Photo by Francesco De Tommaso
Highlands Worship is a church-run band filled with talented musicians, lyricists, and worship leaders. Much like Hillsong, Bethel Music, and Elevation Worship, they are run by a church organization. Highlands Worship hails from the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama.
Since 2012, they have released a respectable 23 albums.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Highlands-worship-jesus-you-alone-lyrics.
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.
1. What message does the song communicate?
It espouses many attributes and acts of Jesus, including:
- Ruler
- Almighty
- Compassionate
- Merciful
- Set apart
- Worthy of praise
- Creator
- Became man
- Sacrificed for our sins
- Resurrected
- Will come again
He is the most important relationship that we possess. In turn, we honor, worship, and glorify God.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it does.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1-5: Repurposes Psalm 24:8 and points it to Jesus, who is the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16), merciful, and compassionate (Exodus 33:19, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Luke 6:36, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:16, and 1 Peter 1:3). It also contains a reference to Casper the friendly ghost.
Line 6: Repeats line 3.
[Pre-Chorus]
Lines 1 and 2: There is no greater relationship than one spent with Jesus (Psalm 84:10 and Philippians 3:7-10).
[Chorus]
Lines 1-5: All creation praises Jesus (Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10-11), with Highlands Worship declaring Him as “Holy” (Mark 1:24, Luke 4:34, Acts 3:14, Acts 4:27-30, 1 John 2:20, Hebrews 7:26, and Revelation 4:8).
Side Note: Other iterations of Chorus repeat the same ideas shown in these first two lines using slightly different language, except that Jesus is worthy of praise (1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11).
[Verse 2]
Lines 1 and 2: Jesus had a hand in creating the universe (John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15-16).
Line 3: Repeats Verse 1, line 3.
Line 4: Jesus is recognized as part of the plural word “we” that made man in God’s image (Genesis 1:26) and breathed life into man (Genesis 2:7).
Line 5: That is, Jesus became mortal and walked upon us, His creation (John 1:1, John 1:14, Galatians 4:4, Philippians 2:5-8, and 1 Timothy 3:16).
Line 6: Repeats Verse 1, line 3.
[Verse 3]
Lines 1 and 2: Christ paid for our lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9), making forgiveness possible (Hebrews 9:22).
Line 3: Repeats Verse 1, line 3.
Line 4: References Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
Line 5: References the second coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15).
Lines 6 and 7: Repeats Verse 1, line 3.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Highlands Worship intermixes everyday and Christianese language to communicate their message. It explicitly names Jesus and many of His attributes, easing unbelievers to conclude Christianity. Outsiders should easily conclude that this song speaks of Christ’s properties, behavior, and our gratuitous response.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus through its list of Christ’s attributes and acts, alongside our worship responding to His lovingkindness.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Highlands Worship’s Jesus You Alone is awesome. It describes many of Jesus’ actions and attributes, including Creator, merciful, that He died and rose again, and will come back. We respond with worship, admitting that no relationship is more important than with Christ. This glorifies God. Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.
I highly recommend it for corporate worship.
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: Jesus You Alone (listen to the song)
Artist: Highlands Worship
Album: Jesus You Alone
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2019
Duration: 6:13
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Comments
Shane Autry
My husband and I take exception to the “Jesus you alone” after the credit as a creator believing “Jesus, triune” being more technically accurate. Thoughts?
Vince Wright
Shane,
Great question!
I see where you’re coming from, but couldn’t we do the same with John 17:3 and argue that the Father is the only true God and Jesus is not?
-Vince Wright
Shane Autry
I actually read the ,and Jesus to explicitly include the triune God as the only true God.
Lindsay
Verse 1, you say, “It also contains a reference to Casper the friendly ghost.” What’s that about?? Thanks!
Vince Wright
Lindsay,
Great question! It’s meant to be a running joke that pokes fun at “oohs” and “aahs” that is filler in music.
-Vince Wright
Randy Miller
When God created Adam, the Genesis quotes, “Let Us make man in our image…” Not Jesus, alone. Although Jesus is God, in that context, He is a part of the Holy Trinity; not alone. We believe that Jesus is God in Spirit. However, we see many occasions in the New Testament of Jesus referring to His Father in heaven. One example of this is when He taught His disciples to pray. “Our Father, Who art in heaven…..” Another example is at Jesus’ baptism when the voice of God was heard saying “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” Also, on the cross, when Jesus said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Finally, Jesus told His disciples to preach the Gospel and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Trinity is foundational in the scriptures written by inspiration of God. In my opinion, this song is a deception.
Dave Whitcroft
I don’t read the intent of this song being to exclude The Father and the Holy Spirit. I think the word alone is used to establish Jesus pre-eminence over everything in creation. In Acts we’re told there is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved. In the context of the listeners, this doesn’t contradict the Trinity. It clearly means that, faced with their usual choices of either false gods or obedience to the mosaic law, both gentiles and Judeans should instead turn to Jesus, the real source of hope.