John 21: 16 by John Newton (1779)
The work is a lyrical meditation on divine love and human frailty, drawing on a scriptural episode to frame a personal dialogue with the divine. It opens with an urgent call to listen—a summoning of the soul to heed the voice of a savior who offers redemption and healing. This savior recalls past acts of deliverance, emphasizing the transformative moment when despair was replaced by hope. The text employs a simile comparing divine care to a mother's unwavering remembrance of her child, contrasting human forgetfulness with a promise of everlasting love. The subsequent verses extol a love that is boundless in its reach—described as higher than the heavens and deeper than the depths—underscoring its immutable and powerful nature. This love is not only a comfort in present struggles but also a promise of future glory where, upon the completion of grace's work, the believer is envisioned as sharing in the divine realm. Despite the assurances and the overwhelming power of divine love, the work does not shy away from a candid confession of personal shortcomings. It admits the weakness and insufficiency of one's own love, while simultaneously expressing a fervent desire for the strengthening and deepening of that love through grace. In essence, the hymn is a dialogue that balances the certainty of divine commitment with an honest self-assessment of human deficiency, urging a return to those divine assurances while longing for personal renewal and growth in love.
By John Newton · First published 1779 · Genre: Christian devotional literature, Hymn, Religious poetry · 242 words
First lines
I: Hark, my soul! it is the Lord; / 'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word; / Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee:
"Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?
II: "I deliver'd thee when bound, / And, when bleeding, heal'd thy wound --
Sought thee wand'ring, set thee right, / Turn'd thy darkness into light.
Genres
- Christian devotional literature — The work focuses on themes of divine love, salvation, and grace, directly referencing Biblical dialogue and scripture, which are central to Christian devotion.
- Hymn — The text is structured in lyrical stanzas with a call-and-response style, characteristic of traditional hymns used in worship.
- Religious poetry — Its poetic form, rhythmic language, and vivid imagery align with the characteristics of religious poetry.
- Inspirational literature — The emphasis on personal transformation and the uplifting nature of the text lend it an inspirational quality.
Tags
biblical · Christian · redemption · restoration · discipleship · faith · grace · transformation · scripture · spiritual growth · forgiveness · inspiration
What this Textopian page supports
John 21: 16 is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Newton, dated 1779 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Newton
- Date: 1779 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christian devotional literature, Hymn, Religious poetry, Inspirational literature
- Length: 242 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for John 21: 16 by John Newton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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