We The Kingdom – Jesus Does

Happy new year!

We the Kingdom began their career in 2018, releasing four albums and six EP’s.  These include:

• Live at the Wheelhouse (EP, 2019)
• Live Acoustic Sessions (EP, 2020)
• The Awakening (EP, 2020)
• The Battle (EP, 2020)
• The Journey (EP, 2020)
• Holy Water (2020)
• A Family Christmas (EP, 2021)
• Live At Ocean Way Nashville (2021)
• We the Kingdom (2022)
• Live from the Ryman (2023)

We the Kingdom won a GMA Dove award in 2020 for New Artist of the Year and two more in 2021 for Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Holy Water).

Also, check out my reviews of Dancing on the Waves, Child of Love, God So Loved, Don’t Tread on Me, Holy Water, and Christmas review Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah).

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?

Jesus:

• Controls natural phenomena, which glorifies Him
• Shows charity and lovingkindness to His people
• Empathizes with the weak and downtrodden
• Bears our burdens
• Knows our hearts
• Gives grace
• Cleanses us from all unrighteousness and forgives our transgressions
• Liberates
• Is good and faithful

In response to this, as well as the Father sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit who takes up residence within us, the Trinity is praised.

The only issue with this song is where it says Jesus stole the keys of hell and grave.  He didn’t steal them.  He had already owned them.

Score: 9/10

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

Almost the entire song does except for the end of Verse.  Jesus did not steal the keys.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Who tells the Sun to rise every morning?
Colors the sky with the shades of His glory?
Wakes us with mercy and love? Jesus does
Who holds the orphan, comforts the widow?
Cries for injustice, feels every sorrow?
Carries the pain of His children? Jesus does

A list of Jesus’ acts, which includes:

• Creator (John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15-16), in which the heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1-6)
• 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)
• Loving (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:8-10)
• Comforting (Matthew 11:28-30 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
• Rights injustice (Deuteronomy 32:35, Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, and Luke 19:45-46, and Romans 12:19-21)

More on “carries the pain of His children” later in the song.

[Chorus]

So we sing praise to the Father who gave us the Son

Explicitly stated in Isaiah 9:6 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-25, and Luke 1:26-38.  We The Kingdom praises the Father for the Son.

Praise to the Spirit who’s livin’ in us

The Holy Spirit receives praise for living inside us (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14).

When I was a sinner, He saved me from who I was
‘Cause that’s what Jesus does

We The Kingdom was rescued from the penalty of their lawbreaking who are alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24) as changed people (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).

[Verse 2]

Who understands the heart of a sinner?
Showers His grace over all our mistakes?
Washes us clean with His blood? Jesus does, I believe that He does
Who sings a song of sweet forgiveness?
Who stole the keys to hell and the grave?
Who has the power to save? Jesus does, yes, He does

Another listing.  Jesus:

• Knows our hearts (Matthew 9:4, Mark 2:8, John 2:24, John 6:64, Acts 1:24, Acts 15:8, and Hebrews 4:13)
• Offers undeserved favor (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23)
• Cleanses us with His blood (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19)
• Forgives (Matthew 26:28, Act 2:38, Act 5:31, Act 10:43, Romans 4:7, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13-14, James 5:15, James 5:19-20, 1 John 2:1-2, and 1 John 2:12)
• Possesses the keys of hell and death (Revelation 1:18).  However, Scripture does not state that such keys were stolen, only that He holds it.
• 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)

[Bridge]

Oh, what a friend, oh, what a Savior

His friendship is shown through His love for us, that while we were sinners, He died for us (see commentary on “loving” in Verse 1).  Savior is covered in commentary on Verse 2.

He’s always been good, He’s always been faithful

He is good (1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19-20, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 135:3, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19) and faithful (Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalms 119:90, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9).

He came to my rescue when I needed Him most
He saved my soul

More Savior language.  See line 1.

[Post-Chorus]

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh

Calls out to Casper the friendly ghost.

That’s what Jesus does

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 4.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will know this song is about Jesus.  It is explicitly mentioned in the title and stated several times in the song.  We The Kingdom’s language is everyday with a smattering of Christianese language, making it fairly simple for nonbelievers to interpret the litany of actions and properties of Christ.  They probably won’t know that Jesus stealing the keys of hell isn’t Biblically supported.  They are also more likely to conclude that sin is mere mistakes, as opposed to violating God’s laws.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus by accurately describing His acts/attributes, including His faithfulness, kindness, compassion, salvation, and power.  It does not glorify Him when it incorrectly states Jesus stole the keys of the grave.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

We The Kingdom’s Jesus Does is a good song with a minor error.  It tells us that Jesus is many things, including Savior, gracious, compassionate, kind, good, loving, merciful, and forgiving.  It only errs when stating Jesus stole the keys of hell and grave.  Still, unbelievers should be able to understand this song with little difficulty, though perhaps misunderstanding the nature of sin.

If the keys of hell/hades could be fixed/addressed, then I can recommend this song for corporate worship.  It is also advisable to explain the meaning of sin if your congregation is seeker-sensitive.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Jesus Does (listen to the song)

Artist: We The Kingdom

Album: We The Kingdom

Genre: Gospel

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 3:55

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

*Copyright © 2022 We The Kingdom Music (BMI) Neon District Music (BMI) Bay19 (ASCAP) Scott Cash Publishing Designee (BMI) Angie Feel Good Songs (ASCAP) Martin Cash Designee (BMI) Franni Cash Designee (BMI) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.