Jesus And Uncle John Lofton

Listen first. Then read the words, explore the Scripture pathway, and follow the song beyond itself to Jesus.

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Lyrics

[Pre-Chorus] Have you ever had anyone you never did know You think about everywhere you go? That happens often— When I think about a man—named Uncle John Lofton. In life—it’s a strange part Thinkin of someone—like they’re a part of your heart Though He lived before I started to live But for Him—giving all He had to give I would have never been— Without him—this life I wouldn’t be in— [Verse 1] Dad said, “I was only three— When Uncle John Lofton found me.” He was the hand— Granddaddy hired—to help—farm the land In an old smokehouse—his bed was made—A Preacher—was his real trade. Rain saturated the ground—when a tornado took the home place down. [Chorus] Have you ever had anyone you never did know You think about everywhere you go? That happens often— When I think about a man—named Uncle John Lofton. In life—it’s a strange part Thinkin of someone—like they are a part of your heart He lived before I started to live But for Him giving all he had to give I would have never been— Without him—this life I wouldn’t be in— [Verse 2] The old well—long ago filled in— Washed out at the bottom—80 feet within Dad—no one in sight— Fell to the bottom—total darkness—darker than any night. 12 hours he clawed and screamed—no earthly ear heard his voice— Neighbors—came to search—all by choice. Uncle John Lofton—to the Lord he did pray— [Spoken Verse] “Lord! You know you and me love that little boy—won’t you kind Sir—show me the way!” The old Preacher rose from his prayer, thinking—the Devil would—draw him there— He rushed to the old well—if Dad was there, he couldn’t tell. Dad’s voice gone—in the dark—all alone. Tied by his feet—Uncle John Lofton lowered deep inside— When Uncle John—preached the next day—he said he found Dad—with an Angel by his side! [Chorus] Have you ever had anyone you never did know You think about—everywhere you go? That happens for me—thinkin bout Uncle John Lofton—and how Jesus saved me— Now both a part of my heart— Without them—I wouldn’t be! [Tag] And I wonder—if Dad stayed in that well— Never became a Preacher— How many souls—would be in Hell? Trust Jesus today—He can save you—always by your side— He’s in my heart—where He and Uncle John Lofton—will forever—reside!

Ministry Devotional

Jesus And Uncle John Lofton

Read together: Jeremiah 38:6–13; James 5:16; Hebrews 1:14; Matthew 18:10–14; Hebrews 12:1–2

Is there someone you never met, but you think about often—because without them, your life would not be what it is? This song tells about a man like that. His name was Uncle John Lofton.

The song tells his story through a son's memory of his father. When Dad was a small boy, Uncle John Lofton was a hired hand on Granddaddy's farm. He slept in an old smokehouse, but preaching was his real trade. One day the little boy fell into an old well, eighty feet down, into total darkness. For twelve hours he clawed and screamed, and no one could hear him. Neighbors searched. And Uncle John Lofton prayed: "Lord, You know You and me love that little boy—won't You, kind Sir, show me the way?" Then he went to the well, was tied by his feet and lowered into the dark, and brought the boy out. That boy grew up to be a preacher.

We will not add anything to this family's story beyond what the song tells. But it calls to mind another rescue from a pit. Read Jeremiah 38:6–13. The prophet Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern and sank into the mud. A man named Ebed-melech—a foreigner and a servant in the king's house—went to the king on Jeremiah's behalf, gathered old rags and ropes, and with the help of others pulled him up. Scripture remembers a humble outsider who rescued God's servant.

Notice what came first: prayer. Read James 5:16. "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Uncle John's prayer was simple and personal—he spoke to God like a friend who shared his love for that child. Then he acted. Prayer and courage worked together.

The song says Uncle John reported finding the boy with an angel by his side. We were not there, and we will not try to explain what he saw. But Scripture does tell us that God cares deeply for little ones. Read Matthew 18:10–14. Jesus said not to despise these little ones, for "their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father," and that it is not the Father's will that any of them should perish. Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. God's care often reaches us through unseen means and through very ordinary people.

The song's tag asks a sobering question: If Dad stayed in that well and never became a preacher, how many souls would be in hell? Only God knows how He would have accomplished His purposes another way. But the question rightly reminds us that one faithful act can ripple across generations. A hired hand's prayer and courage helped preserve a life that would later preach the gospel. You may never know how your faithfulness will matter. Read Hebrews 12:1–2. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses—people who ran their race faithfully before us. Their example calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus and run ours.

There is a greater rescue in this song too. Every one of us has fallen into a pit we cannot climb out of—the darkness of sin. Jesus did more than lower a rope. He came down into our darkness, all the way to death, and rose again to bring us out. Trust Jesus today—He can save you.

A moment to respond: Think of someone whose faithfulness changed the course of your family—someone you may have only heard about. Thank God for them by name. Then pray Uncle John's simple prayer for someone in your life who is in a dark place: "Lord, You and I both love them. Show me the way."

Let's pray: Lord, thank You for faithful people—often unknown and unseen—who prayed and acted with courage. Thank You for every rescue You have worked through ordinary hands. Make us people who pray boldly and go into dark places for others. And thank You, Jesus, for coming down into our darkness to bring us out. Amen.

Our desire at UnrelentingJesus is that you would see how God uses humble, faithful people—and that you would let Jesus rescue you from every pit.