Jon Egan – This Changes Everything

Jon Egan is the former leader of New Life Church’s band Desperation Band between 2002 and 2017.  Under his leadership, the band released:

• Desperation (2003)
• From the Rooftops (2004)
• Who You Are (2006)
• Sessions & Remixes EP (2007)
• Everyone Overcome (2007)
• Light Up the World (2009)
• Update: Live (2011)
• Center of it All (2012)
• Banner (2014)

He also released Unveil (Live) in 2019 under his own name.

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?

The God of creation, who was without sin, bore our shame.  He swaps our lawbreaking for His uprightness and rose again, giving us hope of eternal life.  We join creation in worshipping our Lord because He saved us from eternal damnation.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song aligns with the Bible.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

The God of creation took our place
The God of redemption opened the way

This describes the “great exchange”, where the God who created us (Genesis 1:1, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 8:3-8, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 96:5, Proverbs 3:19, Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 66:1-2, John 1:1-3, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 4:11) trades our wickedness for His righteousness (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Pre-Chorus]

The day You gave Your life
Seemed a failure in our eyes

It certainly did for the Apostles!  They hid thinking they were next (John 20:19).

But the stone it rolled away
As You walked out of that grave

Christ has risen (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)!

[Chorus]

Let this place erupt with praise

Egan invites his audience to worship God.

Why do you look for the living among the graves?

Quotes from Luke 24:5, substituting “dead” with “graves”.

Jesus lives, all the earth sing out

References Psalm 96:1 and Psalm 150:6.

The power of death has been broken
And this changes everything

Jesus demonstrated power over death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14), changing the trajectory of our fate from deadness in sin to alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Verse 2]

The God of perfection became sin

The perfect God (Leviticus 11:44-45, Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 25:8, Psalm 92:15, Isaiah 26:7, Matthew 5:48, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, Romans 12:1-2, and 1 Peter 1:16) became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The God of salvation changed everything

See Chorus, line 5.

[Bridge]

Because You live our hope begins
Because You live our song will never end

See commentary on Chorus, lines 4 and 5.  Also, Verses on eternal praise include Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13.

Because You live now we can live
This changes everything, this changes everything

See commentary on Chorus, lines 4 and 5.

Because You live
Because You live our hope begins
Because You live our song will never end, no, no, no, no
Because You live now we can live
This changes everything, this changes everything

Essentially repeats lines 1-4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song intermixes everyday with Christianese language.  There are several things unbelievers probably will and will not understand or misunderstand:

Likely Understand

• God created us
• God died and rose again for us, resulting in praise
• Christians forever praise God for saving them
• Christians’ hope is in God

Likely Not Understand/Misunderstand

• God becoming sin
• Sin is lawbreaking, as opposed to mere mistakes

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as the One worthy of our praises.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Jon Egan’s This Changes Everything is Christ-centered.  It focuses on the death, burial, and resurrection as God’s plan to redeem us, resulting in praise and worship.  This brings glory to God.  While non-Christians will comprehend most of this song, God becoming sin and the concept of sin will likely not be understood correctly, or at all.

I recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: This Changes Everything (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Jon Egan

Album: Unveil (Live)

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2019

Duration: 4:02

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*Copyright © 2019 One Year Stairs Music (ASCAP) Integrity Worship Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.