I know this song is about Jesus and King. I always wondered if it referred to others as well, but I get the impression it only covers these two wonderous people.
One man come, he to justify. - Jesus (Justification... Awesome!)
One man to overthrow. - King
The next verse has always left me somewhat confused. Looks like it refers to differen people in each line.
One man caught on a barbed wire fence.
One man he resists
One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss.
If we break it in two, though (similar to previous verse), it may apply to just Jesus and King.
King obviously resisted racism. But he was never literally "caught on a barbed wire fence." But a barbed wire fence divides two worlds. And it's a terrible divide, one you don't cross lightly or easily. But King didn't just cross it, he bridged it -- racism cuts both ways, and he knew it. So this image feels appropriate. In the name of love, he threw himself onto that fence, and endured everything pain and suffering to bridge the gap.
In terms of Christ, he was betrayed with a kiss. (I'm actually surprised people don't know this outright... it's a common colloquialism -- though we are entering a post-Christian era now, sadly.) But washed on an empty beach? Washed up, dead, on a beach? No. But he was "washed" by John the Baptist. Three gospels imply it's empty. The fourth says "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too." Doesn't sound too empty to me... Hmmm...
Anyway, I am still am not sure about the barbed wire fence, or the empty beach. And those are really the only lines in question in my mind. But this is the beauty and artistry of Bono's lyrics -- he doesn't hand us stuff on a silver platter, instead he challenges our ideas, our visions and our thoughts.
One man on a beach - Jesus stood alone the beach John 21:4 " but when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus"
One man on a beach - Jesus stood alone the beach John 21:4 " but when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus"
The barb wire is an interesting one, many different possibilities here. I lean towards the Bush of thorns, which is what the original barb wire was developed (thorn bush) . Eden did not have thorns, they were created by God after the original sin Genesis 3:18. And then Jesus refers to burning bush (thorn bush) that the dead are raised Luke 20:37.
Just a thought.
A great song, a gifted artist and a man who has received many gifts from God :-)
I know this song is about Jesus and King. I always wondered if it referred to others as well, but I get the impression it only covers these two wonderous people.
One man come, he to justify. - Jesus (Justification... Awesome!) One man to overthrow. - King
The next verse has always left me somewhat confused. Looks like it refers to differen people in each line.
One man caught on a barbed wire fence. One man he resists One man washed on an empty beach. One man betrayed with a kiss.
If we break it in two, though (similar to previous verse), it may apply to just Jesus and King.
King obviously resisted racism. But he was never literally "caught on a barbed wire fence." But a barbed wire fence divides two worlds. And it's a terrible divide, one you don't cross lightly or easily. But King didn't just cross it, he bridged it -- racism cuts both ways, and he knew it. So this image feels appropriate. In the name of love, he threw himself onto that fence, and endured everything pain and suffering to bridge the gap.
In terms of Christ, he was betrayed with a kiss. (I'm actually surprised people don't know this outright... it's a common colloquialism -- though we are entering a post-Christian era now, sadly.) But washed on an empty beach? Washed up, dead, on a beach? No. But he was "washed" by John the Baptist. Three gospels imply it's empty. The fourth says "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too." Doesn't sound too empty to me... Hmmm...
Anyway, I am still am not sure about the barbed wire fence, or the empty beach. And those are really the only lines in question in my mind. But this is the beauty and artistry of Bono's lyrics -- he doesn't hand us stuff on a silver platter, instead he challenges our ideas, our visions and our thoughts.
-Pie
@EatingPie
@EatingPie
@EatingPie
@EatingPie
Sorry hit submit to quickly.
Sorry hit submit to quickly.
One man on a beach - Jesus stood alone the beach John 21:4 " but when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus"
One man on a beach - Jesus stood alone the beach John 21:4 " but when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus"
The barb wire is an interesting one, many different possibilities here. I lean towards the Bush of thorns, which is what the original barb wire was developed (thorn bush) . Eden did not have thorns, they were created by God after the original sin Genesis 3:18. And then Jesus refers to burning bush (thorn bush) that the dead are raised Luke 20:37.
Just a thought.
A great song, a gifted artist and a man who has received many gifts from God :-)
Peace!