I’ve been a huge fan of Bebo Norman for the past decade as he has written and sung some of my favorite songs including “The Hammer Holds”, “A Page Is Turned”, “Tip Of My Heart”, “Great Light Of The World”, “Nothing Without You” and “I Will Lift My Eyes.” He took it up a notch with his self-titled album, which included the standout songs “Britney”, “Pull Me Out” and the Dove Award-winning song “The Only Hope.” He’s a truth-telling folk music style singer-songwriter like Rich Mullins, Derek Webb and Todd Agnew.

On the heels of his 2010 Dove Award, Norman finished his seventh studio project--BEC Recordings’ Ocean. For Ocean, Bebo once again teamed up with award-winning producer Jason Ingram in the studio for production as well as co-writing. On the last four records, Norman and Ingram have established a mutual respect working together creatively to create a sonic landscape listeners love.

After repeated listens, I rated Ocean as the best overall album by Bebo Norman and my top overall album of 2010. I had the great opportunity to speak with Bebo about his recent hit song “I Hope You See Jesus,” which he co-wrote with Laura Story.

Please describe the background message behind the song "I Hope You See Jesus.”

I had been writing this song for a while. I had ideas for the song, but it wasn’t quite finished. One day, Laura Story and I sat down to write together. We’d known each other a long time, and when I brought her my unfinished song, within about 10 minutes she helped me finish it. I was very thankful for that opportunity. I think the struggle for me many times as a believer is that I recognize my own weaknesses, and I write about those things. Sometimes, those things get the best of me on an emotional level--in the sense that I think my weaknesses will overshadow any work that God may be doing in my life. In doing that, there’s a certain arrogance thinking that in our weaknesses we are thwarting whatever God’s doing in our lives to communicate truth.

Which Bible verses did you and Laura use to write the song?

The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-12: “Now when He saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’”

What's the main message of the song to you personally and for listeners?

The interesting thing to me, looking at my own life and the history of the Church, is that through our weaknesses, Christ is made not only relevant, but more powerful. The completed work of Jesus is made more relevant and more powerful. I think that’s the heart of this song, which is something that I pray for all of the time. I pray that in my life--not only for the people who see me on stage, but more so for the people who see me day to day--that in light of my weaknesses, Christ would remain center. My weakness and struggle only points out our need for Christ’s grace and redemption. The song progresses from my personal life to the Church.

We as individual believers might see the Body of Christ in ways that alarm us—and we’re looking at ourselves as members of that Body, we need to be careful. Sometimes in our efforts to point out what’s wrong with the Church, we become those fingers that point out blame. It was important in this song to acknowledge the reality of our own meekness to allow ourselves credibility as Christians. The reality of the perception of the Church is that we point our fingers at the world’s wickedness rather than engaging and relating to non-believers.

The only common ground we have is our weakness. Everyone can admit struggles if they are honest. Too often the Church forgets to point that out. We need to say to people that you are where we are, not you are where we were. Instead of meekness, that comes across as arrogance. That’s the opposite of how Jesus spoke the Gospel with His life. Jesus always spoke and acted as a servant.

Lyrics:
Instead of fear, instead of blinded eyes
Instead of shame, instead of all my lies
Instead of an orphan without a name
I hope you see Jesus

Instead of anger, instead of unbelief
Instead of weakness in the heart of me
Instead of a wounded soul that sometimes loses faith
I hope you see Jesus

I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in my place
Bearing all my shame
I hope you see Jesus

Instead of voices in a faceless crowd
Instead of prophets crying out from behind a shroud
Instead of fingers pointing out the blame
I hope you see Jesus

I hope you see love, I hope you see love, I hope you see love

Oh my God, when You look on us
A broken people who have turned from love
Instead of the words we throw and the wars we wage
I hope You forgive us
I hope You see Jesus

I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in our place
Bearing all our shame
I hope you see Jesus

Matthew Henry’s commentary: “The pure in heart are happy: Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God. This is the most comprehensive of all the beatitudes; here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. Here is the most comprehensive character of the blessed: they are pure in heart. Note, True religion consists in heart-purity. Those who are inwardly pure, show themselves to be under the power of pure and undefiled religion. True Christianity lies in the heart, in the purity of heart; the washing of that from wickedness. We must lift up to God, not only clean hands, but a pure heart. The heart must be pure, in opposition to mixture—an honest heart that aims well; and pure, in opposition to pollution and defilement; as wine unmixed, as water un-muddied. The heart must be kept pure from fleshly lusts, all unchaste thoughts and desires; and from worldly lusts; covetousness is called filthy lucre; from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, all that which come out of the heart, and defiles the man. The heart must be purified by faith, and entire for God; must be presented and preserved a chaste virgin to Christ. Create in me such a clean heart, O God!”

Bebo’s album Ocean closes as strong as it starts with the worshipful “I Hope You See Jesus,” which was co-written with Laura Story (“Blessings” and “Indescribable”). The song is an extraordinarily eloquent musical presentation of the Gospel. What’s so amazing about this album is that I connect to every song personally.

What I’ve come to realize is that Bebo’s story is also my story, and anyone struggling with the balance of life and faith can truly relate to the incredible messages of these songs. They only grow deeper with each listen. Thanks so much, Bebo, for writing and singing some of the deepest and most meaningful songs I’ve ever heard.

As this song so poignantly challenges listeners: “Oh my God, when You look on us, A broken people who have turned from love, Instead of the words we throw and the wars we wage, I hope You forgive us, I hope You see Jesus…” I lose it when Bebo sings those incredible words, and one of my prayers for the Kingdom of God is that when God and non-believers see us as Christians, that we reflect Jesus. Amen.