Who Do They Say I Am?
Outlaw
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman (April 8, 1947 February 24, 2008) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer. Norman's recordings are noted for their Christian and social subject matter, and he is often described as the "father of Christian rock music". [Wikipedia]
I first heard the song "Outlaw" on an overnight trip with a high school youth group. One of the young ladies had a guitar and a beautiful voice. There was no Internet, Christian book stores had LPs and Eight Tracks of hymns. Finding music was not as easy as today. Jimmy Carter was president. We had double digit unemployment and double digit inflation so, we didn't have much extra for things like records.
Since we didn't have things like CDs, much less CD Rippers and MP3s I would get most of my music by recording FM radio programs. No Christian music on the radio in those days ... well, hymns sometimes ...
Even though there was something in the lyrics and melody that touched my heart and made me long for Jesus, I wasn't convinced that asking my parents to buy a record with lyrics like "Why Should the Devil Have All The Good Music" would be a good plan.
Turns out I was probably wrong, but evidently teenagers naturally distrust parents. In College, I saw Larry Norman live. I bought a cassette tape (eight tracks were pretty much gone, by then) and wanted him to sign it. He told me he didn't sign autographs, that autographs brought glory to the artist. He told me his job was to bring glory to Jesus, not himself...
This hub is in honor of this Christian Hero of my youth...
John 18:12: Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
Outlaw
Some say he was an outlaw, that he roamed across the land,
With a band of unschooled ruffians and few old fishermen,
No one knew just where he came from, or exactly what he'd done,
But they said it must be something bad that kept him on the run.
Mattew 5:1-2:1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth ...
Poet
Some say he was a poet, that he'd stand upon the hill
That his voice could calm an angry crowd and make the waves stand still,
That he spoke in many parables that few could understand,
But the people sat for hours just to listen to this man.
John 19:11:Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
John 8:36: Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 19:17: And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,
Politician
Some say a politician who spoke of being free,
He was followed by the masses on the shores of Galilee,
He spoke out against corruption and he bowed to no decree,
And they feared his strength and power so they nailed him to a tree.
Sorcerer
Some say he was a sorcerer, a man of mystery,
He could walk upon the water, he could make a blind man see,
That he conjured wine at weddings and did tricks with fish and bread,
That he talked of being born again and raised people from the dead.
Mark 3:22: And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."
In the Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a, it relates the fate of a man called Jesus who is hanged on the eve of Passover for practicing sorcery and leading the people of Israel astray.
Man Above All Men
Some say he was the Son of God, a man above all men,
That he came to be a servant and to set us free from sin,
And that's who I believe he is cause that's what I believe,
And I think we should get ready cause it's time for us to leave.
1 Cor 12:3: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
P.S.
My King told me "You will do Greater Things..."