Evan Craft - Real Jesus Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1:
I don't want a counterfeit
Or follow blindly what somebody said
I'm longing for relationship
God I want all of You and nothing less
Pre-Chorus:
Tell me did you really walk on the water
Do you really care about my problems?
Can You give me hope for tomorrow?
'Cause I'm tired of the cheap imitations
Going through the motions and faking
My heart is here for the taking
Chorus:
Show me something I can really believe in
I was made for more than empty religion
Don't need the hype, the stage and the lights, no
Don't want nothing if it's not the real Jesus
Verse 2:
If you don't fit into my politics
My preconceptions or my selfishness
Come and show me what love really is
Light the way and I will follow it
Bridge:
Who'd give up their throne to walk in our streets
To befriend the sinner and the least of these
Who'd lay it all down for you and for me
And show us there's mercy in His majesty
I wanna know the King who took on our flesh
Who didn't despise the cross or all our mess
I wanna know your heart
I wanna know your love
I wanna know you more and more and more
Video
Evan Craft - Real Jesus (Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Evan Craft's "Real Jesus," released on November 3rd, 2023, dives headfirst into a profound yearning for authentic faith, cutting through the superficiality that can sometimes creep into religious practice. The song isn't just a catchy tune; it's a raw plea for genuine encounter, a declaration that the author desires something far more substantial than fleeting trends or hollow pronouncements. It’s a powerful rejection of a faith reduced to rituals or mere social belonging, echoing the prophet Isaiah's lament that "These people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me" (Isaiah 29:13). The pre-chorus explicitly articulates this longing for tangible proof of divine power and presence, questioning the miraculous deeds attributed to Jesus and his genuine concern for personal struggles, directly referencing His disciples' own moments of doubt, such as Peter's plea in Matthew 14:30 when he began to sink. This thirst for authenticity is not a new sentiment; it mirrors the seekers throughout scripture who encountered Jesus and were transformed, finding hope and a life beyond their immediate circumstances.
The chorus serves as the song’s unwavering declaration: a demand for something truly believable, something more profound than "empty religion." It's a powerful repudiation of the superficial "hype, the stage and the lights," emphasizing that without the genuine essence of Jesus, all else is meaningless. This resonates deeply with the teachings of Jesus Himself, who often challenged the religious elite of His day for their outward displays of piety that lacked inner righteousness. In Matthew 23:27-28, He compares them to whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of decay within. Craft’s message here is clear: the Christian life is not about performance, but about transformation rooted in a real relationship with Christ. Verse two further explores this by presenting a willingness to let Jesus disrupt personal biases, politics, and ingrained selfishness, seeking instead to understand and embody true love. This is the heart of discipleship – allowing Christ's teachings to shape not just our beliefs, but our very character and actions, reflecting His command in John 13:34-35 to love one another as He has loved us.
The bridge is perhaps the most biblically rich section, painting a vivid portrait of Jesus’ radical humility and sacrifice. It marvels at the King of Kings who would abandon celestial glory to walk among humanity, to "befriend the sinner and the least of these." This directly calls to mind Philippians 2:5-8, which describes Christ Jesus, "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." The lyrics express an intense desire to know this compassionate King intimately, to understand His heart, His love, and His unfailing mercy found in His majesty. It’s a prayer for deeper intimacy, mirroring David's cry in Psalm 27:4, "One thing I have asked of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple." "Real Jesus" is more than just a song; it's an anthem for a generation hungry for the genuine, urging listeners to move beyond the superficial and embrace the transformative power of a true, unadulterated relationship with Christ.