An alternative to Orwell’s Big Brother

As I read Rev James Gatherer’s letter, one of my favourite hymns was brought to mind, writes Rev Marian Dixon. Namely, ‘How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds‘.Why that hymn, one might ask? Well, my favourite verse reads:

Jesus, my shepherd, brother, friend.
My prophet, priest and king.
My way, my life, my all, my end,
accept the praise I bring.

I have never found a more succinct description of just some of the attributes of Jesus. Folk describe him in different ways, depending on their relationship with him. For me this verse reminds me of some of the ways in which, over the years, I have encountered him.

I had three older brothers, and one younger, and I knew that no matter what we were doing, or where we were, my brothers always had my ‘back’. No ‘Big Brother’ bullying, just love and assurance, that they were there.

For several years now, Jesus has been my only ‘brother’, and the words of that verse of ‘What a friend’, reminds me that, in so many ways, I’m never alone, because my Saviour always has my back.

• Picture: Rev John Newton, writer of ‘How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds’ and many other hymns, including ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken’. (Source and biography)