It was a beautiful May day in gorgeous Irvine, California, and four of us songwriters were sharing a sunny and lighthearted conversation as we walked. This retreat had three scheduled songwriting sessions, and the forty-two attendees would find out before each session what the assigned groups and writing locations were.
Benji, Cara, Matt, and I began our gentle uphill walk to the chapel for the final cowrite. We chatted and laughed as we walked.
 |
| Good Shepherd Chapel, Concordia University Irvine. Photo by Anna Gruen. |
I don’t remember everything we talked about, but I’m pretty sure that at some point someone joked about the zoom meetings, commenting how you could wear some comfy shorts below the nice shirt and no one would know. And about how there was no way anyone could tell what was really in your mug or water bottle.
The conversation took a serious turn when the observation was made that covid (stupid covid!) made substance dependency and addiction worse for many people. Now, all four of us are compassionate people. We’re not only songwriters, but we also serve in churches. We want to help people. We want people to know healing, peace, and forgiveness in Jesus. So, we didn’t quickly drop the serious topic. In fact, we expanded the scope of it to recognize the big-picture problem of sin, and its many and various manifestations in the lives of broken people. A brokenness that Jesus came to undo.
You see it too. You know people who are lonely, struggling, not knowing how to cope. People hate themselves, or worship themselves. They feel guilty. They are overwhelmed with regret. They lash out and bite like wounded animals because it’s instinctual, and what other kind of reaction is there? Some are grieving. Others trapped. All helpless. And hopeless. Completely and utterly hopeless.
And you feel it too. Maybe you’re not at rock bottom… not every day, anyway. But you feel it too. Real struggles. Deep wounds. Unfixable problems.
Unfixable… except by the Gospel.
The Good News of Jesus is so deep and rich and powerful that it can uplift and restore any person, anywhere, in any situation. But unfortunately, we often try to treat deep wounds too superficially, like slapping a Band-Aid on a bullet hole.
As we were about to enter the beautiful Good Shepherd Chapel, someone remarked: “I don’t need a Jesus Band-Aid.”
The problem with a Jesus Band-Aid is not the word Jesus, because He is the source of healing. The problem is obviously with the word Band-Aid. If the wounds are deep, then our application of the Gospel must be deeper still.
People don’t always encounter or listen to the sermons they need. They don’t always have someone walking with them through life, guiding them in truth and encouraging them in love. But God has more than one way of reaching people with the Gospel. And sometimes a song can sneak in and give them hope.
Songs touch the emotions of a person in a powerful way. (In fact, this was about to be illustrated for the four of us.) Songs can catch you unsuspecting, and before you even know what is happening, they can help you identify a need, or a hurt, or a longing, or a joy. And if it’s a song about Jesus, it can deliver the Word of God directly to that part of your life.
And that’s what we wanted to do: write a song that helps the deep and beautiful Gospel find its way into someone’s heart, whether for the first time or the millionth time.
That’s really why all of us songwriters were there at the retreat, and it’s truly what we all accomplished by God’s grace. This is just one story about one song and the hope that it shares.
As we got comfortable in the front of the chapel, Matt and Benji got their guitars out. Benji asked if we had heard the song that won the Grammy for Song Of The Year, which was “Just Like That” by Bonnie Raitt. We hadn’t heard it, so I pulled it up on Spotify, and we experienced the power of a great song together. It is deep, musical, touching, and was perfectly suited for the mood of our previous conversation. Cara got up to get Kleenex for us. I’m not sure how many of us needed the tissues… it was hard for me to see at the time. I think I got something in my eye.
While we were all recovering from that song, Benji started playing a melody on his guitar that would become the beginning of our new song. Matt picked it up too, and then started playing a complementary line above it.
It felt that everything we had talked about, and the song we just listened to, and the message we wanted to communicate in a new song were all tied together. There’s real pain, but there’s real grace that goes even deeper. It was tied together in a single sentence: “I don’t need a Jesus Band-Aid, I need a God who bleeds.”
Our wounds are too deep for a superficial bandage. But we have a God who knows what it is to have flesh and blood. He knows what it’s like to feel weariness. And to pour out tears in grief. He knows what it’s like to be tempted, for He was tempted in every way (but was without sin). He understands our weakness. He knows what it is like to suffer. To bleed. To die. And by His wounds we are healed. “God who bleeds” was adopted as the message and title of the song.
It took just that little bit of melody plus a title, and a song was conceived. The four of us co-writers co-labored (collaborated) well together, and that song was born. We each had a role. Benji contributed guitar, melody, lyrics, and a wealth of experience. Matt added to guitar, melody, harmony, and ideas to help me with a keys part. He sings harmony and plays guitar in the final recording. Cara helped with lyrics, melody, more guidance on my keys part, and managing the writing process and structure of the song. She gave the lead vocal at the retreat and in the final recording. I was glad to contribute some lyrics and help decide what the song should say, but was not feeling confident about playing piano. Much to my surprise, the keys part kind of “happened” at the retreat, and is retained in the final recording with minor additions from the studio.
We also borrowed a little from Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason, and you’ll hear one line of melody (Mason) and a line and a half of lyrics (Watts) from “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Just like that hymn does, we used the present tense in our song to transport you to the cross. You’re not just reviewing a past historical event, but with eyes of faith you are there at the cross looking upon Christ crucified and pondering the blessed mystery that you have a God who loves you so much He bleeds for you. It flows from his head crowned with thorns and struck with a rod. It flows from his hands and feet nailed to the cross. So, look at the one who is pierced because of you and in love for you.
He knows how deep your sins go. He knows you can’t pay its debt. So He bleeds for you.
This song helps you to see better just how great your need is. And even more importantly, you will see just how great God’s love is for you, through Jesus Christ. With the song, your soul will be invited to sing and rejoice. There are different kinds of rejoicing. This is the kind of rejoicing that is a deep, personal thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice. It’s an alleluia of gratitude at the glory of the cross.
 |
| Singing "God Who Bleeds" for the first time. From left: Jon Gruen, Cara Berg, Matt Preston, Benji Cowart. |
The Good Shepherd Chapel at Concordia University Irvine is bright and open, and when the song was first sung, the birds sang along with us outside the window. (True story).
I hope you’ll sing along with us too, both as you listen on your digital device and (hopefully) use it in worship in your church. On January 19, “God Who Bleeds” was released for the world. I believe the song will be a blessing to you and to the Church at large. I am truly honored to have a role in its creation. I brag on the marvelous people I got to write with: Benji Cowart, Cara Berg, and Matt Preston. Thank you for the honor of working with you, for the heart you have for Christ and his people, which is even greater than the amazing talents you use for God’s glory. And I boast above all in Christ Jesus, crucified for me, for you, for all.
You can find it on all the major streaming platforms, but here is a link to the official music video for your convenience.
Jon
truth + love
 |
| Stain glass window in Good Shepherd Chapel. |
Comments
Post a Comment