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Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
Luke 18:35–43 · with Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour — Fanny J. Crosby, 1868; tune PASS ME NOT by William H. Doane. Its root: blind Bartimaeus by the Jericho roadside — “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:38) — the very cry the hymn takes up: “Hear my humble cry.”
Crosby’s plea over the Gospel’s own pass-me-not: a blind man by the wayside, told to hold his peace, crying the more — and the Lord standing still for him. A 1923 recording, shellac and all. It is presented here with one middle verse omitted, as congregations have always sung their chosen verses.
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
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Music: “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour” performed by Clifford Cairns and Charles Harrison (1923), a Library of Congress Jukebox recording via the Internet Archive — public domain, presented with one middle verse omitted. The hymn is Fanny J. Crosby’s (1868), music by William H. Doane, public domain.