THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Songs Week of 20 May 2008
JESUS GAVE ME WATER
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." JOHN 4:13
Oh, Jesus gave me water Jesus gave me water, Jesus gave me water I want to let His praises swell Jesus gave me water (x) and it was not in the well. Well, there was a woman from Samara Came to the well to get some water There she met a stranger who did a story tell That woman dropped her pitcher she drank and was made richer From the water He gave her and it was not in the well Yes, He gave her water Jesus gave her water, Jesus gave her water I want to let His praises swell Jesus gave her water, He gave that woman water He gave her living, loving, lasting water and it was not in the well Well, on that woman He had pity she ran back to the city Crying glory, Hallelujah and did His wonders tell She left my Savior singing, she came back to him bringing The town to see that water Lord and it was not in the well Yes, He gave her water Jesus gave her water, Jesus gave her water I want to let His praises swell Jesus gave that woman water Gave her living, loving, lasting water and it was not in the well Well, Lord that woman left for shoutin' There was no room for doubtin' That she had met a Savior who did her wonders tell Every time she doubt Him, she start to think about Him The man that gave her that water Lord and he was not in the well Yes, He gave her water Jesus gave her water, Jesus gave her water I want to let His praises swell Tell you He gave that woman water Gave her that living, lasting water Water, water, water, water loving water and it was not in the well.Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." JOHN 4:13
I BELIEVE I'LL GO BACK HOME
One of many songs on the theme of The Prodigal Son in LUKE.
I believe I'll go back home and acknowledge that I done wrong. When I was in my Father's house, I was well supplied. I made a mistake in a-doing well, now I'm dissatisfied. Lordy won't you help me in this field. I believe I'll go back home and acknowledge that I done wrong. When I was in my Father's house, I had bread enough to spare. But now I'm sick and a-hungry too, and ashamed to go back there. Lordy, won't you help me in this field. I believe I'll go back home. One of many songs on the theme of The Prodigal Son in LUKE.
OLD MAN LAZARUS
The story of Lazarus and the rich man (Dives) is well represented in Gospel music and Spirituals. Repetitions are indicated by the multiple sign (x).
Old man Lazarus, sick and disabled (won't you give me some water for my tongue cause I'm tormented in the flame) He had to eat crumbs from the rich man's table. I'm tormented in the flame, cause I'm tormented in the flame. Rich man Dives he lived so well (x) and when he died he went straight to Hell (x) I'm tormented in the flame (x).
I love to shout, I love to sing (x) I love to praise my Heavenly King (x). I'm tormented in the flame (x) (x).
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
This is one of the "newest" Spirituals (relatively speaking!), discovered early in the 20th century, with only the main chorus known (verses were added later). It's a Christmas Spiritual, but we'll see below how Spirituals are recycled to fit current events.
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born. Hallelujah!This is one of the "newest" Spirituals (relatively speaking!), discovered early in the 20th century, with only the main chorus known (verses were added later). It's a Christmas Spiritual, but we'll see below how Spirituals are recycled to fit current events.
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
During the Civil Rights era, an old Christmas Spiritual (above) was reworked to fit the circumstances of the time. This is how all Spirituals were composed over time, though the record of such changes have been lost to time. Here we can see those changes because the original Spiritual has been preserved. But it's the same "liberation theology" that has been part of the Spirituals from the beginning: a use of the Bible to preach human dignity, equality, justice, and freedom, and as a protest against human suffering of any kind. "Paul and Silas" appear in Luke's Book of Acts. Note how this version of the Spiritual combines the Christmas Spiritual with the "Go Down, Moses" Spiritual, turning a Christmas proclamation about the birth of Jesus into a proclamation of social justice and freedom. This does not eliminate Jesus (or God), because the birth of Jesus is, theologically, the birth of a new social order of equality, justice, human dignity, and freedom ("the Truth has made you free," the Gospel of John says).
