Travis Cottrell – Jesus Saves

It’s that time of year again to celebrate Jesus’ birth!  This year, I chose to spend time away from Christmas Berean Test reviews to focus on Christ and spending time with family.  Except for this one, which happened to be a miscategorized “Extra Song” that was chosen.

Travis Cottrell is an American artist.  He started his public debut as a music songwriter by penning Larnelle Harris’ song It’s Only Thunder in 1992.  Though he continues to write for other artists such as Amy Grant, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks, he also released several solo albums including:

• The Deep (2001)
• Unashamed Love (2003)
• Alive Forever (2005)
• Found (2006)
• Ring the Bells (2008)
• Jesus Saves Live (2010)
• When the Stars Burn Down (2011)
• I’m Living Proof (2014)
• All That Is Within Me (2016)
• The Reason (2018)

Also, check out my reviews of The Reason and The Blood of Jesus Speaks For Me.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Travis-cottrell-jesus-saves-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?

The angels announce Jesus’ birth.  The Magi prostrate themselves.  Jesus will later die for lawbreaking and rise again.  Chains fall down amid Christ our hope.  He makes all things new.  Believers will eternally sing His praises.

It’s possible that the angels were singing, though the case for it is not strong (see section 2).  This affects the song’s Biblical accuracy, but not its overall message.

Score: 10/10

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

Almost all of it aligns with Scripture, except that the angels sang.  The Scriptural support for this is weak at best.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: Jesus is the Savior (Isaiah 45:21-22, Hosea 13:4, Luke 1:47, Luke 2:11, Acts 13:23, 1 Timothy 2:3, Titus 2:13-14, and 1 John 4:14).

Line 3: He is merciful (Exodus 33:19, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Luke 6:36, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:16, and 1 Peter 1:3).

Line 4: Repeats line 3.

Lines 5-7: Though there were heavenly hosts and they announced the birth of Jesus, Scripture does not support that they were singing.  Take a good look at Luke 2:13.  It says “saying”.  It comes from the Koine Greek word “legó”, which means “to say”.  That doesn’t mean that angels can’t sing (Job 38:7’s “morning stars” could be seen as angels), but the text doesn’t say that they sang.

As for the Koine Greek term Aineo (to praise), according to Bible Study Tools, praiseworthy singing is a possible translation for this word.  However, no major translation translates it with singing in mind.

Line 8: Essentially repeats line 2.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Lines 1 and 3 reference the Magi who bowed before Jesus (Matthew 2:11).  Lines 2 and 4 repeat Verse 1, line 2.

Lines 5-7: Probably another reference to the Heavenly Hosts that I addressed in Verse 1, lines 5-7.

Line 8: Essentially repeats Verse 1, line 2.

[Verse 3]

Lines 1-4: Lines 1 and 3 describe the death (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 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9), burial (Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-46, Luke 23:50-56, and John 19:38-42), and resurrection (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) of Jesus.  Lines 2 and 4 repeat Verse 1, line 2.

Line 5: A slight paraphrase of John 19:30.

Lines 6 and 7: See commentary on lines 1 and 8.

Line 8: Repeats Verse 1, line 8.

[Bridge]

Line 1: References Acts 16:25-26 to describe bondage.

Lines 2 and 3: Probably a reference to Psalm 30:5.

Line 4: A slight paraphrase of Revelation 21:5.

Line 5: Repeats Verse 1, line 2.

[Verse 4]

Line 1-4: Line 1 Quotes from Robert Robinson’s Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.  What kind of debtor is grace? Light and easy, compared to slavery to sin (Matthew 11:28-30).  Line 3 is shouting for joy (Psalm 132:9).  Lines 2 and 4 repeat Verse 1, line 2.

Lines 5-7: We join the saints in choral procession.

Lines 8 and 9: Repeats line 7.

Lines 10 and 11: When combined, repeats Verse 1, line 2.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Aside from not recognizing that the angels weren’t singing, I have confidence that unbelievers will interpret this song similarly as I. The word “Jesus” is explicitly stated, leading them to a Christian interpretation.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus by retelling Jesus’ announced birth and Magi worship, alongside Easter and our praise in song.  This song’s only potential minor error is that the angels were singing, slightly veiling His glory.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Travis Cottrell’s Jesus Saves is another Christmas retelling.  The typical singing angels (which is Biblically unsupported) and visiting wise men are present.  Curiously, this song contains elements of Easter, which, in my opinion, is the real reason why we celebrate Christmas.  Through Him the chains of sin that weigh us down are broken, lending us His saints to bow down in worship.  These bring Him glory.  Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.

If you’re not bothered by the singing angels, then feel free to sing this one during corporate worship.

Personally, I’ll just sing “say”.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Jesus Saves (listen to the song)

Artist: Travis Cottrell

Album: Ring the Bells

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 2008

Duration: 4:46

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.