I Love to Walk With Jesus

By Charles F. Weigle

Lyrics

1. Oh, I love to walk with Jesus
Like the publicans of old,
When He gathered them about Him
And the blessed tidings told;
How He came to bring deliv'rance
To the captives in distress,
Take away our ev’ry burden,
Giving perfect peace and rest.

Refrain:
I will follow where He leadeth,
I will pasture where He feedeth,
I will follow all the way, Lord,
I will follow Jesus ev’ry day.

2. Oh, I love to walk with Jesus
Like the man of long ago,
Who had tarried by the wayside
Near the gates of Jericho;
Jesus heard his cry for mercy,
Gave him back his sight that day,
And immediately he followed
Jesus all along the way.

3. Oh, I love to walk with Jesus
All the way to Calv’ry’s brow,
Gaze upon that scene of suff'ring,
While my tears of sorrow flow;
There He tells me how He loves me,
Takes my ev’ry sin away,
So I follow Him so gladly,
Lead me anywhere He may.

4. Oh, sometime I’ll walk with Jesus
In the land of endless day,
When our journey here is over
And we’ve reached our home to stay;
Then I’ll walk with Him forever
Sing His praises o’er and o’er,
Laugh and shout, and ever tell Him
That I love Him more and more.

Bible Reference

Luke 24:13–35; John 14:6

About This Hymn

"I Love to Walk with Jesus" is a gospel hymn penned by Charles F. Weigle in 1902. The hymn expresses a believer's deep desire to walk closely with Jesus, drawing inspiration from biblical accounts of Jesus' companionship with His followers. Each verse reflects on different aspects of this spiritual journey:

Verse 1: Emphasizes the joy of walking with Jesus, likening it to the fellowship of the publicans and sinners whom Jesus called to Himself.
Verse 2: Recalls the healing of the blind man near Jericho, illustrating Jesus' compassion and the transformative power of His touch.
Verse 3: Contemplates the path to Calvary, where Jesus' sacrifice is remembered, and the believer finds forgiveness and love.
Verse 4: Looks forward to eternal fellowship with Jesus in heaven, where the journey culminates in everlasting joy.

The refrain, "I will follow where He leadeth, I will pasture where He feedeth," underscores the hymn's central theme of discipleship and trust in Jesus' guidance.

Musically, the hymn is set to a tune also composed by Weigle, making it a cohesive piece that has been included in various hymnals over the years.