I Wonder How It Makes You Feel

I’m not trying to be overly dramatic but every now and then a song’s lyrics will become much more than some words being sung over music. Don’t get me wrong, there have been MANY excellent songwriters and there still are MANY excellent songwriters who really have important things to say. However, I’m talking about something more than that. Sometimes the lyrics to a song speak to me so deeply they almost become like a prayer. Petra’s Judas Kiss is one of those.

On the surface it is a really cool, medium tempo rocker that has a killer guitar riff. The song definitely has a heavy vibe to it. Greg X Volz’s vocals are soaring and there is a level of sincerity in the way he delivers the lyrics that make them really mean something. This is one of those songs that force me to stop and really think.

I wonder how it makes you feel when the prodigal won’t come home
I wonder how it makes you feel when he’d rather be on his own
I wonder what it’s like for you when a lamb has gone astray
I wonder what it’s like for you when your children disobey

It must be like another thorn struck in your brow
It must be like another close friend’s broken vow
It must be like another nail right through your wrist
It must be just like, just like Judas’ kiss

I wonder how it makes you feel when no one seeks your face
I wonder how it makes you feel when they give up in the race
I wonder what it’s like for you when they willingly disobey
I wonder what it’s like for you when they willingly walk away

lyrics by Bob Hartman

Petra weren’t always known for writing deep or heavy lyrics but this is definitely an exception. I do believe that Petra were consistent and the majority of their songs had a solid biblical foundation. There was the occasional “I am on the rock” and other “bumper sticker” anthems but Hartman (the primary lyricist) did a pretty good job with the words. This may be one of his finest (if not THE finest) moments in his storied career.

By simply restating those lyrics totally in the first person it becomes a prayer. I wonder how it makes You feel when I won’t seek Your face? I wonder how it makes You feel when I give up in the race? And the one that is the kicker…I wonder how it makes You feel when I willingly disobey?

When I think about how Jesus must have felt that night in the garden when one of his own came up to him and betrayed him with a sign of affection, well, I can’t help but wonder what he thinks when I betray him today with my words, thoughts, or actions. Let’s me honest. We all mess up from time to time. Sometimes we even know we’re messing up and we still do it. Does Jesus feel the thorns again? Does he feel the nails again? Are we any better than Judas? I wonder.

Grace and peace.