This Man - Question

[cloudburst]

Would you take the place of this man?
Would you take the nails from His hands?

Could someone please explain these lyrics? Is he asking us if we would be willing to die in Jesus' place, or is he referring to the man who carried Jesus' cross for Him?

[LauraA]

I know that Jeremy explained these lyrics in an interview once, but I don't remember exactly what he said. When I hear the song, and I've been hearing it a lot on the radio lately with Easter coming up, this is what I think of: Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. Would we take on what He did for us, for Him? Or for ourselves or for those we love? He had a choice, and He took the nails for us. He died for us. I think the song brings us to consider the cost of our salvation and the unspeakable sacrifice Jesus made for us.

[cloudburst]

I know that Jeremy explained these lyrics in an interview once, but I don't remember exactly what he said. When I hear the song, and I've been hearing it a lot on the radio lately with Easter coming up, this is what I think of: Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. Would we take on what He did for us, for Him? Or for ourselves or for those we love? He had a choice, and He took the nails for us. He died for us. I think the song brings us to consider the cost of our salvation and the unspeakable sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Okay....that's what I thought, too, but I guess I'm a little confused, because realistically, even if any of us were willing to take His place, our sacrifice would be futile, because we could never atone for sin like He did. Christ was without sin, and we are sinful....so even if we were willing to take His place, our sacrifice would be useless. Christ is the only one who could have done what He did on the cross. Even if we did take His place, would God even accept it?

I guess I'm just a tad confused. Maybe I'm just reading too much into this.

[LauraA]

Yeah, maybe you are reading a little too much into it. I believe it's just food for thought. If we were Jesus, would be be willing to sacrifice ourselves for mankind? Not that it could of been us, because we are not the Almighty God who took on flesh to die for the sins of the world. I don't think it was meant for deep theological debate, but for contemplating our own understanding of sacrifice. Know what I mean?

[drake71449]

what i got from the song "this man"....is the scripture about taking up our cross daily and that for us to live is to die and to die is to gain...... just some food for thought


:p

[LauraA]

Oh, that's really good Josh.

[cloudburst]

Yeah, maybe you are reading a little too much into it. I believe it's just food for thought. If we were Jesus, would be be willing to sacrifice ourselves for mankind? Not that it could of been us, because we are not the Almighty God who took on flesh to die for the sins of the world. I don't think it was meant for deep theological debate, but for contemplating our own understanding of sacrifice. Know what I mean?


Gotcha. Thanks

[cloudburst]

what i got from the song "this man"....is the scripture about taking up our cross daily and that for us to live is to die and to die is to gain...... just some food for thought


:p

ABSOLUTELY!!! Good word, Josh.

Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Perhaps it is not about literally taking the place of Christ on the cross, but appreciating His sacrifice so much that you are willing to die to yourself daily....crucifying the old man, like Paul talks about in Romans.

[drake71449]

that really sums it up better cloud...!!!!

:p

[Toddrick33]

The way I interpret it is that Jesus took our place on the cross. He died for our sins, so He freely took our place. I think that it's a reminder that we should be the ones up there.

It kind of supplements what's already been said, but that's what I love about music! :)

[LauraA]

Yes, Todd...that we should be the ones up there. Exactly. That is how I take it when I hear the song.

[cloudburst]

that really sums it up better cloud...!!!!

:p

AWWW. SHUCKS, JOSH!!! :p

Seriously, though, you brought up something it behooves us to think about all the time. Thank you.

[cloudburst]

The way I interpret it is that Jesus took our place on the cross. He died for our sins, so He freely took our place. I think that it's a reminder that we should be the ones up there.

It kind of supplements what's already been said, but that's what I love about music! :)

Interesting!!!

I guess I just always thought of the song as talking about His place as the sacrifice for humanity, but what you say makes good sense.

You're right.....we should be the ones up there, but the thing is, even if we were, it still wouldn't be enough. We are so completely wretched that even if we were, we still couldn't atone for our own sins. Christ was sinless, and took the punishment that we deserve, yet couldn't even pay for ourselves.

To me, that is awesome!!!!! I thank God every day that He paid the debt that I was powerless to pay.

[LauraA]

Interesting!!!

I guess I just always thought of the song as talking about His place as the sacrifice for humanity, but what you say makes good sense.

