When Jesus Came to Jordan

This is a hymn about Jesus' baptism and the Holy Spirit / Pentecost.

It was written by English Methodist minister and hymn-writer, Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000), and first published in 1980 by Hope Publishing Company.

With meter 7.6.7.6, tunes it has been set to include:

• DE EERSTEN ZIJN DE LAATSTEN by Frits Mehrten (1922-1975)
• OFFERTORIUM - adapted from the offertorium of a choral Mass by Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806)
• KINGS LYNN - arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 
• MERLE'S TUNE by Hal H. Hopson (1933-2025).

Image adapt. from 
The Baptism of Christ, James Fuller Queen (c1820-1886)

Downloads

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SATB choir arranged by Lynn M Trapp

Examples

Solo singer, with organ:

Choir with organ - very long introduction:

Samall group with light organ backing:

Instrumental - piano:

Instrumental: piano with violin, lyrics on-screen:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1.  When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John ...

2.  He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss,

3.  Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make ...

See more ...

• Hymns about baptism
• Hymns about Jesus' baptism

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon, but as his Father's Son.
He came to share repentance with all who mourn their sins,
To speak the vital sentence with which good news begins.

He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss,
For us and our salvation to die upon the cross.
So when the Dove descended on him, the Son of Man,
The hidden years had ended, the age of grace began.

Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make,
This very day invade us, and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most:
To share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.