Fernando Ortega is an adult contemporary singer-songwriter in contemporary … Read Full Bio ↴Fernando Ortega is an adult contemporary singer-songwriter in contemporary Christian music. He is noted both for his interpretations of many traditional hymns and songs, such as "Give Me Jesus" and "Be Thou My Vision," and for writing clear, easily understood songs, such as "This Good Day."

Ortega was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico near the banks of the Rio Grande. He started learning piano at eight years of age. Through his father's work with the United States Department of State, he also spent time in Ecuador and Barbados. It is from his heritage and classical training at The University of New Mexico where Ortega derives his sound, embracing country, classical, Celtic, Latin American, world, modern folk, and rustic hymnody. Fernando Ortega currently leads worship at Christ the King Anglican Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

His album Storm reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 in 2002, and Christmas Songs reached No. 36 on the Billboard Christmas Album Chart in 2009.

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Fernando Ortega Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me, and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast."
I came to Jesus as I was, Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place, And He has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give
The living water: thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world′s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, And all thy day be bright."

I looked to Jesus, and I found In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I'll walk Till trav′lling days are done.

Overall Meaning

The song "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" by Fernando Ortega is a powerful, soulful hymn that speaks of finding comfort in Jesus. The song is based on the poem "The Voice of Jesus" by Horatius Bonar. The lyrics paint a picture of a weary, sad and thirsty person who finds rest, refreshment and light in Jesus. The first verse encourages the listener to come to Jesus and lay their burdens down as he offers rest. The second verse offers the living water that Jesus gives to those who seek him. The third verse portrays Jesus as the light of the world, promising to be the source of light that will guide us throughout our life.

The repetition of the phrase "I heard the voice of Jesus say" throughout the song creates an emotional connection between the listener and Jesus. It's as though the listener is hearing Jesus' voice directly and being called to come to him. The powerful imagery also amplifies the message of the song, making it easy to see why it has become such a beloved hymn.

Overall, "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" is a moving tribute to Jesus and the comfort and guidance he offers to us. It's a powerful reminder that, no matter how weary or lost we may feel, we can always turn to him for rest, refreshment and light.

Line by Line Meaning

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me, and rest;
Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest and peace from our weariness.

Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.
If we trust Him, Jesus provides comfort and support for our weary souls.

I came to Jesus as I was, Weary, and worn, and sad;
Jesus accepts us just as we are, even in our brokenness and despair.

I found in Him a resting-place, And He has made me glad.
Through faith in Jesus, we can find true rest and joy in His love and salvation.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give The living water: thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live."
Jesus offers us spiritual refreshment and the gift of eternal life, which we can receive simply by accepting it.

I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.
By receiving Jesus' salvation, we can be fully satisfied, renewed, and experience a new life in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world′s Light; Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, And all thy day be bright."
Jesus is the light of the world who brings hope and guidance to those who seek Him.

I looked to Jesus, and I found In Him my Star, my Sun; And in that Light of life I'll walk Till trav′lling days are done.
Through our faith in Jesus, we can find direction and purpose in life, and continue to follow Him until the end of our journey.

Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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