Scripture Verse

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19–20

Introduction

portrait
Richard W. Adams (1952–)

Words: Ri­chard W. Ad­ams, Ju­ly 26, 2010 (pub­lic do­main).

Music: Bea­con Hill Har­ry S. Ma­son, 1924 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ma­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Origin of the Hymn

This hymn was in­spired by a paint­ing I saw while vis­it­ing the Elk­horn Hills Unit­ed Me­tho­dist Church in Om­a­ha, Ne­bras­ka.

In the nar­thex was Ken­neth Wy­att’s im­age of John Wes­ley bless­ing Tho­mas Coke, Ri­chard What­coat, and Tho­mas Vas­ey as they were sail­ing for Am­er­ica.

Wesley’s in­struc­tions to Coke: Of­fer them Christ.

Lyrics

Go ev­an­gel­ize the na­tions,
Offer Christ, the Cru­ci­fied;
Show the cross on bleak Gol­go­tha,
Where He suf­fered, bled and died.
Tell of the vi­ne­gar, gall, and the spear,
Tell how the sun hid, earth shook with fear;
How He en­dured the
Cruel mock­ing and shame,
That sin­ners might claim
Salvation in His name.

Go and tell the good news, Chris­tian,
To each bro­ther, sis­ter, child,
Of a gra­cious God who loves them,
Of a Sav­ior meek and mild;
Death is de­stroyed, and our pa­ra­dise won,
For those who love and trust in the Son;
Though guards were set, and
The sto­ny grave sealed,
Now Heav’n is un­lock­ed,
Our home with God re­vealed.

Do not he­si­tate, but go now,
Far and wide proc­laim the sound,
In the city, mar­ket, house­hold,
To wher­ev­er man is found;
Warn of a judg­ment close loom­ing be­yond,
Tomorrow may be too late for some;
Come to Him now, while
His par­don is free,
Take hold of His pro­mise,
Claim His li­ber­ty.

illustration
Go Ye Therefore