Jesus Blood Never Failed Me

 

A Forgotten Album

In 1993, a surprise album burst onto the classical music scene. The Gavin Bryars Ensemble released an album called Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet. I was 13 years old when I encountered this gem. I was part of the Columbia Classical Record Club. These were programs that would send you 10 CDs for a penny, and then you were locked into buying a few CDs every month for the next year. It was a great deal when it was hard to get exposure to high-quality recordings of classical music. As I was picking the first 10 CDs, this title jumped out at me.

I received the CD and popped it into the stereo. It started off so quietly that I could barely make it out. Slowly, the track of "The Tramp" rises to the listener's ear. It is a rough recording of a very old man, without teeth, repeating the simple lines:

"Jesus' blood never failed me yet,
Never failed me yet,
Jesus' blood never failed me yet.
This one thing I know,
For He loves me so.
Jesus' blood never failed me yet..."

It is a circular tune, constantly bringing him back to the beginning. The whole album consists of various orchestral accompaniments to that simple refrain being repeated. Truthfully, I didn't get it when I first heard it. Modern music was a mystery to my 13-year-old mind. But I never forgot it. Years later, a Christian band would make their own cover of the tune, which was lovely and a bit more accessible to the listener. It came to mind today, and I put the old album on again and listened to the entire thing.

The Tramp's Testimony

The first thing that struck me was the singer. Called "the tramp," the listener is left to assume that this is a recording of a homeless old man. Bereft of a place, of a steady diet, of proper clothing. The mind's eye can see him rocking on a park bench or alongside the street, repeating this refrain while people walk by trying not to make eye contact.

It is a powerful picture. How could a man with nothing so simply and honestly sing these words? I have seen people lose faith because of a harsh word spoken to them, loss of a job, or marriage difficulties. Yet, this tramp has been failed by everything, but he knows that Jesus' blood—His sacrifice on the cross for our sins—is the one thing that has never, and will never, fail him.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

Heaven's Accompaniment

But the magic of this album doesn't end there. As this simple refrain is repeated over and over again, a gentle orchestral backing joins in. Swelling and beautiful strings, percussion, and horns come through. It is as if heaven itself is lifting up the beautiful message of the tramp and providing the ornamentation that no one else could hear. It ordains the message and stirs the heart with hopeful faith.

Tom Waits Joins In

Approaching the last two tracks, a new voice enters in. Rough, scratchy, and soulful, it sounds familiar but unexpected. The new singer brings in quiet harmonies before coming in to join the tramp in the melody. The new singer is Tom Waits.

Tom Waits is a tremendous musician, but not one known for a godly life, nor any kind of outspoken faith. Much of the interview footage that you can find of Tom Waits is him so bombed out of his mind on alcohol and drugs that he is almost unintelligible. It is profoundly moving to hear that raw voice, and the life that it represents, repeating with such earnest passion, "This one thing I know... for He loves me so."

The One Thing That Never Fails

Jesus' blood will never fail. Not me, not you, not anyone who chooses to accept His gift of salvation by grace through faith.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Everything else in life will fail. Your health, wealth, the people around you. If I live long enough, my sight will fail, my digestive tract will fail, even my mind will soon fail and fall apart. But Jesus' blood will never fail me.

It has never failed me yet.