Son of Suffering Lesson and Chords | Matt Redman | Bethel | Worship Initiative

"Son of Suffering" is a song performed by Matt Redman, Bethel Music, the Worship Initiative and others. There are both light versions and full band versions of this song.

Musically, the song is in 4/4 time and you can play this in key of B, C, or Db, depending on the version you want to play. So, it's best to play it on guitar with a capo on the 4th, 5th, or 6th fret in G. Of course, you can adjust you capo position in case you need a higher or lower key that fits either a male or female vocal better.

The guitar lesson and play along above is in the key of B. 

Most any strum pattern in 4/4 should work with this song, however, I'll cover a unique strum pattern that will work especially well for the bridge of this song.

I'll also cover a finger picking patter that works with this song that can translate to flat picking as well. This is a great chance to stretch yourself into new areas if you want a challenge 

Finally, there is a signature lick in the chorus, that I'll show you how to play. As you progress through the lesson, you'll find easy ways to play it at first, and then more challenging ways to play it as we go.

Now, let's take a look at the lyrics of Son of Suffering:

Oh the perfect Son of God
In all His innocence
Walking in the dirt
With You and me

He knows what living is
He's acquainted with our grief
A Man of sorrows Son of suffering

Lyrically, this song begins with talking about who Jesus is as God. He was fully innocent and chose to enter in to the world, according to Philippians 2:6. 

However the cornerstone verse of this song is Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."

In His human experience, He also relates to our temptations and grief that we experience.

Let's look at the chorus:

Oh blood and tears
How can it be
There's a God who weeps
There's a God who bleeds

Oh praise the One
Who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of suffering

The chorus further explains God's relational characteristics expressed through weeping (John 11:35), and through bleeding. The chorus also turns to a responsive "Hallelujah" in praise.   

Some imagine You
Are distant and removed
But You chased us down
In merciful pursuit

To the sinner You were grace
And the broken You embraced
And in the end
The proof is in Your wounds
Yes, in the end
The proof is in Your wounds

The second verse turns back to man to address the common view of God, in that He is removed or too distant to care about our daily lives. However, Christ's demonstration of love on the cross also demonstrated His relational care for His sheep.

One verse that shows this is John 15:13, that "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." We are considered friends.  

Now, let's take a look at the Bridge lyrics:

Your cross my freedom
Your stripes my healing
All praise King Jesus
Glory to God in Heaven

Your blood still speaking
Your love still reaching
All praise King Jesus
Glory to God forever

The bridge highlights some parallels between the suffering of Jesus and the result for the believer. From the cross, is freedom, and from stripes are healing. It lands with a response of worship. This is a great song to strum, or pick on guitar, and I hope you challenge yourself with the lesson above.  

You can find this song on Apple Music.

For another worship song review, check out the Battle Belongs Chords tutorial and song story.