The Death of a Quantrell Raider
Song: I Should Have Been Crucified
Isaiah 53:1-13
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Over a span of two decades the songs of Gordon Jensen have been recorded more than 2,000 times, and have been translated into fifteen languages. Among those recording the songs are celebrated artists Cynthia Clawson, The Imperials, Dallas Holm, The Cathedrals Quartet, Doug Oldham, and Larnelle Harris. Jensen, the quartet singer, pianist, and songwriter, began a solo ministry in 1979, with the recording of two albums of original songs for Benson’s Impact Records followed by two more on Word’s DaySpring label. Several more have been released since then.
He said of his personal appearances, "My goal in being anywhere before people is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ through the gifts He has entrusted me with. Nothing of real value could occur if I were there for any other purpose." In addition to the subject of this story, among Jensen’s songs are such outstanding favorites as "He's As Close As the Mention of His Name," "Bigger Than Any Mountain," "Tears Are a Language," "God Still Loves the World," and "Written in Red." Jensen's "Redemption Draweth Nigh" was used as the musical theme for the film A Distant Thunder.
In 1986, a nurse told him of her participation in a late-term abortion where a baby was born alive. When the infant began to cry she made an effort to help it, but was told to "get away from that fetus and let it die." Jensen's response to her story was the writing of a song, "Sometimes They Cry." It received wide acceptance and was given a large amount of play on radio stations. He later said, "I'm hoping the Lord will use this song to stir some people to action."
Gordon has been nominated on five occasions for Songwriter of the Year by the Gospel Music Association, and a number of his songs have been GMS's Top Ten Songs of the Year. His compositions are found in song books as well as in several choral collections.
In an interview in July, 2001, I asked Gordon to tell me how he came to write "I Should Have Been Crucified." Following is his story, just as he related it:
"In 1971, I read a biography of Billy Sunday in which a portion of one his sermons appeared. In the sermon he used a graphic illustration, one which made a profound effect on me. It was the story of a man who should have died in the Civil War, but his life was spared."
"During the struggle between the Union and the Confederate forces, a man from the south became a member of a Confederate group called Quantrell's Raiders. They used gorilla warfare tactics, raiding small towns and villages and then disappearing in the night. They were successful in avoiding being caught for a span of about two years."
"Prior to one of their intended raids, the Union forces had been tipped off and were lying in waiting for them. They were successful in capturing all of the Raiders but one, a teenage boy who escaped. The rest were sentenced to be executed before a firing squad. Word of the execution traveled over the countryside and a sizable crowd of spectators gathered to witness the fate of this notorious band. Little did the the authorities know that the teen who had escaped made his way back to the scene and was present in the curious crowd."
"The raiders were lined up facing the firing squad. Just before the shots rang out the young boy ran out of the crowd and up to the commanding officer. He yelled, 'Stop! I think you should know that I'm one of them. But you didn't bring me here, I came by my own choice.' He then pointed to one of the men in the line and said, 'This man is my friend. He has a wife and children and I have no one. I'd like to take his place, if you will let him go.' The officer in charge replied, 'If that is your desire, I will grant it.' The teen walked into the line, in place of his friend, and was executed with Quantrell's Raiders."
"The freed man later became very successful in business, and late in his life was a supporter of Evangelist Billy Sunday. He also had a monument placed at the grave of the teen who died in his place. The inscription read:
Sacred to the memory of Willie Lee.
He took my place in the line.
He died for me.
"My mind was set ablaze when I read this story in Billy Sunday's sermon. It illustrated "Calvary" and all that it means to me. The whole thing came together in my mind one afternoon as I sat in the seats of the auditorium of Hammond High School in Hammond, Indiana, waiting for sound checks to be made in preparation for the evening's concert. I wrote the lyrics then and there, and in my mind I had a melody for it. The Orrells, A Southern Gospel group that I was singing with, were the first to record it. The Benson Company published it and it was soon being recorded by many other groups."
"I Should Have Been Crucified" is one of approximately 300 songs written by Gordon Jensen, many of which are favorites and have been heard and sung by millions in this and several other nations.
Reflection:
In his song Gordon takes us, in our sinful condition, to the crucifixion scene and Christ's substitutionary death. One particular line, "I should have hung on the cross in disgrace, but Jesus, God's Son took my place," is deeply meaningful, and like the whole of the song, couched in the Scriptures. The Bible tells us that when Jesus went to the cross for you and me, He despised the shame.
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Written: 06/01/2006 
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Behind the Songs
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