I think you may be reading too deeply into the song lyrics. It's unlikely that Jackson Brown was attempting to write a theologically accurate description of Christ, his life, and his teachings. I tend to believe that Brown, as a "heathen and a pagan", was writing about an epiphany of sorts. He seems to have been, in his own way, inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, who was an earthly "rebel" that challenged the norms of conventional thinking at the time (and today in many ways). Brown is not singing the song as a Christian, but a "heathen" who was nonetheless inspired to pay heed to the teaching and deeds of Christ, and acknowledge that those teachings and deeds are worth celebrating.
Posted in: "The Rebel Jesus" - Worst Christmas Song Ever?
I think you may be reading too deeply into the song lyrics. It's unlikely that Jackson Brown was attempting to write a theologically accurate description of Christ, his life, and his teachings. I tend to believe that Brown, as a "heathen and a pagan", was writing about an epiphany of sorts. He seems to have been, in his own way, inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, who was an earthly "rebel" that challenged the norms of conventional thinking at the time (and today in many ways). Brown is not singing the song as a Christian, but a "heathen" who was nonetheless inspired to pay heed to the teaching and deeds of Christ, and acknowledge that those teachings and deeds are worth celebrating.