Green’s Dictionary of Slang

used as a mildly blasphemous oath or intensifier.

[1876		S. James Vagabond Papers (1st Ser.) 86: Under such disguise they tell poor Jacob wondrous tales: – Of how Temple [...] has purchased a horse which he calls ‘Jumping Jesus,’ and has entered it for the Melbourne Cup].
1890		Ariz. Republican (Phoenix, AZ) 1 Sept. 3/1: I wish to say that, by the jumping Jesus, I’ll never vote for Zulick.
1914		T. McNamara Us Boys 26 May [synd. cartoon strip] Too bad me wing is on the blink, too bad — jumpin’ jingoes.
1925		J. Stevens ‘Logger Talk’ in AS I:3 139: Holy old blue-bellied, bald-headed, Jesus H. jumping old mackinaw Christ!
1935		Pittsburgh Sun-Teleg. (PA) 14 July 58/3: Mike the Mooch silently gasped, ‘Jumpin’ Jerusalem — some ice!’.
1939		J. Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath (1951) 272: Tom hefted the pick. ‘Jumping Jesus! If she don’t feel good!’.
1949		A.I. Bezzerides Thieves’ Market 53: Jumping Christ, all it would take was a couple of hauls.
1949		‘F. Bonnamy’ Blood and Thirsty (1952) 144: Prouder’n Mama, an Great Jumpin Jesus, Mama was prouder’n Lucifer!
1951		Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 328: ‘Jumping Jesus,’ Lofty observed morosely. ‘Seems like the bloody Yanks’ve bought the place.’.
1961		C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 62: Good jumping Jesus! She saw the wrong man standing there.
1977		E. Torres Q&A 169: Jumping jeepers, me a cop?
1978		P. Theroux Picture Palace 135: Jumping Jesus, doesn’t that take the cake!
1986		B. Geldof Is That It? 205: Good sweet jumping Jaysus on the cross, I thought. ‘That’s brilliant.’.
1997		J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco (1998) 61: ‘Sweet jumping Jesus,’ muttered Fingers as the tide of roaches hit the fence.
1999		L. Gould Shagadelically Speaking 70: ’Jumpin’ German Jesus!’, Exclamation of frustration used by the president of the United States when he learns he must pay Dr. Evil blackmail money.
2001		K. Waterhouse Soho 35: Jumping Jesus, they knew how to charge for lager down in London, didn’t they?