Andrew Peterson

Tonight, I witnessed something indescribable. Andrew Peterson—a brilliant musician, a lovely personality, and a man with a passion for God and the story of His Son. As I sat in the 4^th row of Faith Church, my home church’s sanctuary, I was moved to tears. Jesus Christ is my savior, and I don’t deserve it. This was brought out by Andrew Peterson’s Concert and CD Behold, The Lamb Of God.

“Gather 'round, Ye Children, Come”…the opening song to this CD, concert, and story. An introduction and welcoming to listen to the story; even more it is, in a nutshell, the strength and power of the story of Christ. Five lines—that’s all it takes; five powerful lines that exude the power and love of God. “Gather round ye children come, listen to the old—old story, of the power of death undone, by an infant born of glory. Son of God, Son of Man.” Death undone—death defeated. As Christ became man, the very Son of God, became man, he was born into glory and defeated death, through death.

“So Long, Moses”…a song that connected with me very closely. I recently composed a thesis paper on the government of Israel and its role in preparing the way for Christ to come into the world. However, I had not even heard this song since just after last Christmas, when I heard it, I was astounded at the fluency between the ideas I alluded to in my paper, and this song. That it’s all about Christ, all of history, all of the present making of history, it’s all about the one true God. That is one thing I love about Andrew Peterson and his music, I feel as if he understands it. That it’s not about him, not about me, not about any other person; it’s not about material things or about how great I can become; it’s all about God—about his plan and his glory.

“Deliver Us”…one that always humbles me before the Lord. It speaks of toil and suffering, but instead of complaints, it speaks of the sin that brought the pain upon man. “Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay. These shackles they were made with our own hands. Our toil is our atonement and our freedom yours to give. So Yahweh, break your silence if you can. Deliver us, deliver us. Oh Yahweh, hear our cry. And gather us beneath your wings tonight.” All my pain, my suffering, my confusion, my hurt, it’s all brought upon myself by my sin. The only one who can deliver me from this suffering is God—Yahweh. The part I have trouble grasping, is why? Why does he deliver me from myself? I am so undeserving, I have sinned against him, I have hurt him, I have mocked him, I have rejected him; yet, he still loves me. I don’t quite comprehend the why? But what I do comprehend is that he does. And I am so grateful.

“Behold the Lamb of God”…the title track and the song that had be bawling like a baby in my 5^th row isle seat. The Holy Lamb of God—whoa. Why? I ask myself that question often. Why would the Holy Lamb of God die for me? The song speaks of the many saving attributes of Christ: His righteousness, his cleansing of our hearts, his light, and his death and resurrection. But the part that strikes a deep chord in my heart is this, “Broken hearts—behold our broken hearts. Fallen far—we need you. Behold the Lamb of God.” We are so broken, we are so depraved, we need God. And the crazy part is, he offers himself willingly. His love and grace saved us.

This Christmas season, I have not been the usual “x-masy” person I usually am. I don’t care that much about presents, the Christmas decorations, Santa, and the whole commercialized secular view of Christmas. But until tonight, I didn’t understand why, but now I do. It’s because over the past year I’ve been through a lot, and through it, I have become much closer to God. Because of this I don’t care about the commercial things of Christmas, I have finally realized that it’s about Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, and my savior. I don’t always understand the why? of what He does, but that’s not what he asks, he asks only to accept him and his free gift of life, and to glorify him and spread his gospel. So I will stop asking the why? And simply thank the Lord for saving my life.

Merry Christmas! :)

~Reagan Johnson

P.S. Buy Andrew Peterson's CD, it's amazing.

http://andrew-peterson.com/index.php?s=gl&nid=76657