Wonderful Grace Of Jesus
Wonderful Grace Of Jesus
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Wonderful Grace Of Jesus
Some of the greatest hymns ever published were written from the depths of desperate hearts. Some are the outpouring of a godly person’s grand moment of faith or the product of a great sermon. In all those times, great men and women put their hearts on paper for all of us to see and share.
Some hymns are written on grandiose pipe organs, others with orchestras and choirs and others with no musical instruments at all. One of the greatest hymns ever written was conceived on a $5 organ purchased from a neighbor by a writer who learned his music through correspondence courses.
Haldor Lillenas Was born in Norway. His father moved to America and sent for the family in 1887. Haldor had a natural love for music and found at an early age that he could write songs for extra income.
Eventually, he would become a music leader and a pastor, after dedicating his life to Christ at the Peniel Mission in Astoria, Oregon. It was during his time in Indianapolis, however, that he and his wife were finally able to afford a home. They scraped together everything they could muster and built a modest dwelling.
When the house was completed, they had no money left for furniture. He needed a piano, but was unable to afford one. As a last resort, he bought his neighbor’s spindly organ for $5.
It was on that organ that Haldor would write his finest piece of music. He sold it for $5, recovering the cost of the organ, although years later he would have to pay many times that amount to purchase those rights back. His hymn became a fast success and is now recognized as one of the greatest and most popular hymns of the church.
The hymn is entitled, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” It begins with a quick, but simple, tempo and erupts into an amazing chorus in which the men and women sing echoing and opposing parts. It has long been a favorite of mine because it is so much fun to sing.
Haldor would write over 4000 hymns in his lifetime, but his masterpiece is the amazing hymn, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”. (Click below to listen)
