Vertical Worship - Only Jesus Can Lyrics
Lyrics
Can He breathe in to the dust?
Can He make sons out of us?
Life is in His mighty hands
Life is in almighty hands
He can do it, yes, He can
He will prove it, our God can
No one else can save us, redeem us, create a new life in us
Only Jesus can
Can He love His enemies?
Can He make them family?
Life is in His mighty hands
Life is in almighty hands
Can He heal the leper's limb?
Can He cleanse us from within?
Can we drink from living streams?
Can we ever be redeemed?
He has healed the leper's limb
He has cleansed us from within
We have drunk from living streams
Surely, we have been redeemed
Video
Vertical Worship - Only Jesus Can (Live Performance Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
"Only Jesus Can" by Vertical Worship, released on October 25, 2013, as part of their album "The Rock Won't Move," is a profound worship anthem that anchors its message in the unparalleled sovereignty and redemptive power of Jesus Christ. The song's essence lies in its declarative affirmation of truths central to Christian faith, moving from rhetorical questions that probe the extent of divine capability to resolute statements of God's unique ability. It serves as a stirring reminder that many things are impossible for humanity, yet entirely within the scope of God's grace and power, exclusively through Jesus.
The song immediately establishes its theological foundation by asking, "Can He breathe into the dust? Can He make sons out of us?" This powerful opening directly references the creation account in Genesis 2:7, where God breathes life into humanity formed from the dust of the earth, symbolizing His ultimate authority over life itself. More than just physical creation, the question "Can He make sons out of us?" points to a deeper spiritual transformation, echoing John 1:12, which states that to all who received Him, Jesus gave the right to become children of God. It highlights the profound spiritual adoption and new identity found in Christ, a theme further emphasized in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:5-7, where believers are adopted as heirs and cry out "Abba, Father." The repeated assertion that "Life is in His mighty hands" underscores God's absolute control and provision, a truth found throughout Scripture, from Job 12:10 proclaiming that in God's hand is the life of every creature, to Psalm 104:29-30 illustrating His power to give and take away breath, renewing the face of the earth.
The central declaration of the song, "He can do it, yes, He can," acts as a confident refrain, leading directly into the core theological statement: "No one else can save us, redeem us, create a new life in us, Only Jesus can." This is the song's unwavering thesis, affirming the exclusivity of Christ as the sole path to salvation, a cornerstone of Christian belief articulated in Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." To "redeem us" speaks to the costly act of Christ's sacrifice, paying the price for sin and setting us free, as detailed in Ephesians 1:7, where we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. The concept of "create a new life in us" directly refers to the spiritual rebirth and transformation promised in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This echoes Ezekiel 36:26, where God promises to give a new heart and put a new spirit within His people.
Further exploring the boundless nature of divine love, the song asks, "Can He love His enemies? Can He make them family?" This speaks to the radical, transformative love of God, which extends even to those who oppose Him. Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This love is not merely sentimental but actively reconciliatory, turning adversaries into heirs and members of His divine household, as Ephesians 2:19 confirms: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household." The song then delves into Christ’s miraculous power and its spiritual implications, asking, "Can He heal the leper's limb? Can He cleanse us from within?" The healing of lepers was a prominent demonstration of Jesus’s power during His earthly ministry, as seen in Matthew 8:2-4, symbolizing His ability to restore what is broken and defiled. This physical healing serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual cleansing and purification from sin, a deep inner work that only God can perform, as Psalm 51:10 requests: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
The lyrical journey culminates with questions about spiritual sustenance and eternal hope: "Can we drink from living streams? Can we ever be redeemed?" These refer to the spiritual life and unending provision offered by Jesus, who in John 4:10-14 and John 7:37-38 offers living water to those who thirst, promising that it will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The ultimate answer to whether we can "ever be redeemed" is a resounding "Surely, we have been redeemed," a confident declaration of the finished work of Christ. This confident affirmation reflects the believer's assurance in Colossians 1:13-14 that God "has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." "Only Jesus Can" is more than a song; it's a catechism in melodic form, guiding the worshiper through foundational truths of faith, building confidence in God's unique power to create, transform, heal, and ultimately redeem, all through His Son, Jesus Christ. It’s an uplifting reminder that in a world full of limitations, Jesus stands as the limitless answer to humanity's deepest needs.