86. Rock Goes The Gospel - The Beatles - "Let It Be"

When you find yourself in times of trouble, mother Mary might not always come to you, but the immortal words of Paul McCartney will. While many believe that the 'Mary' the former Beatle is referring to in the song is the virgin mother of Christ, the Sir Paul revealed to author Barry Miles for the book, ‘Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now’ that the woman in question was actually his own departed mother -- whose name was Mary -- who gave him his own bit of inspiration. “I had a dream I saw my mum, who'd been dead ten years or so,” McCartney recalled. “In the dream she said, 'It'll be alright.' I'm not sure if she used the words 'Let it be' but that was the gist of her advice.”

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

And when all the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be

For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Yeah, let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

Since "Let It Be" was The Beatles last album, it made an appropriate statement about leaving problems behind and moving on in life. The album was supposed to convey an entirely different message. It was going to be called "Get Back," and they were going to record it in front of an audience on live TV, with another TV special showing them practising the songs in the studio. It was going to be The Beatles getting back to their roots and playing unadorned live music instead of struggling in the studio like they did for The White Album. When they started putting the album together, it became clear the project wouldn't work and George Harrison left the sessions. When he returned, they abandoned the live idea and decided to use the TV footage as their last movie. While the movie was being edited, The Beatles recorded and released Abbey Road, then broke up. Eventually, Phil Spector was given the tapes and asked to produce the album, which was released months after The Beatles broke up. By then, it was clear "Let It Be" would be a better name than "Get Back."

It's not an easy thing to leave your problems behind. Where do you get the strength to do so? How do you let things be, how do you leave things behind that have been precious to you and move on. Life never cam with a disclosure that said it was going to be easy. We do though take comfort and have a high view of those who have achieved this. In the book of Hebrews we find encouragement and strength to do the things that we find almost impossible to accomplish. In these three verses of Hebrews we catch the writer outlining the ministry of Jesus as a great high priest. "passed through the heavens" is a link with the tabernacle and temple symbolism. In the same way that the high priest passes through the holy place to enter the holy of holies. The writer of Hebrews presents Jesus as passing through and into the divine presence of God himself, where he takes his place. The writer of Hebrews goes on and explains that Jesus is able to sympathise with our weaknesses. The writer does not use clumsy language as it might appear, this language is due to interpretation from the original. The train of thought is this - Jesus can and will help us in times of need, by his grace (Not because of our status, position or power) he helps us because he wills to do so. He has endured the same temptation and knows what it is like. He made it....He did not sin.... He did not give up. The writer goes on more "Let us then with confidence" Confidence in what? In the Grace of Christ! In the power and ability of God! In the love and compassion of God. We can have confidence, boldness, determination that we will be heard.... that we will receive.... that we will obtain exactly what we need, when we need it. the writer of Hebrews is convinced of this fact.

It's not mother Mary that gives you what you need when you need it. I say this for two reasons. Firstly Paul McCartney admitted that is was not the virgin Mary that he was on about in the song, but his own mother and Paul McCartney's mother cannot provide us with anything. Secondly according to Acts of the apostles there is no other name under heaven in which grace and salvation can be found. Only Jesus can help us leave things behind. Only Jesus can help us in our own times of need.