Graham Kendrick - Shine Jesus Shine Lyrics
Lyrics
Lord the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining
Jesus Light of the World shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze Spirit blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow river flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word, Lord
And let there be light
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence
From the shadows into Your radiance
By the blood I may enter Your brightness
Search me, try me consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Video
Shine Jesus Shine - Modern Worship Hymn by Graham Kendrick
Meaning & Inspiration
Graham Kendrick's "Shine Jesus Shine," released on May 16, 2010, as part of the album *Sacraments & Seasons*, stands as a monumental hymn within contemporary worship. Far more than a simple melody, this song encapsulates a comprehensive theological prayer, becoming a foundational expression of longing for divine presence and transformation. It emerged from a specific spiritual hunger for God's light to break into darkness, both personally and globally, a theme deeply rooted in biblical narratives of creation and redemption. The piece functions not merely as an anthem but as an urgent petition, voiced from the depths of human need for God's glory to be made manifest.
The opening lines immediately establish the song's core premise, acknowledging God's light already "shining in the midst of the darkness," echoing John 1:5, which declares the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. It then swiftly transitions into a direct address, "Jesus Light of the World, shine upon us," a profound recognition of Christ's identity as revealed in John 8:12. The subsequent plea, "Set us free by the truth You now bring us," directly references Jesus' promise in John 8:32, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This initial verse and the repeated refrain, "Shine on me, shine on me," frame the entire composition as a dual prayer for both universal illumination and intimate, personal encounter, mirroring the cry of Psalm 119:105 for God's word to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The chorus expands this appeal, passionately calling for Jesus to "fill this land with the Father's glory," a vision that resonates with Habakkuk 2:14, predicting that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. The invocation to "Blaze Spirit blaze, Set our hearts on fire" is a fervent desire for the Holy Spirit's transformative power, reminiscent of the tongues of fire at Pentecost in Acts 2 and the fervent spirit encouraged in Romans 12:11.
Building upon this foundation, the song continues with a powerful metaphor: "Flow river flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy." This imagery draws from biblical prophecies of life-giving rivers flowing from God's temple, as seen in Ezekiel 47:9, bringing healing and abundance wherever they go, and in Revelation 22:1, describing the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God. It signifies a longing for God's overwhelming compassion to sweep across the entire world, bringing spiritual renewal and cleansing. The subsequent command, "Send forth Your word, Lord, And let there be light," powerfully connects the creative act of Genesis 1:3, where God's spoken word brought light into existence, with the ongoing redemptive power of His word in John 1:1-5, where Christ Himself is the Word and the true light. This section emphasizes the divine authority and efficacy of God's declarations, believing they carry the power to transform the spiritual landscape.
The journey then becomes intensely personal in the following verse: "Lord, I come to Your awesome presence, From the shadows into Your radiance." This illustrates the believer's active choice to leave spiritual darkness and enter God's illuminating presence, a privilege secured through Christ, as described in 1 Peter 2:9, calling us out of darkness into His marvelous light. The crucial pathway is revealed: "By the blood I may enter Your brightness," a direct theological affirmation of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:19-20 states that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, a new and living way. The heartfelt cry, "Search me, try me, consume all my darkness," echoes the profound prayer of Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to know one's heart, test one's thoughts, and lead in the way everlasting, further emphasizing the cleansing power available through Christ's blood as confessed in 1 John 1:7, that the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.
Finally, the song culminates in a vision of transformed lives: "As we gaze on Your kingly brightness, So our faces display Your likeness." This verse beautifully articulates the New Testament principle of spiritual transformation, drawing directly from 2 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." The journey is not static but dynamic, "Ever changing from glory to glory," signifying a progressive sanctification where believers continually grow more like Christ. The ultimate aspiration, "Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story," is a powerful call to live as living testimonies, reflecting God's character and truth to a world in need, fulfilling the command in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. "Shine Jesus Shine" thus functions as a holistic spiritual roadmap—from initial recognition of God's light, through global intercession and personal purification, to the ultimate goal of Christ-like transformation and effective witness. It remains a timeless and inspiring invitation to embrace and embody the light of Christ in every facet of existence.