Michael Card - The Nazarene Lyrics
Lyrics
The Nazarene came down
To live the life of every man
And He felt the fascination of the stars
And as He wandered through
This weary world
He wondered and He wept
For there were so few
Who listened to His call
(chorus)
He came, He saw
He surrendered all
So that we might be born again
And the fact of His humanity
Was there for all to see
For He was unlike any other man
And yet so much like me
The Nazarene could hunger
And the Nazarene could cry
And He could laugh
With all the fullness of His heart
And those who hardly knew Him
And those who knew Him well
Could feel the contradiction from the start
Video
The Nazarene - Michael Card - w lyrics
Meaning & Inspiration
Michael Card’s profound exploration of Christ’s humanity, "The Nazarene," released on "The Ultimate Collection: Michael Card" on January 1, 2006, stands as a testament to the enduring power of theological songwriting. This piece delves into the very core of Christian belief, challenging its audience to consider the dual nature of Jesus: fully divine, yet fully human. Card masterfully unpacks the profound mystery of the incarnation, inviting reflection on the Savior who walked among us, experienced life’s full spectrum, and surrendered everything for humanity's redemption.
The song begins by painting a vivid picture of the Nazarene descending, not just to observe, but "to live the life of every man." This immediately establishes the central theme: Christ’s complete immersion into the human experience. It speaks to the wonder Christ must have felt even as the Creator, experiencing the very things He made, as suggested by the line about Him feeling "the fascination of the stars." This evokes the humility of God becoming flesh, willingly subjecting Himself to the created order. Yet, this earthly journey was not without sorrow; as He "wandered through this weary world," He "wondered and He wept" at the spiritual blindness and the limited number who embraced His transformative message, echoing passages like John 1:11, where "He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him," or Luke 19:41, when Jesus wept over Jerusalem. This initial portrayal sets the stage for a Christ who is intensely relatable in His emotions and observations, a stark contrast to a distant, unfeeling deity.
The chorus then powerfully summarizes Christ's mission and its ultimate purpose: "He came, He saw, He surrendered all / So that we might be born again." This concise declaration encapsulates the Incarnation, His earthly ministry, and the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Philippians 2:6-8 comes to mind, describing how Jesus "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." His surrender was absolute, culminating in His death to reconcile humanity to God, offering the path to spiritual rebirth as spoken of in John 3:3. The lyrics continue, emphasizing that "the fact of His humanity / Was there for all to see / For He was unlike any other man / And yet so much like me." This is the crux of Card’s message, highlighting the paradox of Christ. He was unique – sinless and divine – yet He shared every other aspect of human existence. Hebrews 4:15 affirms this: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." This personal connection is vital for faith, offering a Savior who truly understands human frailty and joy.
Further developing this profound humanity, the song details that "The Nazarene could hunger / And the Nazarene could cry / And He could laugh / With all the fullness of His heart." These lines are not mere poetic embellishment but foundational truths about Jesus. The Gospels record His hunger (Matthew 4:2), His tears (John 11:35), and though explicit mention of His laughter is absent, the implication of a "fullness of His heart" speaks to a complete range of human emotions, including joy and celebration. He participated fully in human life, experiencing its pleasures and pains. This profound authenticity meant that "those who hardly knew Him / And those who knew Him well / Could feel the contradiction from the start." This "contradiction" refers to the inexplicable truth of God in human flesh – the eternal Creator walking dusty roads, the omnipotent Lord subject to fatigue and thirst. It is the theological tension of the hypostatic union, where perfect divinity and perfect humanity coexist in one person. This mystery often bewildered those around Him, yet it is the very foundation of His redemptive work. Michael Card, through "The Nazarene," effectively invites listeners to contemplate this breathtaking reality, moving beyond abstract theology to a deeply personal connection with the Savior who fully shared our human journey, making salvation accessible and God supremely relatable.