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain, to let my people go. During the Civil Rights era, an old Christmas Spiritual (above) was reworked to fit the circumstances of the time. This is how all Spirituals were composed over time, though the record of such changes have been lost to time. Here we can see those changes because the original Spiritual has been preserved. But it's the same "liberation theology" that has been part of the Spirituals from the beginning: a use of the Bible to preach human dignity, equality, justice, and freedom, and as a protest against human suffering of any kind. "Paul and Silas" appear in Luke's Book of Acts. Note how this version of the Spiritual combines the Christmas Spiritual with the "Go Down, Moses" Spiritual, turning a Christmas proclamation about the birth of Jesus into a proclamation of social justice and freedom. This does not eliminate Jesus (or God), because the birth of Jesus is, theologically, the birth of a new social order of equality, justice, human dignity, and freedom ("the Truth has made you free," the Gospel of John says).
Paul and Silas bound in jail (let my people go) had nobody for to go their bail (let my people go). Go tell it, etc.
Paul and Silas began to shout (let my people go), jail broke open and they walked out (let my people go). Go tell it, etc.
Who's that yonder dressed in red (let my people go), must be the children that Moses led (let my people go). Go tell it, etc.
Who's that yonder, dressed in black (let my people go), must be the hypocrites turning back (let my people go). Go tell it, etc.
I had a little book he gave to me (let my people go), and every page spells Victory (let my people go). Go tell it, etc.
SERMONETTE
This sermonette preaches Jesus' Golden Rule:
I hear me a sermonette, have you heard it yet, with that soulful message that you won't soon forget. It tells you about real true love, the kind people lost sight of, through that sinful living they scorn in the Heaven above. It tells you to love one another because each man is your brother. You'd better live right because one day you're going to reap just what you sow. So to have no regrets but to find what you're missing, come along and listen to my sermonette. It tells you, etc.This sermonette preaches Jesus' Golden Rule:
THEY HUNG HIM ON THE CROSS
The Victory over the Cross cannot be separated from the Cross. That's Jesus' key message, the "scandal" that made Jesus conceal his identity (the "Messianic Secret" in Mark). Those who followed him because of his miracles wanted the Glory without the Cross (suffering). Whether interpreted psychologically or theologically, it rings true: there is no glory without suffering. To avoid the Cross is to embrace the World; and, as Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." That's why Jesus tells Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Because when Peter tempts Jesus to choose glory without the cross, Peter has embraced the Satanic world (in the Gospels, Satan owns the world, another way of saying that the social systems of the world are corrupt and therefore corrupting). Jesus' message was revolutionary, and, in effect (using a modern word) "deconstructed" "normalcy" (what seems normal to those attached to worldly success) and showed how the world was opposed to God's plan. As the Gospel song makes clear, the Cross is the necessary basis of Glory, not opposed to Glory:They hung him on the cross (x) they hung him on the cross for me. One day when I was lost, they hung him on the cross. They speared him on the side for me. And the blood comes streaming down (x) for me, one day when I was lost and the blood comes streaming down for me. He hung his head and died (x) he hung his head and died for me. One day when I was lost. He never said a mumbling word (x) he never said a mumbling word for me. One day when I was lost, He's coming back again (x) he's coming back again for me, one day when I was lost they hung him on the cross and he's coming back again for me.
CALVARY
Jesus' Crucifixion was a "scandal": because the Messiah should have been crowned as King instead of condemned as a common criminal. Crucifixion was the worst penalty. The theological question was (and is) how can the Son of God die and still be God? Christians therefore do not deny the Cross but glory in the Cross: it is because the Son of God died and God showed his concern for humans. So the "scandal" has been turned upside down and is now not proof that Jesus was not God, but proof that, as the Gospel of John puts it, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to save the world. Clearly Jesus' death and resurrection are key elements of what is called by modern scholars the "kerygma" (or basic preaching of the Early Church). Modern scholars believe that the Kerygma ("Jesus died and came back to life, thus conquering Death") was the core message around which the Gospels were built:
Calvary (x) surely he died on Calvary. Can't you hear him calling his Father? (x) Surely, oh surely, surely oh surely he died on Calvary. Jesus' Crucifixion was a "scandal": because the Messiah should have been crowned as King instead of condemned as a common criminal. Crucifixion was the worst penalty. The theological question was (and is) how can the Son of God die and still be God? Christians therefore do not deny the Cross but glory in the Cross: it is because the Son of God died and God showed his concern for humans. So the "scandal" has been turned upside down and is now not proof that Jesus was not God, but proof that, as the Gospel of John puts it, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to save the world. Clearly Jesus' death and resurrection are key elements of what is called by modern scholars the "kerygma" (or basic preaching of the Early Church). Modern scholars believe that the Kerygma ("Jesus died and came back to life, thus conquering Death") was the core message around which the Gospels were built:
CALVARY
Can't you hear the hammer ringing (x) surely he died on Calvary.HALLELUJAH, 'TIS DONE
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'"
The Gospel of John, the most theological of the four Gospels, with a high Christology (Jesus is always in control and there's no doubt of his divinity, as God's Son). Jesus' final words on the cross makes clear that Jesus is in command, when he says, "It is finished." The words suggest that Jesus is simply following God's plan, which he already knew. This submission to God's will is enjoined in the famous phrase from The Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done." Jesus becomes the new, and fully righteous Israel, perfectly obedient to God, even unto Death."When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'"
Hallelujah, 'tis done, I believe on the Son, I've been saved on the blood of the Crucified One.