You're right.....we should be the ones up there, but the thing is, even if we were, it still wouldn't be enough. We are so completely wretched that even if we were, we still couldn't atone for our own sins. Christ was sinless, and took the punishment that we deserve, yet couldn't even pay for ourselves.

To me, that is awesome!!!!! I thank God every day that He paid the debt that I was powerless to pay.

Amen! Double Amen!

Our radio station has been playing "This Man" at least once a day for a couple weeks now. (As they do every Easter season). Each time it's on I think about this discussion, and try to intently listen to the words to the song...letting them really sink into my heart. I'm glad the question was brought up, Cloudburst, because it's helped me to stop and contemplate. I find that I can get caught up in listening to a song now and then, enjoying it because I like the way it's sung, like the voice, the music, or the artist singing it....

[Convicted]

Okay....that's what I thought, too, but I guess I'm a little confused, because realistically, even if any of us were willing to take His place, our sacrifice would be futile, because we could never atone for sin like He did. Christ was without sin, and we are sinful....so even if we were willing to take His place, our sacrifice would be useless. Christ is the only one who could have done what He did on the cross. Even if we did take His place, would God even accept it?

I guess I'm just a tad confused. Maybe I'm just reading too much into this.

Actually, I don't blame you for being confused about this song (I wouldn't have blamed you even if I couldn't relate to your line of thinking on this, either; just figure of speech.. ;)). This is actually one reason why I never really liked it that much (I like it to a certain extent, of course, but the chorus really isn't written that well, to me.) This is another prime example of what happens when we don't pay attention to how we portray something to people, taking into consideration the interpretations they might derive from how we write something, and then we need to construct that (what we write, or speak about) into something that will be more accurately (and effectively) interpretated by the majority of the listeners (or recipients of that message). Also, I've had people ask me why Jeremy wrote the song that way also-- since if we want to be theologically accurate or derive a literal interpretation of the song-- we could never appease the payment required to atone our sins; after all Jesus is perfect... our "death penalty" could never free us from our death... we'd still be doomed to it. And, it's not about us taking His place on the cross-- He doesn't need us to die for Him; He's perfect. It's for our sins, that He came to die. Therefore, that only leaves a few more logical conclusions to the meaning of the song. Here's my take: The question really isn't about whether we would take the place upon the cross--- It is the literal question, but spiritually... that's over-ruled already (since it wouldn't be accurate). The question really is about how much we truly love Him, after seeing what it is that He has done for us-- dying in our place. Are we willing to love Him, to the point we die to ourselves? Love always brings you to death, in some fashion. The question is, would we be willing to love Him as much as He loved us? Absolutely not... We need His love working and flowing in us to even be able to have love at all. And to be more specific, love isn't just a term (in this case)... Love, is God Himself. We need Him living in us (spiritually, of course) to even be able to love Him. And that's the point-- We need to fully surrender ourselves to Him (aka- Die to our will) on a momentary basis, so we can become one with Him. He gave it all up for us, because He loves us that much. But what are we willing to give up, because we want to love Him (become one with Him)? Also, it reminds me of the offering and sacrifice He willfully made for us, when He died in our place... while we were so undeserving of that gift. Like the song Here I am to Worship explains: I'll never know, how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross... Then.. what do we want to do after seeing what He did for us? Offer ourselves to Him, just because we want to worship Him; after all, that's the best we can give Him. (Perhaps that's a long explanation of what I think that song means-- but that's what I acquire from it, when I dig down to the specifics). Overall, I think Jeremy proposed a great and thought provoking concept; I just think it should have been portrayed with a little more clarity-- especially for those who aren't acquainted to the full study of the depths of Scripture, and/or those who don't scrutinize the actual meaning of a song's lyrics (trying to discover the original intent proposed by the author); if an accurate explanation wasn't given to someone concerning the meaning of this song... I could only surmise what sort of ideas some people would be led to believe. Perhaps I may sound cynical or overly critical in my observations of how people portray theological/spiritual things to others, but I happen to think it's an extremely crucial subject; and I can't pretend I don't notice certain flaws; and ignore expressing how important it is to correct and/or avoid those flaws when possible (which is why it's important to live in a state of awareness about these types of things-- how we or others interpret things. If we don't live in that state of awareness, we just might not know what it is that we believe, or what we inadvertently lead others to believe. Which is why it's extremely vital to monitor what you believe, and to cautiously use wisdom before you express your thoughts (in any form) to others).