Nothing but the Blood

Verse 1: What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus: Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Verse 2: For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Verse 3: Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Verse 4: This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This hymn is widely beloved for its simple and powerful message about the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice.

The hymn “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” was written by Robert Lowry in 1876. Lowry, born in 1826, was a multifaceted individual who served as a Baptist pastor, professor of literature at Bucknell University, and a prolific hymn writer.

The song came about shortly after Lowry moved to Plainfield, New Jersey, to become pastor of the Park Avenue Baptist Church. It was first introduced at a camp meeting in Ocean Grove, N.J., where it quickly gained popularity.

The main message of the song is the power and sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice for salvation. It emphasizes that nothing else but the blood of Jesus can cleanse sin and bring redemption. This theme is based on biblical passages like Hebrews 9:22, which states, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”.

The hymn’s structure is simple yet powerful. It uses a call-response pattern and repetitive lyrics to drive home its central theme. The melody is easy to learn, with a limited range and simple chord progression, making it accessible to congregations.

Footnotes:

1. Hymnology Archive. “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/nothing-but-the-blood-of-jesus
2. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. “History of Hymns: ‘Nothing but the Blood’.” https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-nothing-but-the-blood
3. TheScottSpot. “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus – written in 1876.” https://thescottspot.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/nothing-but-the-blood-of-jesus-written-in-1876/