Retell What Christ's Great Love Has Done

“Retell What Christ’s Great Love Has Done” is a hymn by Jeffery Rowthorn that focuses on remembrance, proclamation, and participation in the saving work of Christ. The text is often associated with the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing the importance of recalling and declaring the redemptive acts of Jesus in both word and sacrament.

The central theme of the hymn reflects 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, where believers are instructed to remember the Lord’s death through the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup. The phrase “retell” captures this biblical command. Worship is not merely emotional expression but intentional remembrance of what Christ has accomplished. The hymn encourages the church to rehearse the story of redemption regularly, grounding faith in the historical reality of Christ’s sacrifice.

Luke 22:19-20 records Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper and commanding His followers to do this in remembrance of Him. Rowthorn’s hymn reflects this instruction by linking remembrance with gratitude and renewed commitment. The act of retelling becomes both a declaration of faith and a means of spiritual strengthening for believers.

Psalm 107:2 declares, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (KJV). This call to testimony is echoed in the hymn’s invitation to speak and sing of Christ’s love. The gospel is not meant to be kept silent but proclaimed, both within the gathered church and to the world.

First Peter 2:24 speaks of Christ bearing our sins in His own body on the tree, that we might live unto righteousness. The hymn reflects this substitutionary aspect of Christ’s work, emphasizing that His love is not abstract but demonstrated through His sacrificial death.

“Retell What Christ’s Great Love Has Done” serves as both remembrance and proclamation. It reminds believers that the story of redemption must be continually rehearsed, not only to honor Christ but also to strengthen faith and unity within the church. Through its clear scriptural grounding, the hymn calls worshippers to participate actively in the ongoing witness of the gospel, declaring with gratitude the great love that Christ has shown in giving Himself for His people.