JUST GOT OVER AT LAST
Crossing ("over") the Red Sea became a type of crossing from this world of slavery in sin to a world of freedom in God:
Oh Satan's mad and I am glad (I just got over at last) because he missed the soul that he thought he had (I just got over at last). Now I'm so glad, I just got over (x), I just got over at last. You better mind, my brother, how you walk on the cross (just got over at last), because your foot might slip and your soul be lost. Now I'm skipping and I'm dancing, I just got over (x) I just got over at last. Now I'm so glad, etc.Crossing ("over") the Red Sea became a type of crossing from this world of slavery in sin to a world of freedom in God:
I KNOW THE LORD
This Gospel song is based on Isaiah's proof text of the Messiah, which Jesus fulfilled:
I know the Lord (x), I know the Lord has laid his hands on me. He did just what he said, he healed the sick and he raised the dead.This Gospel song is based on Isaiah's proof text of the Messiah, which Jesus fulfilled:
WE PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME
This is a sample of Pentecostal worship, based on John 14:16 (also v. 26; 16:7): "And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever."
We love the Lord for all of his goodness and to serve him is our only aim. So if you want to shine to be a witness, come on, come on call his name, I can praise him. I've got a promise (x), He's been good! I can't help it, I've got to give him glory, I've got to say Thank you, Jesus. He woke me up! I've got to give him glory. I've got to praise him! (x), I've got to praise his name! Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! This is a sample of Pentecostal worship, based on John 14:16 (also v. 26; 16:7): "And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever."
GIVE ME YOUR HAND
"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (JOHN 13:34).
Oh give me your hand (x) all I want is the love of God, (x) you must be loving at God's command. You say you're aiming for the skies (x), Why don't you quit your telling lies? Oh give me your hand (x) all I want is the love of God, (x) you must be loving at God's command. You say the Lord has set you free (x), why don't you let your neighbor be? (X)YOU CAN TELL THE WORLD
Another reference to the Holy Spirit, also called the Paraclete, Comforter, Counselor:
You can tell the world about this, you can tell the nation about that. Tell them what Jesus has done, tell them that the Comforter has come and he brought joy, great joy to my soul. Well he took my feet out the miry clay, yes he did, and He placed them on the rock to stay, yes he did. You can tell, etc. Well you know , my Lord done just what He said, yes He did. He healed the sick and He raised the dead, yes, He did. You can tell, etc. Another reference to the Holy Spirit, also called the Paraclete, Comforter, Counselor:
I'M GONNA SING TILL THE SPIRIT MOVES
I'm gonna sing till the Spirit moves in my heart, I'm gonna sing till my Jesus comes.IN BRIGHT MANSIONS
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." (JOHN 14:2)
My mother's gone to glory, I want to go up yonder in bright mansions above. In bright mansions above (x), Lord I want to go up yonder, in bright mansions above."In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." (JOHN 14:2)
LORD I'M OUT HERE ON YOUR WORD
"In the beginning was the Word" (JOHN 1:1).
Lord I'm out here on your word (x), if I die on the battlefield, Lord I'm out here on your word. Glad I got my religion in time (x), if I die on the battlefield, well I got my religion in time. "In the beginning was the Word" (JOHN 1:1).
No comments:
Post a Comment