 1 John 2:15-17, Col 3:1-3, 1 Cor 13:13, Luke 24:29
- Imagery & language
- Walking; footsteps; soul above.
- Law / Gospel
- Sanctification grounded in Christ's presence.
- Connection to previous
- Walk.
Let us suffer with Jesus and be conformed to his image; heaven's glory will follow like sunshine after storm; though we sow in tears, we will reap with joy, and present fears will become tomorrow's laughter; Christ, I suffer with you here — share your joy with me there.
Rom 8:17 ('if we suffer with him… we may also be glorified with him') and 8:29 ('conformed to the image of his Son'). 'Sow in tears… reap with joy' (Ps 126:5-6). The theology of the cross: suffering is the shape of the Christian life now, glory later (2 Cor 4:17). The couplet makes it personal.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:17-18, 29, Ps 126:5-6, 2 Cor 4:17, 1 Pet 4:13
- Imagery & language
- Storm and sunshine; sowing in tears; laughter.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — glory after suffering.
- Connection to previous
- Suffer.
Let us die with Jesus; his death frees us from the second death and destruction and gives us life; let us put to death the flesh while living and die to sin, and the grave will be the gate to heaven; Jesus, I die to you here, to live with you forever there.
Two kinds of dying: Christ's death that frees from 'the second death' (Rev 20:6, 14 — eternal condemnation), and the believer's daily dying to sin (Rom 6:11; Col 3:5, 'put to death… what is earthly in you'). This is Luther's baptismal teaching: the old Adam is drowned daily (Small Catechism IV). Physical death then becomes 'the gate to heaven.'
- Scripture
- Rev 20:6, 14, Rom 6:3-11, Col 3:5, Gal 5:24, John 5:24
- Imagery & language
- Second death; mortification; grave as gate.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel (his death frees) and sanctification (dying to sin).
- Connection to previous
- Die.
Let us gladly live with Jesus; since he is risen, death and grave must release us; Jesus is our Head and we are his members; where he lives, we live; keep us always as your own, faithful Friend; Jesus, I live to you here and eternally there.
Resurrection life: 'Because I live, you also will live' (John 14:19). Head and members (Eph 1:22-23; 1 Cor 12:27) — where the Head is, the body will be. 'Death and grave must soon release us' (1 Cor 15:20-23). The final couplet joins present and future life with Christ (Rom 14:8).
- Scripture
- John 14:19, Eph 1:22-23, 1 Cor 12:27, 1 Cor 15:20-23, Rom 14:8, 2 Tim 2:11
- Imagery & language
- Head and members; release.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — resurrection life.
- Connection to previous
- Live.
Themes
Cross-bearing discipleship Following Christ Suffering and trials Faith perseverance Christian witness