On His Shoulders
Wilder Adkins Lyrics

The lyrics of Wilder Adkins's song On His Shoulders provide a beautiful and insightful description of the nature of Jesus Christ. The opening lines of the song introduce Jesus as the "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father," and Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace. These titles echo the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah 9:6-7 and highlight the divinity of Christ. The next line, "God with us," affirms Jesus' humanity and his presence in our lives as a living God who is always with us. The last line of this stanza, "the hope of glory," refers to the joy and expectation of eternal life that Jesus offers believers.

The second stanza of the song shifts the focus to Jesus' death and resurrection. The opening line of this stanza declares, "Sinner, rejoice!" and celebrates the healing and redemption that we can receive through Christ's sacrifice. The reference to "angels' voices" singing "Glory in the Highest" echoes the announcement of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:14, but also highlights the importance of his death and resurrection in bringing glory to God. The next few lines further emphasize the duality of Christ's nature, as the "Lamb of God" who was also the "Son of man" and "Eternal King." Finally, the stanza concludes with the idea that Jesus, the "Creator of galaxies," came down to earth to set us free.

The bridge of the song features the refrain, "Just a Child / Born in a manger / With the hope of the whole world / on His shoulders / Jesus / Save us." This section of the song emphasizes the humble beginnings of Christ as a baby in a manger, but also highlights the immense significance of his mission as the savior of the world. The idea that the hope of the entire world rests on Jesus' shoulders emphasizes his responsibility and the gravity of his sacrifice.