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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

In the multitude he lay there

Experience of Christ Versus the Law

English1185
1
In the multitude he lay there
With a sickness many years;
Impotent and lying helpless,
Ever fraught with many fears.
Waiting for the water’s moving,
Waiting for the angel’s stir;
Powerless to move, however,
Helpless, hopeless, lying there.
2
At this pool how clear the picture
Of the hopeless case of all
Who are seeking self-perfection
To recover from the fall.
Though the law is good and holy,
Flesh, to keep the law, is dead;
What we need is not religion,
But the Word of life instead.
3
Though it’s feast day, he’s not happy,
Though the Sabbath, there’s no rest;
Lying in his poor condition,
Miserable and sore depressed.
At that moment Jesus saw him,
Knowing he was thus so long.
“Will you be made whole?” He asked him,
“Healed and walking, well and strong?”
4
Though he told his hopeless story,
Scarce believing what he’d heard,
Yet, soon to his feet arising,
He received the living word.
This is all our situation,
We—like him—were lying there
In the sheep-fold of religion,
Under law’s prevailing care.
5
While we yet were weak and helpless,
Christ the Son of God did come.
By His word we’re now enlivened;
He’s the life-imparting One!
Hallelujah for this Jesus,
He’s the Word of life to men;
From law’s bondage He releases,
Death is turned to life again!

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Frank Scavo

Irvine, CA, United States

Apr 29, 2026

I remember writing this hymn during the week-long study in Anaheim on the Gospel of John, I believe it was in 1985.

During that conference, I was so touched by the story of the invalid man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-9, and how the story portrays the powerlessness of religion to heal us and give us life. "Though it's feast day, he's not happy, though the Sabbath, there's no rest; Lying in his poor condition, miserable and sore depressed."

But "At that moment, Jesus saw him, knowing he was thus so long. 'Will you be made whole?" He asked him, "Healed and walking, well and strong. '"

It's a powerful story of Christ as the life-imparting one versus the dead bondage of the law.

As I recall, I wrote this hymn during the conference itself. Yet, there is certain phrasing here in some spots that tells me Ned Nossaman edited my composition, which was our practice in those days. So, I would consider us co-authors. And Ned and I are still writing hymns together today, 40 years later.

Thank you brothers for including this hymn here.

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Jack Petash

Irving, TX, United States

Dec 6, 2025

Praise our precious Lord Jesus that through His incarnation He not only saved us from Satan, sin, and death but from the lifeless, hopeless, helpless, inadequacy of religion. It makes me want to sing! "What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Savior!" (#986)

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Abigail

Dec 31, 2020

John 5:1-9

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Anonymous

Jul 3, 2020

Acts 26:18

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Hudson

Wellington, New Zealand

Mar 14, 2014

What a lovely, sweet, hymn! The story of our life. Jesus the Lord saw us, hopeless, helpless, we heard the word of life, we are forever new men in Christ!

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