I needed a song to calm my new grandson. I chose “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan.

It’s no ordinary love song. There are phrases that speak of continuous and eternal presence. As a grandfather, I love little Jack. But I can’t be with him constantly. I’ll only be around at best a few more decades. This song promises a million years. Also, it promises things that have never been seen before. That is beyond my comprehension. . 

I think this love song is from God. Not only do the words sound like God is speaking; I believe Dylan received them from above. Where do poets receive their inspiration? Even the word, inspiration, indicates some infused light from the Spirit. In rare interviews, Dylan has given credit to God for some of his lyrics. This one has to be included. 

It begins with a cosmic, yet personal setting with a gentle voice speaking. 

When the rain is blowing in your face,
And the whole world is on your case. 
I could offer you a warm embrace 
To make you feel my love.

Only God can be with Jack every moment of his whole life. Only God can know all the challenges he will face. Only God can surround him with the care he will need. 

When evening shadows and the stars appear, 
And there is no one there to dry your tears. 
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love. 

Only the Creator who holds the stars and every shadow will be with Jack from everlasting to everlasting. Even his parents, who are with him most, will someday stop hovering. Amazingly, God loves him even more than they do. God is able, with a love far more abundant than any poet can imagine, to love Jack forever.  

I know you haven’t made your mind up yet. 
But I would never do you wrong. 
I’ve known it from the moment that we met. 
No doubt in my mind where you belong. 

God’s love is freeing, not coercive. It is patient, not pushy. As we hear in 2 Corinthians, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” God’s love is perfect. It will never cause harm. And it gives Jack a sense of belonging, should he accept it. 

I’d go hungry. I’d go black and blue.
I’d go crawling down the avenue. 
Oh, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do 
To make you feel my love.

I would give anything I have for Jack’s well being. But I don’t have much. God in Christ provides far more. Jesus even died on a cross to show him how much God loves him. 

The storms are raging on the rolling sea 
And on the highway of regret. 
The winds of change are blowing wild and free. 
You ain’t seen nothing like me yet. 

There will be real trouble in Jack’s life. Things will happen that are not supposed to happen. Everything will constantly change.  But God will be with him always, creating something new, even something nobody has ever seen before. 

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true. 
Nothing that I wouldn’t do. 
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love.

As Jack experiences God’s love, he will know true joy. Some of his dreams will be fulfilled by God’s grace. Wherever his travels take him, the guiding presence of the Spirit will be with him always. 

“Make You Feel My Love” has been covered by over 450 artists since its release in 1997. In fact, it was first released as a cover by Billy Joel, on his third Greatest Hits album. When Garth Brooks covered it, Dylan received a Grammy nomination for best country song. My favorite covers are by Adele. She even performs it with a church choir, where she is on the keyboard.

Families make commitments of faithfulness. They welcome friends. They add to their numbers through adoption or birth. Families do not exist to celebrate anniversaries or boast about grandchildren, though that is a lot of fun. The reason we have a family, any family, including a family of God, is to experience the love of God. As Ephesians puts it, “to know the love of Christ which is beyond knowledge.”