NRT Music artist SAPHIRE is a visionary creative who brings her dreams to life with boldness and unwavering purpose. She leads with both a strong vision and a deep commitment to slow, abiding rest. Her impact begins with genuine, authentic relationships, reflecting the heart of the Father by mourning with those who mourn and rejoicing with those who rejoice. She sees as Jesus sees and shares His heart, even at significant personal cost.
With a voice that influences culture, her passion is to reveal the true heart of the Lord through honest and genuine music. Since she was 13, SAPHIRE has spoken and sung in schools across Minnesota, openly sharing her personal story of mental health and suicide prevention.
"Here at the Table" offers a profoundly moving reflection on betrayal and the unexpected beauty of mercy. If you're a fan of singer/songwriters Mary-Clair, Hannah Kerr, and Leanna Crawford, you’ll enjoy SAPHIRE’s music. I spoke with the artist about her single, “Here at the Table.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I've experienced a lot of betrayal throughout my life, and the story of Jesus washing Judas’ feet has also impacted me because it’s so powerful. Jesus knew in advance that Judas would betray Him, yet He still chose to love him, wash his feet, and trust the best in him. That has always moved me deeply.
Reflecting on my life, we experienced betrayal in our first year of marriage, and I’ve felt compelled to start sharing more about it. As a Christian artist, it’s definitely scary to open up about these vulnerable feelings. The desire inside me to talk about it felt much stronger than the fear of others’ opinions.
I talked with my friend Wade when I was in Nashville, and it was a painful experience. It felt so sacred and came out very quickly. For this song, we drew inspiration from the decisive moment of Jesus sharing a final meal with Judas. The music speaks directly to the soul with a potent reminder: no matter what you've done—or what's been done to you—there's a place for you in the presence of grace.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Matthew 18:21-22: “The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."
Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Luke 6:35 (NIV): But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Highest because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
John 8:10-12(NKJV): “When Jesus had raised Himself and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.’”
John 8:36 (NIV): "So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
1 John 3:16 (NIV): “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 4:21 (NIV): “And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
What is the takeaway message?
"Here at the Table" invites the broken, the betrayed, and even the betrayer to come and be met by the love of Christ. The lyrics reflect pain and healing: "He washes feet/And sits and eats/With even Judas."
The song acts as a powerful reminder of redemption and inclusion. We finished this song the day after last year's election, and there was a lot of hatred. We realized this song means even more than just my story. We need to look inward at ourselves individually, since we’ve been both the betrayer and the betrayed. Jesus invites both of us to sit at the table with Him. Jesus welcomes us into true healing.
Lyrics How can you forgive When your heart’s been broken How can you see past All the tears you’ve held in How can you find trust When it seems there is none Where will you run?
Here at the table There is forgiveness All the betrayal fades Breaking bread with Jesus
Come all you broken See how he loves us He washes feet And sits and eats With even Judas Here at the table
There’s no judgment here You can come as you are Without shame or fear You are loved by the one Who gave it all up Just so you can belong So take your seat
He who died for enemies Made a way for you and me To look across and finally see That healing starts
Closing Thoughts
The core truth is that God has called us by name and given us our identities within His family. "Who the Son sets free is free indeed" is a scripture about freedom and identity. You are a child of God. That can never be challenged or taken away from you. Jesus loves us so much that He came down and took our punishment so we can be with Him forever.
Once our identity is rooted in Christ, encompassing all that Jesus has achieved and God's words about us, everything else becomes secondary, such as our careers. The gospel is not just the forgiveness of sins but a new way of life that overcomes sin's power.
In the Gospel of John 8:10-12, Jesus says to the woman caught in sin, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on no longer sin." Only by understanding the power of the forgiveness that Jesus gave us, as “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” can we also forgive those who trespass against us. SAPHIRE captures this in her lyrics: “Here at the table/There is forgiveness/All the betrayal fades/Breaking bread with Jesus.”
“Here at the Table” honestly reminds listeners of the power of forgiveness. This song and Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant illustrate God's desire for us to open our hearts and forgive one another. This is not enough; we must also seek the well-being of even those who offend us. The humbled sinner depends solely on God's free and abundant mercy through the ransom of Christ's death. Let us continually seek God's renewing grace to teach us to forgive others as we hope to be forgiven by Him.
As the hymn sings, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." The message behind “Here at the Table” is the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although we are all guilty and deserve judgment, our sinless Savior’s blood offers the chance to rewind to innocence, reborn, perfect as a child. This song is a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us as His followers. He is all we need.
Join in with SAPHIRE as she sings: He who died for enemies/Made a way for you and me/To look across and finally see/That healing starts.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a passionate enthusiast and dedicated collector of Christian music. He believes that the message of Christian music has helped him gain a deeper understanding of Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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