"Jesus Christ"?

Question

All of you should listen to "Jesus Christ" by Brand New. It's a very nice song and it's one of the reasons why I am reading the bible right now because I don't know anything about why he talks about the gold chariot or why he says "at the gates does thomas ask to see my hands?" Please take a listen and please explain to me some of the bible based lyrics. :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa_1hVJHccU

Answer 1

i think when they talk about the gold chariot, they're referencing back to Elijah. Elijah never died. He was walking one day with his protege Elisha and a chariot came down from heaven and came and got Elijah and carried him off to heaven. Can you imagine what a trip that would be? Man. I think because the verse before says he's not scared to die anymore he's wondering either about the rapture, when Christ's followers will not see death either, but be caught up with Him in the sky. that can also refer to him floating up to the ceiling.
i'm not sure about thomas asking to see his hands. My interpretation of it would have to be because Thomas didn't believe the other disciples that Jesus was alive. and he said he would only believe if he put his finger in Jesus' wounded hands and side. anyway, that's what I was thinking.

Answer 2

Sorry, I can't understand the lyrics. My speakers aren't that good.

I don't know why he would talk about gold chariots and gates. It wouldn't be the first time a musician took a path with lyrics that were somehow based in something other than what's stated in the Bible. Thomas was just one of us. He had a reputation for doubting. That's where the analogy of a "doubting Thomas' comes from if you've ever heard it. And the only place I remember seeing 'gold chariot' brought up was in 1 Kings. It really has little or nothing to do with believing in Christ, or Christianity for that matter. It was a part of the Old Testament where God takes Elijah out of the world.

Just be careful. People take all kinds of crazy turns in music and tradition, and movies that aren't based upon anything except drama and sensationalism.

EDITED: for grammar.

2 Kings 2:11
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

so . . . fire, not gold. Hmmm.

Answer 3

Glad to hear that you are checking it out for yourself, and reading what the bible has to say. Responder, "dewcoons", already elaborated on the section about Thomas refusing to believe that Christ had risen unless he saw the nail-marks in His hands. What the song is doing is making a "poetic twist" on that section of scripture. The writer delves into the pain and suffering of human existence...and life/death.

Just before the line you asked about he writes: "Cause my pride is too sly to hold back all my dark". This is about the desire of wanting to "do what is right" but continually failing because we are sinful, error-prone, humans. When he asks, "at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands", I take it to mean that Thomas is asking for proof from him too. That is, are you really what you claim to be? Again, this is just a poetic play on words (and a rather good one) designed to make people think.

The "gold chariot" is a reference to the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Basically, his reference is that God recognized Elijah as a "man of God" in very clear terms. His hope for the "gold chariot" is that he too could be recognized as such...

That would be my take on it...!

Answer 4

The song is about understanding why Jesus gave his life for mankind. He said "we all got wood and nails" meaning, I think, that people would crucify Jesus all over again if were to come to earth as a man again.

"I know you're coming for the people like me
But we all got wood and nails
We turn, turn out hate in factories
We all got wood and nails
We turn, turn out hate in factories
We all got wood and nails
And we sleep inside of this machine"

The singer wants to know if Thomas, who doubted Jesus, will be there to ask if he has holes in his hands. (Thomas wanted to see the holes in Jesus's hands before he would believe it was Jesus when he appeared after his resurrection.)

Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.
So maybe the singer feels a chariot of gold would mean going to heaven.

Its ironic though because he thinks Jesus had this physical beauty when the bible said he had no beauty that we would desire him.

Jesus was/is/will be the most hated upon this earth.

It is a song of a lost soul crying out for help and answers, struggling to believe in Jesus.

Answer 5

Not familiar with the song, and being deaf listening would probably not do me much good...

But the reference you listed to Thomas asking to see his hands refers to an event recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 20. One of the disciples, Thomas, was not presence when Jesus made his first appearance after the resurrection. When told about it, he refused to believe, saying that he would have to see the holes in Jesus hands (from the nails of the cross) and put his hand into the spear wound in Jesus' side before he believe. So suddenly Jesus appeared, held out his hands, and offered to let him. Thomas fell before him saying "My Lord and My God".

Answer 6

I am so glad that you are investigating. I would just like to invite you to EMAIL me directly at [e-mail] if you have any questions/comments/concerns as you begin to read the Bible and discover your faith. I hope to hear from you!

Pretty good song by the way!

Answer 7

Thanks for telling me what to do, mom.