Congratulations to Bob Dylan, surprise winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature. He won “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” according to the Swedish Academy.
Bob Dylan, a music legend, was a Jew but accepted Jesus Christ as his Messiah in 1979. He made a well-publicized conversion to Christianity, went though a discipleship course at a Southern California Calvary Chapel, and produced three strongly Christian albums : Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love, all having overtly Christian lyrics.
Besides the Christian albums, the music legend’s Christian Faith was reflected once though a handwritten letter, reported by Charismanews. The singer-songwriter’s letter is filled with references to Christianity. This is a letter written around April 1980 to a friend named “Steve.”
The letter reads, written by Bob to “Steve”, “We are up in Toronto singing and playing for about 3,000 people a night in a downtown theater-- the Spirit of the Lord is calling people here in their beautiful and clean city, but they are more interested in lining up for Apocalypse Now than to be baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Dylan is probably referring to the film, Apocalypse Now, which hit theaters in 1979. The artist played in Toronto in 1980.
The letter went on reads, “Wanna thank you for that Bible as it is helpful in discovering a few phrases from and shedding more light on what the King James Version reads -- God will lift up your heart as you begin to realize that ‘He thru Christ has reconsiled (sic) man unto Himself’ (II Corinthians).”
“You will be strong in the Lord and seeing that looks are deceiving, you will work miracles that way-- He has called you to be a saint and your responsibility is to him and him alone,” he continues. “Be praying and not looking back no more -- press on toward what is ahead -- I send love to you and will pray for strength and more strength for ya(sic).”
This letter was concluded with a bold profession of faith: “Always in the name of Jesus Christ Son of God, Manisfest in the flesh.”
However, Bob Dylan was rumored to have “renounced ” his faith when a fourth Christian album failed to materialize in 1983. Another report by Godreports in 2012 read that the man who led Bob Dylan to Christ says legendary singer is still waking with Jesus.
The man who’s supporting Dylan was Brooklyn-born Messianic Jew Al Kasha, 75, the double Oscar winning songwriter who in 1978 prayed with Bob Dylan at a Bible study in his Beverly Hills home to receive Christ. Kasha believes that Dylan never lost his faith despite many rumors to the contrary.
“I have known Dylan since 1960 when I was at Columbia as their youngest-ever record producer and they were going to drop him from the label as his first CD only sold 7,000 copies.” Kasha told Dylan’s converse experience and their Bible studies. And he firmly confess that Bob Dylan is a believer, and he has bring people to the Lord.
Check below to read two songs’ lyrics by Dylan
Lone Pilgrim
I came to the place where the lone pilgrim lay,
And patiently stood by his tomb,
When in a low whisper I heard something say:
How sweetly I sleep here alone.
The tempest may howl and the loud thunder roar
And gathering storms may arise,
But calm is my feeling, at rest is my soul,
The tears are all wiped from my eyes.
The call of my master compelled me from home,
No kindred or relative nigh.
I met the contagion and sank to the tomb,
My soul flew to mansions on high.
Go tell my companion and children most dear
To weep not for me now I'm gone.
The same hand that led me through seas most severe
Has kindly assisted me home.
I Shall be Released
They say evrything can be replaced,
Yet every distance is not near.
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here.
I see my light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day how,
I shall be released.
They say every man needs protection,
They say every man must fall.
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall.
I see my light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day how,
I shall be released.
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,
Is a man who swears he's not to blame.
All day long I hear him shout so loud,
Crying out that he was framed.
I see my light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day how,
I shall be released.
