Bruno Mars and Jesus

On any given day, it is extremely difficult to turn the radio onto a popular music channel and not be bombarded with messages about sex, drugs, alcohol and everything in between. It’s easy to get sucked into the catchy rhythms and beats, only to realize that those are the songs with the worst lyrics. 

I have recently begun contemplating ways of connecting pop music to Jesus for today’s teenagers. Most teenagers' first instinct when getting in the car with their friends is not to pop in a Chris Tomlin CD. They want to listen to the popular music that their friends are listening to. Even Christian teenagers. Music has always been a huge part of life and culture, but unfortunately now most of the popular songs are complete trash. 

When listening to the radio, I started trying to find glimpses of Jesus in the songs. This was quite the difficult task, and it wasn’t until I heard Bruno Mars' “Grenade” that I finally heard something that could possibly be connected with Jesus. Here are some of the lyrics:

Gave you all I had

And you tossed it in the trash

You tossed it in the trash, you did

To give me all your love is all I ever asked,

Cause what you don’t understand is

I’d catch a grenade for ya

Throw my hand on a blade for ya

I’d jump in front of a train for ya

You know I’d do anything for ya

Oh, oh

I would go through all this pain,

Take a bullet straight through my brain,

Yes, I would die for ya baby;

But you won’t do the same.

The love described in this song, is what most teenage girls would dream of receiving from a guy. Someone who loves them so much they would be willing to die for them. Sound familiar? What these girls (and guys) don’t realize is that there is Someone who has already done that. Someone who, like the horrific scenes expressed in this song, went through an unimaginable amount of pain and finally death, because He loved you and me so incredibly much it was worth it to Him. “And being found in appearance as a man, [Jesus] humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8

In response to the last line “But you won’t do the same,” some girls may be aghast that any woman would not return that intense love from a man who would be willing to give his life for the sake of hers. But don’t we do that everyday to Jesus? Non-Christians and Christians alike do this by constantly choosing the desires of the flesh instead of being willing to give up those shallow and wasteful things for the abundant life Jesus promises. For more information see Galatians 5.

In the second verse, Bruno Mars talks about going through even more pain only to realize the girl never loved him the way she claimed. To which he replies, “I’d still catch a grenade for you...” Can you imagine the love someone has for another, where even if that love is not reciprocated, that person would still die for the one he or she loves? The normal reaction would probably be resentment, bitterness, anger or hatred. But no, Bruno Mars still states that he would willingly catch a grenade for the woman he loves no matter if that love is reciprocated or not. Sounds familiar once more doesn’t it? Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus didn’t wait for us to love him back before He died. While we still didn’t love him, like the woman in the song, He willingly gave his life for us. 

I know it’s a bit of a stretch to think of comparing Bruno Mars to Jesus. But maybe in a world full of songs about one night stands, getting drunk, and equating the “teenage dream” to wearing skin tight jeans and “going all the way” with your boyfriend, Bruno Mars gives us a little gem that can be used to metaphorically illustrate the love of Jesus. As long as we remember the many differences between the two. One of which being that Bruno Mars simply sings about the prospect of giving his life for the one he loves, Jesus actually did it.

Why?

Why do I want to help reach high school students?
 
This is why...

Do you want to help?

I remember...

When I think of heading back to high school to work with students, I’m reminded of the memories and experiences I had during those years. I remember the first day of high school, knowing my big brother was there to look out for me made the day much less scary. I remember the feeling of pride after scoring a goal during a field hockey game. I remember my heart rate elevating as I smiled from the top of a cheerleading stunt, praying that the girls holding me in the air would remember to catch me after letting go. I remember laughter and friends and acting out Hamlet during english class. I remember the boy my best friend and I both had a crush on all throughout high school and the silly way we would talk about him to each other. I remember the fashion and the hairstyles, and the exact table my friends and I sat at during lunch senior year. I remember thinking high school was everything, and college kids were “SO old!” I remember the heartbreak of a crush not reciprocated, or the awkward feeling of being the one who wasn’t interested. 
  
I remember the day I found out my parents were getting a divorce. I remember feeling like my world was crashing around me and there was nothing I could do about it. I remember my senior year when my best friend went to the hospital with me to visit my dying grandfather. Sitting in the parking lot at school afterwards realizing that could very well be the last time I saw him alive. I remember when that became true. I remember the feeling that no one understood what I was going through and anger that everyone else’s lives were going on like nothing was wrong, like they didn’t feel the incredible pain and agony over the fact that my beloved grandfather had gone from this world. I remember praying fervently that he was with Jesus, and that I’d see him again one day. I remember crying to Jesus that He was going to have to get me through that time because I didn’t know how my life could go on. I remember my last day of high school, realizing that it was finally over, torn between excitement for the adventures of college, and the fear of everything I’d ever known suddenly coming to an end. 

I loved high school. There were many difficult and hard days, but all in all I loved it. I had amazing friends, encouraging teachers and a God that was always there for me. I lived through some tough days, but those amazing friends were there to give me a shoulder to lean on. Those encouraging teachers were there to guide me through and point me to the Lord. And my God was there to tell me He understood that it was difficult, but promised I would never face a single day alone. 

As I think of heading back to high school with Student Venture, my desire more than anything is that the students I serve would encounter the God I serve. And in turn experience a Love like no other. That their days in high school would be filled with fun, friends and laughter, and maybe even Hamlet, but more importantly a personal, true relationship with a Savior who loves them more than they could ever know.  A Savior who covers all their fears, hurts, loneliness, insecurities, mess-ups, failed tests, and bad days with His own blood, shed on the cross for their sins, so that they can know Him personally. A Savior who cares about their day, accepts them just the way they are, and wants to be a part of their lives.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

John 3:16

With my best friends at Senior Prom.