Meditations

“Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” was written by William Henry Parker in 1885. Mr. Parker was inspired to write the lyrics for this hymn because of his Sunday school class.  He was a member of the Chelsea Street Baptist Church in Nottingham, England and active in the Sunday School. He wrote many hymns throughout the years. This hymn, although similar in title to that of Fanny Crosby’s “Tell Me the Story of Jesus,” is not the same hymn. Mr. Parker’s hymn is told from the children’s perspective, asking to hear stories about Jesus and those that Jesus told. At the request of the children of his Sunday School class, “Teacher, tell us another story,” Mr. Parker began to pen the words of this hymn. 

The second stanza of this hymn reflects one of the most endearing stories told about and by Jesus. The story of Jesus’ encounter with the children and their example of the attitude one must have to enter heaven is told in each of the synoptic gospels. Matthew records Jesus’ reference to a child, using the metaphor to show the quality of the life one needs to lead to enter heaven: “Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (KJV)

The original fourth stanza recalling Christ’s miracle of stilling the tempest has been omitted from many hymnals and the original final stanza recalling Christ’s passion may have been omitted because some believed the subject was not appropriate for children.

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here.
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

Oh, let me hear how the children stood round his knee.
I shall imagine his blessings resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light of Jesus’ face.

“Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:1-6 (KJV)