Anne Wilson – My Jesus

Anne Wilson is an American artist who signed with Capitol CMG Publishing in 2019.  She debuted with her breakthrough EP My Jesus this year.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Anne-wilson-my-jesus-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song is much like a sales pitch.  She asks leading questions that her audience will identify with: weariness, broken relationships, addiction, and shame.  She presents Jesus as the solution to their problems and offers benefits that Christ offers: salvation, healing, grace, and love.  She also hints at surrender by suggesting Christ will change our lives, a subtle warning that following Jesus will cost us something.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song is in agreement with God’s inspired Word.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-7: Wilson draws from Matthew 11:28-30 to ask her audience important questions, drawing them to hear more about Jesus.

Line 8: Repeats line 4.

[Chorus]

Line 1: What is impossible for man is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

Line 2: Jesus resurrected (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Line 3: Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to save anyone who wants it (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Line 4: Repeats Verse 1, line 4.

Line 5: Christ’s love is so strong that He died for people who don’t deserve it (Romans 5:6-8).  His grace is free In the sense that Jesus pays for our salvation, not us (see Scripture on line 3).

Line 6 and 7: The things He did for Wilson are shown throughout these lyrics.

Line 8: Repeats Verse 1, line 4.

Line 9: Thus far, Wilson pitches benefits that Jesus offers.  This line is where Wilson asks us to surrender to God (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6), allowing Him to change our desires (Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 2:29, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 7:10).

[Post-Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.  Amen means “so be it”.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: See Verse 1.

Line 3: If we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), there’s no point in dwelling in the past.  That doesn’t mean the past goes away, but God doesn’t bring it up (Isaiah 43:25, Hebrews 8:12, and Hebrews 10:16-17).  It’s as if it disappeared.

Line 4: See Verse 1, line 4.

Lines 5-7: God works all things for good, including our broken past (Romans 8:28).  Also, see Genesis 50:20.

Line 8: See Verse 1, line 4.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-3: See Scripture on Chorus, line 3.

Line 4: See Verse 1, line 4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will probably see this song as a testimony, that those who are hurting can find healing through Jesus.  While some might see it as a sales pitch that peddles Christianity onto people, others will likely respond emotionally and learn more about who “Wilson’s Jesus” is.  It’s presented with language easily understandable for the Biblically illiterate.

I especially appreciate Wilson’s last lyric in Chorus because this clarifies to unbelievers that God wants to change them, potentially reducing false converts.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

This song glorifies God by presenting Jesus as the One who can heal our brokenness if we yield to Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Anne Wilson’s My Jesus is wonderfully evangelistic.  Wilson lists situations her audience may currently experience, including brokenness, weariness, and shame.  She points them towards Jesus for healing and transformation, requiring complete and total surrender.  This glorifies God.  This message will not be lost on outsiders to Christianity.

Though inspirational, it’s more geared towards unbelievers and false converts to consider following Jesus.  Therefore, it seems inappropriate for corporate worship.  However, it may play a vital role during a church service, to draw the hurting towards Christ.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: My Jesus (listen to the song)

Artist: Anne Wilson

EP: Anne Wilson

Genre: Country

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 3:38

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