Bittersweet
Bobby Michaels Lyrics
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Luke 22:39, 46
The garden was a lonely place
As Jesus knelt in search of grace
Torn between the heart of God
And fears of man
Resigning to the truth at last
He could not fulfill what was His
Father′s plan
But what made the bitter sweet
Was knowing death was not defeat
He gave the very life we stood
To gain
He tasted bitter just one time
To quench the sins of all mankind
The bitter cup He drank was not in vain
For the sweetness of the victory still remains
I thought I'd given God control
And yet the storm raged in my soul
Feeling bitterness I could not understand
But then the Master let me see
The bitter cup He drank for me
Dying for the end of what my sin began
But what made the bitter sweet
Was knowing death was not defeat
He gave the very life we stood
To gain
He tasted bitter just one time
To quench the sins of all mankind
The bitter cup He drank was not in vain
For the sweetness of the victory still remains
He tasted bitter just one time
To quench the sins of all mankind
The bitter cup He drank was not in vain
For the sweetness of the victory still remains
The lyrics to Bobby Michaels's song Bittersweet are a reflection on the story of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane prior to his crucifixion. The opening lines describe the loneliness of the garden as Jesus prays to God, torn between the heart of God and the fears of man. The second verse shifts to reflect on the personal struggles of the singer, feeling bitterness they cannot understand. But the chorus brings the focus back to Jesus, reminding the listener that although he tasted bitter just once, he did so to quench the sins of all mankind. The bitter cup He drank was not in vain because the sweetness of the victory still remains.
The song draws on the story of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, emphasizing the idea that through Jesus's sacrifice, the bitterness of death and sin is transformed into the sweetness of victory and eternal life. The use of phrases like "bitter cup" and "quench the sins of all mankind" paint vivid pictures of the pain and suffering that Jesus took on for the sake of humanity. The idea that Jesus's death was not defeat, but rather an act of victory over sin and death is a central theme in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
The garden was a lonely place
As Jesus knelt in search of grace
As Jesus knelt in search of grace
He felt alone and was seeking divine intervention
Torn between the heart of God
And fears of man
And fears of man
He was conflicted about pleasing God and fearing human consequences
Resigning to the truth at last
That if the bitter cup should pass
That if the bitter cup should pass
He accepted the possibility of not fulfilling his Father's plan
He could not fulfill what was His
Father′s plan
Father′s plan
He realized that he might not be able to complete his mission according to his father's instructions
But what made the bitter sweet
Was knowing death was not defeat
Was knowing death was not defeat
Despite facing death and rejection, he knew that it was not a defeat
He gave the very life we stood
To gain
To gain
Jesus lived and died for our benefit
He tasted bitter just one time
To quench the sins of all mankind
To quench the sins of all mankind
He bore the burden of all human sins, their punishment and death by dying on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for us all
The bitter cup He drank was not in vain
For the sweetness of the victory still remains
For the sweetness of the victory still remains
Though Jesus tasted the bitterness of death, his resurrection brought us the sweet victory of eternal life
I thought I'd given God control
And yet the storm raged in my soul
And yet the storm raged in my soul
Even though I thought I had given my life to God, internal conflicts and doubts persisted
Feeling bitterness I could not understand
The bitter cup He drank for me
Dying for the end of what my sin began
Dying for the end of what my sin began
Jesus died to atone for the sins that I have committed and put an end to my cycle of guilt and death
Writer(s): Bret Michaels, Cliff Patrick Calabro
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.