Millions have been moved by the powerful anthem, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” resonating across radio waves, streaming platforms, and within the walls of countless churches. This impactful “Thank You Jesus Song,” penned by Grammy-nominated vocalist and songwriter Charity Gayle and her husband Ryan Kennedy alongside friends, holds a depth of theological richness that speaks to the heart of Christian faith. In an interview before their appearance at the Noi Festival in Naples, Italy with Franklin Graham, Charity and Ryan shared the deeply personal story behind this beloved worship song and the profound meaning it carries.
The Genesis of Gratitude: A Cabin Retreat in Texas
The seeds of “Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” a deeply moving “thank you jesus song”, were sown during a 2019 writing retreat in Willis, Texas. Charity, Ryan, and their friends David Gentiles, Bryan McCleery, and Steven Musso, all from diverse denominational backgrounds, gathered with a shared purpose: to craft a song centered on thankfulness. Remarkably, despite their varied backgrounds, they found common ground in the unifying power of Jesus’ sacrifice. As Charity explained, “What’s amazing is all of us are from different denominational backgrounds. And as we were talking about what each person was thankful for, the No. 1 thing that we could all come together on was the blood of Jesus.” This shared gratitude for the core tenet of their faith became the bedrock for their collaborative creation.
Scriptural Foundation: Building on Timeless Truths
The songwriting process for this powerful “thank you jesus song” was deeply rooted in scripture. Inspired by the hymn, “Glory to His Name,” particularly the line “there to my heart was the blood applied,” the group sought to create a song that was not only emotionally resonant but also theologically sound. Ryan emphasized the importance of prayer and a clear “North Star” in their writing process, stating, “We definitely start with prayer. … you have a North Star because when you’re writing for that long, you can kind of get off on rabbit trails pretty easily. So having that North Star, knowing that we wanted to sing about being thankful for the blood, we went through the Scriptures.” This commitment to “scriptural accuracy” ensured that the lyrics of their “thank you jesus song” would be grounded in biblical truth and resonate with believers across denominations.
The Power of “Applied” Blood: Repentance and Personal Relationship
A key element of “Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” a truly impactful “thank you jesus song,” is its emphasis on the “blood applied.” This specific phrasing was intentional, highlighting the necessity of personal repentance and relationship with Jesus for the redemptive power of His sacrifice to be realized. Charity elaborated on this point, drawing a powerful analogy to the Passover: “I believe that repentance is a huge part of that. … when we repent and enter into relationship with the Lord and are saved, that gift of the blood being applied to us is a really important ingredient. I love the passages about the Passover. Anybody who had the lamb’s blood on the doorpost that dark night—whoever was behind that door where the blood was applied—they were saved.” This imagery underscores the transformative power of the blood of Jesus when personally received and applied to one’s life, a central theme in this “thank you jesus song”.
A Song for the Church: Testimony and Transformation
“Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” this widely sung “thank you jesus song,” is more than just a beautiful melody; it is a powerful declaration of faith and a collective testimony of redemption. Ryan eloquently described the unique perspective of believers in singing about the blood of Jesus: “We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, which is the testimony that we have been made new creatures in Christ Jesus. And it’s a song that only we can sing. The angels can’t sing it. They look on it and they say, ‘How is this even possible, this glorious thing that has happened, that God has ransomed His people back to Himself?'” The song serves as a reminder of the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice, breaking chains of bondage and ushering believers from darkness into light, themes powerfully expressed in this “thank you jesus song”. Charity shared the profound impact of witnessing congregations sing their creation: “It’s incredible. It’s such an honor and a beautiful thing to experience something that the Lord birthed in our hearts, to be sung on the voice and the lips of the church, and also to see people who may have just met the Lord singing it for the very first time. There’s nothing like it.”
The Enduring Impact of “Thank You Jesus Song”
“Thank You Jesus for the Blood” stands as a testament to the power of collaborative worship and the enduring relevance of the gospel message. This poignant “thank you jesus song” continues to touch hearts and draw people closer to God through its biblically rich lyrics and soul-stirring melody. Its widespread adoption in churches globally speaks volumes about its ability to articulate the profound gratitude believers feel for the sacrifice of Jesus and the redemptive power of His blood. The song’s legacy is firmly rooted in its ability to unite Christians in a shared expression of thankfulness for the cornerstone of their faith.
Thank You Jesus for the Blood
Written by Charity Gayle, Ryan Kennedy, Steven Musso, David Gentiles, Bryan McCleery
I was a wretch, I remember who I was
I was lost, I was blind, I was running outof time.
Sin separated, the breach was far too wide
But from the far side of the chasm, You had me in Your sight
So You made a way, across the great divide
Left behind, Heaven’s throne, to build it here inside
There at the cross You paid the debt I owed
Broke my chains, freed my soul and for the first time I had Hope
CHORUS
Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied
Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
You took my place, laid inside my tomb of sin
You were buried for three days but then You walked right out again
Now death has no sting and life has no end
For I have been transformed by the blood of the Lamb
BRIDGE
There is nothing stronger
Than the wonder working power of the blood, the blood
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father
Through the blood
There is nothing stronger
Oh the wonder working power of the blood, the blood
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father
Through the Blood
The Blood
Lyrics printed with permission from Charity Gayle Music Publishing.
Photo: Rebekah Petrino / ©2024 BGEA
